Customer Spotlight: GIN CRESPO—The Most Awarded Gin in Latin America

CRESPO GIN Origin Story

CRESPO GIN traces its roots back to the 1960s, when my father, Gustavo Crespo Vintimilla, began creating enduring products at just 19 years old—products that remain available to this day.

At the time of his retirement, we decided to evolve once again with a new ambition: to create a premium Ecuadorian gin capable of competing internationally while proudly expressing its place of origin. The goal was to craft a London Dry-style gin with a high technical standard, a balanced botanical profile, and a story deeply connected to Ecuador.

Recent international recognition has validated that vision. After earning multiple medals and a previous 96-point score, CRESPO achieved a 98-point score and is now positioned to compete for Best in Class alongside some of the finest gins in the world.

Even with these awards, our philosophy remains simple: every bottle should be crafted with care, precision, and respect—as if it were the first.

First Sale

Our first commercial sales began in Ecuador in 2016 after the formula, production process, and required registrations were finalized. The first sales were important because they validated that consumers were ready for a premium Ecuadorian gin with international standards.

Biggest Risk Taken

The biggest risk was believing that a premium gin from Ecuador could earn credibility in a category traditionally dominated by European and large international brands. It required investing in quality ingredients, process discipline, branding, packaging, and competitions without knowing whether the market would understand the idea. The awards now help prove that the risk was worthwhile: CRESPO has earned 23 international medals and recognition at the 98-point level.

Unique Challenges

One challenge is building a premium spirits brand from a country that is not yet widely known for gin. That means the product must explain itself quickly: why Ecuador, why cane alcohol, why Andean water, and why this botanical profile. Another challenge is consistency. Botanical ingredients are natural products, so aroma, freshness, and sourcing quality matter. We also operate in a regulated industry where production, labeling, registration, distribution, and export all require careful attention.

Learned Along the Way

We learned that excellence in spirits is a combination of creativity and discipline. A beautiful story is not enough; the liquid has to be consistent, technically correct, and competitive in blind tasting. The awards have been meaningful, but they also reinforce responsibility. A 98-point score and Best in Class positioning raise expectations, so the real work is to keep making every batch with the same care and attention as the first.

Business/Product Inspirations

The inspiration comes from classic London Dry gin, family heritage, and the ambition to show that Ecuador can produce a world-class spirit. CRESPO is inspired by traditional gin formulas and by the idea of connecting Ecuadorian raw materials with botanicals from around the world. The brand also draws inspiration from gastronomy, travel, and the way a great gin can become part of social moments, cocktails, and celebrations.

Product Goals - Ideal Product

The ideal CRESPO product is clean, balanced, aromatic, and memorable. It should work beautifully in a simple gin and tonic, perform well in cocktails, and still be enjoyable when tasted neat. Our goal is not to make the loudest gin, but to make a gin with structure, elegance, freshness, and identity. Every expression should feel premium, authentic, and connected to Ecuador.

Helpful Resources in Starting Your Company (online or otherwise)

Key resources included technical distillation research, sensory evaluation, guidance from industry professionals, supplier relationships, regulatory guidance, and benchmarking against leading international gins. Competitions and expert feedback also became important tools because they gave us an external standard for quality.

Helpful resources you continue to use as business progresses

We continue to rely on trusted botanical suppliers, technical testing, compliance advisors, trade feedback, bartenders, distributors, and international competitions. Supplier consistency is especially important because botanicals are the heart of gin. Reliable partners help us keep the product consistent while we continue to innovate.

Best Advice Received?

The best advice was to focus first on the quality of the liquid. Branding, storytelling, and distribution matter, but the product must be strong enough to win when tasted blind. That advice shaped how CRESPO approached formulation, botanical sourcing, production, and international competitions. The result is a gin with 23 international medals and scores as high as 100 points.

GIN CRESPO on Business and the Industry

The Team

CRESPO was originally led by my father, Gustavo Crespo Vintimilla (+), who passed away in 2020. He left behind an important legacy and a lasting source of inspiration for future generations, showing us how products should be made and the level of quality that can be achieved with vision, discipline, and passion.

He remains the creator of the original recipe and the founder of the project. Today, CRESPO continues with the support of a small team of specialized collaborators who contribute to production, compliance, design, brand development, sales, logistics, and market expansion.

The project also relies on valued external partners, including suppliers, distributors, competition organizers, designers, and advisors, who help transform the original idea into a product capable of competing internationally.

I have now taken full responsibility for production and international sales, with the commitment to preserve my father’s legacy while continuing to grow CRESPO as a premium Ecuadorian gin on the world stage.

Core Values

Quality, authenticity, consistency, craftsmanship, innovation, and pride of origin. CRESPO is built on the idea that Ecuadorian products can compete at the highest international level when they are made with discipline and attention to detail.

Mission & Vision

Mission: To create premium Ecuadorian spirits that meet international standards and express a clear sense of origin.

Vision: To position CRESPO as a recognized Latin American premium gin brand and to show that Ecuador can produce spirits capable of competing with the best in the world. CRESPO’s 23 international medals and 98-point recognition support that vision, but the long-term goal is consistency, credibility, and international growth.

What makes your company special?

CRESPO combines a disciplined London Dry approach with an Ecuadorian origin story. The gin is made with extra-neutral cane alcohol and Andean water, and its botanical profile connects ingredients from multiple origins into a balanced, award-winning spirit. What makes the company special is not only the recognition - 23 international medals, a 98-point score, and Best in Class positioning - but also the discipline to continue crafting each bottle carefully, as if it were the first.

Who is your customer?

Our customer is a curious premium spirits consumer: people who enjoy gin and tonic, craft cocktails, culinary experiences, travel, design, and discovery. In Ecuador, the customer is often someone looking for a premium local alternative to imported gin. Internationally, the target consumer is someone interested in high-quality craft spirits with a real story and a distinct place of origin.

Industry Challenges

The spirits industry is competitive, highly regulated, and increasingly expensive to enter. Small brands must manage sourcing, compliance, packaging, distribution, and education while competing with global companies that have large budgets. For a Latin American gin brand, another challenge is credibility: consumers and buyers may not immediately expect a world-class gin from Ecuador. Awards such as a 98-point score and 23 international medals help open doors, but consistent quality is what keeps them open.

Industry Trends

Current trends include premium craft gin, regional provenance, natural botanicals, lower-sugar and fresher RTD cocktails, citrus-forward profiles, floral notes, culinary ingredients, and products with a clear origin story. Consumers are also looking for authenticity: they want to know where ingredients come from, how products are made, and why a brand exists.

Where to find CRESPO Gin

CRESPO GIN is available in Ecuador through selected retail, hospitality, and brand channels. For current availability, customers can contact CRESPO directly through www.gincrespo.com, on Instagram @gincrespo, @crespodrinks, or email: [email protected]

Next steps for Company

The next steps are to keep strengthening CRESPO GIN in Ecuador, expand selected distribution opportunities internationally, and continue developing new products. The company is also working on RTD innovation and special expressions while preserving the quality standards that earned CRESPO 23 international medals and a 98-point score. The broader objective is to turn international recognition into sustainable growth for an Ecuadorian premium spirits brand.