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.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

1. Taste the Triple Winner: Order Hernö London Dry or Old Tom and experience why judges keep handing it gold.

2. Enter Your Spirits: Distillers outside the U.S.—submit to ADI and leverage its buyer introductions.

3. 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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