Singapore distillery Brass Lion wins top gin award at International Wine & Spirit Competition 2025

It’s been quite a year for Brass Lion Distillery. Not only did its Hawthorn and Pearl Jasmine gins take home gold medals at the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), they made history in November by becoming the first Singapore distillery to be awarded the IWSC 2025 International Gin Producer Trophy. 

The IWSC, widely regarded as the Oscars of the drinks industry, is a globally respected wine and spirits competition in which an expert panel of industry professionals, including master distillers and major buyers, conducts a “double-blind” tasting to select the best of the best. 

Journalist and spirits consultant Oliver Ward, who served as a member of the spirits judging committee, commended the homegrown ginmaker’s unwavering excellence: “Each time Brass Lion has entered, they’ve always got Gold or Gold Outstanding... they have that kind of proven calibre. They’re representing what I think is the most exciting forefront of gin right now — Asian gin with much more provenance and authenticity.”

The brand’s celebration of its Asian identity is particularly resonant this year, underscored by another milestone: being named the official gin of the iconic Singapore Sling by Raffles Hotel Singapore in March. Perhaps surprisingly, it’s the first time in the classic cocktail’s 110-year history to feature a locally made gin. 

Described as Singapore’s first full-fledged micro-distillery, Brass Lion started in 2018 when the country had no distilleries. They worked to establish the necessary regulations and framework, paving the way for other distilleries and enabling the creation of locally crafted gin, such as Singapura Gin. It’s a full circle moment as Singapura Gin now beats as the mandarin peel and warm spiced heart of Singapore’s most famous cocktail.

Lookback 2025

Despite their remarkable successes, 2025 brought sobering lows for the company as well. When spirits distributor Proof & Company shuttered in July, it caught many in the industry — including Brass Lion, who had appointed them as their distribution partner — by surprise.

It was a sudden blow that left the independent producer with unpaid receivables and stock trapped in the collapsed company’s warehouses. “Honestly, the whole situation set us back quite a lot,” says Brass Lion Distillery founder Jamie Koh candidly. 

“Small producers don’t have the buffers that big brands do; when crises hit, they land squarely on us,” she explains. The shock, the gin producer says, was seismic. The team had to rebuild overnight: establishing new trade partnerships, appointing new distributors, fielding urgent calls from accounts, and ensuring that bars and restaurants across Singapore could still pour their gins. Months on, the ripple effects continue unabated.

Undeterred, she focuses her sights on the future. “Since day one, when we started Brass Lion, the goal was to build a world-renowned global Asian spirits brand. Even as the industry suffered through Covid-19, our goal remains the same. It’s just about staying focused and keeping the path.”

While she demurs on her plans for 2026, she reveals she’s considering resubmitting the Navy Strength gin, which scored a respectable 91 points in 2020. “We think it deserves more than silver,” she smiles.

What’s next for 2026

“I think gin-making has to be authentic. At the height of the gin bubble, around 2019 to 2020, people were creating gins, just for novelty’s sake, like gins from the moon and really crazy things. Today, the serious contenders are those that excel at storytelling — why did we create a hawthorn gin instead of a sloe gin, for example. We’re creating a link to our experiences and heritage, not just picking a random flavour out of the sky. I think that, beyond any trends, it will be more everlasting.”