South Australia’s Ambleside Distillers has won Best Distiller and Best Gin, for its Small Acre Gin, at the 2020 Tasting Australia Spirit Awards, presented by Master Cask.
Around 75 Australian producers submitted 255 spirits to the industry awards, which were celebrated on Saturday (26 September). The winners were decided over three days of tastings by the panel, who, for the first time, were all from South Australia due to travel restrictions.
Interim head judge and Tasting Australia drinks curator Nick Stock said he was impressed by both the quantity and quality of spirits produced for this year’s awards.
“I am thrilled with the number of entries we received this year, up 58 per cent on the 2019 competition,” said Stock.
“The refinement and careful craftsmanship seen among the top awards is a strong theme this year, with distillers really honing their approach and producing convincing quality across a diverse range of styles. The competition for trophies was really hot this year.”
Best Rum went to Tin Shed Distilling Co’s Requiem Rum ‘The Ferret’, while Ochre Nation’s Økar Amaro was awarded Best Liqueur, and Adelaide Hills Distillery took out the Best Alternate Spirit for its Apple Brandy.
Victoria’s White Light Beverages won Best Vodka for its White Light Vodka Original for the third year running, and Taylor and Smith Distilling Co. won Best Small Batch Spirit for their Taylor & Smith Dry Gin.
The awards were previously held as part of the Tasting Australia festival presented by RAA Travel, but will now continue to be held outside of traditional festival dates, as part of the Tasting Australia Local program.
“It is a cornerstone of Tasting Australia’s ethos to support industry, not only during the festival, but throughout the year,” said Stock.
“The Tasting Australia Spirit Awards taking place ahead of the festival gives us the ability to really highlight the award-winners and maximise their benefit in participating in the awards.”
World Whisky Award Hall of Fame inductee Bill Lark of Tasmania’s Lark Distillery, who was scheduled to judge the 2020 awards but was unable to make it to South Australia for the judging process, recognised the importance of the awards.
“The Australian distilling industry is one of the fastest growing and most diverse in the world and the Tasting Australia Spirit Awards aim to recognise that ingenuity and energy,” said Lark.
“It has been a difficult and uncertain time for spirit producers of late and it’s great the awards could go ahead this year to celebrate the efforts and collaborative strength of this growing industry.”
2020 Tasting Australia Spirit Awards presented by Master Cask Award Winners:
- Best Distiller: Ambleside Distillers (SA)
- Best Small Batch Spirit: Taylor and Smith Distilling Co. (TAS)
- Best Independent Bottler: The Craft & Co, Gypsy Hub (VIC)
- Best Whisky: Sullivans Cove American Oak Tawny Single Cask, Sullivans Cove Distillery (TAS)
- Best Gin: Ambleside Distillers Small Acre Gin, Ambleside Distillers (SA)
- Best Vodka: White Light Vodka Original, White Light Beverages (VIC)
- Best Rum: Requiem Rum ‘SS Ferret’, Tin Shed Distilling Co. (SA)
- Best Brandy: Distillers Selection Single Cask 6YO Brandy, Bass and Flinders Distillery (VIC)
- Best Liqueur: Økar Amaro, Ochre Nation (SA)
- Best Alternate Spirit: Apple Brandy, Adelaide Hills Distillery (SA)
- Best Small Cask Maturation: Distillers Selection Single Cask 6YO Brandy Bass and Flinders Distillery (VIC)
