A leader in taste: KWV crowned South Africa’s best in two global gin categories
At the 2025 World Drink Awards, KWV’s gins were named South Africa’s best in not one, but two global categories — securing Gold – Country Winner titles for its Imagin Classic London Dry Gin and Cruxland Black Winter Truffle Gin in the highly contested Classic and Contemporary Style Gin categories respectively. As if that weren’t impressive enough, KWV also took home Gold – Style Winner for its XXO 20-Year-Old Brandy — the highest-scoring aged wine brandy of its kind worldwide. The announcement, made by TheDrinksReport.com, confirms what many already know: when it comes to crafting world-class spirits with character, quality and distinction, KWV is leading the way.
These three spirits now advance to the final judging round to compete for the World’s Best title in their respective classes, to be announced on 4 June 2025.
“KWV has been crafting spirits since the 1920s, with our first commercial brandy released in 1926 – and today, our distillery stands on the brink of a century of excellence,” says Pieter de Bod, KWV Master Distiller. “These awards reflect a brand that honours its history while continuously evolving. That we’re being recognised in both classic categories like brandy and in dynamic, fast-moving spaces like gin shows our ability to blend tradition with relevance – and create spirits that speak to both heritage and today’s global palate.”
KWV Cruxland Black Winter Truffle Gin: A modern South African classic
Cruxland Black Winter Truffle Gin is made in the Classic Gin style and distilled with the rare, aromatic Périgord truffle, originally exclusively to regions in Southern Europe and now grown in select regions of South Africa. This ingredient lends the gin its buttery complexity and earthy depth – a flavour combination that is bold, elegant, and unmistakably different. This marks Cruxland’s eighth international gold medal in five years, including its title as World’s Best London Dry Gin in 2020 and Gold at the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition. “Cruxland’s continued international success affirms the appeal of terroir-driven gins in a category where differentiation is key,” commented KWV’s Blending Manager, Ilse du Toit.
Imagin Classic: A contemporary favourite
Imagin Classic London Dry Gin, produced in small batches and built on KWV’s distilling heritage, has now won six international Gold medals in the last three years. Known for its crisp citrus finish and clean juniper-led structure, it is once again Country Winner for South Africa – having also claimed the title in 2023. “Imagin is underpinned by a commitment to authenticity and quality – qualities that resonate in a global gin market increasingly defined by premium classic styles. With consumers returning to timeless, juniper-forward expressions that lend themselves to cocktails and versatility, KWV’s decision to produce a refined, small-batch London Dry gin reflects both category demand and the brand’s aspiration to deliver substance over novelty,” commented Du Toit.
Another remarkable win for KWV XXO 20
Crafted over decades and matured in French oak barrels for a minimum of 20 years (with components up to 32 years old), KWV XXO 20-Year-Old is celebrated for its luxurious profile of fruitcake, sweet spice, oak and honey – and a silky, satin finish. This win builds on an already illustrious award history that includes Double Gold at the International Spirits Challenge and Gold at both the World Spirits Awards and World Brandy Awards. KWV was also named Brandy Producer of the Year in 2024 at the International Spirits Challenge, outperforming both Cognac and Brandy producers globally — marking a sixth win of this coveted title and further cementing KWV status as the world’s most awarded Cognac and Brandy brand.
A leading taste
KWV’s triple win not only underscores its excellence and craftsmanship but also signals its ability to lead where global taste is headed: These awards come at a pivotal moment in the global spirits industry, where premiumisation, innovation, and a demand for distinctive brand identity are reshaping consumer preferences. In both gin and brandy, there is a rising appetite for products that deliver authenticity, quality, and flavour depth. According to recent market insights, the premium and super-premium segment is expected to be the fastest growing within the global brandy segment over the next five years, driven largely by demand from emerging markets seeking elevated and refined spirits. Meanwhile, the global gin sector continues its upward trajectory, with premium craft expressions gaining momentum through cocktail culture, mixology trends, and flavour experimentation.
“These shifts in global taste are exactly why we do what we do,” says John Loomes, CEO of KWV. “We’ve built our portfolio with an eye on quality, identity and individuality – and it’s rewarding to see that resonate both with consumers and the world’s most respected judges.”
