Australian whiskies and distilleries have once again demonstrated their prowess on the global stage, garnering significant acclaim at the 2024 World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky Awards. A total of 16 Australian whiskies clinched Category Winner Gold medals, reaffirming the country’s growing reputation for producing exceptional spirits.
Leading the charge was Tasmania’s Hellyers Road distillery, which emerged as Australia’s most decorated distillery at the 2024 World Whiskies Awards. The distillery clinched the coveted title of Best Australian in three categories, drawing praise from Jeremy Rockliff MP, Premier of Tasmania, who lauded the recognition as a testament to Tasmania’s burgeoning whisky industry.
Among Hellyers Road’s standout achievements was its American Oak 16 Years Old, crowned Best Australian Single Cask Single Malt. Additionally, Hellyers Road Dark Harmony and Hellyers Road Voyager Cask secured top honors in the Best Australian Blended Limited Release and Best Australian Single Small Batch Single Malt categories, respectively. The distillery also clinched four Category Winner Gold medals, underscoring its commitment to excellence.
Derek Charge, Managing Director and CEO of Hellyers Road, expressed immense pride in the accolades, attributing the success to the team’s unwavering dedication to crafting superior Australian spirits. Fiona Coutts, Head Distiller, echoed this sentiment, assuring enthusiasts of the distillery’s continued pursuit of quality.
In a resounding affirmation of Australia’s whisky landscape, nine other Australian distilleries were named Category Winners at the World Whiskies Awards, including Backwoods Distilling Co, Coastal Stone, Eden, Hillwood Whisky, Iniquity, Lark, Sullivans Cove, The Gospel, Transportation Whiskey, Waubs Harbour Distillery, and Whipper Snapper.
Meanwhile, Sullivans Cove Distillery, a Tasmanian institution, clinched four awards at the 2024 Icons of Whisky Awards, further cementing its status as a trailblazer in the industry. Notably, the distillery was honored as Brand Innovator of the Year and boasted accolades for Sales Team of the Year. Individual recognition was also bestowed upon Heather Tillott, named Distillery Manager of the Year, and Ally Bhana, awarded Brand Ambassador of the Year.
Adam Sable, Managing Director of Sullivans Cove, expressed humility and pride in the global recognition, emphasizing the distillery’s unwavering commitment to craftsmanship. Tillott highlighted the distillery’s meticulous approach to whisky-making, blending tradition with innovation to produce top-tier products.
In the Rest of World category at the Icons of Whisky Awards, several Australian recipients were also honored, including Seamus Carrol of The Whisky Club, Andrew Derbidge of Whisky & Wisdom, Callington Mill Distillery, Ian Thorn of The Gospel Whiskey, Michelle Burns of The Aisling Distillery, and Callington Mill Distillery for Visitor Attraction.
The accolades garnered by Australian whiskies and distilleries underscore the country’s burgeoning reputation as a global hub for exceptional whisky craftsmanship, promising continued growth and innovation in the years to come.
