Wandering Distillery champions of the Perth Royal Distilled Spirits Awards

Beating out a record 184 entries in this year's award series, Fremantle's Wandering Distillery was crowded Champion Distillery after winning three gold medals at the 2023 Perth Royal Distilled Spirits Awards.

The Perth Royal Distilled Spirits Awards are an initiative of the Royal Agricultural Society of WA (RASWA) and is part of the Perth Royal Food Awards program, celebrating exceptional produce and producers from across Australia.

Wade Willcocks, Founder and Master Distiller at Wandering Distillery, said he's "absolutely thrilled" to have triumphed at the awards.

"I am absolutely thrilled and honoured to be recognised alongside some of Australia's most talented distillers. We love the support we have received from the community, and being awarded Champion Distillery is further validation that we're creating high-quality gins that people can love," he said.

The small batch gin distiller is known for its use of Western Australian botanicals, coming away with gold for their Nomad Gin, Naval Gazing Gin and Miss Mi Gin, a collaboration with the popular Perth restaurant of the same name, as well as bronze for their Signature and Rosemary Gins.

"All of our gins are uniquely Australian, featuring native botanicals. Across the range we aim to create great spirits with distinctive characters that are both delicious neat across any tonic and into the cocktail space," said Willcocks.

Since launching in 2019, the Perth Royal Distilled Spirits Awards has gone from strength to strength, with this year'syear's awards attracting 184 entrants and 42 exhibitors competing in categories including vodka, gin, liqueurs, brandy, whisky, rum, and cane spirits.

Bill Lark, the "godfather" of the Australian whisky industry and Chief Judge at the awards, was impressed by the quality of entries this year.

"A full day of judging can be an arduous task, but it is made that much easier when the quality of spirits was as high as I've seen anywhere across the country. Based on the quality of entries this year, I am sure this competition will grow from strength to strength," he said.

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