Best Alternative Drinks in Australia
With an agave and smoky saline spark, this has a nice mezcal feel to it that sits well on the palate like a freshly made cocktail at your favourite Mexican joint.
01. The Everleigh Bottling Co. - Palomita, Spritzed cocktail
State: Victoria Category: Ready to DrinkBrewed hibiscus tea on the nose that carries through to the palate with rich cranberry and red fruit flavours. Very creative and well balanced.
02. NON - NON7 - Stewed Cherry & Coffee
State: Victoria Category: Ready to DrinkHazy, light straw colour with tart, sour lemon on the palate. Dry, sour, and astringent. A wonderfully traditional interpretation of alcoholic lemonade.
03. Sparkke - Hard Lemonade
State: South Australia Category: Hard LemonadeRaisin, ginger spice and stewed apricot. It’s a welcome interpretation of an old classic. Warms your soul.
04. Four Pillars Gin - Double Barrel Negroni
State: New South Wales Category: Ready to DrinkRich, boozy and warming with an intricately layered profile of toffee, dulce de leche and salted caramel. Picture cigars and wood fires. Menthol and anise complement powerful but pleasant tobacco notes.
05. Taylor & Smith x Dier Makr - Taylor & Smith x Dier Makr // Hanky Panky
State: Tasmania Category: Ready to DrinkPeaches! Mangoes! Great bitterness, quenching AF, with strong tropical fruit tones on the nose. Well-rounded on the palate. Can taste the flesh. Peachy keen.
06. Wavee Hard Seltzer - Mango
State: New South Wales Category: Hard SeltzerChampagne-like appearance, mixed berry upfront and good length. Candied lemon on the nose and drinks like your favourite soft drink giant’s lemonade.
07. Local Beverages - Spiked Iced Tea - Lemon
State: New South Wales Category: Hard SeltzerLight pink blush in colour. Nice effervescence that fills the palate. Drinkable. Fresh light berries. Some lingering tannins.
08. Sunlight Liquor - Gums & Roses Sparkling Mead
State: South Australia Category: MeadPerfect clarity, lime juice and lemon zest with some fruit tingle vibes. Refreshing.
09. Sunny Eddy - Sunny Eddy Gin Seltzer Lime & Cucumber
State: New South Wales Category: Hard SeltzerThe white grapefruit, white peach and nectarine takes you back to a childhood favourite - Sherbies. There's so much fun dancing around in this glass.
10. Halo Alchoholic Kombucha - Mango Peach
State: New South Wales Category: Alcoholic Kombucha
Category Winners
Alcoholic Kombucha
- 01.
Halo Alchoholic Kombucha - Mango Peach
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
The white grapefruit, white peach and nectarine takes you back to a childhood favourite - Sherbies. There's so much fun dancing around in this glass.
Hard Lemonade
- 01.
The Welder's Dog Brewery - Pea Blossom Lemonade
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Very appealing purple hazy colour with candied lemon curd tart on the nose that carries through to palate. So, well balanced. - 02.
Sparkke - Hard Lemonade
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Hazy, light straw colour with tart, sour lemon on the palate. Dry, sour, and astringent. A wonderfully traditional interpretation of alcoholic lemonade.
Mead
- 01.
Erosion Meadery - By Cole - Sparkling Blueberry and Wildflower Mead
State: Western AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Light in colour with a green tinge. A rich and heady bouquet. Rich in phenolic texture with gentle acidity. - 02.
Sunlight Liquor - Gums & Roses Sparkling Mead
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Light pink blush in colour. Nice effervescence that fills the palate. Drinkable. Fresh light berries. Some lingering tannins. - 03.
Sunlight Liquor - Sparkling Orange Blossom Mead
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Aromas of jasmine, honeycomb and a further floral bouquet. Really lovely creamy mouthfeel, and a distinct flavour that's reminiscent of jasmine tea with delicate honey that balances everything beautifully. - 04.
