In its 30th anniversary year and moving on from a week best forgotten, Lark Distillery has taken the top prize in three key categories at the Australian Whisky Awards as well as being named Sustainable Distillery of the Year at the regional winners' World Whiskies Awards.
At the Australian Whisky Awards presentation earlier this week, Lark was awarded Whisky of the Year (Christmas Cask Release III), Distillery of the Year and Kristy Booth was named Distiller of the Year while Archie Rose's Senior Distiller, Lisa Truscott won Copper Distiller of the Year.
Australian Whisky Awards (2021) – Winners List
Whisky of the Year
- Gold – Lark Christmas Cask Release III
- Silver – Overeem Bourbon 12 Year old
- Bronze – Archie Rose Whisky in Every Port
Distillery of the Year
- Gold – Lark
- Silver – Archie Rose Distilling Co
- Bronze – Overeem
Distiller/Producer of the Year
- Gold – Kristy Booth-Lark
- Silver – Crafty Craig Field
- Bronze – Lisa Truscott
Personality of the Year
- Gold – Matt Bailey
- Silver – Bill Lark
- Bronze – Crafty Field
Venue of the Year
- Gold – Archie Rose Bar & Cellar Door
- Silver – Whisky & Alement
- Bronze – Elysian Whisky Bar
World Whiskies Awards: Rest of World regional winners
Meanwhile, the Rest of World regional winners in the World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky were announced in a virtual ceremony last week that saw Archie Rose's Dave Withers (pictured below) named Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year and Lark named Sustainable Distillery of the year.
Lark Distilling Co Symphony No 1 was named Best Australian Blended Malt No Age Statement.
All category winners will now be compared head-to-head by the World Whiskies Awards judging panel to determine the Country and Global titles for 2022, such as France's Best Single Malt and World's Best Single Malt.
Best Australian Blended Malt No Age Statement: Adelaide Hills Distillery, 78 Degrees Whiskey. Tasting notes from judges: "The nose is an interesting combination of fresh apple, marzipan sweetness, oaky spice and window putty. Then on the palate it is full of oak, a touch of orange and apple at the edge with some big spice and more fragrant oak. The finish is hot with some liquorice."
Best Australian Grain: Native Grain Weeping Grass. Tasting notes from judges: "Dark chocolate, roasted barley, orange peel, caramel, milky coffee, and molasses. There’s also some vanilla. Medium-dry and well-balanced. Blast of oak and Bourbon cask, burnt bananas and salted caramel."
Best Australian Rye 12 years & under: Archie Rose Distilling Co Rye Malt Whisky. Tasting notes from judges: "Oatcakes, dried fruit, banana, peach, citrus, peanuts, honey, and cinnamon. Sweet, with cherry brandy and lemonade notes, and a touch of persimmon. Long, warm finish."
Best Australian Single Cask Single Malt 12 years & under: Adams Single Malt Whisky Peated Ex-Port Cask. Tasting notes from judges: "Slightly smoky on the nose, and some burnt match aroma. The palate is peated, sweet, and dry. It’s hot at full strength; it’s pleasant but not too subtle. Dark toffee, muscovado sugar, more smokiness and herbal notes to taste."
Best Australian Single Cask Single Malt 13 to 20 years: Sullivans Cove American Oak Old & Rare Single Cask HH108. Tasting notes from judges: "The nose is winey, with some citrus sourness and honey notes. The palate is good and well-balanced, with orchard fruits and oak. Honeysuckle is released with water, and there are plenty of bready cereal notes. Quite thick, great finish, and a very enjoyable whisky."
Best Australian Single Cask Single Malt No Age Statement: Chief's Son 900 Standard Single Cask 126. Tasting notes from judges: ""First the nose brings wood embers, an old coal scuttle and a dusty hessian sack. Then the palate shows some chocolate coins, more coal and burnt frangipane, burnt raisins and butterscotch angel delight on the finish."
The Whisky List was named regional Online Retailer of the Year at the Icons of Whisky Awards.
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