Best Drinks in Australia 2022
Charms with a crisp, clean nose of amaro herbs and cola notes. Glossy, full-flavoured, long and bitter. Palate is slippery and sexy. Lovely balance between spirit, acid and bitter herbs. An absolute bloody winner over ice – this is summer in a glass.
01. Økar - Økar Tropic
State: South Australia Category: Vermouth / AromatisedNice brown spice component and warming alcohol, purple fruits and some earth in there for interest. Love the acid freshenss. Would happily sip and sip and sip.
02. Seppeltsfield - Seppeltsfield Para Grand Tawny NV
State: South Australia Category: FortifiedWhat a beautiful beer. Complex malt notes of sweet plumb, stewed rhuburb, brown sugar and candied orange peel are all in balance. Really clean lactic sourness, lovely wine-like characters. A stunning Australian take on Belgian red ale.
03. Sobremesa Fermentary & Blendery - Vibes on Toast - bière de garde / barrel fermented
State: Victoria Category: BeerJasmine, honeycomb and floral bouquet aromas. Lovely creamy mouthfeel, and a distinct flavour that's reminiscent of jasmine tea with a delicate honey touch that balances everything beautifully.
04. Sunlight Liquor - Sparkling Orange Blossom / Sparkling Mead
State: South Australia Category: MeadRed fruit freshness: cherries, raspberries, strawberries. Bright, fresh, crunchy, juicy and deliociously moreish.
05. Watkins Mad Cousins Series - Chilled Light Red
State: South Australia Category: RedRich, caramel cloves and baking spice; nose seems very balanced with alc; all flavours carry well over palate, long finish, with gentle creamy humm overall; well balanced and well made.
06. Amber Lane - Silk Road
State: New South Wales Category: WhiskyOne of the better balanced amaros you'll find in Australia. Beautiful hit of menthol on the nose that is reminiscent of Branca Menta or Braulio – like standing on top of the alps and taking a deep breath. There's a raisiny, caramel undertone and beautiful viscosity and sweetness on the palate; the botanical profile is highly pigmented, yet restrained. Very impressive stuff here.
07. Taylor & Smith Distilling Co - Taylor & Smith Hanky Panky
State: Tasmania Category: Alternate / ExperimentalImpresses with cumin, anise and fresh mint on the nose and celery leaf, cumin and stunning acid on the palate. The perfect balance of sweet, savoury and acid. Love this!
08. Smug AF Cocktails - Smug AF non-alcoholic mojito
State: New South Wales Category: Non-Alcoholic SpiritsFigs in syrup, cola and baked apple on the nose, with a lovely, fresh little rye tingle. Prominent oak on the palate, fresh and grassy upfront with some sultana and vanilla custard on the finish. Rye spice tingles along the edge of your palate. Rounded, rich and delicious.
09. Archie Rose Distilling Co. - Rye Malt Whisky
State: New South Wales Category: WhiskyBright citrus elements shine aromatically, very enticing nose. The citrus carries through the mid palate and finishes with a good balance of spice and heat.
10. Archie Rose Distilling Co. - LEMON SCENTED GUM GIN HARVEST 2021
State: New South Wales Category: Gin
Best Spirits in Australia
- 01.
Never Never Distilling Co. - Triple Juniper Gin
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Fresh pine and great clarity of juniper on the nose. What a juniper bomb. Nice viscosity in the mouth. Spice and heat are restrained. Powerful, yet focussed. A blockbuster gin. - 02.
Taylor & Smith Distilling Co - Taylor & Smith Hanky Panky
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
One of the better balanced amaros you'll find in Australia. Beautiful hit of menthol on the nose that is reminiscent of Branca Menta or Braulio – like standing on top of the alps and taking a deep breath. There's a raisiny, caramel undertone and beautiful viscosity and sweetness on the palate; the botanical profile is highly pigmented, yet restrained. Very impressive stuff here. - 03.
Never Never Distilling Co. - Juniper Freak Gin
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Hey, this is a bold and brash juniper-forward navy strength gin! Pine forest in summer. Huge gin and well executed. - 04.
