The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria in conjunction with the Australian Distillers Association held the first annual Australian Distilled Spirits Awards earlier this month, announcing the medal winners at an event for Melbourne Food and Wine Festival held at The Apartment last night.
Modelled on the wine show format, the competition saw Australian distillers submit the best of what they make to a blind judging process.
A total of seven gold medals were awarded on the day, with notable gold winners being the West Winds The Sabre, Black Bottle XO Brandy, Hoochery Distillery’s Spike’s Reserve and Limeburners Peated Single Malt Barrel M227.
17 silver medals were awarded along with 37 bronze medals — a great showing for the awards first outing.
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Take a look at the full list of medal winners below.
Gold
| Peated Whisky – Barley (Whisky) | Great Southern Distilling Company, WA – Limeburners Peated Single Malt Barrel M227 |
| Traditional Gin (Gin) | The Tailor Made Spirits Company, WA – The West Winds Gin – The Sabre |
| Alternative Style Gins (Gin) | McHenry and Sons Distillery, TAS – McHenry Navy Strength Gin |
| Grape Brandy, 5+ Years Old (Brandy) | VOK Beverages Pty Ltd, SA – Black Bottle XO Brandy |
| Underproof Rum – Dark (Rum) | Hoochery Distillery, WA – Spike’s Reserve |
| Other Liqueur (Liquers) | Castle Glen Australia Pty Ltd, QLD – Pecan & Hazelnut Liqueur |
| Ouzo (Alternative Spirits) | Edgemill Group, VIC – Zeus Oyzo |
Silver
| Single Cask Whisky – Barley (Whisky) | Lark Distillery, TAS – Lark Single Malt Whisky LD516 |
| Traditional Gin (Gin) | Lark Distillery, TAS – Forty Spotted |
| Contemporary Gin (Gin) | The Tailor Made Spirits Company, WA – The West Winds Gin – The Broadside |
| Contemporary Gin (Gin) | Healesville Distilling Co P/L, VIC – Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin |
| Contemporary Gin (Gin) | Healesville Distilling Co P/L, VIC – Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin |
| Contemporary Gin (Gin) | Mt. Uncle Distillery, QLD – Botanic Australis Gin |
| Alternative Style Gins (Gin) | McHenry and Sons Distillery, TAS – McHenry Old English Sloe Gin |
| Plain Vodka (Vodka) | Hunter Distillery, NSW – Valli Premium |
| Plain Vodka (Vodka) | Edgemill Group, VIC – Arktika Vodka |
| Grape Brandy, 3 – 5 Years Old (Brandy) | St Agnus Distillery, SA – St Agnes VSOP Brandy |
| Spiced Rum – Dark (Rum) | Bundaberg Distilling Company, QLD – Bundaberg : Mutiny – Spiced Rum |
| Herb or Botanical Liqueur (Liquers) | Lark Distillery, TAS – Slainte Whisky Liqueur |
| Herb or Botanical Liqueur (Liquers) | Hunter Distillery, NSW – Ginger Liqueur |
| Other Liqueur (Liquers) | Hellyers Road Distillery, TAS – Whisky Cream Liqueur |
| Other Liqueur (Liquers) | Hoochery Distillery, WA – Cane Royale |
| Fruit Infused Spirit (Lemoncello etc) (Alternative Spirits) | Castle Glen Australia Pty Ltd, QLD – Lemoncello |
| Unlisted Spirit (not in any other classes) (Alternative Spirits) | Castle Glen Australia Pty Ltd, QLD – Mandarin Eau de Vie |
Bronze
| Single Malt Whisky – Barley (Whisky) | New World Whisky Distillery, VIC – Starward Australian Malt Whisky – Solera |