Sunlight Liquor - Sparkling Coastal Mead
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Pale green apple flesh colour. Effervescent honey notes on the nose. Drinks dry with a bit of spritz and finishes with a hint of honey. - 05.
Erosion Meadery - Normie Session Traditional Mead
State: Western AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Clear, light straw ambrosia with an alluring, waxy bouquet of roses and geranium. Lighter bodied with subtle honey sweetness with pleasant savoury character. Well balanced with very light fizz.
Seltzer
- 01.
Wavee Hard Seltzer - Mango
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Peaches! Mangoes! Great bitterness, quenching AF, with strong tropical fruit tones on the nose. Well-rounded on the palate. Can taste the flesh. Peachy keen. - 02.
Local Beverages - Spiked Iced Tea - Lemon
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Champagne-like appearance, mixed berry upfront and good length. Candied lemon on the nose and drinks like your favourite soft drink giant’s lemonade. - 03.
Sunny Eddy - Sunny Eddy Gin Seltzer Lime & Cucumber
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Perfect clarity, lime juice and lemon zest with some fruit tingle vibes. Refreshing. - 04.
5PM - Grapefruit Hard Seltzer
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Perfect clarity. Tangy grapefruit. Long finish that has the sweetness in check. - 05.
DELVI - Blood Orange Passion
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Crystal clear appearance, smells like orange confectionery with a slight passionfruit kick. Sweetness is nicely balanced. Love this. - 06.
5PM - Watermelon Hard Seltzer
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Melons and tinned pineapple on the nose. Lychee, watermelon and cucumber flavours on the palate but with a round natural taste overall. Drinks very easy. - 07.
Local Beverages - Spiked Iced Tea - Peach
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Pale straw colour. A confectionery-like aroma of pear, green apple that carries through to the palate. For those who like it sweet.
RTD
- 01.
The Everleigh Bottling Co. - Palomita, Spritzed cocktail
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
With an agave and smoky saline spark, this has a nice mezcal feel to it that sits well on the palate like a freshly made cocktail at your favourite Mexican joint. - 02.
NON - NON7 - Stewed Cherry & Coffee
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Brewed hibiscus tea on the nose that carries through to the palate with rich cranberry and red fruit flavours. Very creative and well balanced. - 03.
Taylor & Smith x Dier Makr - Taylor & Smith x Dier Makr // Hanky Panky
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Rich, boozy and warming with an intricately layered profile of toffee, dulce de leche and salted caramel. Picture cigars and wood fires. Menthol and anise complement powerful but pleasant tobacco notes. - 04.
Batch & Co - Noosa Spritz (Double Grapefruit & Rose)
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Ruby red grapefruit, Red Ripper lollies, and slightly vegetal. Really digging the balance backed by some punchy red citrus. - 05.
SOFI Aperitivo - SOFI Aperitivo - Pink Grapefruit & Lavender
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Rhubarb confection, candy floss and toffee apple. The sweetness is absolutely there but the heat makes you do a double take. - 06.
The Everleigh Bottling Co. - Palomita, Spritzed cocktail
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
With an agave and smoky saline spark, this has a nice mezcal feel to it that sits well on the palate like a freshly made cocktail at your favourite Mexican joint. - 07.
Batch & Co - Strawberry Daiquiri
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Yellow peach nose. Beautiful texture and well balanced flavours. A summer drink that will be even more delicious with added soda. - 08.
Taylor & Smith x Dier Makr - Taylor & Smith x Dier Makr // Army & Navy
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Citrusy and makes your mouth salivate. Great hard lemonade alternative. Piney and great base gin flavour. - 09.
Batch & Co - Brighton Spritz (Pear Fig & Pinot Grigio)
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Multi-dimensional with intriguing stone fruit aromas, white peaches and a hint of apricot. A little dry with a good alcohol kick. - 10.
Artillery - Oolong Gin Tea
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Stands out. You instantly take notice as it’s full of body with fragrant Earl Gray and hints of honey and citrus. But is a tad too sparkly and fantastical and could be toned down a bit. Works well as a post dinner treat.