Castle Freke Gin Awarded Gold Medal by the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
SAN FRANCISCO (July 8, 2026) — Castle Freke Gin — the world’s first true sipping gin — has been awarded a Gold Medal at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), one of the industry’s most respected and influential judging events. This marks a recognition milestone for Castle Freke Gin, which makes its U.S. commercial and consumer debut this month. The Gold Medal was awarded following a scheduled second tasting by competition judges which included spirits that missed the initial tastings and awards in June due to logistical problems.
Distilled and bottled in West Cork, Ireland, Castle Freke Gin was created by Stephen Evans-Freke, a lifelong Dry Martini devotee who spent a decade developing a gin of extraordinary smoothness, balance, and complexity. Designed to achieve perfection for the Dry Martini, Castle Freke Gin is crafted to be enjoyed chilled — either neat with garnishings or with a whisper of vermouth and bitters. The brand is named for historic Castle Freke, the founder’s 300-year-old ancestral estate.
Conducted by The Tasting Alliance, the San Francisco competition is known for its strict blind judging standards. Gold medals are awarded to products that demonstrate exceptional quality and set a benchmark within their category, showcasing outstanding balance, complexity, and craftsmanship. This echoes the tasting notes of Julia Nourney, the internationally recognized spirits and distilling authority, who concluded, “The producer’s ambion to make the perfect gin for a Dry Martini are excellently
achieved, as long as the Martini is strong and the vermouth is dry.”
Castle Freke Gin, priced at $245 per bottle, is available in limited quantities through the Castle Freke Distillery website, with numbered bottles from the first batch shipping in late July. Luxury bars, hotels, and restaurants may purchase directly through Park Street Imports starting also in late July.
