This year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition has proved a successful one for Australian distillers, with 86 medals being brought back here.
Widely regarded as one of the key annual spirits competitions, the high number of Australian medals highlights the quality of spirits made in this country and how well they are viewed on the global scene.
Within the 86 medals there were Double Gold medals, awarded to Adelaide Hills Distillery for The Italian Bitter Orange Apéritif, Archie Rose for its Distillers Strength Gin, Dobson’s New England Dry Gin, Manly Spirits for its Australian Dry Gin, Shene Distillery for its Poltergeist Unfiltered Gin, The Melbourne Gin Company’s Single Shot Gin and the Underground Spirits Signature Vodka.
Manly Spirits were understandably delighted with its win, as co-owner Vanessa Wilton said: “The team at Manly Spirits Co. were speechless when we found out about our win. We knew we had a good product thanks to the amazing feedback we have been receiving from all those who have toured our distillery and tasting bar over the past year but to be recognised on the world stage was just awesome.
“We are thrilled to be a double gold medallist, as it confirms that all the hard work and risk taking is paying off and our products really are of an exceptional standard.”
“Double Gold means we were right,” added the distillery’s other co-owner David Whittaker. “We aimed for the best and achieved it. We crafted exceptional booze that we love and have been recognised in our endeavours.
“Building a midsize distillery from scratch and forging distribution channels in an established market can be quite a challenge so this award will give us wings to also expand into export markets and be taken seriously as a craft distillery to watch.”
Shene’s win means that it has become the first Tasmanian distillery to take out consecutive Double Golds at the competition, which Brand Ambassador, Myfanwy Kernke, described as an honour.
“To receive a Gold Medal rating by all 48 members of the judging panel two years running is a win we share with the entire Team Shene, who pour their hearts and souls into creating a product they truly believe in,” Kernke said.
“We are incredibly proud that our humble gin is taking the world by storm while remaining true to its craft roots.
“What makes Poltergeist truly special is that we can guarantee its craft and personal handling, from distilling to bottling, labelling and even selling in the simplicity of our roadside stall every Sunday.”
The full list of all Australia’s medal winners at the competition is below:
Adelaide Hills Distillery
- Double Gold Medal – Adelaide Hills Distillery, The Italian Bitter Orange Apéritif
- Gold Medal – Adelaide Hills Distillery Something Wild Green Ant Gin
- Silver Medal – Adelaide Hills Distillery 78° Gin
- Bronze Medal – Adelaide Hills Distillery Native Grain Project Wattleseed & Malt Whiskey
Animus
- Silver Medal – Animus Arboretum Gin
- Silver Medal – Animus Macedon Dry Gin
- Bronze Medal – Animus Ambrosian Gin
Applewood Distillery
- Bronze Medal – Applewood Distillery Gin
- Bronze Medal – Applewood Distillery Økar Amaro
Archie Rose
- Double Gold Medal – Archie Rose Distillers Strength Gin
- Silver Medal – Archie Rose Horisumi Summer Gin
- Silver Medal – Archie Rose Original Vodka
- Silver Medal – Archie Rose Signature Dry Gin
- Silver Medal – Archie Rose Virgin Cane Spirit
Arktika
- Bronze Medal – Arktika Vodka
Beenleigh
- Silver Medal – Beenleigh Copper Pot Distilled Rum
- Silver Medal – Beenleigh Double Barrel 5 Year Old Rum
- Bronze Medal – Beenleigh Australian Spiced Rum
Begin
- Silver Medal – Begin Gin
- Silver Medal – Begin Pink Gin
Black Bottle
- Silver Medal – Black Bottle Brandy XO
Bundaberg
- Silver Medal – Bundaberg 12 Year Old Black Rum
- Silver Medal – Bundaberg Blenders Edition Rum, Master Distillers’ Collection
