St Agnes Distillery is marking a century of distilling excellence with the release of Australia’s oldest bottled spirit — the St Agnes XXO 50 Year Old Exceptional Reserve.
Unveiled last Friday at the National Wine Centre during a celebration of the distillery’s 100th season, the ultra-rare release was presented alongside the XO 30 Year Old Centenary Reserve.
Described as the culmination of a century-long dedication to craftsmanship, the XXO 50 Year Old is limited to just 500 bottles and carries a striking price tag of $4,800, making it the most expensive Australian spirit to date.
“This release is the pinnacle of our century-long pursuit of greatness,” said Richard Angove, Co-Managing Director of St Agnes Distillery. “When my grandfather Thomas Angove began distilling small parcels of outstanding spirit, he was planning not for today or tomorrow, but for decades into the future.”
Crafted from brandy distilled between 1953 and 1972, the XXO 50 Year Old matured in the Riverland’s historic barrel halls. Angove described the spirit as “more than just a brandy – it’s a reflection of everything we stand for,” adding that it pays homage to the past while celebrating what lies ahead.
The limited-edition release is a tribute to five generations of family distilling at Australia’s oldest family-owned distillery.
St Agnes has built a formidable reputation in recent years. In 2023, it was crowned Champion Australian Distiller at the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards and took home the Best Distilled Spirit prize at both the Royal Sydney and Royal Australian Spirit Awards. The distillery also claimed Best Brandy honours in every major capital city and earned gold at the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition.
To commemorate its centenary, St Agnes is hosting events across the country, with further celebrations planned for 2025 in Adelaide and Renmark.
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