Australians have long appreciated the quality of this country’s whisky and just how well it stands up to whisky produced in other parts of the world, and now the judges at the World Whiskies Awards (WWA) agree.
The results of this year’s WWA Rest of the World have recently been announced and they have absolutely backed the faith many of us have in the quality of Australian whisky.
Obviously, if you are a fan of Australian whisky, you know who its Godfather is, so it is great to see that Lark is one such whisky to have been recognised at this year’s WWA.
Lark picked up five medals including Gold for Lark 1911 and Category Winner Gold (CWG) for Symphony No 1.
Lark CEO Sash Sharma told The Shout: “It is an incredible honour for LARK to be awarded five medals, including two Gold and Australian Category Winner for ‘Best Blended Malt’.
“A testament to the passion and pursuit of excellence that drives us forward, LARK’s Symphony No. 1 has taken home ‘Best Blended Malt’ for four years in a row now. This is a blended malt whisky that truly embodies the unbridled Tasmanian spirit and LARK’s uncompromised signature style.
“We would also like to acknowledge all of the winners from Tasmania and around Australia who are shining a light on Australia’s distilling industry, which all started when Bill and Lyn Lark asked that fateful question in 1989, ‘why isn’t anyone making whisky in Tasmania?’.”
It was also a great WWA for Sullivans Cove with nine medals in total, including CWG for Old & Rare American Oak Second Fill 18 Years Old. In addition the distillery was recognised by the Icons of Whisky Awards, winning Visitor Attraction Team of the Year, Marketing Team of the Year, Campaign Innovator of the Year and Sales Team of the Year, plus being named highly commended in Distillery Manager of the Year, Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year, Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year, and Brand Ambassador of the Year (World Whisky).
Sullivans Cove Managing Director Adam Sable, told The Shout: “The question I get asked almost every day is, what is the secret of Sullivans Cove? And while there are countless things we do differently when producing and maturing our whisky, the real secret is our amazing people and the many hands that have left their indelible mark. Authentic, no pretence, just like our whisky.”
Distillery Manager Heather Tillott added: “Second-Fill whisky presents our spirit in its purest form. The heart and soul of the distillery on display, with nowhere to hide.
“From the still house to the front-of-house, we take immense pride in everything we do, and we’re thrilled to be recognised on the world stage once again.”
Tasmania also claimed more awards with both Hellyers Road and Waubs Harbour Whisky claiming significant wins.
Hellyers Road scored 11 medals, including three CWG for American Oak Cask 22 Years Old, Peat Cask Finish 21 Years Old and Vintage Triple Cask.
Derek Charge, CEO, Hellyers Road told The Shout: “We are immensely proud to be recognised once again as Australia’s Most Awarded Distillery at the World Whiskies Awards 2025. These accolades reaffirm our legacy as Australia’s Finest Aged Whisky and showcase the dedication, passion, and craftsmanship that define Hellyers Road.
“Winning multiple Gold Medals and Category Wins on the world stage is a testament to the exceptional quality of our whiskies, and we look forward to sharing these award-winning releases with whisky lovers in 2025.”
Waubs Harbour enjoyed three medal wins, including a CWG for Waubs Original and Co-Founder Tim Polmear told The Shout: “This is the Olympics of awards in whisky so to win a Category Award is huge for our little Tasmanian distillery, especially to back it up two years in a row.
“The win is also confidence that our Tasmanian style of maritime whisky is really resonating both on a local and a global scale.”
Meanwhile mainland distilleries did not miss out either with Starward maintaining its award-winning ways, picking up six medals including gold for Two-Fold.
David Vitale, Founder of Starward, told The Shout: “We’re beyond proud to have taken home six medals at the 2025 World Whisky Awards, including a Gold Medal for Two-Fold whisky.
“Every year, it feels as though the representation of Australian whisky continues to grow and it’s so validating to see Australia recognised as one of the biggest contenders on the global whisky stage.
“There’s no doubt that our industry’s unwavering quality and uniqueness gets judges (and the world) excited, and they’re seeing what we’ve known for quite a while. Australia is the home of the next wave of whisky. We are really proud to be leading that charge with Two-Fold, which is Australia’s favourite Australian whisky.”
There was also a CWG for 36 South Double Grain, and Michael Sargeant, Head of Strategy and Innovation at Casella, told The Shout: “We’re thrilled that the new Whisky brand 36 SOUTH from Australia’s most awarded wine and whisky brand, Morris of Rutherglen, has been named the Category Winner Gold Medal at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards.
“While Morris has achieved international acclaim for its world-class fortified wines and single malts, 36 South Whisky was developed as an accessible entry point into Australian whisky, a category that is poised for tremendous growth as Australians seek locally sourced products and brands. This recognition on the world’s largest stage, reinforces the exceptional quality of homegrown Australian whiskies that can rival international Bourbon and Scotch brands.
“Made from a blend of wheat and barley and aged in family-owned ex-red wine barrels for a unique and approachable flavour, 36 SOUTH Whisky is a bold expression of our commitment to harnessing the very best of our local resources. It is backed up by the quality of the Morris distillery, located at latitude ’36 South’ and home to the Morris family since 1859.”
All-in-all Australia claimed over 100 medals and awards at this year’s WWA, so it is a huge congratulations from the The Shout team, let’s keep going and building the future of Australian whisky across the globe.