St Agnes Distillery celebrated a significant achievement this week by winning the champion Best Distilled Spirit of Show trophy for its St Agnes XO Grand Reserve at the inaugural Sydney Royal Distilled Spirits Show. The 40-year-old brandy was recognized as Australia’s top spirit, also earning the JJ McWilliam Perpetual Trophy for Best Brandy during the awards ceremony held on September 17.
Richard Angove, the fifth-generation custodian of St Agnes, expressed his pride, stating, “St Agnes is Australia’s oldest continually-operated craft distillery, and to win both Best Brandy and Best Distilled Spirit in Sydney is a fantastic culmination of recent successes. It’s a well-deserved recognition for a complex spirit that demands patience and dedication.”
The St Agnes XO Grand Reserve is aged for four decades in carefully selected small oak barrels, resulting in tasting notes that include deep flavors of dried fruit, vanilla, and spice, complemented by a velvety smooth finish. Angove noted the significant loss during the aging process, with evaporation affecting about one to two percent of the liquid annually. “We’re fortunate to have such aged treasures, and caring for them is a top priority for our team,” he remarked. “This concentration of flavors produces a spirit unlike anything else in Australia.”
This latest accolade marks the third Best Brandy award for St Agnes in just two months, highlighting the distillery’s exceptional quality and craftsmanship. In addition to the Sydney award, St Agnes also received top honors at the Tasting Australia Spirit Awards and the Melbourne Royal Australian Distilled Spirits Awards, where it was named Champion Australian Distiller.
Angove reflected on the legacy of the brand, initiated by his great-grandfather in 1925, who aimed to create a spirit that rivaled the great Cognacs of France. This commitment to quality and tradition continues to be evident in the brand’s offerings, from the entry-level VS to the prestigious XO 40-Year-Old Grand Reserve.
With a focus on both tradition and innovation, Angove emphasized the importance of Australian brandy on the global stage, encouraging retailers and bars to feature St Agnes. He also highlighted the creation of the St Agnes Bartenders Cut—a brandy developed for cocktails, boasting an eight-year age statement and 44 percent alcohol content.
As St Agnes Distillery prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, it plans to unveil special, limited releases and host commemorative events, marking a century of excellence in brandy production.
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