Archie Rose Distilling Co. - LEMON SCENTED GUM GIN HARVEST 2021
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Bright citrus elements shine aromatically, very enticing nose. The citrus carries through the mid palate and finishes with a good balance of spice and heat. - 05.
Archie Rose - Archie Rose Rye Malt Whisky
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
At once both sweet and savoury, serious and gregarious. Willy Wonka's factory has been firebombed, and all the kids are dancing in the embers. Fun! - 06.
NED Whisky - NED WANTED Series - Ingenuity
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
A well made spirit with nice palate weight and a well constructed richness. A good balance of grain and cask presence with a nice drying tannin to finish. Very enjoyable. - 07.
Copper and Grain Distilling Co - MORRIS Australian Single Malt Whisky Muscat Barrel
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Complex nose of toffee, pear and dried raisins with slight peat carries onto the palate with a mid-palate sweetness that provides instant reprieve from any exorbitant heat. Very impressive lingering finish carries a fair degree of intensity without ever appearing overblown. - 08.
Amber Lane - Silk Road
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Rich, caramel cloves and baking spice; nose seems very balanced with alc; all flavours carry well over palate, long finish, with gentle creamy humm overall; well balanced and well made. - 09.
Belgrove Distillery - Rye Whisky
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Beautiful nose: rich chocolate custard, coconut, apple pie and cinnamon with a pleasant mature oak lingering in the background. Unctuous mouthfeel that restrains the ABV really well. Sweet dried fruit is prominent on the mid palate, without hiding the classic grain characteristic. We dare any lover of a single malt sherry bomb to not love this. - 10.
Imperial Measures Distilling - Ruby Bitter Aperitif
State: South Australia
Best Alternative Drinks In Australia
- 01.
Ventura Brewing - Peach & Sage
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Nose enchants with hints of ginger, peach and lemon while apricot stone, peach lollies and papaya delight the palate. Old school kombucha with great fermentation. Sweet and dry in perfect balance. Leaves you wanting more. - 02.
Cannabis botanical distillery - Pineapple passion seltzer
State: Western AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Peaches, marzipan and apricot stone goodness on the nose. Great balance, great mouthfeel. Invites another sip with a smooth finish. Very clean and consistent. - 03.
Sunlight Liquor - Sparkling Orange Blossom / Sparkling Mead
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Jasmine, honeycomb and floral bouquet aromas. Lovely creamy mouthfeel, and a distinct flavour that's reminiscent of jasmine tea with a delicate honey touch that balances everything beautifully. - 04.
Cannabis botanical distillery - Citrus zing seltzer
State: Western AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Fresh citrus nose, slightly yellow hue, lower carbonation on a smooth and warm base. Marmalade, cooked citrus and mandarin peel. Earthy herbal depth with an intriguing soft fermented element. Balanced sweetness counters astringency. - 05.
WOOLSHED BREWERY - Utopia Hard Lemonade
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Really nice and bright nose of zesty lemon and lime freshness. Flavours of lemon sherbet, zippy lime and citrus peel and, while it is quite sweet, it's balanced wonderfully by its tartness and lemon flavour. - 06.
Melbourne Martini - Melbourne Martini Espresso Martini
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Fresh coffee nose and palate with a well-controlled sweetness on the palate and a pleasant hint of bitterness to finish. An espresso martini of note. - 07.
Curatif - Tequila Tromba Margarita
State: Victoria - 08.
Privée - No.2 Gin Martini
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Delicious bright citrus-forward martini. Lots of texture and very approachable. Enjoyable length on the finish. Classy. - 09.
Bizzarro Aperitivo - Bizzarro & Mischief Brew Tonic
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Grapefruit, lime and green herbs on the nose. Nice, clean dry palate, highlighting the citrus nose; tart, sweet, sour, all in balance; finish is clean and refreshing, too. Hot summer's day on the beach! Yes please! - 10.
Cannabis botanical distillery - Ginger Beer
State: Western AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Cloudy pale straw in colour, like freshly squeezed ginger juice on the nose; alcohol and sugar in check; bright and zingy; lively up front, sour, clean and leaves you with a pleasant ginger/pepper back palate. - 11.
Koji Spirits - Yuzushu
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Interesting and super acidic. Yuzu flavour is prominent.