- Silver Medal – Bundaberg Small Batch Reserve Rum, Master Distillers’ Collection
- Silver Medal – Bundaberg Small Batch Silver Reserve Rum, Master Distillers’ Collection
- Silver Medal – Bundaberg Small Batch Vintage Barrel Rum, Master Distillers’ Collection
- Silver Medal – Bundaberg Solera Rum, Master Distillers’ Collection
Bundaberg Royal Liqueur
- Silver Medal – Bundaberg Royal Liqueur Banana & Toffee
- Bronze Medal – Bundaberg Royal Liqueur Coffee & Chocolate
- Bronze Medal – Bundaberg Royal Liqueur Salted Caramel
Cape Byron
- Gold Medal – Cape Byron Brookie’s Byron Dry Gin
- Gold Medal – Cape Byron Brookie’s Byron Slow Gin
Dasher + Fisher
- Bronze Medal – Dasher + Fisher Meadow Gin
- Bronze Medal – Dasher + Fisher Ocean Gin
Distillery Botanica
- Gold Medal – Distillery Botanica Roots And Leaves Gin
Dobson’s
- Double Gold Medal – Dobson’s New England Dry Gin
- Silver Medal – Dobson’s Le Caf Liqueur
- Silver Medal – Dobson’s Sweet Pea Gin
- Bronze Medal – Dobson’s Belle Epoch Cask Strength Single Malt Whiskey
Four Pillars
- Silver Medal – Four Pillars Bartender Series Spiced Negroni Gin
- Silver Medal – Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin
- Bronze Medal – Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin
- Bronze Medal – Four Pillars Sherry Cask Gin
- Four Pillars X Hernö
- Silver Medal – Four Pillars X Hernö Distiller Series Dry Island Gin
Hippocampus
- Silver Medal – Hippocampus Dry Gin
- Silver Medal – Hippocampus Vodka
Hoochery Distillery
- Silver Medal – Hoochery Distillery 5 Rivers Spiced Rum
- Silver Medal – Hoochery Distillery Premium Rum
- Silver Medal – Hoochery Distillery Spike’s Reserve 15 Year Old Rum
Husk
- Gold Medal – Husk Spiced Bam Bam Rum
- Silver Medal – Husk Pure Cane Rum
Mackey
- Gold Medal – Mackey Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky
Manly Spirits
- Double Gold Medal – Manly Spirits Australian Dry Gin
- Silver Medal – Manly Spirits Coastal Citrus Gin
- Silver Medal – Manly Spirits Whisky Barrel Aged Gin
- Silver Medal – Manly Spirits White Dog Malt Spirit
Mr. Black
- Silver Medal – Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
- Bronze Medal – Mr. Black Coffee Amaro
Never Never Distilling Co.
- Gold Medal – Never Never Distilling Co. Triple Juniper Gin
Original Spirit Co.
- Bronze Medal – Original Spirit Co. Classic Dry Gin
Patient Wolf
- Bronze Medal – Patient Wolf Premium Dry Gin
Poltergeist
- Double Gold Medal – Poltergeist Gin, Unfiltered
- Silver Medal – Poltergeist Gin, A True Spirit
Poor Toms
- Bronze Medal – Poor Toms Fool Strength Gin
- Bronze Medal – Poor Toms Sydney Dry Gin
Prohibition
- Gold Medal – Prohibition Gin
- Silver Medal – Prohibition Bathtub Cut Gin
Saleyards Distillery
- Gold Medal – Saleyards Distillery Billy Goats Gin
- Bronze Medal – Saleyards Distillery Wise Old Goat Gin
Settlers Spirits
- Silver Medal – Settlers Spirits Yuzu Gin
- Bronze Medal – Settlers Spirits Sloe Gin
- Bronze Medal – Settlers Spirits Spiced Fig Gin
Starward
- Silver Medal – Starward Solera Single Malt Whisky
- Bronze Medal – Starward Wine Cask Single Malt Whisky
Terraaustralis Distillery
- Silver Medal – Terraaustralis Distillery Lady Susanne Gin
The Melbourne Gin Company
- Double Gold Medal – The Melbourne Gin Company Single Shot Gin
The Splendid Gin
- Bronze Medal – The Splendid Gin
Twenty Third Street
- Silver Medal – Twenty Third Street Barrel Aged Gin
- Silver Medal – Twenty Third Street Hybrid Whisk(E)Y
- Silver Medal – Twenty Third Street Not Your Nanna’s Brandy
- Silver Medal – Twenty Third Street Riverland Rose Vodka
- Silver Medal – Twenty Third Street Signature Gin
Underground Spirits
- Double Gold Medal – Underground Spirits Signature Vodka
- Silver Medal – Underground Spirits Signature Gin
Vantage Australia
- Silver Medal – Vantage Australia Icon Series
Vickers
- Bronze Medal – Vickers London Dry Gin
