Tasmanian distillery Callington Mill took out a major award at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition’s 2025 Top Shelf Awards on Sunday 9 November, named Best in Class in the Australian Single Malt Whisky category.
The distillery took the title for its Pedro Ximemez Single Malt Whisky, which scored 98 points and a Double Gold medal earlier this year in the competitions judging phase. While 36 Australian submissions competed for the title, the winning dram was the only Tasmanian single malt in its category.
Callington Mill’s founder John Ibrahim says: “We are super proud of the whisky that we make down in Tasmania, it is a perfect, pristine part of the world. And we are even prouder of our Pedro Ximenez, it’s been picking up some great scores around the world, and I think it’s a shining example of what Tasmanian whisky is becoming.”
Commercial and marketing director Scott English was in San Francisco to accept the award, stating: “It’s incredibly humbling to be recognised in such high esteem. As a relatively new distillery, to be considered among some of the best in the game is truly thrilling for us.”
Now in its 25th year, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition received more than 1,600 whisky entries from around the world. To achieve a Double Gold medal, a spirit must receive a Gold Medal from every tasting judge in a blind assessment – placing the spirit in contention for Best In Class.
Of the 11 Double Gold medals awarded to Australian Single Malt Whisky, Callington Mill won four for its Pedro Ximenez, Fusion, Oloroso, and Solera expressions. Other Australian Double Gold medal winners included Archie Rose Distilling Co, Lark and Starward.
The win adds to a string of accolades for Callington Mill’s Pedro Ximenez, which collected Gold at The World Whisky Masters and scooped the Single Malt Whisky of the Year title at the London Spirits Competition.
San Francisco World Spirits Competition judges said of the Callington Mill Pedro Ximenez: “The whisky presents cinnamon, almond, and toasted nut aromas on the nose. The palate reveals complex layers of salted caramel, furniture polish, dark chocolate, and chewy toffee. The finish is long and fruity, with lingering notes of dried dates and caramel.”