The Asia Spirits Ratings has announced the results of its inaugural 2025 competition, awarding its top honor — Spirit of the Year — to the bold and expressive Mara Gin by African Originals.

Designed to reflect the needs of Asia’s rapidly evolving spirits retail environment, Asia Spirits Ratings evaluates spirits on quality, value, and packaging appeal, aligning directly with how independent bottle shops, regional chain buyers, and duty-free procurement teams make purchasing decisions. In its first year, the competition attracted a strong range of entries from across the globe, showcasing innovation, craft mastery, provenance, and premium presentation.

Special Award Winners — Asia Spirits Ratings 2025 (Inaugural Edition)

Award	Company	Country	Product
Spirit of the Year	African Originals	Kenya	Mara Gin
Best Spirit by Quality	African Originals	Kenya	Mara Gin
Gin of the Year	African Originals	Kenya	Mara Gin
Best Spirit by Package	Aspri Spirits FZE	Poland	U’luvka Vodka
Spirit of the Year — Poland	Aspri Spirits FZE	Poland	U’luvka Vodka
Vodka of the Year	Aspri Spirits FZE	Poland	U’luvka Vodka
Whisky of the Year	Craft Irish Whiskey	Ireland	The Donn
Liqueur of the Year	De Kuyper Royal Distillers	Netherlands	Crème de Cassis Liqueur
Spirit of the Year — Argentina	Flipa Gin Distillery	Argentina	Flipá Gin
Spirit of the Year — India	Globus Spirits Ltd.	India	Dōaab India Craft Whisky
Indian Single Malt Whiskey of the Year	Globus Spirits Ltd.	India	Dōaab India Craft Whisky
Spirit of the Year — Italy	Gran Torino 1861 Srl	Italy	Gin Originario ai Capperi di Sicilia
Spirit of the Year — France	Hadesis International Company	France	Hadesis Cognac VS
Cognac of the Year	Hadesis International Company	France	Hadesis Cognac VS
Spirit of the Year — Germany	Pookan International Co., Ltd.	Germany	Mampe Berlin Popcorn
Spirit of the Year — United Kingdom	Rockland Distilleries Pvt. Ltd.	UK	Colombo No.7 Gin — Navy Strength
Best Spirit by Value	Tanduay Distillers, Inc.	Philippines	Tanduay Especia Spiced Rum
Rum of the Year	Tanduay Distillers, Inc.	Philippines	Tanduay Especia Spiced Rum

View Full Results Here

2025 Judging Conducted in Hong Kong on October 23, 2025

A Retail-Driven Benchmark for the Asian Spirits Market

Asia Spirits Ratings was established to serve the needs of Asia’s fast-growing spirits retail market — driven by premium craft trends, gifting culture, cocktail-forward consumption, and duty-free travel retail expansion.

Judging panels consisted of:

• Independent specialty bottle-shop owners & buyers
• Regional & national supermarket spirits category heads
• Duty-free & travel retail procurement leads
• Importers & distributors supplying retail & on-trade
• Hospitality beverage directors with spirits programs

This structure ensures awarded spirits are not only exceptional in the glass — but positioned to succeed on shelf, in the basket, and behind the bar.

Judges of  Asia Spirits Ratings

The 2025 judging panel featured leading retail and trade professionals from across Asia. These experts brought extensive experience in retail, travel retail, and on-trade category buying, ensuring that every medal winner meets trade and consumer expectations across Asia's diverse spirits landscape.

Judging Process & Medal Scoring

Spirits at Asia Spirits Ratings are blind-tasted and evaluated across:

1) Quality — craft, balance, distillation technique, expression

2) Value — pricing suitability for Asian markets

3) Packaging — design, on-shelf presence, brand storytelling

Medals are awarded based on the combined weighted score:

• Double Gold: 96–100
• Gold: 90–95
• Silver: 85–89
• Bronze: 80–84

This ensures awarded spirits deliver commercial readiness, trade confidence, and consumer appeal across Asia.

“The first edition of Asia Spirits Ratings has set a strong foundation for brands looking to grow across Asia. We aim to deliver real commercial value — increasing consumer trust, strengthening retail credibility, and creating opportunities for brands to scale trade meetings with importers and distributors, direct-to-consumer sales, and build relationships with qualified buyers across the region. The competition highlights spirits positioned to perform in fast-growing markets, including Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, India, Singapore, and beyond — helping craft and premium brands secure visibility, listings, and growth in Asia’s most influential retail and travel-retail hubs.” — Sid Patel, CEO, Asia Spirits Ratings & Beverage Trade Network

Sid Patel, CEO of Beverage Trade Network and Organizer of Asia Wine Ratings.

Note for Trade Buyers

If you are a buyer or distributor in Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, or other Asian markets looking to source premium, high-potential spirits evaluated for the Asian retail environment, check out the Winners Page to explore award-winning bottles ready for Asian retail shelves and cocktail programs.

About Asia Spirits Ratings

Asia Spirits Ratings recognizes spirits that offer exceptional quality, value, and packaging appeal — the key drivers for success in Asia’s retail, travel-retail, and hospitality markets. Judged by experienced retail and trade buyers, the competition supports brands looking to scale across the dynamic and diverse spirits markets of Asia.