Oxford hotel's gin beats big spirit names to win top honour

An Oxford hotel’s own house gin beat some of the biggest names in the industry to be named Best in Country at the World Gin Awards.

The Store London Dry Gin, which was created by the boutique Store Hotel Oxford in partnership with Hawkridge Distillers, earned top honours in the major competition.

The gin is also shortlisted for the World’s Best London Dry Gin, with judging to take place later this month. The winner will be announced on 4 June. 

General manager Simon Drake said: “It confirmed what we’ve long believed - that when you put story, intention and quality at the heart of what you serve, people respond.”

The 101-room Oxford hotel opened last year in the historic Boswells department store and is recommended in the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland.

It offers a full collection of bespoke spirits exclusively to guests, including Store Tequila Blanco, Tequila Reposado and First Reserve 12-Year English Whisky.

Drake said more hospitality operators were creating their own bespoke spirits as a way to enhance their brand identity and create a more bespoke customer experience.

“There’s a real shift happening,” he added. “Consumers today want more than a recognisable label - they want to understand the craft, the provenance, the values behind what they’re drinking. The big-name brands don’t always deliver that.”

The Store’s full spirits range is available behind the bar and in its rooftop cocktail menu, acting as a branding boost for the hotel and a guest amenity.

“We didn’t want spirits with our logo slapped on the side,” said Drake. “We wanted liquids that tell a story - our story. Every detail, from the distillation method to the tasting profile, was considered. That’s the level of care guests expect from a luxury experience.

“These spirits embody what we’re about - modern luxury, local storytelling, and hospitality with purpose,

“When guests ask for a gin and we serve them the best in the country, it sets the tone. It tells them they’re in the right place.”