THE Distillery Co. Fiji, maker of award-winning spirits such Blue Turtle Gin and VulaViti Vodka, has achieved another historic milestone after winning two gold medals at the recent 2026 London Spirits Competition.
“VulaViti Vodka scored an extraordinary 93 points out of 100. Blue Turtle Gin scored 91 points out of 100. Both are Golds. Both are the highest scores ever recorded by a Fijian spirit at the London Spirits Competition. Ever,” chief executive officer and head distiller Paul Clark said in a statement.
“Our scores for both products were the highest scores ever achieved by a Fijian spirit in the history of the competition, both in the very difficult vodka and gin classes,” Mr Clark later told this newspaper.
“For a molasses/cane-based vodka to achieve a score of 93 points is unheard of- Blue Turtle always does well and in such a crowded space, it is an exceptional result.”
Mr Clark said the spirits are purely home-grown and the win is a testament to “something very special happening in Pacific Harbour”, home to The Distillery Co. Fiji.
“These are not imported spirits dressed up in a Fijian bottle,” he said.
“Every drop of VulaViti Vodka and Blue Turtle Gin begins in a Fijian cane field. The sugarcane is grown by Fijian farmers, crushed and processed by the Fijian Sugar Corporation, and then fermented and distilled entirely in Fiji — by Fijians, for the world.
“For a molasses-based cane vodka to score 93 points — competing head-to-head against the world’s finest grain and potato vodkas from Europe and beyond — is an extraordinary achievement.
“The judges, drawn from some of the world’s most respected bars, retailers and distilleries, noted a complex, creamy palate with tropical fruit, aniseed and subtle spice, finishing long with a velvety, crisp, clean texture. That is the taste of Fijian cane. That is the taste of Fiji,” Mr Clark added.
“Blue Turtle Gin’s 91-point Gold is equally remarkable. The global gin category is one of the most competitive and oversaturated markets in the world, with thousands of craft gins launched every year.
“To stand out in that field — with a Pacific gin built entirely on a Fijian cane base and Fijian botanicals — speaks to something very special happening in Pacific Harbour.”
Mr Clark, who founded the distillery with his brother Hugh in 2016 and produced the distillery’s first bottle in 2020, just before the world closed down due to COVID-19, is a direct descendant of renowned botanist Jacob Storck and Sir Hugh Ragg, famous names in Fiji’s colonial days and whose descendants still live in Fiji today.
“Sir Hugh Ragg became famous as the ‘father of tourism’ in Fiji and served in Government for many years, a keen horse man he was well respected and generous,” the brothers share on their company website.
“His nephew and name-sake Hugh Ragg served as general manager of Carlton Breweries for many years, overseeing the creation of Fiji Gold – and cementing the reputation of the legendary Fiji Bitter.”
Mr Clark said the win was a “validation of everything we have been working towards — to prove that Fiji can produce very complex spirits at a commercial scale that will best some of the most iconic brands in the world.”
“Yes, I must admit I am a bit obsessive. Vodka is a very simple spirit but there is nowhere to hide. The work we have put into it has been rewarded.
“This is not just a win for us but for our farmers, the Fiji Sugar Corporation, and the whole of Fiji itself.
“Blue Turtle is something very dear to my heart and we know it’s good — but it’s always great to get acknowledgement in such a hard-fought sector.
“These two scores represent the highest ever scores achieved by a Fijian spirit in the history of the competition — a testament to our staff, the Fijian Sugar Corporation, and our Fijian farmers.
“All of Fiji should be very proud that we can grow, ferment, and distil world-class products right here in our island nation.”
At The Distillery Co. Fiji in Pacific Harbour. Picture: THE DISTILLERY CO. FIJI
The Distillery Co. Fiji CEO and head distiller Paul Clark. Picture: THE DISTILLERY CO. FIJI
