Fresh off the ADI awards stage, Jon Hillgren—founder of Hernö Gin Distillery in Härnösand, Sweden—joins host Ronnell Richards to celebrate an unprecedented third-straight Best-in-Class win. From crafting organic botanicals 500 km north of Stockholm to breaking into U.S. markets via ADI’s International Spirits Competition, Jon explains how patience, precision, and purposeful marketing turned a small Nordic gin house into a global sensation.
Winning Three Years Running
Why Hernö’s London Dry, Navy Strength, and Old Tom gins each captured ADI’s top honor in consecutive years.
How consistent medal wins translate directly into distribution deals—most recently in California.
Crafting Gin Above the 62nd Parallel
The flavor impact of sourcing 100 % certified-organic botanicals in Sweden’s cool climate.
Why Hernö lets each batch rest a full 24 hours (instead of the industry-standard five) to maximize aroma extraction.
Choosing the Right Competitions
Jon’s criteria for entering only six global competitions—focusing on jury expertise, professional organization, and marketing reach.
How ADI uniquely connects medal-winners with U.S. buyers across multiple states.
Building a Single-Category Brand
The strategy behind being “hard-core gin only” and offering London Dry, Navy Strength, Old Tom, terroir-driven editions, and limited collectibles for aficionados.
Balancing core SKUs with small-batch releases to keep both bartenders and collectors engaged.
Advice for International Distillers
Why European producers should view ADI as a gateway to America’s 50 distinct spirits markets.
The importance of face-to-face networking at conferences where distillers, glass suppliers, and importers converge.
On Craft Over Speed:
“We could finish a batch in five hours, but we wouldn’t be up here collecting awards every year.” – Jon Hillgren
On Choosing Competitions Wisely:
“We focus on contests that are professionally run and reach real buyers. One medal is nice; three in a row is marketing gold.” – Jon Hillgren
On ADI’s Unique Value:
“Winning here doesn’t just get you a trophy—it gets your bottles in front of state-by-state buyers. That’s how we landed in California.” – Jon Hillgren
Hernö Gin Distillery: https://www.hernogin.com
Explore core expressions and limited releases.
Find U.S. availability and international stockists.
American Distilling Institute (ADI): https://distilling.com
Learn about membership, judging criteria, and next year’s International Spirits Competition.
Follow Hernö on Instagram (@hernogin): Track new cask finishes, seasonal foraged gins, and distillery news.
Taste the Triple Winner: Order Hernö London Dry or Old Tom and experience why judges keep handing it gold.
Enter Your Spirits: Distillers outside the U.S.—submit to ADI and leverage its buyer introductions.
Join ADI: Tap into a global network, attend the next conference, and elevate your craft.
Powered By: American Distilling Institute
Host: Ronnell Richards
Guest: Jon Hillgren, Hernö Gin Distillery
Location: Recorded onsite immediately after the 2025 ADI Awards Ceremony
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