| Cask Strength Whisky – Barley (Whisky) | Nant Distillery, TAS – Nant Port Wood Single Cask Highland Single Malt 63% |
| Cask Strength Whisky – Barley (Whisky) | Lark Distillery, TAS – Lark Single Malt Whisky LD473 |
| Cask Strength Whisky – Barley (Whisky) | Great Southern Distilling Company, WA – Limeburners Single Malt Barrel M93 |
| Contemporary Gin (Gin) | Kimberley Rum Company Pty Ltd, WA – Dead Governor’s Gin |
| Contemporary Gin (Gin) | Eastview Estate/Dobson’s Distillery, NSW – Dobson’s Gin |
| Alternative Style Gins (Gin) | McHenry and Sons Distillery, TAS – McHenry Barrel Aged Gin |
| Alternative Style Gins (Gin) | Healesville Distilling Co P/L, VIC – Four Pillars Barrel Aged Gin |
| Plain Vodka (Vodka) | Pure Distillery Company Pty Ltd, 6511 – 666 Pure Tasmanian Vodka |
| Plain Vodka (Vodka) | Lark Distillery, TAS – Alaskan Rock |
| Plain Vodka (Vodka) | Hunter Distillery, NSW – Golden Delish Vodka |
| Plain Vodka (Vodka) | Tasmania Distillery, TAS – Fire Drum |
| Flavour Infused Vodka (Vodka) | Wild Swan Distillery, WA – Wild Swan Cold Drip Coffee Vodka |
| Flavour Infused Vodka (Vodka) | Hunter Distillery, NSW – Valli Lemon Mrytle |
| Flavour Infused Vodka (Vodka) | Edgemill Group, VIC – Arktika Vanilla Vodka |
| Flavour Infused Vodka (Vodka) | Edgemill Group, VIC – Arktika Lemon Lime Vodka |
| Flavour Infused Vodka (Vodka) | Pure Distillery Company Pty Ltd, VIC – 666 St Ali Coffee Vodka |
| Flavour Infused Vodka (Vodka) | Edgemill Group, VIC – Arktika Raspberry Vodka |
| Flavour Infused Vodka (Vodka) | Wild Swan Distillery, WA – Wild Swan Chilli Vodka |
| Flavour Infused Vodka (Vodka) | Pure Distillery Company Pty Ltd, VIC – 666 Autumn Butter Vodka |
| Grape Brandy, 5+ Years Old (Brandy) | St Agnes Distillery, SA – St Agnes XO Brandy |
| Overproof Rum – Dark (Rum) | Hoochery Distillery, WA – Ord River Rum Overproof |
| Overproof Rum – Dark (Rum) | Hoochery Distillery, WA – Ord River Rum Single Barrel |
| Underproof Rum – Dark (Rum) | Sarina Sugar Shed, QLD – Sugar Shed Rum |
| White Rum (Rum) | Hoochery Distillery, WA – Kimberley Moon |
| White Rum (Rum) | VOK Beverages Pty Ltd, SA – Beenleigh White Rum |
| Fruit Liqueur (Liquers) | Hunter Distillery, NSW – Mango Liqueur |
| Herb or Botanical Liqueur (Liquers) | Lark Distillery, TAS – TASI (Bush Liqueur) |
| Herb or Botanical Liqueur (Liquers) | Castle Glen Australia Pty Ltd, QLD – Musk Stick |
| Other Liqueur (Liquers) | Sarina Sugar Shed, QLD – Sarina Sugar Shed Rum Liqueur |
| Other Liqueur (Liquers) | Mt. Uncle Distillery, QLD – Sexycat Marshmallow Liqueur |
| Other Liqueur (Liquers) | Eastview Estate/Dobson’s Distillery, NSW – Le Cafe |
| Other Liqueur (Liquers) | Great Southern Distilling Company, WA – Limeburners Karri Honey Whisky Liqueur |
| Other Liqueur (Liquers) | Bundaberg Distilling Company, QLD – Bundaberg : Royal Liqueur – Coffee and Chocolate |
| Other Liqueur (Liquers) | Hunter Distillery, NSW – Turkish Delight |
| Ouzo (Alternative Spirits) | Hoochery Distillery, WA – Aguardiente Verde |
| New Make Unaged Spirits (Alternative Spirits) | Whipper Snapper Distillery, WA – Crazy Uncle Moonshine |