Bronze, Botanicals & Blind Tastings: Our London Dry Gin Wins Big

There are moments on this journey with Urban Rhino Spirits that remind us exactly why we do what we do – and this is one of them.

A few weeks ago, Pete and I hit the road for Norwich. Just the two of us, a decent playlist, plenty of snacks, and that mix of excitement and nerves that comes with stepping into something big. We were headed to the final round of judging at the World Drinks Awards – one of the most respected competitions in the global spirits industry – and had been invited to take part in the blind tasting panel.

That alone was a privilege. But then came the news: our Urban Rhino London Dry Gin had won a Bronze Medal – an incredible achievement in a category packed with some of the world’s finest gins.

To say we’re proud doesn’t even scratch the surface.

The London Dry category is one of the most competitive out there. Hundreds of entries from across the globe. Judging done completely blind, based purely on aroma, balance, and flavour. For our gin to be recognised at that level is a huge honour – and a real moment for us as a small, purpose-driven brand.

We’ve always believed in this recipe. Classic, clean, and juniper-forward, with carefully chosen botanicals like lemon peel, cassia bark, coriander seed, and orris root . It’s a gin that respects tradition while standing out with its own quiet confidence – and we’ve loved seeing how much it resonates with people.

Running a small business means long hours, plenty of hustle, and wearing all the hats – but it also means every win feels personal. Every milestone matters. And behind all of it is our driving purpose: supporting rhino conservation in Africa through our work with The Rhino Orphanage, the world’s first facility dedicated to caring for orphaned rhinos, Waterberg Rhino UK, and Helping Rhinos .

This award is a reminder that what we’re building matters – not just to us, but to our customers, our conservation partners, and to everyone who’s joined us on this journey. Thank you for believing in what we do and for helping us take this small, mighty brand to the world stage.

Here’s to more adventures, more awards, and more rhinos saved – one bottle at a time.

Cheers,

Sarah

& The Urban Rhino Team