5 Banks DIH Ltd beverages earn Monde Selection Gold Quality Awards

…awards highlight Guyanese innovation, brewing craftsmanship – company

Banks DIH Limited has received the 2026 Monde Selection International Gold Quality Award, secured multiple Gold Quality Awards and reaffirmed the exceptional global standard of the company’s local brewery output.
Celebrating five of its outstanding beverages, Banks DIH Limited was awarded the prestigious 2026 Monde Selection Gold Quality Award – a globally-respected benchmark for product excellence.

The award-winning products span many of the company’s signature beverages in the beer award category, including Banks Beer, Classic Premium Lager Beer, Malta Supreme Coconut and Ginseng, Malta Supreme 0.0 per cent and Sorrel Shandy, evidence of the consistent, high-calibre standards that Banks DIH Limited has maintained throughout its over 70-year history of production excellence.
Speaking about the accomplishment during a press conference on Thursday at the Banks DIH Limited headquarters at Thirst Park, Brewmaster Matthew Kendall highlighted that the awards are proof of the high-quality products the company continues to produce.
“We proudly celebrate Banks Beer, Classic Beer, Sorrel Shandy, Malta Supreme Coconut and Ginseng, and Malta Supreme Zero. These are not just product awards; these are awards for Guyanese manufacturing excellence. Today we celebrate the success of these brands that reflect the diversity, innovation, and technical capability of Banks DIH Limited,” Kendall stated.
“Today is a proud moment, not simply because we are announcing international recognition but because we are celebrating Guyanese excellence, innovation, craftsmanship, and world-class quality. Banks DIH Limited is immensely proud to announce that five of our outstanding beverage products have been awarded the prestigious Monde Selection Gold Quality Award, a globally-respected benchmark for product excellence.”
In thanking those responsible for the achievement, Kendall emphasised that the recognition reflects the high standards and excellence of the products being produced locally.
Kendall acknowledged the company’s brewing team, operators, engineers, quality assurance team, laboratory professionals, packaging team, sales representatives, and every employee whose hard work contributed to the accomplishment.
He noted that the recognition sends a powerful message that products proudly made in Guyana can compete with the very best in the world.
Kendall further stated that Banks DIH remains committed to investing in innovation, technical excellence, manufacturing capabilities, and products that authentically reflect the spirit, creativity, and quality of the nation.
Kendall then highlighted each beverage individually, emphasising the unique qualities and manufacturing excellence that set them apart.
He noted that at 4.5 per cent ABV, Banks Beer delivers the crisp and refreshing lager profile that consumers have come to appreciate, featuring balanced malt sweetness, a subtle floral hop character, and a smooth, clean finish that reflects decades of brewing excellence.
He also stated that receiving the Monde Selection Gold Quality Award serves as international recognition of what generations of Guyanese consumers have long believed – that Banks Beer is a world-class product. The beverage continues to be marketed under the slogan “Classic Beer”.
Speaking about Classic Beer, Kendall explained that at 5.0 per cent ABV, the beverage is a full-bodied premium lager carefully crafted using specially selected hop varieties that deliver a clean, refined bitterness balanced with an exceptionally pleasant taste.
He noted that the blend of two premium malt varieties contributes to its rich, full malty character, which is considered the hallmark of a premium-quality beer.
“A true lager beer, it undergoes the essential lagering process, allowing the flavours to mature fully and harmoniously, resulting in a distinctive burst of aroma and character from the very first sip to the last,” he stated.
Kendall also highlighted Sorrel Shandy as another exciting dimension of innovation, bringing Caribbean heritage to life in a refreshing modern format.
With less than 0.9 per cent alcohol content, the beverage captures one of the Caribbean’s most iconic seasonal flavours in a light, sparkling experience that is distinctly Caribbean. According to Kendall, sorrel is closely associated with celebration, culture, and shared memories, and the award-winning beverage transforms the beloved flavour into a modern and refreshing offering.