Best Spirits in Australia
A beautifully integrated example of malt and oak. Young, volatile, and exciting with spice and heat on the finish and a clean bright malt-driven texture that marries the evident quality of ingredients with great attention to detail.
01. Archie Rose Distilling Co. - Single Malt Whisky
State: New South Wales Category: WhiskyPoached orchard fruits, nice warm spice. Lots of great flavour going on. Like a boozy apple pie you don't want to end!
02. Wildbrumby - Wildbrumby Baked Apple Liqueur Schnapps
State: New South Wales Category: LiqueurLifted nose with nice citrus despite the obvious dried fruit vibe. Rich in the mouth. Smoky with some dustiness.
03. Bass & Flinders Distillery - Ochre - Fine Brandy
State: Victoria Category: BrandyGentle juniper nose leads to a powerful explosion of flavour. A classic expression of a juniper-dominant high alcohol gin.
04. Never Never Distilling Co. - Southern Strength Gin
State: South Australia Category: GinSweet and malt-driven aroma. Stone fruit confit characters that are deeply appealing thanks to a restrained use of oak. Pleasant to sip.
05. Sullivans Cove Single Malt Whisky - French Oak ex-Tawny Second Fill Single Cask
State: Tasmania Category: WhiskyAnise and fennel up front, bold and clear. Leads to an integrated palate with caraway and fennel playing in harmony. An excellent example of a savoury northern European style in the spirits category.
06. Never Never Distilling Co. - Stockholm Syndrome Aquavit
State: South Australia Category: Alternate / ExperimentalUnderstated but complex and enticing nose, balance of juniper and freshness. Immediately fills the palate, lovely mouthfeel, not too oily but still round. Gentle warmth and drive complete the palate.
07. Never Never Distlilling Co - Juniper Freak Gin
State: South Australia Category: GinLight and filigree. Lovely pine and citrus. Delicate and pretty. Excited to see what’s next.
08. Ambleside Distillers - Small Acre Gin
State: South Australia Category: GinBright and youthful. Creamy lactone characters with a pleasant herbal note throughout. Warming on the palate with a gentle finish. This is a wonderful new make right here!
09. MORRIS Whisky - Australian Single Malt Whisky Signature
State: Victoria Category: WhiskyEarthy, generous vegetal nose. Palate follows through with more of the same. A super interesting direction. Cut lawn and capsicums.
10. Karu Distillery - Morita Chipotle Vodka
State: New South Wales Category: Vodka
Category Winners
Gin
- 01.
Never Never Distilling Co. - Southern Strength Gin
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Gentle juniper nose leads to a powerful explosion of flavour. A classic expression of a juniper-dominant high alcohol gin. - 02.
Never Never Distlilling Co - Juniper Freak Gin
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Understated but complex and enticing nose, balance of juniper and freshness. Immediately fills the palate, lovely mouthfeel, not too oily but still round. Gentle warmth and drive complete the palate. - 03.
Ambleside Distillers - Small Acre Gin
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Light and filigree. Lovely pine and citrus. Delicate and pretty. Excited to see what’s next. - 04.
Wolf Lane Distillery - Navy Strength Gin
State: QueenslandTASTING NOTES:
Herbs and spices, big and bold. Demonstrates nice balance and integration of flavours. - 05.
Imbue Distillery - Damson Gin
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Tawny orange colour, very intriguing nose of lifted pine, sumac and cardamom aromatics. Lovely acidity, drive and artistic direction. Wacky… but our kind of wacky. Well done, very brave execution. - 06.
Ester Spirits - The Dry Gin
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Pine, herbaceous characters. Beautifully balanced. - 07.
78 Degrees - Classic Gin
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Very pretty and delicately balanced nose. A stylish example of tradition and craft: oily, driven and powerful. A+ execution! - 08.
Storytellers Distillery - Volume 1: Australian Dry Gin
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Joyously fleshy and dense mid-palate with a high predominance of orris root and coriander seed. Beautifully delicate and floral and leaves a lasting impression of sweetness. - 09.
