WA Distillery Named 2018 Champion Australian Distiller For The Second Year Running

One of Western Australia’s most highly regarded distilleries has taken home Champion Australian Distiller for the second year in a row at the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards (ADSA) presentation last night in Melbourne, with a record number of entries received for this year’s competition.

Old Young’s, Henley Brook, WA took home the top honours from a total of ten champion trophies in the fourth year of the awards, with five won by Victorian distillers and one each in South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia and New South Wales.

The highly-anticipated Champion Whisky was awarded to Tasmanian distiller Hellyers Road Distillery for their Hellyers Road Slight Peated 10YO Single Malt Whisky, while Champion Gin was taken out by Anther Spirits, Victoria for Anther Gin.

Also from Victoria, White Light Beverages was awarded Champion Vodka for White Light Vodka Original, Marionette Dry Cassis by Marionette Liqueur won Champion Liqueur, Suter & Sons won Champion Australian Micro Batch Spirit for Suter & Sons Dry Gin and Champion Australian Small Batch Spirit was awarded to Animus Distillery for Animus Arboretum Gin.

St Agnes Distillery, SA, was awarded Champion Brandy for the third year running for St Agnes XO Grand Reserve and Queensland’s Beenleigh Artisan Distillery awarded Champion Rum for Beenleigh Artisan Distillers – Double Barrel.

Champion Alternative Spirit went to NSW’s Manly Spirits Co. Distillery for their Manly Spirits – White Dog Malt Spirit.

Head Judge Sam Bygrave, who led an impressive list of industry experts to assess the entries, said the 60% increase in entries was testament to the growing nature and good health of the distilling industry in Australia, with a total of 17 gold, 78 silver and 82 bronze medals awarded this year.

“Over two full days at Melbourne Showgrounds the judging panel assessed upwards of 240 exhibits from nearly 70 producers,” Bygrave said.

“Having been up close and personal with the exhibits now for the third year, it is great to see the standard of entries at the ADSA has gone from strength to strength.”

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 only 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.