Life’s too short to drink average cocktails.
If you need to replenish your at home bar cart, here is a rather delicious place to start. Last night, the Australian International Spirits Awards, hosted by Melbourne Royal, revealed some of the best spirits made all around the nation. Consider the Champions mentioned below for your 2026 to-sip list:
SHOP WHISK(E)Y
Tapestry – Fleurieu Distillery (Best Australian Single Malt Whisky)
The Bird – Bird in Hand & Fleurieu Distillery (Best Blended Malt Whisky)
Rye Malt Whisky – Archie Rose Distilling Co (Best Grain Whisky & Consistency of Excellence Award)
SHOP GIN
Triple Juniper Gin – Never Never Distilling Co (Champion Australian Gin, Best London Dry Gin)
Australian Dry Gin – Daylesford Spirit Distillery (Champion Victorian Gin)
Troppo Yuzu Gin – Northern Distilling (Best New World/Contemporary Gin & Consistency of Excellence Award)
Man O’ War Gin – Hold Fast Distillery (Best Navy Gin)
Strawberries & Cream Gin – Brogan’s Way Distillery (Best Fruit or Wine/Grape Gin)
The Old Tom – Ester Spirits (Best Other Gin)
P.S. If you’re firmly in the gin and tonic camp, Bunker Distillery’s Traditional Dry Gin was dubbed Best G&T when mixed in a 1:3 ratio with Strangelove Coastal.
SHOP VODKA
Midnight Vodka – Saint Felix Distillery (Best Unflavoured Vodka)
Sunchaser Dirty Vodka – Oakburn Distillery (Best Flavoured Vodka)
SHOP RUM
The Triple Six – Nil Desperandum (Best Rum)
Virgin Cane Spirit – Burdekin Rum (Best Cane Spirit)
SHOP LIQUEURS, BITTERS & ALTERNATIVE SPIRITS
Caretaker’s Cottage Black Forest – Marionette (Best Liqueur)
All Seasons Gin Liqueur — Imbue Distillery (Consistency of Excellence Award)
Hazelnut & Macadamia Liqueur — Prohibition Liquor Co (Consistency of Excellence Award)
Absinthe Verte – Cedar Fox Distilling Co (Best Alternative Spirit)
St Agnes XO 15YO – St Agnes Distillery (Best Brandy)
Alternativo Aperitivo – Ester Spirits (Best Bitter or Vermouth)
DISTILLERS TO EXPLORE
The following distillers and drink-makers have impressed overall: St Agnes Distillery in South Australia (Champion Large Australian Distiller), Nil Desperandum Rum in Queensland (Champion Medium Australian Distiller), Maidenii in Victoria (Champion Small Australian Distiller & Champion Victorian Distiller) and Island Coast Spirits, Tasmania (Champion Australian Nomad Distiller). You can reliably shop their products for surefire overall quality. Perhaps arrange a trip to their cellar doors – where they exist – soon!
