The global reputation of Australia’s spirits industry continues to grow, after this country’s distilleries put in a strong showing at the prestigious American Distilling Institute Awards (ADIA).
The results for the 2019 ADIAs were announced recently and Australia shone with 36 medals and four Best of Category wins. In total there were 18 bronze medals, 17 silver and one gold to go with the Best of Category wins.
The result was a particularly strong one for the Adelaide Hills Distillery, which claimed three Best of Category wins, to go with the Best Australian Grain Whisky the team recently won at the World Whiskey Awards. The distillery also impressed collecting nine medals at the awards for a range of its spirits.
The three Best of Category wins were for International Contemporary Gin for the 78 Degrees Gin; International Herbal/Botanical/Spice Liqueur for The Italian, Bitter Orange Aperitif and International Apple Brandy for the Adelaide Hills Apple Brandy.
Founder and distiller Sacha La Forgia was understandably delighted with the win, telling TheShout: “I’m humbled to receive these accolades across our portfolio. At Adelaide Hills Distillery we craft spirits for better, always improving quality and with the environment in mind. Our goal is to make every bottle we produce better than the ones we produced before.”
The other Best of Category win went to Four Pillars, whose Navy Strength Gin claimed the International Navy Strength Gin crown. The distillery also picked up three medals.
Co-Founder Cam Mackenzie told TheShout: “We were absolutely rapt when the results came through.
“We are confident this gin is one of the most highly awarded Navy Strength gins in the world right now, and to see it continue to pick up awards all around the globe year after year is a real testament to our distilling team. I’m looking forward to celebrating with a Navy Strength Southside tonight.”
Other notable Australian distilleries performing well at the awards included Archie Rose with six medals, plus Ambleside and Pietro Gallo Estate who each collected four medals.
The overall ADIA winners were:
Best of Class – Certified Craft Distilled Spirits
- Brandy – Bethel Rd. Distillery – Grappa di Muscato
- Gin – The Heart Distillery – Gin
- International Gin – Cotswolds Distillery – Dry Gin
- Ready to Drink – Chicago Distilling Company – Finn’s Gin & Tonic
- Rum – Pennsylvania Pure Distilleries – Rum 105
- Vodka – Solar Spirits – Eclipse Vodka
- Whiskey – Cutwater Spirits – Devil’s Share American Whiskey
Best of Class – Certified Craft Blended Spirits
- International Agave Spirit – Casa TresAmigos – Santo Cuviso Bacanora Blanco
- International Brandy – NAUD – VS Cognac
- Liqueur – Skip Rock Distillers – Raspberry Liqueur
- International Liqueur – Casa D’Aristi – Kalani Coconut Liqueur
- International Rum – Virago Spirits – Four-Port Rum
- International Specialty Spirit – Padró & Co. – Rojo Amargo Vermouth
- Whiskey – Seven Three Distilling – Irish Channel Whiskey