Best Spirits in Australia

  1. 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.

    01. Never Never Distilling Co. - Triple Juniper Gin

    State: South Australia Category: Gin
  2. 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.

    02. Taylor & Smith Distilling Co - Taylor & Smith Hanky Panky

    State: Tasmania Category: Alternate / Experimental
  3. Hey, this is a bold and brash juniper-forward navy strength gin! Pine forest in summer. Huge gin and well executed.

    03. Never Never Distilling Co. - Juniper Freak Gin

    State: South Australia Category: Gin
  4. 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.

    04. Archie Rose Distilling Co. - LEMON SCENTED GUM GIN HARVEST 2021

    State: New South Wales Category: Gin
  5. 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!

    05. Archie Rose - Archie Rose Rye Malt Whisky

    State: New South Wales Category: Whisky
  6. 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.

    06. NED Whisky - NED WANTED Series - Ingenuity

    State: Victoria Category: Whisky
  7. 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.

    07. Copper and Grain Distilling Co - MORRIS Australian Single Malt Whisky Muscat Barrel

    State: Victoria Category: Whisky
  8. 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.

    08. Amber Lane - Silk Road

    State: New South Wales Category: Whisky
  9. 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.

    09. Belgrove Distillery - Rye Whisky

    State: Tasmania Category: Whisky
  10. 10. Imperial Measures Distilling - Ruby Bitter Aperitif

    State: South Australia Category: Liqueur

Category Winners


Gin

  1. 01.

    Never Never Distilling Co. - Triple Juniper Gin

    State: South Australia

    TASTING 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.

  2. 02.

    Never Never Distilling Co. - Juniper Freak Gin

    State: South Australia

    TASTING NOTES:
    Hey, this is a bold and brash juniper-forward navy strength gin! Pine forest in summer. Huge gin and well executed.

  3. 03.

    Ester Spirits - The Strong

    State: New South Wales

    TASTING NOTES:
    Bright citrus upfront, nutty and sweet mid palate. Finishes with a well chosen spice botanical that masks the heat from the ABV. A well constructed overproof gin,

  4. 04.

    Archie Rose Distilling Co. - LEMON SCENTED GUM GIN HARVEST 2021

    State: New South Wales

    TASTING 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.

  5. 05.

    23rd Street Distillery - Mulberry Gin

    State: South Australia

    TASTING NOTES:
    Gorgeous purple-highlighted ruby colour. Intense plum and mulberry nose jumps out of the glass with fervour. Excellent attack on the palate; fresh, vibrant and driven by a brittle acid line. Great tannin structure. Amazing drink.

  6. 06.

    Little Ridge Distillery - On The Ridge Dry Gin

    State: Queensland

    TASTING NOTES:
    Incredibly piquant lemongrass, ginger and citrus-filled nose. Brilliantly executed. Presents with clarity of juniper that really shines. Flows through onto the palate very pleasingly. A great example of showcasing juniper using adjunct botanicals. Amazing.

  7. 07.

    The Farmer's Wife Distillery - Sweet Spring Gin

    State: New South Wales

    TASTING NOTES:
    Vanilla and oak on the nose announce the fact it's barrel-aged, these flavours complement the citrus and juniper in the mid-palate. Finishes with mild tannins and peppery warmth. A well executed barrel-aged gin.

  8. 08.

    Prohibition Liquor Co - Juniperus Gin

    State: South Australia

    TASTING NOTES:
    Lemon pith, pine and crisp juniper on the nose, some great complexity jumping from the glass. Great palate weight and pigment of botanicals. Lingering lemon and a mouth-coating spicy tingle.

  9. 09.

    Never Never Distilling Co. - Oyster Shell Gin

    State: South Australia

    TASTING NOTES:
    Interesting and lifted floral citrus nose with an intriguing savoury edge - lots going on. Some difficult botanicals are well handled to craft a palate which is well balanced and moreish. You'll to make a Gimlet with it!

  10. 10.

    Brighter Later - ‘Astral Orchard’ Modern Dry Gin

    State: South Australia

    TASTING NOTES:
    Juniper clarity on the nose provides a welcome attack to this gin, aromatically pretty and balanced. A very welcome citrus on the palate delivers a reprieve from the juniper intensity while stretching the finish. Beautiful gin.


Vodka

  1. 01.

    Morita Chipotle Vodka - Vapour Infused Vodka

    State: New South Wales

    TASTING NOTES:
    An inviting vegetal nose with a warm edge is enticing. The spirit is nice and clean on the palate and carries the savoury notes well. Would make a great Bloody Mary!

  2. 02.

    Here's Looking at you, Kid - Triple Distilled Vodka

    State: Victoria

    TASTING NOTES:
    Pure, neutral, colourless and odourless. Well executed vodka.

  3. 03.

    Little Ridge Distillery - Aged Vodka

    State: Queensland

    TASTING NOTES:
    Sublimely executed: neutral, colourless, odourless and flavourless.

  4. 04.

    Cannabis botanical distillery - Sativa Vodka

    State: Western Australia

    TASTING NOTES:
    Neutral with a hint of sea breeze and brine. Sits heavy on the palate, nice weight. Soft and slightly sweet finish which masks the ABV.

  5. 05.

    SoHi - Extra Virgin

    State: New South Wales

    TASTING NOTES:
    The nose on this is quite shy, but opens up into a generous palate with nice savoury and spice notes carried well by palate weight.


Whiskey

  1. 01.

