The Australian Distilled Spirits Awards, now in their third year, announced the trophy winners for the best spirits in show at a event in Melbourne last night.
Judging for the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards (which is held by the RASV) took place over two days last week, with 154 entries and 42 distillers taking part. Some 80 medals — gold, silver, and bronze — were awarded, as well as the trophies today.
The judging panel was headed by Jason Crawley, with many of the judges drawn from the bar industry — like the 2015 Bartender of the Year, Lee Potter Cavanagh; whisky buyer for the Speakeasy Group, Geoff Fewell; owners of Melbourne bar Whisky & Alement, Julian White and Bad Frankie’s Sebastian Costello; Australian Bartender editor Sam Bygrave, among many more.
The big winner of the awards was Limeburners Whisky, who took out the trophy for the 2016 Champion Distiller. They also took out the title of Champion Small Batch Spirit for their Single Malt Heavy Peat M226, which also took out the trophy for Champion Whisky.
Kangaroo Island Spirits was awarded the Champion Gin trophy for their Old Tom gin, and the trophy for Champion Vodka went to Old Young’s Pure No. 1.
The Champion Brandy title went St Agnes XO — which you may recognise from features like this one — whilst the trophy for Champion Rum went to Ord River Premium.
Lastly, the trophy for Champion Liqueur went to Castle Glen Australia’s Golden Knight Schnapps Liqueur.
Check back for a list of all the medal winners.