The Sark Distillery team previously entered the spirit into the competition, and won a silver award in 2023.
‘We weren’t expecting to win a gold, and we’re obviously absolutely delighted,’ said distillery co-founder Anthony Beaumont.
‘It’s a recognition of the amount of effort that goes into it. We only make very small batches, especially compared to manufacturers like Hendrick’s or even Blue Bottle, but we can honestly stand up with our hands on our hearts and say that this is a genuine artisan product and we’re really proud of it.’
The distillery team described the gin as being a juniper-forward spirit, with herbal rosemary and bright citrus notes, delicate floral and spice nuances, and a long, clean herbaceous finish.
What made it a particular stand-out product to competition judges, though, was the spirit’s distinctive character, made unique in part by the inclusion of locally-sourced seaweed in the infusion.
‘It’s our secret ingredient,’ said Mr Beaumont.
‘It really gives a unique flavour to the gin. Since we introduced it and started entering our gin in competitions, other manufacturers have also started using it – especially island distilleries like some of the ones up in Scotland.’
While the inclusion of Sark seaweed in the gin has proven to set it apart in flavour and excellence, it is not without its trials for the distillery team, who have to wade into the sea in order to source the seaweed fresh.
‘It’s definitely a chilly harvesting process,’ Mr Beaumont said.
In addition to their now-renowned Sark Gin, the Sark Distillery also manufactures cider, apple brandy, and artisan apple cider vinegar – all of which are also locally sourced from the team’s orchards, with total tree numbers of more than 600.
‘We’re also really proud of our apple brandy – it’s all homemade, start to finish,’ said Mr Beaumont.
The distillery team is itself very small, consisting of Mr Beaumont and his wife, Aga, who own one of the orchards, Sebastien Moerman, who owns the other, and Jane Norwich. They founded their distillery in 2016, putting their apple orchards to use while aiming to promote the island’s environmental wellbeing.
‘We all care a lot about the environment, and the orchards really encourage biodiversity,’ said Mr Beaumont.
‘All our products are made with respect for the island and the environment.’
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