Reefton Distillery Shines Bright at Global Gin Awards, Beating Snoop Dogg

It's not every day that a small distillery from the West Coast of New Zealand makes headlines on the global stage, but that's exactly what happened when Reefton Distilling Co. took home the top prize at the 2025 SIP Awards.

The competition, now in its 17th year, is one of the most prestigious in the spirits industry, drawing entries from 47 countries. This year, it attracted over 1,300 submissions, each judged by nearly 300 spirits enthusiasts through a double-blind tasting process. What sets this competition apart is that it's the only one judged exclusively by consumers, making the results even more impressive.

Reefton Distilling Co. claimed the highest honor, “Best in Class,” beating out some of the biggest names in the industry, including Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre’s new gin brand, “Gin & Juice.” The only other platinum award in the design category went to the rap duo, but Reefton Distilling Co. stood out with its innovative and beautiful bottle design.

The award-winning Little Biddy Gin line was inspired by a four-foot-tall gold miner named Little Biddy, and the gin is made using native botanicals foraged from the surrounding rainforest. The bottle itself was designed to reflect the West Coast’s natural landscape, featuring a botanical motif that nods to the region’s rich environment.

Reefton Distilling Co. also took home gold and double gold awards for its Little Biddy Classic Gin and Amber Little Biddy Gin, respectively. In addition to the taste awards, the company received an Innovation Award for its unique pounamu filtration process, where untouched West Coast rainwater is passed through a filter containing greenstone gifted by Ngāti Waewae, incorporating the wairua (spirit) of the region.

Founder and CEO Patsy Bass called the win “beyond exhilarating.” She said, “Every win is a reflection of the people behind the scenes, the quality of our ingredients, and our deep connection to this place we call home.” She also expressed pride in the distillery’s efforts to change perceptions of the West Coast, saying, “The West Coast is an amazing region, with lots of resilient, tenacious people. Don’t be surprised that we can do cool stuff.”

Reefton Distilling Co. is set to launch its first whisky later this year, with a limited release of just 1,000 bottles available by ballot. Heath Milne, CEO of Development West Coast, said the win was a proud moment for the entire region. “This shows the world what the Coast is capable of,” he said. “Reefton Distilling Co. is part of a growing list of world-class West Coast exporters.”

As for Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, Patsy Bass joked, “They’re welcome to come and visit Reefton anytime. If they bring the juice, we’ve got the gin.”