Certified organic spirits have been checked, audited and certified by a trusted certification agency with a set of standards to comply with. Organic spirits are those produced from organic grains and fruits that normally would be conventionally grown. Meaning they have not been sprayed with synthetic pesticides or herbicides. Organic is a holistic style of farming that prioritises the health of the soil and surrounding habitat - focusing on long-term nourishment.

Plastic free is a certification that audits the companies use of plastic in their products and processes. This is done through a plastic assessment, performance indicators, a plastic reduction plan and plan deployment. More noticeably plastic free is seen in products that use eco-packaging.

The International Wine and Spirits Commission considers a liquor brand to be sustainable based on the following: repurposing efforts (including recycling casks, sourcing alternative energy, reducing plastics), supporting local economy, and conscious ingredient sourcing and use. This also includes building and maintaining healthy soil, managing water wisely, minimising air, water and climate pollution and promoting biodiversity by keeping wild ecosystems intact instead of clearing land etc. These principles avoid damaging impacts without sacrificing productivity or profitability.

Natural spirits are not a well-defined category but for us we see natural spirits as being in their most natural state. This means not using synthetic chemicals, artificial flavours, colours and preservatives. Natural Spirit brands strive for sourcing the best quality products and using minimal intervention throughout the process.

Gluten Free is the absence of the seed storage protein (gluten) found in certain cereal grains. Pure, distilled liquor is naturally gluten-free, even if made from wheat, barley, or rye. Most liquors are safe for people with celiac disease because of the distillation process. However some spirits could have added flavours or other additives that contain gluten after distillation.

Vegan spirits are the absence of animal derived ingredients. Common non-vegan ingredients used in some spirits are milk and cream, honey and carmine (a red dye made out of scaly insects called cochineal added to certain spirits for colour). It can be difficult to spot a vegan drink by the label as producers are under no obligation to list animal products used in the production process.

Craft spirits aren't a hugely well defined category but there are some common characteristics. It uses terms such as ‘small batch’, ‘carefully done’ or ‘made with love’. They are generally high-quality products coming from privately owned companies where integrity of the product story is prioritised. Craft tends to feel more unique where new techniques and experimental flavours are adopted, creating a more personal brand compared to mass produced products.