There are many gin competitions around Australia and the world, but this one felt a little different.

Why?

Because this award was not simply about gin by itself. It was about one of the world’s most iconic drinks:

The Gin & Tonic

And we are incredibly excited to announce that our Wild Tasmanian Gin paired with Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic won Gold at the inaugural Fever-Tree Gin & Tonic Awards 2024. For us, this was a special achievement because it recognised not just our gin, but the complete drinking experience. The perfect balance between spirit, tonic, botanicals and flavour.

As gin lovers ourselves, that means a lot.

A Competition Dedicated to the World’s Favourite Cocktail

The Gin & Tonic is one of the most recognised and enjoyed drinks on the planet. It is simple, refreshing and timeless. Yet despite its popularity, very few competitions focus specifically on how a gin actually performs in a Gin & Tonic. That is what made the inaugural Fever-Tree Gin & Tonic Awards so exciting.

The awards were chaired by respected spirits expert Mikey Enright alongside an impressive judging panel featuring:

• Charlie Casben
• Kim Berry
• Bear Murphy
• James France
• Rohan Lehane

Over several days, the judges blind tasted and carefully assessed every entry across multiple categories and tonic pairings.

The gins were paired with various Fever-Tree tonic waters including:

• Indian Dry
• Mediterranean
• Elderflower
• Raspberry
• Summer Garden

This meant the competition was not simply about making a good gin. It was about creating a truly exceptional Gin & Tonic. And that changes everything.

Why This Award Matters

A great gin should absolutely taste fantastic neat. But realistically, most people enjoy gin in cocktails and mixed drinks. And the Gin & Tonic remains the king of them all. Winning an award specifically focused on Gin & Tonics validates something we have always believed at Bright Night Gin:

A truly balanced gin should shine beautifully when paired with tonic water.

Our Wild Tasmanian Gin paired with Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic managed to do exactly that.

Out of hundreds of entries, only:

• 7 Double Gold medals
• 14 Gold medals
• 68 Silver medals
• 74 Bronze medals

were awarded across the competition.

To receive a Gold medal in the inaugural year of such a respected competition was an enormous honour for our small Tasmanian gin brand.

Why Mediterranean Fever-Tree Worked So Well

One of the most interesting parts of the competition was seeing which tonic pairings worked best with different gin styles. For our Wild Tasmanian Gin, the Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic turned out to be an incredible match.

Because the tonic beautifully complemented the gin’s botanical profile rather than overpowering it.

Our Wild Tasmanian Gin contains 14 botanicals including unique Tasmanian ingredients such as:

• Tasmanian Pepperberry
• Tasmanian Kunzea

These botanicals create a gin that is:

• bright
• herbaceous
• citrus-forward
• layered
• aromatic

The Mediterranean tonic added gentle floral and citrus notes while allowing the juniper and native Tasmanian botanicals to remain the hero of the drink.

The result was a Gin & Tonic that felt:

• refreshing
• balanced
• elegant
• vibrant
• unmistakably Australian

A Huge Year for Wild Tasmanian Gin

This latest Gold medal adds to what has already been an incredible run for our Wild Tasmanian Gin.

Over the last year, the gin has received major recognition at some of Australia’s biggest spirit competitions, including:

• Champion Trophy at the Sydney Royal Spirit Awards
• Gold medals at national gin competitions
• multiple Australian Gin Awards
• international recognition in New Zealand

For a small independent gin brand from Tasmania, these awards are incredibly meaningful.

They tell us that what we are creating is resonating not only with customers, but also with some of the most experienced judges and industry experts in the country.

Tasmania’s Influence on Our Gin

At Bright Night Gin, Tasmania plays a major role in everything we do.

Our Wild Tasmanian Gin is inspired by:

• Tasmania’s wilderness
• native botanicals
• cool climate
• pristine water
• vibrant food and drink culture

The gin itself was designed to showcase Tasmania while still remaining approachable and versatile in cocktails.

We wanted a gin that worked beautifully:

• neat
• over ice
• in a Martini
• in a Negroni
• and of course, in a Gin & Tonic

Winning Gold at a competition dedicated entirely to Gin & Tonics feels like confirmation that we achieved exactly that.

The Rise of the Perfect Gin & Tonic

Over the last decade, the Gin & Tonic has evolved dramatically.

It is no longer just: “gin, tonic and ice.”

Today, people think carefully about:

• tonic selection
• garnishes
• glassware
• ice quality
• citrus pairing
• botanical balance

And honestly, we love that.

Because small details can completely transform the drinking experience.

A well-made Gin & Tonic is one of the most refreshing and satisfying cocktails in the world.

Here some of our favourite garnishes for Wild Tasmanian Gin include:

• orange
• grapefruit
• rosemary
• dehydrated citrus
• fresh herbs

These garnishes help lift the gin’s citrus and herbaceous notes while pairing beautifully with Mediterranean tonic.

What a good feeling

We would like to sincerely thank:

• Fever-Tree
• the judging panel
• the organisers
• everyone involved in launching these awards

Creating a competition focused specifically on Gin & Tonics is such a fantastic idea for the Australian spirits industry. It celebrates not just distilling, but the complete experience of enjoying gin the way many people actually drink it.

We also want to thank our incredible customers, supporters and stockists who continue supporting Bright Night Gin as we grow. Every bottle of our award winning gin purchased, every Gin & Tonic shared with friends, and every recommendation means the world to our small team.

Come Try It Yourself

Of course, awards are wonderful.

But the best part is always sharing the gin with people.

If you see us at:

• Gin festivals
• markets
• Gin tasting events
• Gin cocktail masterclasses

make sure you stop by and try our award-winning Wild Tasmanian Gin with Mediterranean tonic for yourself.

There is a good chance this Gold-winning combination may become your new favourite Gin & Tonic.

We will keep trying 🙂

Winning Gold at the inaugural Fever-Tree Gin & Tonic Awards is another exciting chapter in the Bright Night Gin story.

From Tasmania to national spirit competitions, we continue to be amazed by the support and recognition our gins have received.

But in many ways, this still feels like just the beginning.

We cannot wait to continue experimenting, creating new cocktails, exploring new botanicals and sharing unforgettable Gin & Tonics with all of you.

And if you are making one tonight…

we highly recommend:

• Wild Tasmanian Gin – Grab a bottle from our Online shop
• Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic
• plenty of ice
• and a fresh citrus garnish.

Cheers 🍸

Our range of multi award winning gins