    Copper and Grain Distilling Co - MORRIS Australian Single Malt Whisky Muscat Barrel

    State: Victoria

    TASTING 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.

  2. 02.

    Belgrove Distillery - Rye Whisky

    State: Tasmania

    TASTING 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.

  3. 03.

    Amber Lane - Silk Road

    State: New South Wales

    TASTING 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.

  4. 04.

    Archie Rose Distilling Co. - Rye Malt Whisky

    State: New South Wales

    TASTING NOTES:
    Figs 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.

  5. 05.

    NED Whisky - NED WANTED Series - Ingenuity

    State: Victoria

    TASTING 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.

  6. 06.

    Imbue Distillery - Rogue Barrel

    State: Victoria

    TASTING NOTES:
    Port, hazelnut, cocoa, nutmeg-spice-driven nose. Slight attenuated characteristics. The sweeter spiritous palate provides a reprieve from any malt astringency, while the finish is long, nutty and complex. Kudos.

  7. 07.

    Amber Lane - Liquid Amber

    State: New South Wales

    TASTING NOTES:
    Beautiful vanilla spice nose, malt clarity, showcasing appropriate restraint. Great poise on the palate, an evident focus on showcasing the malt in balance with oak treatment. Little artifice here, all beauty and pristine. Kudos.

  8. 08.

    Archie Rose Distilling Co. - Single Malt Whisky

    State: New South Wales

    TASTING NOTES:
    Toasty, peat and yeast-driven nose. Golden with molasses highlights. Great complexity on the palate, mid-palate sweetness providing reprieve from the heat, finishes on peat astringency. Intriguing take on the style.

  9. 09.

    Hobart Whisky - Pedro Ximénez Solera

    State: Tasmania

    TASTING NOTES:
    Dark caramel, nutmeg, hazelnut and creme brûlée nose. Intense and complex. Flows onto the palate with power and presence, a little sweetness is present through to a long and lingering finish. Thrilling drink that makes no mess of announcing its arrival. Kudos.

  10. 10.

    Archie Rose Distilling Co. - Single Paddock Whisky Harvest 2018

    State: New South Wales

    TASTING NOTES:
    Sweet smoked ham with a clay-like earthiness that is more reminicent of mescal over Islay on the nose; gives way to fresh and stewed apple notes with some hints of vanilla. Palate reveals a lot of sweetness; almost candy-like which balances out a blast of smoke that is intense but refined, and lasts long after you've finished the sip. An intriguing whisky you'll want to explore.


Rum & Other Cane Spirits

  1. 01.

    Archie Rose Distilling Co. - White Cane

    State: New South Wales

    TASTING NOTES:
    Fresh cut grass, herbaceous, but slightly spiritous nose; palate shows slight peppery notes, gentle on the palate overall.

  2. 02.

    New Norfolk Distillery - Drone Riot Wild Fermented Silver Spirit

    State: Tasmania

    TASTING NOTES:
    Cut grass, herbaceous, floral ... and spicy! Jalepeno, capsicum; mace and chilli spices.

  3. 03.

    New Norfolk Distillery - Misty Valley Silver Spirit

    State: Tasmania

    TASTING NOTES:
    Neutral nose, with slight spike in alc; palate starts with anise spice, then moves to slightly rubbery/plastic notes; subtle finish, slight caraway/anise spice to cloves.

  4. 04.

    Outcask Rum - Pot Distilled Rum

    State: New South Wales

    TASTING NOTES:
    Toffee, caramel Werther's on the nose, gentle, subtle aromas; palate is strong off the bat.


Alternative

  1. 01.

    Taylor & Smith Distilling Co - Taylor & Smith Hanky Panky

    State: Tasmania

    TASTING 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.

  2. 02.

    Never Never Distilling Co. - Australian Absinthe

    State: South Australia

    TASTING NOTES:
    Beautifully aromatic anise-driven nose - incredibly clarity - flows onto the palate with a welcome, warming sweetness that carries the flavour to a very long and lingering finish. Sublime. Kudos.

  3. 03.

    Tiny Friday - Gordito

    State: South Australia

    TASTING NOTES:
    Beautiful fresh aromatics of ripe green pear, cut grass, apple skin. The perfumed pear notes persist on the palate, dancing with some fresh white flowers on the top note. Good hit of alcohol punches through at the end but that perfume lingers long. Fresh, green delicousness that's super mixable in a cocktail application. Yum.

  4. 04.

    ASp agave spirit - Reposado

    State: New South Wales

    TASTING NOTES:
    BBQ and smoked ham jumps out of the glass with a hint on vanilla. Dry and green, with some distinct iodine character going on. It gives mescal on the nose and whisky on the palate. Super interesting character going on here.

  5. 05.

    King Island Distillery - Tiger Tonic Spirit / hh♡ signature King Island spirit

    State: Tasmania

    TASTING NOTES:
    Stone fruit and orchard aromas reminiscent of chardonnay. Lots of fresh oak on the palate some sherry and dried fruit notes - but it's a little tightly wound behind the high alcohol presence. There's some really lovely wine and fruit notes here, as well as a rich mouthfeel.

  6. 06.

    Ventura Brewing - Goodtime Moonshine

    State: New South Wales

    TASTING NOTES:
    Sweet caramel, toffee apple, banana and some slightly rougher grippy notes that aren't a bad thing. Palate is way more dry than the nose would suggest, a little citrus and pear with a tight spiciness through the centre palate with some nice green apple on the finish.