The winners of this year’s Australian International Spirits Awards have been revealed this week, with Australian spirits dominating this year’s Trophy wins.
The awards were established in 2015 as the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards, organisers say the awards aim to “inspire and celebrate excellence in distilling, roviding distillers from around the globe with an essential benchmarking opportunity”.
The Awards are open to distilleries of all sizes, from boutique small volume to large-scale commercial production.
This year the Awards made several changes to ensure the competition evolves with the spirits industry, with new trophies and categories added.
The Champion Distiller trophies have been expanded to recognise excellence on a broader scale, applauding Australian and international distilleries, as well as Australian Gypsy distillers.
The new trophies are:
- Champion International Distiller
- Champion Australian Gypsy Distiller
- Champion Australian Gin
The new categories acknowledged growing international styles, as well and non-alcoholic spirits, to match new consumer trends.
The new categories and their corresponding trophies are:
- Best Non-Alcoholic Spirit
- Best Tequila or Agave Spirit
- Best International Single Malt Whisky
- Best Grain Whisky
- Best Blended Malt Whisky
Full details on this year’s medal winners are available on the competition website, here are the 2025 Trophy Winners, with judges’ comments included:
- Champion Australian Distiller
- Prohibition Liquor Co, South Australia
- Congratulations to Prohibition Liquor Co on being named Champion Australian Distiller. Known for their bold experimentation and refined approach to gin, this recognition celebrates their ongoing commitment to excellence in the Australian spirits scene.
- Champion Australian Gin
- Juniperus Gin Prohibition Liquor Co, South Australia
- A huge congratulations to Prohibition Liquor Co for taking out Champion Australian Gin. Juniperus Gin blends classic structure with modern flair, proving once again why this Adelaide distillery continues to lead the way.
- Champion Victorian Distiller
- NED Grand Reward Top Shelf International, Victoria
- Top Shelf International takes the title of Champion Victorian Distiller with NED Grand Reward — a whisky that embodies grit, quality, and craftsmanship. A proud moment for Victorian distilling.
- Champion Victorian Gin
- NEO New World Dry Gin Reed & Co Distillery, Victoria
- Congratulations to Reed & Co Distillery for earning Champion Victorian Gin. Their NEO New World Dry Gin is a true celebration of native ingredients, innovation, and regional expression.
- Best Australian Single Malt Whisky
- Single Malt Whisky – Small Batch Reserve Series – Chardonnay Barrel Backwoods Distilling Co, Victoria
- Backwoods Distilling Co has taken out Best Australian Single Malt Whisky with a beautifully expressive release matured in Chardonnay casks. A testament to the craft of small-batch whisky in regional Victoria.
- Best International Single Malt Whisky
- Levenside Special Reserve Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Coles Liquor, Victoria
- A well-deserved win for Coles Liquor, recognised for sourcing an exceptional Highland Scotch in the Levenside Special Reserve. A refined and balanced whisky worthy of international acclaim.
- Best Grain Whisky
- Rye Malt Whisky – Archie Rose Distilling
- Archie Rose continues to impress, taking home Best Grain Whisky for their layered and expressive Rye Malt Whisky — a consistent standout in the Australian whisky landscape.
- Best Blended Malt Whisky
- Country to Coast 6 by Black Gate Distillery & Fleurieu Distillery Fleurieu Distillery, South Australia
- Congratulations to Black Gate and Fleurieu Distillery on this collaborative triumph. Country to Coast 6 is a beautifully integrated blend showcasing the diversity of South Australian terroir.
- Consistency of Excellence Award
- All Seasons Gin Liqueur Imbue Distillery, Victoria
- Australian Dry Gin, Travelling While Standing Still, Victoria
- Country to Coast 6 by Black Gate Distillery & Fleurieu Distillery, Fleurieu Distillery, South Australia
- St Agnes XO St Agnes Distillery, South Australia
- Best London Dry Gin
- Juniperus Gin Prohibition Liquor Co, South Australia
- Prohibition Liquor Co continues their winning streak with Juniperus Gin, taking out Best London Dry Gin. It’s a bold, crisp, and expertly balanced classic — a benchmark in its category.
