Local distillers celebrate award wins

By Sacha Delfosse

Queensland’s Tamborine Mountain Distillery (TMD) has been named the 2013 Asia Pacific Spirits Producer Of The Year at the China Wine & Spirit Awards (CWSA) held in Hong Kong earlier this month.

This year’s CWSA attracted over 5000 entries across the globe that were judged by key purchasing decision makers in the Chinese market.

"Trusted for its professionalism and for being the benchmark of wine and spirits in China, the CWSA organisation carefully selects 100 Judges, who are the most important distributors, importers, hoteliers and sommeliers," said TMD’s Michael Ward.

"The judges represent all key regions and cities in China and Hong Kong and they blind taste on suitability for the market. Post blind tasting, judges are shown what they tasted and the results reflect their buying decisions for the year ahead." 

The local family-run distillery also won several other accolades at the awards, including Double Gold for its Violetta Liqueur, Gold for its Banana Liqueur, Silver for its Lychee & Elderflower Liqueur and Cherry Liqueur, and Bronze for its Wild Forest Plum Liqueur and St Michael’s Wort Herbal Eau de Vie.

On top of its CWSA victory, the distillery also tasted success at this year’s World Spirits Award where it received Double Gold for its new Sugar Cane Spirit, as well as Gold for its St. Michael’s Wort Herbal Eau De Vie, Lilly Pilly Gin, TMD Gold Rum and TMD Bitters.

Another local distillery to receive accolades was Western Australia’s The West Winds Gin, who just received Double Gold at this year's San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

"We are incredibly humbled again but it's nice to see a second double gold in three years. After 300 new gins have come on the market since our last medal we still appear relevant. Go the local boys," said The  West Winds Gin's Jeremy Spencer.