Australian distillers have triumphed at the American Distilling Institute Awards, taking out 2017’s Best International Whisky, Gin and Vodka trophies.

The competition celebrates craft spirits makers both in the US and from around the world. Spirits are tasted blind and evaluated by a panel of judges made up of distillers, journalists, bar owners, bartenders, retailers, wholesalers, distributors and importers. The winners were announced earlier this week in Baltimore in the US. 

Limeburners’ Heavily Peated Darkest Winter whisky, produced in Albany, WA; Old Young's Distillery Pure No.1 Vodka, produced in Henley's Brook, WA; and South Australia's 78 Degrees gin, from Adelaide Hills Distillery, took out three of the top awards.

Australian spirits also picked up 10 Best of Category awards.

“It doesn’t get much bigger than this,” Sacha La Forgia, founder of the Adelaide Hills Distillery, told Adelaide Now. “There were thousands of entries and we were awarded double gold in our class, best in category and best international gin. We beat out every other competitor.

“Winning best international gin is great, but winning the double gold means all the judges scored it about 95 points.

“There were only five double golds given out in the whole competition, so that was a big thing.”

Limeburners founder Cameron Syme told The West Australian the award resulted from 29 years of hard work.

“This award shows our small craft distillery in WA is a world class operation,” he said.

Syme said the award was timely given the company had just signed export deals to the US.

Old Young's owner James Young (pictured) celebrated on Facebook, saying: "Boom! Our Pure Number 1 wins the trophy for Best International Vodka! 2 Best in Category including Best International Flavoured Vodka for the Pavlova along with 2 Gold medals, 2 Silver medals and a Bronze!"

Here are the Aussie winners of "Best of Category":

International Aged Rum - Hoochery Distillery Ord River Premium Rum

International Classic Grain-to-Glass Gin - Adelaide Hills Distillery 78° Small Batch Gin

International Contemporary Rectified Gin - Archie Rose Distilling Co. Signature Dry Gin

International Flavored Vodka - Old Young's Distillery Pavlova Vodka

International Grain-to Glass Vodka – Neutral Character  - Old Young's Distillery Pure No. 1 Vodka

International Malt Whiskey - New World Whisky Distillery Starward Malt Whisky

International Rectified Vodka – Residual Base Character - Archie Rose Distilling Co. Original Vodka

International Smoked Whiskey - Southern Distilling Company Limeburners Darkest Winter Peated Single Malt Whisky

International Spiced Rum - Hoochery Distillery - 5 Rivers Spiced Rum

International Unaged Rum - Husk DistillersPure Cane New Make Rum

International Corn Whisky - Whipper Snapper Distillery Upshot Whiskey

International Flavored Moonshine - Baldwin Distilling Co Apple Pie Moonshine

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