Dan Murphy’s has announced the winners of the third instalment of its Decoded Spirits Awards, an annual awards that recognises leading spirits from both Australian and international producers.
For 2024, more than 450 products were tasted via an extensive two-day blind tasting process conducted by a panel of 13 esteemed Spirits professionals. South Australia and Victoria lead out the results, each with seven finalists.
According to Dan Murphy’s Head of Spirits Sarah Hall, “these awards really recognise the high quality spirits on the market but also pay homage to the incredible workmanship of Australian producers.
“We are incredibly lucky to have some of the best producers in the industry right at our doorstep. Australian producers demonstrate not only a high level of skill and tenacity but also creativity relying on natural products from our diverse landscape. From sourcing ingredients like botanicals unique only to Australia to sourcing high quality Australian barley, all of these elements really demonstrate that Australian producers deserve to be on the world stage.”
Results from the Dan Murphy’s spirits awards also present valuable insight into both emerging and established state based spirits trends.
This includes Queensland’s continued dominance in rum, Tasmania’s dominance of whisky, and South Australia’s strength in gin. One highlight of the awards was Old Young’s Pavlova Vodka from Western Australia, which was recognised as being a well-crafted tribute to the modern dessert and a great base for champagne cocktails and sours.
We know in terms of the younger demographic, with changing macroeconomic conditions many are looking to elevate their at-home experiences,
Said Hall.
“The MilZ cohort want to explore new and sweeter tasting drinks and want to be able to use their creativity to create insta-worthy cocktails.
“These are the people we know who will really gravitate towards this kind of initiative – high quality spirits that are unpretentious and accessible, regardless if you have the knowledge of a professional bartender or not.”
The full list of winners of the Decoded Spirits Awards 2024 is as follows:
- Agave – Anejo: Solento Organic Anejo Tequila 750ml
- Agave – Blanco: Casamigos Blanco Tequila 700mL
- Agave – Reposado: Don Julio Reposado Tequila 750mL
- Apéritifs, Digestifs & Liqueurs: Dubonnet 700mL
- Brandy / Cognac / Armagnac: Hennessy VSOP Cognac 700mL
- Gin – Australian: Kangaroo Island Spirits Wild Gin 700mL (From South Australia)
- Gin – Coloured & Sloe: MG Orange Blossom Gin 700mL
- Gin – International: Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin 700mL
- Non Alcoholic (Spirits Substitute): Abstinence Blood Orange Aperitif Non Alcoholic Spirit 750mL
- Pre Batched Cocktails: Hochstadter’s Slow & Low Rock & Rye Whisky Can 100mL
- Rum: Zacapa Centenario 23 Solera Gran Reserva Rum 700mL
- Rum – Spiced: RATU Spiced Rum 5 Year Old 700mL
- Scotch – Blended Whisky: Chivas Regal XV 15 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky 700mL
- Scotch – Single Malt Whisky: The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700mL
- Vodka – Australian: Tread Softly Vodka 700mL (From Victoria)
- Vodka – International: Belvedere Vodka 700mL
- Whisk(e)y – Australian: Morris Rutherglen Signature Single Malt Australian Whisky 700mL (From Victoria)
- Whisk(e)y – North American: Redemption Bourbon Whiskey 750mL
- Whisk(e)y – World: Yamazaki 12 Year Old Whisky 700mL
