Australia's best distillers crowned at the 2019 Australian Distilled Spirits Awards

Hellyers Road Distillery has been announced as the Champion Australian Distiller for the first time
at the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards (ADSA) presentation last night in Melbourne, hosted by The Royal Agricultural
Society of Victoria (RASV).

The crowning of the prestigious top award comes after a 2018 ADSA victory awarding the distillery the Champion Whisky
trophy for its Slightly Peated 10yo Malt.

The ADSA presentation, held at Captain Baxter last night, saw industry leaders and experts from all across Australia
celebrate Australian spirit producers, with nine champion trophies being awarded and guests of the ‘High Spirits’ event
treated to cocktails made from the newly-crowned spirits.

This year the awards commemorated Raymond ‘Spike’ Dessert, a pioneering distiller, leading voice within the industry
and co-founding member of the Australian Distillers Association. Awarded for the first time in 2019, the Raymond B ‘Spike’
Dessert III Trophy for Champion Rum went to Ord River Rum Single Barrel Selection, from Spikes own Hoochery Distillery in
Western Australia.

South Australian distillers took home three of the top awards with Champion Whisky going to Fleurieu Distillery for the
Fountain of Youth, Champion Gin to Thebarton’s Imperial Measures Distilling for Ounce Gin Bold, and Adelaide Hills Distillery
taking home Champion Brandy for Apple Brandy.

For the second year in a row Melbourne producers Marionette were awarded Champion Liqueur with Dry Cassis.

Victoria was well represented on the night with the Citrus Vodka by Victorian-based Alchemy Distillers winning Champion
Vodka, while Melbourne’s own Anther Experimental Distillation won Champion Australian Micro Batch Spirit for Honey Old
Tom Whisky Barrel Aged Gin.

Champion Australian Small Batch Spirit went to Batch Zero Gin from South Coast Distillery in New South Wales.

Head Judge Sam Bygrave, led an impressive panel of industry experts to assess the products, said the 14 per cent
increase in entries and 30 new exhibitors in 2019 highlights the growth and good nature of the distilling industry in Australia.

“The standard of entries this year has been exceptional, with the judging panel assessing over 330 Australian distilled
spirits, liqueurs and aromatic bitters from close to 100 producers over the two judging days in March,” Bygrave said.

“2019 marks my fifth year involved with the Australian Distilled Spirit Awards and I can attest to increased standards of
entrants and entries each year, with the winners setting a quality benchmark recognised locally and internationally.”

Speaking to entrants at the awards evening, RASV CEO Paul Guerra said, “The calibre of spirit producers involved in the
Australian Distilled Spirit Awards increases every year and 2019 is no exception. The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria
are proud to continue conducting the ADSA and look forward to watching as the 2019 champions inspire other producers
in the industry.”

The ADSA, conducted by The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) who are also responsible for the Australian
International Beer Awards and Royal Melbourne Wine Awards, is the largest national spirits awards in the country,
recognising and rewarding excellence in Australia’s burgeoning spirits and liqueurs industry.

All results including medal winners are now available here.
#AuSpiritsAwards

2019 ADSA Champion Trophies:

Champion Australian Distiller presented by Mastercask
Hellyers Road Distillery, Tasmania

Raymond B ‘Spike’ Dessert III Trophy for Champion Rum
Ord River Rum, Single Barrel Selection – Hoochery Distillery, Western Australia

Champion Whisky presented by Cryer Malt
Fountain of Youth – Fleurieu Distillery, South Australia

Champion Gin presented by Labelhouse
Ounce Gin – Bold – Imperial Measures Distilling, South Australia

Champion Vodka presented by Plasdene Glass-Pak
Citrus Vodka – Alchemy Distillers Pty Ltd, Victoria

Champion Brandy
Apple Brandy – Adelaide Hills Distillery, South Australia

Champion Liqueur
Marionette Dry Cassis - Marionette Liqueur, Victoria

Champion Australian Micro Batch Spirit
Honey Old Tom Whisky Barrel Aged Gin – Anther Experimental Distillation, Victoria

Champion Small Batch Spirit
Batch Zero Gin – South Coast Distillery, New South Wales

 

For all media enquiries, please contact RASV:
Grant Coverdale, Communications Manager
grant.coverdale@rasv.com.au | 0427 015 552