Croatian Old Pilot’s Gin wins best in world award

(Photo: Old Pilot’s Gin)

31 July 2019 – Old Pilot’s Gin, which is distilled by two former army pilots in Zagreb, Croatia, has won the gold medal at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) in London. 

Old Pilot’s Gin, which is created by Hrvoje Bušić and Tomislav Anadolac, won the London Dry Gin Trophy 2019 award for their product.

“Overwhelmed and thankful to the judges at IWSC for selecting our Old Pilot’s Gin for the London Dry Gin Trophy 2019 award. Brands that achieve Gold medals in the IWSC Competition are put forward to win the overall trophy for their specific category. This is first time that such a trophy has been awarded to a brand from Croatia,” Old Pilot’s Gin said on Tuesday. 

Bušić and Anadolac met more than 20 years ago at the army pilot academy in Zadar. The gin enthusiasts decided to start a micro-distillery “Duh u boci” (The Spirit in the Bottle) and Old Pilot’s Gin was created.

Hrvoje Bušić and Tomislav Anadolac (Photo: Old Pilot’s Gin)

“Old Pilot’s Gin is a London Dry Gin and a true example of Croatian “craft” spirit distilled with a selection of hand picked Croatian botanicals that grow in the Mediterranean and continental parts of Croatia. The special selection consist of Juniper, Sweet and Bitter Oranges, Lavender, Olive leaves, Sage and Angelica. A single bottle packed with best flavours Croatia has to offer”, is how the pair describe the gin.

“We use special techniques for the preparation and distillation in order to preserve all those botanical oils without dominant alcohol notes. The full process from preparation, distillation, maturation, bottling, labeling and wax sealing is done by hand. Every bottle is unique and special.”

The International Wine & Spirit Competition has for half a century been recognising and rewarding the very best wines and spirits in the world. 

Old Pilot’s Gin has already won a number of awards, including Best Croatian Craft Gin, a gold medal at the GinUrWay UK competition, a silver medal from the American Distilling Institute and in May this year, a gold medal at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. They also won the brozne medal in the Packaging Design Competition at the San Francisco World Spirit Competition for their bottle design.