Tauranga-based Clarity Distilling Company has made history at the 2026 London Spirits Competition.

Its Clarity Navy Gin was crowned ‘Gin of the Year’ – the first time a New Zealand gin has taken out the title.

Competing against gins from more than 30 countries, the win marks a milestone for the young distillery, which launched in 2023.

The Navy Gin also won ‘Double Gold’ and ‘Spirit of the Year New Zealand’, achieving the competition’s highest score of 98 points.

The win builds on an extraordinary run for the distillery, which also claimed ‘Gold’ and ‘Spirit of the Year New Zealand’ in 2025 for its Clarity Navy Gin, and the same title in 2024 for its Clarity 2023 Gin.

A reflection of the work

Clarity co-founders George White and Stephanie Downer say the recognition is both humbling and motivating.

“We’re still a small, hands-on team from Tauranga, so to be consistently recognised on a global stage like this is pretty surreal,” says White. “It’s a reflection of the work that’s gone in behind the scenes; sticking with our complex processes, even when it’s challenging.”

Downer adds with a laugh, “If some of those big international brands came to visit our set-up here, they’d probably be pretty surprised – it’s a lot smaller than they might expect.”

The pair, who are often mistaken for a couple, are in fact long-time colleagues who have worked together for more than a decade. They first met when White acquired a business in Rotorua where Downer was working in 2015. After expanding the business, White later sold it before the pair took a leap into an entirely new industry.

An accountant by trade, White had no formal experience in the drinks sector beyond some bartending in his younger years. Downer, a legal executive and solo mum to daughter Isabelle, was in a similar position.

A top-shelf product

“We really came into this with no preconceived ideas – we just enjoyed a great gin,” says Downer. “A lot of what we’ve built has come down to gut instinct, a huge amount of research and being incredibly detail-focused. We’re always learning.”

That mindset has helped them navigate a tough operating environment. Clarity launched at the start of the recession, yet has managed to achieve steady growth of between five and 10 percent year-on-year.

The gin market itself – which is usually a summer favourite – has proven unpredictable.

“The last 12 months especially have been all over the place,” says White. “We’ve had quiet periods when we expected things to be busy, and then suddenly big spikes when we didn’t. There’s no clear trend right now.”

With ongoing global pressures from tariffs, fuel costs and wider economic uncertainty, the business is taking a measured approach to growth.

“It’s definitely a top-shelf product,” says White. “So we’re realistic about the environment we’re operating in and focused on building sustainably.”

Just getting started

Despite its premium positioning, demand continues to grow.

“The flavour profile, the way the botanicals are layered, the presentation – we’re extremely proud of how it all comes together,” says Downer. “Once people try it, they come back.”

The business has steadily expanded its footprint, now stocked in bars, restaurants and bottle stores across the country, while continuing to invest in production capability and new product development.

Clarity’s key point of difference lies in its meticulous production process: rather than distilling all botanicals together (the industry norm), each ingredient is distilled individually before being blended.

“Every botanical behaves differently,” explains Downer. “Some need time, some need a lighter touch. Treating them individually gives us full control over flavour and consistency.”

Since launch, Clarity has amassed a string of international accolades, including Double Gold in San Francisco and multiple wins at the New Zealand Spirits Awards, helping the brand breakthrough in an increasingly crowded and competitive market.

Looking ahead, Clarity has its sights firmly set on the UK and Europe, with plans and opportunities already in motion.

“Our goal has always been to build something sustainable and long-term,” says Downer. “We’re proud of what we’ve achieved so far, but we’re still very much just getting started.”