The winners of the 2024 Spirits Business Awards have been announced, with Australian companies, Archie Rose Distilling and Curatif, among those awarded.
The Spirits Business is an international spirits trade publication, known for its awards programs that reward those driving excellence across the industry. Held on 14 November, beneath the Globe Theatre in London, the 2024 edition of the program recognised retailers, distributors, marketers, brands, distillers and blenders.
Judged by members of The Spirits Business editorial team and a panel of independent spirits experts, the awards are separated into five areas: Retail and Marketing, Sustainability and Innovation, Tourism, Products, and People.
This year, Sydney-based Archie Rose Distilling Co. was awarded multiple times for its talented team, with master distiller, Dave Withers, taking out Distiller of the Year for the second year in a row, and David Fisher awarded runner-up for Blender of the Year.
The company stated: “these recognitions are a true testament to their innovation in spirits production and it’s our pleasure to have them a part of the Archie Rose DNA, producing spirits that countless people get to enjoy across Australia, and the world.”
The Archie Rose Bar & Cellar Door in Rosebery also brought back the award for Distillery Consumer Experience, for its collaborative classes with local organisations, and inclusive environment.
Melbourne-based premium canned cocktail brand, Curatif, took out the Specialty Brand of the Year award for its ingredient use and RTD innovation. This is their second major win this month, also accomplishing a world-first after being crowned Best RTD Producer at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) for the third year in a row.
Curatif co-founder and managing director, Matt Sanger, said it was a huge honour to be recognised by an industry-driven program like the Spirits Business Awards.
“To be recognised alongside brands and icons we admire is genuinely special,” said Sanger.
“It's not often that you meet your heroes, but as we celebrated our wins, we met many of our idols within the industry. We had a great time over cocktails and made connections that will last a lifetime.
“This is a pinnacle time for the business but we're not slowing down. We have some exciting projects in development which will continue to raise the bar and delight our customers,” he said.
The full list of winners at the 2024 Spirits Business Awards includes:
Retail & Marketing
- SPIRITS RETAILER OF THE YEAR – SUPERMARKET
Winner: Aldi
Runner-up: Waitrose - SPIRITS RETAILER OF THE YEAR – SPECIALIST
Winner: Amathus - SPIRITS RETAILER OF THE YEAR – E-COMMERCE
Winner: The Whisky Exchange - SPIRITS DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
Winner: Speciality Drinks
Runner-up: Ten Locks
Sustainability & Innovation
- SPIRITS SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
Winner: Two Drifter’s
Runner-up: Bruichladdich
Special Commendation: Bus Whisky Distillers - INNOVATION IN PACKAGING
Winner: McLaren Packaging
Runner-up: Penrhos - INNOVATION IN PRODUCTION
Winner: Paragon Palo Santo Cordial
Runner-up: Nc’nean - ETHICAL AWARD
Winner: Equal Measures
Runner-up: Elephant Gin Foundation - BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Winner: Hedonism: From Grain to Gold
Runner-up: Spirit Cartel - BEST EVENT
Winner: London Cocktail Week
Runner-up: Cayman Cocktail Week - BEST SPIRITS PR COMPANY
Winner: Cultural Communications
Runner-up: May Fox Communications
Product & Brand
- COGNAC/BRANDY BRAND OF THE YEAR
Winner: Rémy Martin - GIN BRAND OF THE YEAR
Winner: Hernö Gin Distillery
Runner-up: Peddlers Shanghai Gin Company - TEQUILA BRAND OF THE YEAR
Winner: El Tequileño
Runner-up: Patrón - VODKA BRAND OF THE YEAR
Winner: Desi Daru
Runner-up: DryLaw - SPECIALITY BRAND OF THE YEAR
Winner: Curatif - RUM BRAND OF THE YEAR
Winner: Planteray - WHISKY/WHISKEY BRAND OF THE YEAR
Winner: Stauning
Runner-up: Indri Single Malt Indian Whisky - SPIRITS BOTTLER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Brave New Spirits
Runner-up: Elixir Distillers - BEST NEW PRODUCT
Winner: Allora
Runner-up: Mount Gay Single Estate Series 23_01
Special Commendation: Olmeca Altos Margarita
Culture & Tourism
- DISTILLERY CONSUMER EXPERIENCE AWARD
Winner: Archie Rose Bar & Cellar Door
Runner-up: Borodale House - CULTURAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE SPIRITS INDUSTRY
Winner: The Three Drinkers
Runner-up: Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop - BAR OF THE YEAR
Winner: Kiki Lounge
Runner-up: Side Hustle
People
- BARTENDER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Takuma Watanabe
Runner-up: Alice Linihan - BLENDER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Steven Rioux, Takamaka
Runner-up: David Fisher, Archie Rose Distilling - DISTILLER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Dave Withers, master distiller, Archie Rose Distilling - YOUNG ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Alice Pearson
Runner-up: Gerbe Suttels - LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Winner: Jesús Hernández, House of Tequila
