Overview: The 2026 Gentleman’s Journal Drinks Awards celebrated a diverse range of beverages, spanning English sparkling wines to whiskies, rums, and gins. Photographed at The Capston at Embassy Gardens, the event highlighted bottles that deserve a place in a home bar or cellar. Jonathan Wells provided commentary on the selections, which included champagne, single malts, American whiskey, and agave spirits.
The Full Story
The judging panel evaluated wines from English sparkling producers to French houses, noting that the British Isles fizzes more fiercely with its wine-making know-how. In the champagne category, Billecart-Salmon Champagne Le Sous Bois took first place for its old-world elegance and malty, woody heart. Louis Roederer Brut Vintage secured second place with notes of nuts and subtle spices, while Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2016 finished third as an emerging elder statesman. The English sparkling wine winners included Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs 2018 for its citrus and warm pastry notes, Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2020 for capturing the English countryside, and Harrow & Hope Blanc de Blancs 2020 for its vibrant fruit profile.
Rosé selections featured Domaines Ott Clos Mireille Rosé 2025 as the top choice for its complexity and unexpected notes of crushed chalk. Château d’Esclans Garrus Rosé 2024 placed second with dense, concentrated flavours suitable for dinner pairing, while Quatre Vin QV Rosé rounded out the podium at under £20 a bottle. Moving to spirits, Sipsmith London Dry Gin was named best gin for its category-defining nature and subtle notes of apple and peppermint. Aureus Vita Fibonacci Dry Gin took second place for its silkiness and patent-pending still, followed by No.3 Organic London Dry Gin for its lingering finish.
In the tequila category, Don Julio 1942 Tequila was awarded first place for its rich nature and notes of caramel and dark chocolate. Patrón Añejo finished second with fruit-forward accents and a smoky-sweet sting, while Casamigos Tequila Añejo took third place for its dessert-like sweetness. The vodka winners included Belvedere 10, which rested for exactly ten months to meld notes of cacao and vanilla, Sapling Vodka for its silky mouthfeel and climate-positive credentials, and Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka for its minerality and creamy caramel notes.
Mixers saw Three Cents Pink Grapefruit Soda take first place for its cheek-tightening tang, Fever-Tree Mexican Lime Soda secure second place for balancing agave flavours, and Schweppes Dry Ginger Ale finish third for its crisp bubbles. Whisky awards were split into age-statement categories, with Glenmorangie The Original 12 Years Old winning the 12-year section for its tinned peach punch and maple syrup sweetness. The Macallan Double Cask 15 Years Old took the top spot in the 15-year category for its harmonious baking notes, while The Dalmore Cigar Malt Signature Reserve led the 18-year group with dried figs and smoky oud.
American whiskey winners hailed from Kentucky, with Maker’s Mark 46 French Oaked Bourbon taking first place after more than 120 extra stave experiments. Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey placed second for its black tea and liquorice notes, while Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel finished third with cedar and jasmine accents. Rum selections included Brugal 1888 for being double-aged in casks previously nurturing celebrated bourbons and sherries, Don Papa Single Island Rum for its ex-Rioja cask ageing, and Eminente Gran Reserva for its dulce de leche and toasted almonds.
Beer awards focused on lighter lagers. Monte Carlo Beer Bière Spéciale Lager won first place with French Triskel hops and floral top notes. Côte Citron Lager took second place as a radler-style beer made with real lemons from the Côte d’Azur at 3.4%, while NOAM Lager finished third for its blend of Hallertauer Tradition and Smaragd hops.
Production & Profile
Technical specifications highlighted the depth of craftsmanship across the winning spirits. Belvedere 10 takes inspiration from techniques used in 1910 when the distillery was first established, resting for exactly ten months to meld notes of cacao and coconut into a velvet mouthfeel. Don Julio 1942 Tequila features more than two years in American oak making for the toastiest, roastiest of spirits. Patrón Añejo is aged for slightly less time, specifically 12 to 15 months.
Maker’s Mark 46 French Oaked Bourbon utilizes French oak staves plunged into an already top-flight bourbon to usher in new notes of clove and toasted macadamia. Brugal 1888 is double-aged in casks that have previously nurtured celebrated bourbons and sherries, bringing brown sugar and oak spice through. The GlenDronach 12 Year Old ages in sherry casks within the ‘saxophone’ shape of the copper stills, each featuring a ‘belly’ that helps to develop the spirit’s character.
Belvedere 10 rests for exactly ten months to meld notes of cacao and coconut into that velvet mouthfeel. The Singleton 15 Year Old Single Malt is noted for its ripe, autumn-fruit sweetness and unexpected cereal surprises like linseed oil. Highland Park 18 Year Old Single Malt offers Orkney sea-salt spray on its finish, while Loch Lomond 18 Year Old Single Malt bears the words ‘Caramelised Apple and Wood Smoke’ on its box.
Brand & Industry History
Historical context was evident in several winning entries. The Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel whiskey references the man with his name on the bottle, who was known as the “Father of Bourbon”. Belvedere 10 takes inspiration from the techniques used in 1910 when the distillery was first established. Sipsmith London Dry Gin is a Chiswick-based brand that knows how to innovate, while its original London Dry remains the best in the category.
Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey is produced at the HQ of the bourbon big boys — Buffalo Trace. The Singleton 15 Year Old Single Malt represents a Speyside sweep in the 15-year category this year. The Dalmore Cigar Malt Signature Reserve defines a ‘cigar malt’ with enough personality to stand up to a stogie. These historical and geographical markers provide a backdrop to the modern production methods found in the winning bottles.
What This Means
The awards celebrate the bottles that deserve a place in your home bar, your cellar, and of course, your hand. The event was photographed at The Capston at Embassy Gardens, providing a suitably stylish setting for the slick sippers that made the cut. From champagne that brims with old-world elegance to English sparkling wines giving the French a run for their money, the awards recognize the finest fizzes and spirits available.
The judging panel scrutinised the year’s finest fizzes alongside single malts with a dozen years of wisdom, American whiskies with a few tricks up their sleeves, and agave spirits worth every last peso. The inclusion of crisp lagers, feather-light vodkas and rums punching well above their weight creates quite the drinks cabinet for enthusiasts.
Consumer Takeaway
This collection offers a comprehensive selection for the home drinker seeking specific specs and provenance. Consumers can find English sparkling wines honing their craft in the Home Counties, Kent-based vineyards like Gusbourne, and Buckinghamshire producers like Harrow & Hope. The whisky selections range from the Highlands to Campbeltown, with specific age statements of 12, 15, and 18 years available.
For those seeking agave spirits, options include luxury offerings aged in American oak or ex-Rioja casks. Vodka drinkers can choose between organic winter wheat and chalk-filtered water local to the Wiltshire distillery. Beer enthusiasts have access to French Triskel hops and real lemons from the Côte d’Azur. The awards provide a curated list for building a cellar that spans continents and styles.
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