Best Beers & Cider In Australia
- 01.
Sobremesa Fermentary & Blendery - Vibes on Toast - bière de garde / barrel fermented
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
What a beautiful beer. Complex malt notes of sweet plumb, stewed rhuburb, brown sugar and candied orange peel are all in balance. Really clean lactic sourness, lovely wine-like characters. A stunning Australian take on Belgian red ale. - 02.
Brick Lane Brewing Co - Smoking Gun
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Presents beautifully in the glass with great head retention and viscosity. Very rich flavours, while still being really drinkable with dark chocolate malt characters, mild toast and smokiness. The levels of umami, savoury and spice keep you returning for more. - 03.
Mismatch Brewing Co - Lager
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Gold and clear. Light, new world hop aroma with bright melon and citrus. Fresh and fragrant fruit notes on the body with a balancing bitterness and crsip finish. Delicious. - 04.
Molly Rose Brewing - Little Berries / Shiraz Farmhouse Ale
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
An aboslutely stunning beer with a fresh and gorgeous red fruit appearance. Bright red berry aroma, really alluring funk characters, complex and drinkable. Nice creamy finish, with a soft, rounded sourness. Vibrant, assertive and drinkable. - 05.
Fox Hat Brewing - Red Pelt / India Red Ale
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Pours with a beautiful red colour. On the nose, there's a lovely and complex hop combination of strawberries, vanilla and Turkish delight. The palate follows a really nice linear path from malt sweetness, to hop aromatics and bitterness. To taste, the malt flavours lead with rich caramel, toffee, sutble dark fruits, with hop notes of pine, citrus and further fruits. It's a big complex beer that is really nicely balanced. - 06.
Bridge Road Brewers - Passionfruit and Guava Sour
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Bursts with tropical fruit juice aroma. There's lovely guava, passionfruit and lemon here with nice sweetness and mouthfeel and great tartness to balance things out. An intensely smashable beer. - 07.
Plenty Cider - Cornucopia
State: TasmaniaTASTING NOTES:
Presents with a deep orange and clear hue. Has a lovely smooth mouthfeel, presents with delicate apple pie spiced notes and gentle touches of toffee. Has a great body with a dry finish for great gripping texture. - 08.
Brick Lane Brewing Co - Asylum
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Stunning and vibrant pour. Straight out aromas of toasted coconut, maple and cinnamon. Flavours of rich dark choclate with cinnamon donut notes. A big beer that is super smooth. - 09.
Little Pete Brewing - HAZY
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
This hazy presents really nicely with a light yellow glow and lovely aromas of fresh fruit, pineapple and orange. Texturally, it's really smooth, sessionable and full flavoured with vibrant hop notes of tropical fruits, citrus and an appealing spiciness towards the end. A crushable, tasty beer with a lot of flavours that keep in check. - 10.
Mismatch Brewing Co - Session Ale
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Presents well with light golden haze. Good intense hop aroma that shows big tropical fruits and nectarine. Continues in the flavour with a really nice, smooth mouthfeel and harmonious carbonation to balance the malt body. Overall, it makes for a really crushable, delicious beer.
Best Wines In Australia
- 01.
Moorak - Petillant Naturel- Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Bright and complex; lovely tension on the nose; curry leaves, cardamom and watermelon freshness take you to the tropics. Think Sri Lankan fish curry. Hints of red fruit and Szechuan pepper. Delicious, complex and smashable. - 02.
Brothers In A Box - Riesling
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Intense floral aroma with pear, candied apple skin, white peach and lactic whey notes. Medium body palate, almond meal, good concentration and fruit purity with a subtle savoury textural element. Medium acidity makes it very supple. Lovely lime juice acid finish. - 03.
Murdoch Hill Tilbury Chardonnay
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
White peach and nectarine; fleshy palate and well-rounded texture. Flinty but very powerful palate, pure texture and bright acid. Polarising but if you like it you'll really like it. - 04.
Chain of Ponds
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Coconut and lime juice. Quite a fresh palate with really nice oak derived texture. The oak gives a good reductive note. Reductive but I like it. Reminiscent of Loire Valley styles of Chenin, flinty but very powerful palate, pure texture and bright acid. - 05.