Poor Toms - Fool's Cut
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Powerful, dry with purity and persistence. Great example of high ABV and would be great in a classic or dirty martini. - 10.
KI Spirits -Mulberry Gin
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
A deep rich almost wine-like appearance. Beautiful integration of fruit and spirit. - 11.
Naught Distilling - Overproof Gin
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Herbaceous and gamey, interesting salinity, finishes dry and peppery.
Vodka
- 01.
Karu Distillery - Morita Chipotle Vodka
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Earthy, generous vegetal nose. Palate follows through with more of the same. A super interesting direction. Cut lawn and capsicums. - 02.
Hobart Whisky - Triple Distilled Tasmanian Malt Vodka
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Lovely sweet aroma. Textural, grainy, almost phenolic. Delivers a warm dose of sweet and savoury, straight down the palate. Warm spices linger. - 03.
Hellfire Bluff - Potato vodka
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Warm and inviting on the nose. Oily, dense and generous texture. Nice weighty palate with a creamy finish. Tasty. - 04.
Heidi Weitjens King Island Distillery - King Island Ruby Vodka
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Sweet, oaky nose with a creamy palate of whipped honey. Gentle and warming. - 05.
Archie Rose Distilling Co. - Original Vodka
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Pristine nose. Clean, pure and clear palate. Warm wrap, alcohol up front but not offensive. Nice.
Whiskey
- 01.
Archie Rose Distilling Co. - Single Malt Whisky
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
A beautifully integrated example of malt and oak. Young, volatile, and exciting with spice and heat on the finish and a clean bright malt-driven texture that marries the evident quality of ingredients with great attention to detail. - 02.
Sullivans Cove Single Malt Whisky - French Oak ex-Tawny Second Fill Single Cask
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Sweet and malt-driven aroma. Stone fruit confit characters that are deeply appealing thanks to a restrained use of oak. Pleasant to sip. - 03.
MORRIS Whisky - Australian Single Malt Whisky Signature
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Bright and youthful. Creamy lactone characters with a pleasant herbal note throughout. Warming on the palate with a gentle finish. This is a wonderful new make right here! - 04.
78 Degrees - Australian Whiskey
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Tannic, interesting use of barrel selection here, leading to a rich almost English Breakfast Tea note with dense fruit cake and dried sultana filling out a promising young whisky. - 05.
Spirit Thief Distilling Co - American Oak Shiraz matured
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Dried apricot and warm sweetness. Christmas pudding spices. Clean, sharp finish. - 06.
Sullivans Cove Single Malt Whisky - Double Cask whisky
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Fresh straw gold, appealing fresh, bright nose. Lovely, velvety entry. - 07.
78 Degrees - Muscat Finish Whiskey
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Rich, full and warming. Some toasted, bread-like characters coming through. Almost banana bread-like on the nose with hints of raisin and spice. - 08.
MOUNTAIN - Whiskey (Red Gum Aged)
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Dry peat with sweet malt and balanced oak. Quite appealing. Youthful, clean and lightly oaked. - 09.
Hobart Whisky - Signature
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Spice, caramel and sultana. Appealingly full palate with length and drive right to the end. - 10.
78 Degrees - Native Grain Whiskey
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Cigar smoke. Well integrated freshness and texture lend complexity and intrigue.
Rum
- 01.
New Norfolk Distillery - Misty Valley Silver Spirit
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Beautiful clarity on the nose; clean, fresh and vibrant palate weight and depth. Pristine execution. Kudos. - 02.
Capricorn - Pineapple Rum
State: QueenslandTASTING NOTES:
Very interesting, lifted sherbet-like pineapple nose. Vibrant, fresh and driven. Clear artistic intent and pleasant finish. Light, bright and fun. - 03.
Brix Rum - Urban cane 2020 Harvest
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Nice nose, lots of earthy and green tones. Palate lingers. This is delicious! - 04.
JimmyRum - Navy
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Nice full nose with green vegetal characters shining through and picking up on the sweetness and a little floral character. Peppered mouthfeel. Clean lines end long. - 05.
