Tickets now sold out for the 2021 Australian Distilled Spirits Awards Trophy Presentation

The Australian Distilled Spirits Awards (ADSA) is Australia’s first and largest national awards program that recognises excellence in Australian distilled spirits, liqueurs, aromatics, and this year vermouth.

Tickets are now sold out for the 2021 Trophy Presentation, held within the spectacular Victoria Pavilion at Melbourne Showgrounds.

Guests will enjoy especially curated cocktails featuring trophy and gold medal-winning products from the 2021 ADSA, coupled with a delicious menu designed by the team from Dean & McPherson.

Eighteen trophies will be awarded throughout the night as guests celebrate this year's best Australian spirits.  

Event details

Date and time: Wednesday 1 December 2021, 7pm

Tickets: SOLD OUT (ticket information)

Location: Victoria Pavilion, Melbourne Showgrounds. Entry via Gate 1, Epsom Rd, Ascot Vale (includes all rideshare drop-offs). Complimentary parking available on-site.


A record-breaking 750+ entries from over 190 exhibitors received

Overcoming the challenges associated with conducting the 2021 ADSA through ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, judging took place online during Victoria’s lockdown in October and saw 41 accomplished experts in distilling, spirits retailing and writing from across the country come together in real time to judge the 750+ entries across 10 categories. 4,500 individual samples were carefully decanted under sterile conditions, labelled and dispatched to judges’ homes, who over three days last month came together as 10 panels to critique and score each of those samples. Judging was led by Head Judge Seb Costello of Melbourne bar ‘Bad Frankie’ fame.

With judging now complete and the trophy winners determined, Melbourne Royal® is excited to invite the Australian distilling industry to come together at Melbourne Showgrounds next month to celebrate the remarkable expansion and quality of product in the Australian distilling industry.

Melbourne Royal® CEO, Brad Jenkins said: “Now in their seventh year, the year-on-year growth of the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards in both interest and entries has been extraordinary as distillers seek the unrivalled feedback and recognition that comes from winning a medal or trophy.”

The 2021 ADSA has received the highest ever whisky entries, at 89, the highest ever gin entries, at 388, the highest ever vodka entries, at 67, and saw a 23% overall increase in entries from 2020-2021. The new Vermouth class received 16 entries, indicating its re-emergence as a once-again fashionable aperitif. With a record-breaking 750+ entries from over 190 exhibitors, guests will be trying the very best spirits that Australia has to offer, while being the first to find out who the lucky winners are.

For more information visit  melbourneroyal.com.au/spirits or email spirits@melbourneroyal.com.au.

Stay up to date with the latest developments and engage with ADSA and Melbourne Royal on Facebook and Instagram via @Melbourne.Royal