Is Australia earning a reputation for premium vodka?

Earlier this year, Sunshine & Sons Vodka, produced by the CAVU distillery, was awarded World’s Best in the prestigious World Vodka Awards, leading out a competition pool that included entries from more than 20 countries. 

More recently, Thirsty Group’s Baxter Vodka was recognised as the world’s most awarded Vodka of 2023 after receiving the Tasting Alliance’s Triple Still Award, an accolade only given to products that achieve Double Gold medals in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the New York World Spirits Competition and the Singapore World Spirits Competition in a single calendar year. 

In addition to this, Baxter Vodka has also claimed the title of World’s Best Vodka in other notable international competitions over recent years such as the the 2024 London Spirits Competition, the 2022 International Spirits Competition and the 2021 Vodka Masters. 

Both CAVU and Thirsty Group have achieved these successes despite being in operation for relatively short periods of time. 

“Receiving the industry's most prestigious award is a true honour, showcasing the passion and dedication of our team,” said Jake Gautreaux, Founder of Thirsty Group.

"While it hasn't been all smooth sailing, navigating through challenges and uncertainties has been instrumental in refining our products and propelling us to our current position.”

CAVU’s Sunshine & Sons also emerged onto the market amidst a difficult trading environment.

“We started distilling in January of 2020: it certainly hasn't been an easy progression to the present day, noting of course the pandemic and what continues to be some pretty unnerving regulatory and taxation settings,” said Matt Hobson, Founder. 

“The bigger brand of our two brands is Sunshine & Sons Premium Spirits currently. It's had some great success with Original Dry Gin and Pineapple Parfait Gin and more recently, after having won the World's Best Vodka at the World Vodka Awards, we've seen some dramatic growth of our Original Vodka." 

Both Baxter Vodka and Sunshine & Sons Original Vodka have marketed themselves as being proudly Australian products. For Sunshine & Sons, this is partly achieved by gravity filtering through volcanic rock sourced on the Sunshine Coast. For Baxter Vodka, this means using 100% Australian-grown sugarcane and grain for its base along with Victorian Spring Water. 

Moving forwards, CAVU is hoping that its recent accolade will help propel it onto the export market. 

“It has been really pleasing to see that product acknowledged on the world stage and to see some trade and customer sentiment that's supporting the growth and the growth in revenue and sales of that one SKU,” said Hobson. 

“At this current stage we're really looking for additional growth and the current focus of our business is to take our products and brands to the international market.”

Thirsty Group, which also includes brands such as Aubrey Liqueurs, OJALÁ Tequila, Burn City Spiced Rum, Truepenny Gin and Southern Spirits, says it will be looking to add new products and expand into new market over the short to medium-term future.

“We are beyond excited to continue producing World Best spirits and propel into 2024 with some exciting new variations," said Gautreaux.

For more information and for information on distribution, visit cavu.com.au and www.thirsty.group.