Place, Passion, And Purpose: Three Craft Distillers Redefining Global Spirits At The SOCraft Awards 2025-26

An arak distiller on the beatific holiday island of Bali. A husband and wife team crafting gin among New Zealand’s pristine landscapes. And a tropical distillery nestled in the Philippines province of Laguna. Three distilleries from different corners of the region don’t have much in common at first glance. Yet they all share a belief that that exceptional spirits are made from place, passion, and purpose, and one defining moment — walking away from this year’s SOCraft awards with prestigious recognition for their exceptional craft spirits.

In fact, the 2025-26 Spirit of Craft Awards celebrated exceptional craft spirits from nine countries, with Asia’s first craft spirits competition awarding 25 winners across multiple categories. 

Asia emerged as a craft spirits powerhouse, led by Cambodia’s Casa Seekers Mekong Bitter securing prestigious 3 Star (Platinum) status, while Oceania dominated with 14 award-winning spirits from Australia and New Zealand. 

Gin reigned supreme with 12 craft gins earning recognition, including standout performances from Philippine distillery Archipelago, which secured 2 Star status for both its Black Bamboo Gin and Navy Strength Gin. 

The awards, judged by a panel of 20 industry experts including Asia’s top mixologists and spirits critics, uniquely integrated environmental responsibility as a core judging criterion, reflecting the industry’s growing commitment to sustainability alongside craftsmanship excellence.

The Arak Revolutionary: Leonard Theosabrata, Bali

Leonard Theosabrata isn’t your typical spirits producer. This passionate designer-turned-distiller describes himself as someone “always interested in exploring the ‘self made’ spirit in different aspects of creative lifestyle.”

He’s equally comfortable designing interiors or “exploring the formulation for the next arak-based spirit.” It’s this restless creativity that led him to launch two arak brands, Marak and Ark, in October 2024 under his company Indoestri Teluk Saba.

“Most important to me is that drive and passion are pointed in the right direction,” Leonard explains. And so, the company’s mission extends far beyond mere profit. Working directly with local tuak harvesters from Tri Eka Buana Village in Karangasem, his operation respects arak’s ancestral roots while meeting contemporary standards. “There’s a movement that I believe is vital for Bali, one that has been revitalizing arak for the past four years. The Marak project has a long history, and it is all done in honor of our island home, Bali.”

His two expressions couldn’t be more different. Marak, at 38.5% ABV, offers a “rich and creamy” nose with “oolong tea’s distinctive milkiness,” while Ark, at 45% ABV, hits you with an “initially sharp and assertive” punch that evolves into “sweet, fruity, and earthy notes characteristic of tuak.”

Leonard sees arak as “a challenger category” enjoying a well-deserved resurgence, and he’s bullish about its future: “I believe arak will be the next big trend in the spirit world. Right now tequila is really enjoying the moment, and perhaps rum will be the next one in line, and soon after people all over the world will be able to enjoy arak, especially Balinese arak.”

For him, the SOCraft Award represents a step towards the future for arak, and a “joyous validation to the work that we’ve seen in arak spirits for many years.”

The Kiwi Power Couple: Jo and Dave James, New Zealand

Then there’s Jo and Dave James, the husband-and-wife team behind Begin Distilling and their internationally acclaimed Juno brand. After careers in health and dairy, they pivoted to spirits in 2015, bringing a refreshingly practical approach to craft distilling. “Having lived overseas for most of our careers, it was exciting to be back in our own country working with growers and producers, marketing teams, engineering teams and packaging suppliers,” Dave explains contentedly.

Their SOCraft wins — two stars each for Juno Extra Fine Gin and Vesta Coffee Vodka — showcase their range. The gin is described as “citrus and juniper forward with a long and complex finish,” while their coffee vodka is a game-changer: “a clear, dry spirit that tastes like the smell of freshly roasted coffee.” Plus, they note, “it invigorates an Espresso Martini with a rich creaminess.”

But it’s their Dark Forest cocktail — mixing Vesta with Chambord — that really shows their playful side, creating “Black Forest Gateau Cake in a glass.” The drink reflects their company credo to, “make it fun.”

The couple sees New Zealand’s isolation as both a challenge and an opportunity. “Being so far away from the rest of the world” means slow supply lines, but it’s “really prompted our focus on New Zealand-grown and New Zealand produced ingredients” that are “fresh, lively and exciting.”

Their ultimate goal? “We would love to see our spirits in bars and homes around the world creating moments and memories,” they conclude.

The Filipino Trailblazers: Matthew and Laurie Westfall, Philippines

Matthew Westfall and wife Laurie are the craft power couple behind Full Circle Craft Distillers Co. in Calamba, Laguna. Seven years in, they’re building their Archipelago brand with German precision and Filipino soul. It’s already distributed across 18 countries and expanding rapidly.

“As a family-owned and operated enterprise, we are sharply focused on authenticity and sustainability, while bringing a taste of the Philippines to spirits enthusiasts around the world,” Matthew explains. Their approach is refreshingly honest and transparent. “No smoke, no mirrors,” they promise.

The spirits by these SOCraft winners showcase their philosophy brilliantly. Their ARC Lava Rock Vodka is naturally filtered through “foraged lava rocks from the active volcanoes of Taal and Mayon,” while their Navy Strength Gin packs in 28 botanicals, including 22 locally sourced from across the Philippines.

Westfall sees bigger trends at play: “We are seeing a trend that has been long in coming: the rise of the Philippines in the F&B space.” He points to Filipino chefs set to earn MICHELIN stars (the guide arrives in the country this year) and opening acclaimed restaurants from San Francisco to Singapore. “Finally, it is our time!”

But the couple’s proudest moments come from fellow Filipinos discovering their embossed sunburst from the national flag on the bottom of their bottles. “When they find it, it always brings a smile,” they tell us.

Looking ahead, they’re launching an artisanal rum and expanding across Asia, driven by “our singular desire to put the Philippines on the global craft spirits map and bring the very best of the Philippines to the world.”

The Craft Revolution Continues

These three operations represent something bigger than individual success stories. They’re proof that craft spirits excellence knows no geographical boundaries, only passionate dedication to quality, authenticity, and innovation. 

Whether it’s reviving ancient arak traditions in Bali, perfecting coffee vodka in New Zealand, or filtering spirits through volcanic rock in the Philippines, these distillers are pushing boundaries and creating new categories.

As Matthew Westfall puts it: “People are slowly yet inexorably gravitating to quality, despite all the false narratives and short-cuts and misleading hype that we see in the spirits space.” In a world increasingly hungry for authentic experiences, these craft distillers are serving up exactly what consumers crave — stories you can taste, traditions you can touch, and innovations you can celebrate.

And The SOCraft Awards have done more than recognize excellence; they’ve spotlighted a global movement of craft distillers who refuse to compromise, whether that’s working directly with farmers in Bali, sourcing locally in New Zealand, or building family legacies in the Philippines. These aren’t just spirits — they’re liquid manifestations of place, passion, and purpose.