Never Never Distilling Co named Champion Australian Distiller for the third year running

McLaren Vale’s Never Never Distilling Co has been awarded Champion Australian Distiller for the third year in a row at the 2022 Australian Distilled Spirits Awards. The distillery was also awarded the trophies for Best New World/Contemporary Gin for its Southern Strength Gin. 

Damian Nieuwesteeg, Melbourne Royal Manager - Awards Programs said, "Never Never Distilling Co, through their dedication to their craft and in the pursuit of excellence, have been awarded Champion Australian Distiller at the Melbourne Royal Australian Distilled Spirits Awards for the third year in a row. The Award is testament to their hard work and determination and Melbourne Royal congratulates them on their win.”

Never Never Head Distiller Tim Boast started the distillery with friends George Georgiadis and Sean Baxter in 2017. To have been named champion at Melbourne Royal for three years of the five during which the distillery has been operational is impressive, to say the least.

“Going back to back to back as Australia’s best was an incredible feat, especially looking at the quality of spirits being produced in Australia right now,” says Boast.

“When we started we wanted to make the best gin in Australia, and the consistency of awards continue to validate the fact that we make fantastic products.

"This award is incredibly important to us because it is the pinnacle of Australian distilling. So, to win it three years in a row is surreal, to say the least."

There were 16 trophies presented at the awards presentation on Wednesday evening which received a record number of entries in the Whisky and Gin classes again this year. Whisky entries were up to 131 - following the introduction of a new Whisky trophy - up from 88 last year. And Australian gin distilling continues to grow up to 431 entries, compared to 388 last year.

Victorian distilleries took home one third of all trophies. Yack Creek Distillery was named Champion Victorian Distillery and Eltham’s Naught Distilling took out Champion Victorian Gin for its Naught Sangiovese Gin which created by infusing premium Sangiovese grapes with their Australian Dry Gin. (These are the only two state specific trophies awarded by Melbourne Royal. The rest are national.)

Backwoods Distilling Co, family owned and operated in Yackandandah, won the Best Single Malt Whisky for their White Oak Expression and Penni Ave Distillery won Best Vodka for its Wattle Seed and Burnt Honey Vodka.

New South Wales distillers took home three awards, including Camden Valley Distilling Company for Best Other Gin with their Camden Valley Sloe Gin. Regal Rogue in New South Wales won Best Vermouth and Best Bitter went to Inspirited in for its Convicted Aromatic Bitters, handcrafted using native Australian botanicals.

Queensland took home just one trophy for Best Rum. Diageo's Bundaberg Distilling Company won the Raymond B ‘Spike’ Dessert III Trophy for Best Rum for its Bundaberg Rum: Master Distiller’s Collection- Small Batch Reserve.

 South Australia's St Agnes Distillery won Best Brandy for its St Agnes XO 15-year-old and, staying in SA, Fleurieu Distillery won Best Grain or Blended Whisky for Country to Coast 3.

Western Australian distillers picked up two awards, including Great Southern Distilling Company in Robinson, winning the Best Navy Gin with their Giniversity Southern Ocean Gin and The Packing Shed Distilling Co in Western Australia won the Best Alternative Spirit with their Limoncello.

The judging panel of 42 was led again this year by head judge Seb Costello, the Australian spirits ambassador and former owner of Melbourne bar Bad Frankie. 

He said: "With such an outstanding quality of exhibits, we were thrilled to award 75 gold, 382 silver and 311 bronze medals. Over 11 categories, the 2022 Australian Distilled Spirits Awards attracted 863 entries from 208 exhibitors, with a record number of entries in the Whisky and Gin classes.”

“The Australian distilling industry is a close network of people, and events like the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards provide a wonderful opportunity for us to come together, collaborate and share our knowledge and experiences."

A full list of winners is below. For more information visit  www.melbourneroyal.com.au/spirits