- Best New World / Contemporary Gin
- NEO New World Dry Gin Reed & Co Distillery, Victoria
- Reed & Co Distillery are recognised once again for their innovative approach to gin, winning Best Contemporary Gin with NEO — a bright, native-forward spirit full of character.
- Best Navy Gin
- Epoch Navy Strength Gin Jones and Smith Distillery, New South Wales
- A strong win for Jones & Smith Distillery, whose Epoch Navy Strength Gin delivers power, depth, and precision. A true standout in this bold and traditional category.
- Best Fruit or Wine / Grape Gin
- Ginache Gin Never Never Distilling Co, South Australia
- Never Never Distilling Co wins Best Fruit/Wine/Grape Gin with Ginache — an inspired blend of gin botanicals and rich grenache grapes. A uniquely Australian take on fruit-driven spirits.
- Best Other Gin
- Sawmill Gin – Brandy Barrel Gin Mid North Distilling Co, South Australia
- Mid North Distilling Co takes out Best Other Gin with their Sawmill Gin rested in brandy barrels. A rich, layered, and memorable expression that pushes the boundaries of gin.
- Best Unflavoured Vodka
- Original Vodka Bunker Distillery, New South Wales
- Bunker Distillery wins Best Unflavoured Vodka with a spirit that is clean, refined, and impressively smooth — a true showcase of distilling precision.
- Best Flavoured Vodka
- The Gwendoline Vodka Moontide Distillery, Western Australia
- A bright and vibrant win for Moontide Distillery, whose Gwendoline Vodka celebrates WA botanicals with bold flavour and elegant balance. Congratulations on this well-earned recognition.
- Best Brandy
- St Agnes XO St Agnes Distillery, South Australia
- St Agnes Distillery continues their legacy of excellence with a win for Best Brandy. Their XO expression is layered, elegant, and a benchmark for the category.
- Raymond B “Spike” Dessert III Trophy for Best Rum
- Husk Rare Blend Husk Rum, New South Wales
- Congratulations to Husk Rum for winning the Spike Dessert Trophy. Their rare blend showcases the depth, craft, and regional character of Australian rum at its finest.
- Best Cane Spirit
- Virgin Cane Spirit Burdekin Rum, Queensland
- Burdekin Rum takes out Best Cane Spirit with a bright, fresh, and unaged expression that captures the heart of Queensland’s sugarcane country. A bold and deserving win.
- Best Tequila Or Agave Spirit
- Mezcal Artesenal Joven Amigos Aotearoa, Auckland, New Zealand
- Amigos Aotearoa celebrates a major win with Best Agave Spirit. Their handcrafted mezcal honours tradition while offering a fresh take from across the Tasman.
- Best Liqueur
- Auvert Herbal Liqueur Imperial Measures Distilling, South Australia
- Imperial Measures Distilling takes home Best Liqueur for their complex and aromatic Auvert — a showcase of native botanicals and meticulous craft.
- Best Alternative Spirit
- Williams Pear Schnapps Snowgum Distillery, Victoria
- Snowgum Distillery earns the Best Alternative Spirit award with their bright, fruit-forward Williams Pear Schnapps — a standout celebration of craft and orchard freshness.
- Best Bitter
- Ragazzi e Succo Aperitivo – Ragazzi e Succo
- An exciting win for Ragazzi e Succo with their Aperitivo, taking out Best Bitter. A vibrant and balanced modern take on the Italian classic
- Best Ready to Serve Cocktail or Pre-Mix
- Yuzu Chu-Hai – Reed & Co Distillery
- Reed & Co Distillery claim back-to-back wins for Best Pre-Mix with their Yuzu Chu-Hai — a crisp, citrus-led cocktail that continues to impress.
- Best Design
- Triple Juniper Gin Never Never Distilling Co, South Australia
- Congratulations to Never Never Distilling Co for winning Best Design. Triple Juniper Gin is as visually striking as it is delicious — a perfect blend of form and function.