Tauranga-based Clarity Distilling Company has made history on the world stage, with its Clarity Navy Gin crowned “Gin of the Year” at the 2026 London Spirits Competition – the first time a New Zealand gin has won the title.

Competing against gins from more than 30 countries, the distillery’s win marks a major milestone for the company and a standout moment for Aotearoa’s craft spirits industry.

The Navy Gin also secured “Double Gold” and “Spirit of the Year New Zealand”, achieving an outstanding 98-point score, the highest in the competition and one of only four spirits to be rated so highly.

The win builds on an extraordinary run for the young distillery, which also claimed “Gold” and “Spirit of the Year New Zealand” in 2025 for its Clarity Navy Gin, and the same title in 2024 for its Clarity 2023 Gin – cementing its place as one of New Zealand’s most exciting emerging spirits brands.

Having launched the distillery in early 2023, co-founders George White and Stephanie Downer say the recognition is both humbling and motivating.

“We’re still a small, hands-on team from Tauranga, so to be consistently recognised on a global stage like this is pretty surreal,” White said.

“It’s a reflection of the work that’s gone in behind the scenes; sticking with our complex processes, even when it’s challenging.”

Downer added with a laugh, “If some of those big international brands came to visit our set-up here, they’d probably be pretty surprised – it’s a lot smaller than they might expect.”

The pair have worked together for more than a decade. They first met in Rotorua when White acquired a Rotorua business where Downer was working.

White later sold the company before he and Downer leapt into a new industry.

“We really came into this with no preconceived ideas – we just enjoyed a great gin,” Downer said.

“A lot of what we’ve built has come down to gut instinct, a huge amount of research and being incredibly detail-focused. We’re always learning.”

That mindset has helped them navigate a tough operating environment.

Clarity launched at the start of the recession, yet has managed to achieve steady growth of between 5% and 10% year-on-year.

A key point of difference is Clarity’s meticulous production process.

Rather than distilling all botanicals together (the industry norm), each ingredient is distilled individually before blending.

“Every botanical behaves differently,” Downer said. “Some need time, some need a lighter touch. Treating them individually gives us full control over flavour and consistency.”

Looking ahead, Clarity has its sights on the UK and Europe, with plans already in motion.