Koerner Wine - Pigato/Vermentino
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Lemon balm, verbena, citron, sea spray. Really high acid, crunchy and fresh. Soft. Like a grown up Icy Pole. Almost like a Yuzu wine. Very distinctive. Needs to be cold and you need to be hot. - 06.
Watkins Mad Cousins Series - Chilled Light Red
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Red fruit freshness: cherries, raspberries, strawberries. Bright, fresh, crunchy, juicy and deliociously moreish. - 07.
Ripple - Cabernet/Nero d'Avola
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Yum. A smidge of stalky lift leading into bright red fruit, lavender and green herb aromas; sweet cherry fruit on palate and lovely grip of tannin. - 08.
Skillogalee Wines - Skillogalee 2020 Trevarrick Shiraz
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Deep, dense colour. Black fruit and liqourice dominate the palate. Tannins are youthful and grippy. Fruit has a bit of brightness (in the full-bodied sphere). Tannins persistent and pleasantly grippy. - 09.
Økar - Økar Tropic
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Charms with a crisp, clean nose of amaro herbs and cola notes. Glossy, full-flavoured, long and bitter. Palate is slippery and sexy. Lovely balance between spirit, acid and bitter herbs. An absolute bloody winner over ice – this is summer in a glass. - 10.
Seppeltsfield - Seppeltsfield Para Grand Tawny NV
State: South AustraliaTASTING NOTES:
Nice brown spice component and warming alcohol, purple fruits and some earth in there for interest. Love the acid freshenss. Would happily sip and sip and sip.
Best Non-Alcoholic Drinks In Australia
- 01.
Smug AF Cocktails - Smug AF non-alcoholic mojito
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Impresses with cumin, anise and fresh mint on the nose and celery leaf, cumin and stunning acid on the palate. The perfect balance of sweet, savoury and acid. Love this! - 02.
UpFlow Brewing Co. - Stout
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Freshly planed wood shavings, maple and damp soil on the nose. An alluring balance on the palate, lovely bitterness and warmth. It's so well balanced. Feels like home. - 03.
Patio Beverages - Bloody Mary mixer
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Great Bloody Mary balance with a spicy kick finish. Leaves both palate and nose with a soft balanced aftertaste. Salty, savoury and so delicious. Well executed acid and with room to add your level of heat. Love this. - 04.
HOTI - Healthy On The Inside - Ginger Glow Kombucha
State: QueenslandTASTING NOTES:
Friendly bubbles. Bright, fun ginger and cranberries on the nose. Rose petal mixed with classic kombucha flavour. Electric on the palate. Well balanced and neither too sweet nor too savoury. - 05.
Lyre's Non-Alcoholic - Lyre's Highland Malt
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Rich and roasty, true whisky characteristics come through in the glass. Serve with soda and you could fool me into a highball. A touch more concentration and you could drink this on the rocks. - 06.
BREWTROPIC - APPROVED LEAVE
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Huge fruit aroma, passionfruit and pineapple, lovely sour balance and flavour is balanced throughout the beer. Wildly fruit forward, balsamic strawberry stewed. Tart and sour. - 07.
Lyre's Non-Alcoholic - Lyre's Italian Orange
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Great colour. Candied orange skins, cinnamon and baking spices. Good hit of bitter orange in the mouth with a gorgeous toffee apple colour. With a hit of soda and fresh orange, you're set to go. - 08.
Easy Tea - Classic Peach
State: New South WalesTASTING NOTES:
Licorice roots on the nose and palate. Complex and balanced. Very refreshing finish. - 09.
HOTI - Healthy On The Inside - Mango Passionfruit Kombucha
State: QueenslandTASTING NOTES:
Passionfruit seeds on the nose almost jump out of the glass. A pleasant surprise that this drink has real follow through on the palate. It'll remind you of mum's passionfruit pavlova on Christmas Day. Well structured and punctuated with great acid. - 10.
The Everleigh Bottling Co. - Bellini, Sparkling Bottled Cocktails
State: VictoriaTASTING NOTES:
Fresh mango, peach stones and poached apricots. Fun and juicy on the palate. Would sit well as a non alc sour with a splash of bitters.