Some journeys lead somewhere extraordinary, ours led to gold.
Strange Nature Gin has been awarded Gold at the 2026 NZ Spirits Awards. This one's for everyone who seeks the strange and finds wonder.
Gin led the field this year and so did we
Gin was the most competitive field in the whole competition. Strange Nature stood out from that field, earning gold in contemporary gin. Most gins in that category start life the same way. Ours doesn't. Strange Nature starts with grapes, not grain and this year, the judges backed that difference with gold.
This one's for the Seekers of Strange
Awards are nice. But they don't mean much without the people who back the gin in the first place. So, this one's for the Seekers of Strange. Everyone who's poured a Strange Nature G&T for a friend, left a review, asked for it by name at their local, or shown up to a tasting just to say hi.
You're the reason a gin made from grapes, from a small vineyard in Marlborough, gets to stand on a stage next to spirits that have been doing this for a hundred years. Every bottle sold, every share, every "you have to try this" is that's what gold actually rests on. Thank you for being strange with us.
The wins so far
Gold at the 2026 NZ Spirits Awards joins a shelf that already includes a 98/100 score from the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) and a Best Contemporary Gin title — recognition that a grape-based gin, distilled with a single botanical (juniper), can hold its own against the best in the world.
Strange roots. Real craft. And now, one more reason to raise a glass with the people who got us here.
Read more: The Shout Magazine, "Gin leads medal tally at 2026 New Zealand Spirits Awards"
FAQ
What award did Strange Nature Gin win in 2026?
Strange Nature Gin was awarded Gold in the contemporary gin category at the 2026 NZ Spirits Awards, New Zealand's leading spirits competition.
Why is Strange Nature Gin different from other gins?
Strange Nature is a grape-based gin, distilled from grapes rather than neutral grain spirit, and made with a single botanical: juniper.
What other awards has Strange Nature Gin won?
Strange Nature holds a 98/100 score from the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) and has been recognised as Best Contemporary Gin, alongside Gold at the 2026 NZ Spirits Awards.
