NSW distillery vies for World's Best Gin title

Sydney's Ironbark Distillery is in the running to be named the world’s best traditional gin at the World Drink Awards next month.

The family-run distillery, based in Richmond NSW, was awarded the title of Australia’s best traditional gin for its 313 Dry Gin in the World Gin Awards on December 18.

Its gin will now be judged against four international competitors for the world’s best title, which will be named on March 30, 2017 at the Waldorf Hilton Hotel in London.  

The winner of Best Traditional Gin will then also be in the running to be named World’s Best Gin.

Master Alchemist and Ironbark Distillery Director Reg Papps says winning the award as Australia’s Best Traditional Gin is a major coup for the young distillery which he opened with his wife Greta just three years ago.  

“We’re excited and a little overwhelmed by the award win and the opportunity to be named both the world’s best traditional gin, and potentially, the world’s best gin,” he said.  

“Even to be in consideration for such an accolade is more than we could ever have imagined when we took the plunge to put everything on the line and follow our dream to open the distillery. It just reinforces for us that you should never to be scared to try something new, no matter what stage of life you’re at."  

Papps established the Ironback Distillery after he took redundancy from his job as an industrial distiller with Shell. 

The latest accolade is confirmation that the stellar reputation Ironbark Distillery has built so rapidly is well deserved. In just its first year it was named Australian Gin Distillery of the Year (2015) at the Melbourne International Spirit Awards and in 2016 it collected multiple medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.  

The distillery produces six products – two gins, two moonshines, a vodka and a chai spirit - with Reg’s creations combining Australian-grown grain with flavours that are proofed with purified, sterilized water sourced locally.