Australian Distilled Spirits Awards 2023

Melbourne Royal (formerly RACV) has been running the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards since 2014 and during that time, it has become one of the most prestigious competitions in Australia.

I have been a judge for several years, and this year was made a Panel Judge and appointed to the competition advisory board.

This year there were 441 gins entered. And 6 panels of 4 judges to assess them.

The quality of the gins entered gets higher every year and is testiment to the skills of our gin producers.

Special congratulations to Naught Distillery who picked up the Champion Victorian Gin for the 3rd consecutive year, Puss & Mew Distillery who won Victorian Distiller of the Year, and Prohibition Liquor Company who were awarded Australian Distillery of the Year.

Imperial Measures Distilling were awarded a Certificate of Excellence for their Bold Gin. This is given to gins who receive a gold medal three years in a row.

I’ve listed the Gold Medal winners in each category below and highlighted the trophy winners. You can find a full set of results here.

Australian Distilled Spirits Awards 2023 Gold Medals

LONDON DRY GIN

Archie Rose Distilling Co., Bone Dry Gin

Australian Distilling, Gingin Gin

Blue Mountains Gin Company, Mountain Devil Classic

Brogan’s Way Distillery, Everyday Salvation Gin

Cedar Fox Distilling Co., Cedar Fox Gin

Clarence Distillery, The Duke

Hickson House Distilling Co, Hickson Rd. London Dry Gin

Imperial Measures Distilling, Ounce Gin Bold

Kalki Moon, Premium Gin

Kalki Moon, Kylie’s Summer Gin

Lily Fields Distilling Co , Juniper Dry Gin

Little Ridge Distillery, On the Ridge Dry Gin

Nagambie Brewery & Distillery, 3608 Bartenders Cut Gin

Naught Distilling, Naught Classic Dry Gin – TROPHY WINNER – BEST VICTORIAN GIN

Never Never Distilling Co., Triple Juniper Export Strength Gin -TROPHY WINNER

Never Never Distilling Co., Southern Strength Gin

Old Salt Distillery, Classic Gin

Parrot Distilling Co , Triple Juniper

Patient Wolf Distilling Co., Summer Thyme Gin

Prohibition Liquor Co., Juniperus Gin

Prohibition Liquor Co., Bootleg Box Series #2 – London Dry

Sin Gin Distillery, Greed

St Agnes Distillery, Blind Tiger Organic Gin

Travelling While Standing Still, Travelling While Standing Still

West Winds Distillers, Friends of Kings Park – Botanical Gin

Wharf St. Distillery, Wharf St. Distillery Oyster Shell Gin

NEW WORLD / CONTEMPORARY GIN

Bridport Distilling Co, Coastal

Bright Night Spirits, Bright Night Wild Tasmanian Gin

Central Coast Distillery, Signature Gin

Four Pillars Distillery, Four Pillars Spiced Negroni Gin

Hickson House Distilling Co, Hickson Rd. Seven Spice Gin

Imbue Distillery, 18th Amendment Australian Dry Gin

Karu Distillery, Affinity Gin

Mt. Uncle Distillery, Botanic Australis Bushfire Smoked Gin

Nine Circles Distillery, Signature Gin

Organic Bay Distillery, Raspberry and Aniseed

Prohibition Liquor Co., Original Gin

Puss and Mew Distillery, Puss and Mew Honey Coconut Gin

Reed & Co Distillery, Neo New World Dry Gin – TROPHY WINNER

Sin Gin Distillery, Wrath

Sunshine & Sons, Original Dry Gin

The Primary Goods Company , Dovetail Artisan Gin

NAVY GIN

Nagambie Brewery & Distillery, 3608 Navy Strength Gin – TROPHY WINNER

Puss and Mew Distillery, Puss and Mew Navy Strength Gin

BEST FRUIT OR WINE / GRAPE GIN

Big River Distilling Co, Syrah Gin – TROPHY WINNER

Nine Circles Distillery, Pink Gin

Prohibition Liquor Co., Prohibition Field Blend Shiraz Gin

OTHER GIN (NOT LD, NW OR NAVY)

Daylesford Spirit, Barrel Aged Shiraz Gin

Gypsy Hub, The Craft & Co Old Tom Gin – TROPHY WINNER

Lisandras Distillery, Whisky Barrel Aged Gin

Congratulations to all that entered and especially to the fantastic team at Melbourne Royal for organising such an amazing competition.