On Thursday 1 August, the results from Australia’s largest national spirits competition, the Melbourne Royal Australian Distilled Spirits Awards, were announced, chosen out of a pool by 50 judges from a pool of over 850 spirits products.
“It’s with immense pride that we recently hosted more than 25 Australian distilling industry experts at Melbourne Showgrounds to judge more than 860 entries from 219 exhibitors across the nation in the 2024 Melbourne Royal Australian Distilled Spirits Awards,” said Brad Jensins, CEO at Melbourne Royal.
“We are incredibly grateful for the judges led by Shaun Byrne and stewards who generously volunteered their valuable time to assist with judging the 2024 Melbourne Royal Australian Distilled Spirits Awards from 23–25 July.”
This year’s competition included a new RTD Award, which Head Judge Shaun Byrne described as a major success: “attracting 55 entries and countless requests from judges to be assigned to that tasting panel! Former Australian bartender of the year and panel chair Sebastian Reaburn said the category was ‘impressive in its diversity and quality.”
For its inaugural year, the Best Ready to Serve Cocktail or Pre-Mix trophy was awarded to Reed & Co’s Distillery’s Yuzu Chu-Hai.
The top accolade of the evening - the Champion Australian Distiller for 2024 - was awarded to St Agnes Distillery, which also achieved the title of Best Brandy. St Agnes XO was also one of four products that received Consistency of Excellence recognition for attaining a gold medal in the past three consecutive Australian Distilled Spirits Awards. Also achieving the title was Archie Rose's Rye Malt Whisky, Travelling While Standing Still's Australian Dry Gin, and Country to Coast 5 by Black Gate Distillery & Fleurieu Distillery.
Earlier this year ahead of publishing Drinks Trade Autumn #90, Drinks Trade chatted to Matt Redin, Marketing Manager at St Agnes’ owner and operator Vintage House Wine and Spirits, about recruiting Australia’s younger legal drinking aged consumers into the category.
“Younger consumers in particular are more interested in where their products come from and their provenance,” he said.
“Once they see the care and attention that goes into St Agnes, and the fact it is still crafted in the same copper pot stills from 100 years ago and stored in small barrels they are hooked.”
The title of Best Rum was awarded to Queensland’s Nil Desperandum for its The Double Ton limited edition.
“This latest achievement cements our reputation as Australia's Finest Rum, giving rum lovers further proof we are the country’s most awarded rum brand and we couldn’t be prouder of our Head Distiller Adam Chapman and team,” said Matt Hobson, Founder and CEO.
“We are so delighted to have taken out a major win last night at the awards and look forward to bringing the trophy home to Woombye, Queensland.”
Other notable distillery performances include Best Single Malt Whisky being awarded to Bellarine Distillery’’s Kestrel, Best London Dry Gin being awarded to Travelling While Standing Still’s Australian Dry Gin, and Champion Victorian Distiller being awarded to Backwoods Distilling Co.
Brad Jenkins said, “we are incredibly grateful for the judges led by Shaun Byrne and stewards who generously volunteered their valuable time to assist with judging the 2024 Melbourne Royal Australian Distilled Spirits Awards from 23–25 July.”
Shaun Byrne, who co-founded Marionette Liqueurs and recently launched this Australian Native Plum aperitif for spritz, said that the awards came at an important moment for the currently struggling industry, which will be forced to pay an additional 20% in tax starting from today.
Byrne said, “the last 12 months in the industry have certainly presented many challenges for distilleries, the cost-of-living crisis seemingly leading to consumers trading down or abstaining altogether. Due to this, it was no surprise to see a small decline in entries this year.”
Other Major trophies:
- Best Navy Gin: Prohibition Liquor Co Navy Strength Gin
- Best Fruit or Wine/Grape Gin: Naught Sangiovese Gin
- Best Other Gin (not LD, NW or Navy): Callington Mill Poltergeist Gin Barrel Aged
- Best Pure (Neutral)/Contemporary Vodka: Nuvé Vodka
- Best Flavoured Vodka: Penni Ave Distillery Barrel Aged Wattleseed and Burnt Honey Vodka
- Best Cane Spirit: Hidden Trove Distilling Acre 96 Spiced Cane
- Best Liqueur: Beachtree Distilling Co Native Plum & Sloe Gin
- Best Alternative Spirit: Hermetica Distillery White Agave
- Best Bitter: Ragazzi e Succo Aperitivo
- Best Vermouth: Not awarded
- Best Design: Hermetica Distillery Bourbon Cask-Aged Whisky
For a complete list of results, click here.
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Judging Panel Chair reflects on inaugural Royal Queensland Distilled Spirit Awards
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