Australian distiller named world's Craft Producer of the Year for the first time

For the first time ever, an Australian distillery has won Craft Producer of the Year at the Icons of Gin Awards announced in the UK overnight. James Young of Old Young's in WA's Swan Valley will be bringing the award home along with the Brand Innovator of the Year award which he also won.

Archie Rose was named Distiller of the Year and Four Pillars' Cameron Mackenzie is Master Distiller of the Year (with Archie Rose's Dave Withers Highly Commended). The new Four Pillars' Healesville distillery was awarded Visitor Attraction of the Year (Broken Hill Distillery was Highly Commended) and Sustainable Distillery of the Year.

Bombay Sapphire's Dr Anne Brock was inducted into the Gin Hall of Fame.

Young was in the UK to accept the award. He said:

“Winning just one trophy at The Icon of Gin Awards would be a career bucket list item - but two, WOW! When you look at the past winners of these two awards, it’s a who’s who of the world’s most respected brands, selling in dozens of countries, and selling hundreds of thousands of bottles a year.

“Central to winning this award is our signature gin, Old Young’s 1829 Gin - I’m like a proud father whose child has just won an Oscar!  The gin’s base is Tuscan juniper berries, with the Swan Valley and surrounds offering some of the finest botanicals I’ve seen. which give 1829 its balance between bright citrus characters and savoury spice."

Young won the Brand Innovator of the Year award for his gin subscription service, The Juniper Society. 

He said: "It’s like Netflix - but Gin! Each month you get a brand new, never to be repeated gin delivered to your door for $59!"

Born and bred in Perth, Young won back to back Champion Australian Distiller titles at the Australian Distilled Spirit Awards in 2017 and 2018. He established Old Young's in 2016 in a tiny tin shed and has just launched a equity crowdfunding raise to fast track the company's expansion plans.

Australian winners at the Icons of Gin Awards

• Master Distiller of the Year: Cameron Mackenzie, Four Pillars Distillery. Highly Commended: Dave Withers, Archie Rose Distilling Co 
• Sustainable Distillery of the Year Four Pillars Distillery 
• Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year: Paul Hanna, Broken Hill Distillery
• Visitor Attraction of the Year: Four Pillars Distillery. Highly Commended Broken Hill Distillery.
• World's Best Classic Gin: Country Winner: Camden Valley Distillery Dry Gin
• World's Best Compound Gin: Country Winner: Bass & Flinders Distillery Soft & Smooth
• World's Best Flavoured Gin: Contemporary: Country Winner: Broken Hill Distillery Far West Gin
• World's Best Flavoured Gin: Country Winner: Never Never Distilling Co Ginache 2022
• World's Best London Dry Gin: Country Winner: HM Gin Rare Gin
• World's Best Matured Gin: Country Winner: Never Never Dark Series Argo Gin
• World's Best Navy Gin: Country Winner: Broken Hill Outback Strength Gin
• World's Best Old Tom's Gin: Country Winner: Four Pillars Rare Old Tom Gin
• World's Best Signature Botanical Gin: Country Winner: Farmer's Wife Distillery Autumn Dry Gin
• World's Best Sloe Gin: Country Winner: Headlands Distilling Co Tidal Lines Gin

The World Gin Awards celebrate gin excellence. Entries are submitted from across the globe, and tasted and judged by an expert panel to find the World's Best in each category.