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Due to long hours of daylight and warm days and cold nights, Norway enjoys what may be, the best conditions in the world for growing herbs and berries. In fact 18 of the 26 botanicals used in Bareksten can be found growing around the distillery. The base product of potatoes is locally sourced as every effort is made to ensure that Norwegian-grown produce is used. Gin is not the only alcoholic beverage Bergen is becoming famous for. Read about the local beer here. Derek Millar, retired whisky sales advisor, joined Nicola Thomson, director of Practical Matters, who chaired the team. Three Silvers were also awarded to Juniperus Distillatus, Horseshoe Gin, and The Molen Gin. Gin and tonic: The judges commented how multiple award-winning entries would make fantastic G&Ts Copperpenny 005 was also found to meet the Master criteria, delivering a “good hit of juniper” on the nose, with “pink peppercorns and sansho on the finish”. And Wabi Sabi Gin also won the top accolade for its “bomb of a palate, with horseradish, some woody notes and a lovely sweetness”. Deserving entries
There was also no shortage of Silver medallists in the London Dry category, with 29 Silver awards given, including to Brighton Pavilion Strength, Boomsma Dry Gin, Gibson’s London Dry Gin, and Malfy Originale.The results came soon enough – less than two years after producing the first bottle of Bareksten Botanical Gin it won a double-gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2017. The accolades have since been numerous. Bareksten repeated the success from San Francisco in 2020, with a double-gold medal for their gin, adding a silver medal for their aquavit to the list. Out of carefully selected gins, Bareksten Botanical is now served in The American Bar in The Savoy, London and Cesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. The penultimate flight of the day was Sloe Gin, and a solid set of three Gold-worthy entries made for a happy group of judges. Gin Lane 1751 Sloe won a Gold medal for being “sweet, jammy”, and Downpour – Sloe & Bramble bagged Gold for being “fruity, full of flavour and very sippable”. Erste Maennerhobby’s Sloe Gin gained a Gold medal for its “classic sloe profile, and hint of sharpness on the finish”. GG: You have just launched a Navy Strength Gin, how has this been received? What are your future plans for Bareksten Gin? Stig: The Bareksten brand represents the Norwegian history and folklore, with elfs and trolls, rather than the more obvious fjords and mountains. In the home market, people relate to this storytelling, while it is also working well in more distant markets such as the USA, Australia and Asia.
Forager and master distiller Stig Bareksten launched the brand in 2015, having combined his botanical expertise with an interest in ‘the dark otherworldly forests’ of his homeland in Norway. Tobias Gorn, co-founder and senior partner of International Drinks Specialists, chaired a panel comprising Dr Winifred Bowman, wine and spirits judge, and drinks writer; and Masha Twemlow, associate specialist at International Drinks Specialists. Overall, the judges were full of praise for the standard of gins presented in the first instalment of this year’s competition. Experimentation was well received, and Ten gins proved they have what it takes to win a Gold medal in the following flight: Organic. Swedish producer Hernö continued to grow its medal tally in this heat, adding four Gold medals to its name. Awards were given to Hernö Dry Gin and Hernö Pink Btl Gin, among others.The Copeland Distillery also received a Master award for its Jones 1778 Navy Strength Gin, enjoyed for aromas of “bright juniper” leading to “a well-balanced, juniper-forward and complex” palate. Double Gold Award Winning Botanical Gin from Norway – Bareksten Gin is a product that finds inspiration from the dramatic and scenic nature of the Norwegian West Coast. Master Distiller Stig Bareksten’s vision of drawing identity from the geographic location and taste was the main focus throughout the creation of Bareksten. I was hoping for more,” Pamplin admitted. “Some of the entries were a little thin on flavour, and sloe gins offer such wonderful, full flavour.” The following flight – Cask-Aged – presented a selection of gins that had been rested in barrels after distillation. Two Master-worthy gins were noted in this round, the first of which was Hernö Juniper Cask Gin. The gin was celebrated for its “aquavit-like nose” and “well-integrated, long finish”. Grand Crew Cask-Aged Irish Gin also won a Master award for being “still recognisable as gin”, with “slight hints of oak and vanilla to add complexity”.
Bareksten Botanical Gin is made with a combination of 26 botanicals, 19 of which are locally sourced. It is described as tasting like a Norwegian forest, with vibrancy on the nose. GG: Describe how you settled on your award-winning recipe, and the botanicals that make it unique? How are they sourced?
Extended Tasting
It looks like it’s getting hard to find a classic London Dry gin, but the experimentation is so exciting and you travel from extra bold juniper notes to a variety of peculiar flavours,” said Piromallo. The Gin Guild caught up with founder and figurehead Stig Bareksten to find out more about his future plans and the Norwegian gin scene. Stig Bareksten: During my bartending years, followed by years working as brand ambassador in the industry, I have been fortunate to visit numerous distilleries throughout the world. I have always taken interest in the story behind the brands, and how the ingredients and production method influence the taste of the product. Downes noted: “There was a lovely array of styles and flavours put forward into this category; lots of room to experiment, and it feels as though distillers are making the most of it.”
Silent trees. Mighty mountains. Raw nature. Mysterious forests. The taste of berries and herbs squeezed/crushed by Norwegian hands. His inspirations are deeply rooted in local culture and folklore. The taste, craftmanship and philosophy perfected by generations. Bareksten is the bottled essence of Norwegian nature. Craft has finally found its spirits. They bear the name of Stig Bareksten. The product mirrors Norwegians – with a “dark” expression, but with a playful soul. And when gin drinkers find that the content tastes as elegant as the container looks, we are winning them over.
The huge number of gins entered in our annual blind-tasting competition showed just how popular this category is, so much show that for the second year we have split the judging into two sessions. Who were the medal winners in this year’s Gin Masters blind tasting?
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