The 2020 Australian Gin Awards celebrated some of the best distillers from around the country during a Facebook Live event hosted at the Barber Shop Gin Bar in Sydney this week.
Chairman Mikey Enright stood in for Bill Lark who was “unable to hop the Tasmanian border for the event” as NSW-based Ester Spirits took out Best in Class for its Australian Navy Gin, the Ester Spirits Strong Gin.
It also shared the win for Best in Show with South Australian craft gin producer Never Never Distilling Co.
"This is truly amazing. Our company is only five months old – we knew this gin was good however we didn’t expect this much success so soon,” said Felix and Connie Clark from Ester Spirits.
Meanwhile, the Old Tom Gin was taken out by McClaren Vale-based Settlers Spirits for its Old Tom Gin.
The category is “hotly contested” as it is one of the most popular styles of modern gins – modern day 'Old Tom's' cannot be coloured or flavoured artificially and are either botanically intense or botanically sweetened, creating a gin that is rich and punchy.
“Many people make this style, but few get it right. We are chuffed to be recognised by the Australian Gin Distillers Association and are rightly proud of our Old Tom,” said Settlers Spirits owner Rowland Short.
“Recognition at these awards represents yet another exciting step for our brand. It’s awards like these that give boutique artisans like Settlers Spirits the opportunity to be noticed as a player in the Australian gin and spirits world, an industry that grows in depth and breadth each year and in which we aim to achieve a position of long term standing with our unique products.”
2020 Australian Gin Award winners:
Classic Dry: Never Never Distilling. Southern Strength Gin
Contemporary Style Gin: Imperial Measures Distilling. Ounce ‘Signature’ Gin
Matured Gin: The West Winds Gin. Sur Lie Gin
Old Tom Gin: Settlers Spirits. Old Tom Gin
Australian Navy Gin: Ester Spirits. Strong Gin
Flavoured Gin: The West Winds Gin. Wild Plum
South Australia’s Prohibition Liquor Company won the Australian Gin Awards Design Competition and the CCL $5,000 production prize with their Navy Gin bottle.