Capricorn - Spiced Rum
State: QueenslandTASTING NOTES:
Winter spices, a touch of caramel. Warm on the palate and interesting finish. A little funk makes this one nice and interesting. - 06.
New Norfolk Distillery - Near Horizon Spiced Rum
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Lemon honey vibes on the nose. The warming caramel and honey comes through strong, white pepper and a little heat. A nice expression. - 07.
Capricorn - Coffee Rum
State: QueenslandTASTING NOTES:
Coffee! Nice warming spices, lots of flavour. Super cool and interesting expression of rum.
Brandy
- 01.
Bass & Flinders Distillery - Ochre - Fine Brandy
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Lifted nose with nice citrus despite the obvious dried fruit vibe. Rich in the mouth. Smoky with some dustiness. - 02.
Pietro Gallus Estate - Grappa di Moscato
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Alluring fruit and roundness upfront on the nose, follows with sweet fruit, round on the palate with a pleasing finish. - 03.
Sullivans Cove XO Brandy - XO Double Cask Brandy
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Rich, full and alluring. Suggestion of vanilla and honey on the nose with a rich dried fruit Christmas pudding flavour on entry. Still a surprising amount of primary fruit character for its age. Classy. - 04.
78 Degrees - Apple Brandy
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Round and sweet nose. Sultanas and raisins. Reminiscent of calvados and more traditional European expressions of apple and pear brandy.
Liqueur
- 01.
Wildbrumby - Wildbrumby Baked Apple Liqueur Schnapps
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Poached orchard fruits, nice warm spice. Lots of great flavour going on. Like a boozy apple pie you don't want to end! - 02.
Imperial Measures Distilling - Mandeaux Liqueur
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Mandarin all over the nose. Bright, fresh and full of flavour. This is brilliant and very refreshing. - 03.
New Norfolk Distillery - Martian Sky Coffee Liqueur
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Heavy sour cherry, forest fruit and chocolate. Upfront astringency and texture play a dominant role and mean this is not for the faint of heart. - 04.
Wolf Lane Distillery - The Barista
State: QueenslandTASTING NOTES:
Sunday morning burnt stove-top espresso character runs throughout with grippy texture and lingering astringency. - 05.
Pietro Gallus Estate - Limoncello Crema
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Milky citrus nose, like a lemon shake. Ditto in the mouth. This is deeply nostalgic, old-school, Italian restaurant liqueur. Delicious. - 06.
Banks & Solander - Kumquatcello
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Tight acid on the palate. An interesting take on backyard limoncello. An atypical bouquet belies a naturally lemony finish. - 07.
Hobart Whisky - Tasmanian Whisky Liqueur
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Plenty of body and depth, alluring malt-driven texture balanced with notes of honey, baking spices and mandarin peel. - 08.
Marionette Liqueurs - Dry Cassis
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Bright fruit-driven and aromatically intense. We thoroughly enjoyed the restraint and poise with less sweetness than would ordinarily be expected in the category. Highly refined and graceful expression of dry cassis. - 09.
Murrays Craft Brewing Co - Darkside Coffee Liqueur
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Dark, dense, deeply textured liqueur with plush and generous coffee and hazelnut. Warming, refined and elegant. - 10.
MORRIS Whisky - Australian Single Malt Whisky Muscat
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Dark, honey appearance. Bright and youthful. Unique and distinguished oak expression lending spice, coffee and cacao nibs.
Alternative
- 01.
Never Never Distilling Co. - Stockholm Syndrome Aquavit
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Anise and fennel up front, bold and clear. Leads to an integrated palate with caraway and fennel playing in harmony. An excellent example of a savoury northern European style in the spirits category. - 02.
Needle and Pin Spirits - Smoked Pineapple
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Clean spirit with subtle spice and underlying citrus. - 03.
Murrays Craft Brewing Co - Hot Mocha Bitters
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Chilli pepper, cocoa powder and capsicum. Great in a Bloody Maria.