Staff WriterPrince’s Golf Club, already known for its windswept dunes and links golf pedigree, now has another feather in its flat cap—and it’s soaked in juniper.
The Kent-based club’s exclusive Smugglers Landing Gin has been crowned Best in England – Matured Gin at the 2025 World Gin Awards. That’s not just a nod from a local tasting panel; that’s top-shelf validation from one of the most respected global spirits competitions.
And yes, you read that right—gin. Not content with perfecting par-4s and coastal green complexes, Prince’s Golf Club has wandered off the fairway and into the world of craft distilling, and it’s already lapping the field.
The story begins not in a bar, but at the tee box of Smugglers Landing—the club’s coastal-inspired hole, where golf meets history in the salty sea breeze.
Inspired by the area’s smuggling past (think contraband, not contraband cargo shorts), the club partnered with local alchemists Canterbury Brewers and Distillers.
What followed was less a marketing ploy and more a creative collision of craftsmanship.
“This one turned out to be something really special,” said Jon Mills, Director at the distillery.
“I’m not someone who usually drinks gin neat, but this one – with the richness from the rum barrel – I happily do. We made it exclusively for Prince’s, and it turns out we made the best in England.”
Yes, rum barrel. The gin was aged in a Gamecock rum cask—previously home to the distiller’s award-winning premium rum.
Originally, it was meant to rest for three months. But, like a round of golf that turns into a sunset session on the 19th hole, the team let it linger.
The result? A gin of quiet complexity, with a flavour that surprises you like a birdie on a double-break putt.
The botanical bill isn’t phoning it in, either. It includes sea buckthorn—yes, the same stuff that grows wild around the Prince’s Golf Club course—alongside juniper, coriander seed, angelica root, orris root, lemon peel, ginger, and a whisper of pepper. The blend mirrors the course: local, layered, and occasionally windswept.
General Manager Rob McGuirk summed it up: “This is a wonderful result and a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration and creativity.
Our gin reflects the spirit of the club – distinctive, proudly local, and of the highest quality. We’re proud to share it with our members and guests.”
That last bit is important, because you won’t find Smugglers Landing Gin on the shelves of your nearest Waitrose.
It’s not commercially available—only stocked at the Prince’s Golf Club Pro Shop, like a hidden bottle behind the bar known only to regulars.
The win adds another gold star to the club’s reputation—not just as a serious golf destination, but as a curator of bespoke experiences.
From its championship pedigree to its award-winning spirit (literally), Prince’s continues to blend tradition with innovation in a way that would make Old Tom Morris nod in approval—while sipping gin, of course.
And as for Canterbury Brewers and Distillers, well, they’re on a tear, racking up awards across the entire spirits range—gin, whisky, rum, vodka.
But for now, it’s the collaboration with Prince’s Golf Club that’s raising eyebrows… and glasses.
So next time you play a round at Prince’s, skip the Gatorade. You’ve earned something better.
