The winners of the 2026 World Drinks Awards have been announced, with several Australian distillers recognised across a range of categories. Prohibition Liquor Co received two World’s Best Liqueur awards, Reef Distillers and Never Never were recognised for premix mastery, and three Australian rums were crowned World’s Best, two from Fnq Rum Co. and one from New Norfolk Distillery.
After the country and style awards were unveiled in early May, including a range of Australian gin producers, the World’s Best were selected from that winners pool. Local producers received a number of category awards this year, with all of the winners revealed on 2 June at a Gala Dinner in London.
Never Never received the World’s Best Contemporary Premix award for its Panettone Negroni, which co-founder Sean Baxter says gets better and better every year.
“It’s a very welcoming Negroni style that is slightly sweeter than the traditional recipe and contains flavours that are immediately reflective of a panettone Italian sweet bread,” said Baxter.
“Awards such as these provide an independent review to both customers and retailers that what you make is of a quality that is absolutely first class. It gives them confidence in the products we make and the claims we proudly stand behind. Our goal has always been to become Australia’s most recommended gin brand. Amazing results and trophies like this don’t achieve that all on their own, but they certainly give people a good reason to start the conversation,” he said.
The results follow Australia’s success in this year’s World Whisky Awards, with Sullivans Cove taking out World’s Best Single Cask Single Malt, and Greenbanks recognised for its Single Cask Single Rye.
World Drinks Awards director, Anita Ujszaszi, said the World’s Best announcement is a special moment every year.
“These winners represent the absolute pinnacle of drinks craftsmanship,” said Ujszaszi.
“This year's winners embody not only exceptional quality, but also the diversity, innovation, and heritage that define today's global drinks industry. The same can be said for our Icons of Drinks winners, whose contributions continue to shape the future of the sector.”
Australian winners at the 2026 World Drinks Awards included:
- Liqueur
World’s Best Nut Liqueur – Prohibition Liquor Co Hazelnut & Macadamia Liqueur
World’s Best Coffee Liqueur – Prohibition Liquor Co Coffee Liqueur - Premix
World's Best Classic Cocktail – Reef Distillers Espresso Martini
World's Best Contemporary Cocktail – Never Never Panettone Negroni - Rum
World's Best Sugarcane Spirit – Fnq Rum Co. Platinum
World's Best Traditional Spiced – New Norfolk Distillery Near Horizon Spiced
World's Best Pot Still – Fnq Rum Co. Iridium Agave Cask Finish
Check out the full list of World’s Best, country, and category winners and medallists online at worlddrinksawards.com.
