Photo courtesy of Full Circle Craft Distillers Co.
The results are in for the 2025/26 Spirit of Craft Awards (SOCraft Awards), and while Australia and New Zealand took home the most wins, Asia also came out strong with the Philippines leading the region in gin and vodka.
Founded in 2024, the Spirit of Craft Awards is Asia’s first platform fully dedicated to honoring artisanal spirits. What sets it apart is its approach: entries aren’t judged against each other, but evaluated on their own merit, earning 1, 2, or 3 Stars based on quality, craftsmanship, and sustainability.
Held in Singapore and judged by 20 industry experts ranging from mixologists, spirits critics, and beverage authorities across the region, the competition spotlighted 25 standout spirits from nine countries: Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, England, India, Indonesia, Philippines, New Zealand and Switzerland. More than a third of the winners were from Asia, showing how much the region’s distilling scene has grown and why it’s worth paying attention to.
The Philippines made one of the strongest showings, with four wins from Archipelago (a line of craft gin by Full Circle Craft Distillers, one of the country’s first authentic craft distilleries). Their Navy Strength Gin and Black Bamboo Gin each earned 2 Stars. The Botanical Gin, made with 28 ingredients including calamansi, sampaguita, and ylang-ylang, got 1 Star, as did their Lava Rock Vodka, filtered through volcanic rocks from Taal and Mayon.
Cambodia’s Casa Seekers Mekong Bitter earned one of the competition’s top prizes with a 3 Star (Platinum) win. It’s an amaro crafted with natural, regionally sourced ingredients, including bitter melon and hibiscus. Indonesia also had a strong presence, with Indoestri’s Teluk Saba Marak (2 Stars) and Ark Arak (1 Star) both showing how local spirits like arak can hold their own globally. From India, Maya Pistola Agavepura Añejo, a 100% agave spirit aged in American oak barrels, earned 1 Star and stood out as the sole agave-based entries from the region.
The competition, now in its second year, doesn’t just focus on flavor. Spirits are judged based on aroma, mouthfeel, taste, finish, and overall impression, but also sustainability. Distillers that scored high across eco-friendly practices like waste management and community support received the Green Ring distinction, an area where New Zealand and Australia stood out.
Outside Asia, Australia and New Zealand brought in the most total wins. Australia’s Launceston Distillery earned a second consecutive 3 Star award for its Single Malt Tawny Cask Whisky, while New Zealand’s Juno picked up awards for both gin and vodka.
With wins from the Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, and India, this year’s results show that Asia’s craft spirits scene is growing fast and are definitely worth watching.
Check out the full list of winners at spiritofcraftawards.com.
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