The third annual Dan Murphy’s Decoded Spirit Awards has announced its winners, recognising the most outstanding spirits from across Australia and internationally in 2024. All of the finalists and winners received detailed tasting notes from the judges, to help customers discover new favourites.
The Decoded Spirits Awards selection process is a two day blind tasting event conducted by a panel of 13 judges, tasting more than 450 products across 19 categories.
The categories included Agave - Anejo, Agave - Blanco, Agave - Reposado, Apéritifs, Digestifs & Liqueurs, Brandy / Cognac / Armagnac, Gin - Australian, Gin - Coloured & Sloe, Gin - International, Non Alcoholic (Spirits Substitute), Pre Batched Cocktails, Rum, Rum - Spiced, Scotch - Blended Whisky, Scotch - Single Malt Whisky, Vodka - Australian, Vodka - International, Whisk(e)y - Australian, Whisk(e)y - North American, and Whisk(e)y - World.
South Australia and Victoria were tied as the states with the highest number of winners and finalists, with seven producers making the leaderboard.
South Australian Kangaroo Island Spirits went home with the Australian Gin win, with the state having two other finalists in the category. Although Queensland had two local producers make it to the finals in the Rum category, it did not win out against Guatemalan distillery Zacapa.
There was a record number of Australian Whisky entries this year, with three Tasmanian finalists beaten out by Victorian distillery Morris Rutherglen. Australian Vodka finalist, Western Australian Old Young's Pavlova vodka, was recognised as a successful tribute to the classic dessert, but the Award went to Victorian Tread Softly vodka.
Dan Murphy’s head of Spirits, Sarah Hall, said the awards are about paying homage to the incredible workmanship of Australian producers.
“We are incredibly lucky to have some of the best producers in the industry right at our doorstep. Australian producers demonstrate not only a high level of skill and tenacity but also creativity relying on natural products from our diverse landscape.
“From sourcing ingredients like botanicals unique only to Australia to sourcing high quality Australian barley, all of these elements really demonstrate that Australian producers deserve to be on the world stage.”
This year’s Decoded Spirit Awards also presented detailed tasting notes for the spirits entered, aiming to make drink discovery easier for customers.
“We wanted to break the mould and in the context of streamlining the process for people to enjoy quality spirits and provide another level of guidance for those especially who may be unfamiliar with the world of spirits,” said Hall.
“We know in terms of the younger demographic, with changing macroeconomic conditions many are looking to elevate their at-home experiences.
“These are the people we know who will really gravitate towards this kind of initiative - high quality spirits that are unpretentious and accessible, regardless if you have the knowledge of a professional bartender or not.”
The winners and finalists of the 2024 Awards can be explored online.
