Dan Murphy’s has announced the winners of its second annual Decoded Spirits Awards.
A judging panel of 14 experts have blind tasted more than 450 entries to reveal the winners of 19 categories.
“We are delighted to see the Decoded Spirits Awards enter their second year, as they are an important way to continue to demystify what is an incredibly exciting, yet sometimes overwhelming category for our customers,” said Dom Patterson, Dan Murphy’s spirits assistant category manager and Decoded Spirits judge.
This year, the award has also introduced a value pick across all 19 categories in response to rising economic pressures.
“While all this year’s winning products represent exceptional value for money, it is fantastic to be able to showcase the best value options within each judging category too, so there really are options to suit all tastes and budgets,” Patterson added.
Australian gins continue to be incredibly popular with customers, and the awards saw a 50 per cent increase in submissions in the category. Seven Seasons Green Ant Gin won the Decoded award for Australian gin. The gin is infused with sustainably sourced native botanicals and green ants, which are important medicine for the Larrakia people. Seven Seasons was founded in part by AFL legend and Larrakia man Daniel Motlop.
“Our family is very honoured to win an amazing award, especially within Australia. We started as a small harvesting business that wanted to help teach everyday Australians about the abundance of native foods we have right on our doorstep. Winning this award helps us showcase our amazing ingredients and our story of the seven seasons as well as the Green Ant Gin,” Motlop said.
The Australian Whiskey category is also growing, with sales up by over 20 per cent this year. Lark Classic Cask Single Malt Australian Whiskey took out the top award in that category.
The most significant increase was in agave spirits, which received double the submissions compared to last year.
“This reflects the growing number of options available across Blanco, Reposados and Anejos styles, as well as in the mezcal segment,” Patterson said.
September will see the return of the fourth Dan Murphy’s Decoded Wine Awards. The later date will allow judges to taste newer vintages.
“As the Decoded Spirits Awards enter their second year, and the Decoded Wine Awards enter their fourth year, we are so pleased to be able to celebrate these categories, and the amazing suppliers who continue to make the drinks discovery journey exciting and enjoyable for our customers,” concluded Dan Murphy’s managing director Agi Pfeiffer-Smith.
Winners
- Whiskey – Australian: Lark Classic Cask Single Malt Australian Whiskey
- Whiskey – North American: High West Distillery American Prairie Bourbon Whiskey
- Whiskey – World: Proper No. Twelve Blended Irish Whiskey
- Whiskey – Scotch: Scotch Aberlour 12 Year Old Double Cask Single Malt Scotch Whiskey
- Rum – Australian: Hoochery Distillery Ord River Rum
- Rum – International: Appleton Estate Signature Blend Jamaica Rum
- Rum – Spiced: Rockstar Spirits Banana Bomb Navy Strength Spiced Rum
- Agave – Tequila: Patron Reposado Tequila
- Agave – Mezcal: Del Maguey Vida Mezcal
- Aperitifs & Digestifs: Sofi Aperitivo Blood Orange & Bitters 750ml
- Vodka – Australian: 78 Degrees Australian Vodka
- Vodka – International: Ciroc Vodka
- Pre-batched Cocktails: Curatif Amaretto Sour Cans
- Gin – Australian: Seven Seasons Green Ant Gin
- Gin – International: Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin
- Gin – Coloured & Sloe: Ginato Pompelmo Gin
- Brandy & Cognac: St Agnes XO 15 Year Old Brandy
- Liqueurs: Baileys Espresso Creme
- Non-alc: Gordons 0% Gin
Value picks
- Whiskey – Australian: 78 Degrees Australian Whiskey 700ml
- Whiskey – North American: Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Whiskey – World: Redbreast 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey
- Whiskey – Scotch: Glenfiddich Fire & Cane Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- Rum – Australian: Beenleigh Handcrafted Double Cask Rum
- Rum – International: Santisima Trinidad 15 Year Old Cuban Rum
- Rum – Spiced: Dead Mans Fingers Coffee Rum
- Agave – Tequila: Cazadores Anejo Tequila
- Agave – Mezcal: Peloton De La Muerte Espadin Mezcal
- Aperitifs & Digestifs: Luxardo Bitter Rosso 700ml
- Vodka – Australian: White Light Vodka Original
- Vodka – International: Vestal Vodka
- Pre-batched Cocktails: Campari Negroni
- Gin – Australian: Tread Softly Dry Gin
- Gin – International: Mars Iwai Wa Bi Gin
- Gin – Coloured & Sloe value: La Plancheliere Pink Gin
- Brandy & Cognac: Hennessy VSOP Privilege Cognac
- Liqueurs: Cello Liqueur Passioncello
- Non-alc: Brunswick Aces Spades Sapiir