Category: Modernist Spirits

Found in the Field Guide under the category of Modernist Spirits, which is defined by "creative exploration of new ingredients and cutting-edge techniques in the world of distillation", Monker's Garkel is the world’s first gin created entirely by artificial intelligence. It's the result of what its creators at Bristol's Circumstance Distillery called a Gin Neural Network, which combed through thousands of gin recipes and botanicals before creating the final botanical makeup, as well as the name and label design.

“The data all around us comes from millions of stories, and in turn has its own stories to tell… we wondered what story an AI would tell with a gin recipe," says the distillery. Those tasting this spirit might be able to pick out notes of raspberry leaf, gooseberry, marigold and clementine.

See also: The Most Unique Gins Across Asia Right Now

Category: Collaborative Creations

Highlighting spirits that were created through partnerships between industry-leading distillers, producers and bartenders, the Collaborative Creations category features Argo's own bespoke gin distilled by Australia's Never Never Distilling Co. Lightly aged in ex-wine barrels seasoned with Mancino Secco vermouth and blended with three types of Chinese tea, the gin is then served in the Argo Martini along with seasonal hydrosols (otherwise known as herbal distillates) and a "magic olive" that adds complexity, nuance, and surprise to the drinking experience.

Category: Philanthropic & Socially Conscious

Originating from Mauritius and Barbados, Equiano rum was picked by Argo for the care shown in its production process towards the land and those impacted by its creation, reflecting a holistic approach to distilling. 

It takes its name from Olaudah Equiano, a Beninese slave who purchased his freedom by selling rum, later founding an abolitionist movement in London. As one of the first African writers to have his work published, Equiano’s compelling memoirs went on to inform the Transatlantic Slave Trade Act of 1807, impacting the freedom of people all over the world.

"We feel great pride and honour in his name adorning our bottle and that is why we give five percent of company profits to ground level freedom and equality projects annually,” says Equiano co-founder Oli Bartlam.

Related: The Best Asian Rums To Drink Right Now

Category: A Sense Of The Land

Grouped with other spirits that celebrate provenance and ancestral traditions while safeguarding the essence of terroir for future generations, this vodka from rain-drenched Cape Grim in northwestern Tasmania is an inimitable example of out-of-the-box spirits-making. 

“We wanted to continue to showcase the best of what the land around us can produce, and surrounding the local area of Cape Grim are family owned dairies, so we decided to work with them to make the world’s first fat-washed full spirit," says Cape Grim founder Dean Lucas. "Every autumn the season’s heaviest rains produce the lushest grass across the region. The high moisture levels in the grass means the local cows produce the tastiest and creamiest milk. This in turn is created into some of the world’s greatest butter. We use this local autumn butter which allows us another way to highlight our amazing land."

Category: A Clash Of The Worlds

Symbolising the meeting point of different schools of thought, practices and traditions previously separated by distance, time or thinking, the category of A Clash Of The Worlds includes Compass Box's Affinity spirit, which cannot legally be labelled as a whisky due to its blend of Scottish whisky and French Calvados. Rich stewed apple fruit meets the spice of sherried oak on the palate, marking an unexpected "affinity" across these two distinct traditions of aged spirits.