Australia’s whiskies are perennial medalists in international spirit competitions and have built a worldwide following of enthusiasts. Here’s a short description of 15 of its best whiskies.
Australia has emerged as a significant global whisky industry player in recent years. Its whiskies have become perennial medalists in international spirit competitions and have built a worldwide following of enthusiasts. Below is a brief history of the Australian whisky industry and a short description of 15 top Australian whiskies from five of the world’s most important whisky competitions.
Australian Whisky: From Boom to Bust to Boom
Peter Degraves, a pioneer in the Australian whisky industry, established the first whisky distillery in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1822. Despite a promising start, the industry faced numerous challenges, including heavy regulation, taxation, and competition from imported spirits. It persevered, marking a significant era in the country’s history before declining in the early 20th century. The last distillery, Cascade in Tasmania, ceased whisky production in 1929.
Until the post WW II period, Australia was the largest export market for Scotch whisky. Starting in the 1920, in response to the loss of the American market from Prohibition and rising Australian domestic tariffs, the larger Scotch whisky producers, led by Distillers Company Ltd (DCL), began to set up local distilling operations.
Often, they would buy established local producers as a base and then eventually shut them down once their distilleries were fully operational. From the 1920s through the 1980s, the whisky trade in Australia was dominated by blended whiskies, some locally produced, and others imported from Scotland.
In the early 1990s, the domestic whisky industry began to experience a revival, largely credited to the visionary efforts of Bill Lark, considered the ‘godfather of Australian whisky.’ Lark challenged the restrictive distillation laws in Tasmania. In 1992, he established Lark Distillery, the first licensed distillery in Tasmania since the 1830s, launching a new era for Australian whisky.
Distilleries like Lark, Sullivans Cove, and Hellyers Road pioneered high-quality single malt production, winning domestic and international recognition. Their success inspired others to enter the market, leading to a boom in Australian whisky production.
One of the industry’s most significant milestones was Sullivans Cove’s French Oak Cask winning the title of “World’s Best Single Malt” at the 2014 World Whiskies Awards. This achievement put Australian whisky on the global map and demonstrated that Australian distilleries could compete with the best in the world. Further recognition came in 2022 when Starward Whisky won World’s Best Distiller at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, an honor repeated in 2024.
Commenting on the renaissance of Australian Whisky, David Vitale, the President of Starward Whisky noted:
Whiskies from around the world always talk to the place they’re made and we wanted to do that in a distinctively Australian way. The use of Australian red wine barrels to fully age our whiskies made sense to us, even though at that time the rest of Australian whiskies were aging in Port, Sherry and Bourbon casks. We pioneered this process and that big step has been consistently rewarded with international recognition for our deliciously distinctive style.
As of 2024, the Australian whisky industry is thriving, with over 300 distilleries nationwide, many producing whisky. Tasmania remains the heart of the sector, but whisky production has expanded to mainland Australia, with notable distilleries in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and Western Australia.
Australian whisky distilleries are constantly experimenting with different types of grain, yeast strains, fermentation processes, and maturation techniques. The use of Australian wine barrels for maturation, such as Shiraz, Pinot Noir, and other varietals, has become a distinctive feature, adding unique flavor profiles to the whisky.
The Australian whisky industry still faces several challenges, including the high cost of production, stringent regulations, and the need to compete in a crowded global market. However, the industry also has significant opportunities, particularly in the premium and craft segments. The global demand for high-quality, artisanal spirits has created a niche market where Australian whisky thrives.
Below is a short description and a brief tasting note of 15 Australian whiskies that have been perennial Gold medalists in the top international spirit competitions.
Sullivans Cove French Oak Single Cask, Sullivans Cove Distillery, Tasmania
Awards: World Whiskies Awards (WWA) Best Single Malt Whisky; San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), Double Gold; World Spirits Awards (WSA), Gold; Australian Distilled Spirits Awards (ADSA), Best Whisky; International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), Gold.
This whisky is known for its rich and luxurious palate, with flavors of dark chocolate, dried fruits, and sweet spices, complemented by a velvety texture and a long, complex finish.
Lark Classic Cask Single Malt Whisky, Lark Distillery, Tasmania
Awards: WWA, Best Australian Single Malt; SFWSC, Double Gold; WSA, Gold; ADSA, Gold; IWSC, Silver Outstanding.
The Classic Cask offers a balance of rich malt and sweet Sherry notes, with layers of toffee, dark fruits, and a hint of spice, rounded off with a long, warming finish.
Hellyers Road Pinot Noir Finish, Hellyers Road Distillery, Tasmania
Awards: WWA, Best Australian Single Malt; SFWSC, Gold; WSA, Gold; IWSC, Gold; ADSA, Gold.
This expression showcases notes of red berries and spice from the Pinot Noir casks, balanced with vanilla and malt, leading to a smooth and slightly sweet finish.
Starward Nova, Starward Distillery, Victoria
Awards: SFWSC, Double Gold; WWA, Best Australian Single Malt; IWSC, Gold; ADSA, Gold; Global Spirits Masters (GSM), Master Medal.
Nova is matured in red wine barrels, offering vibrant flavors of berries, spice, and oak, with a fruity aroma and a soft, lingering finish.
Overeem Port Cask, Overeem Distillery, Tasmania
Awards: WWA, Gold; SFWSC, Gold; ADSA, Best Whisky; IWSC, Gold; WSA, Gold.
Rich with notes of dried fruits, dark chocolate, and spice, the Port Cask delivers a luscious, full-bodied experience, with a velvety finish.
Fleurieu Whisky Single Malt, Fleurieu Distillery, South Australia
Awards: WWA, Best Australian Single Malt; ADSA, Gold; SFWSC, Silver Outstanding; IWSC, Gold; WSA, Gold.
This whisky offers a coastal influence with notes of sea salt, caramel, and dark fruit, combined with a subtle smokiness and a long, complex finish.
Bakery Hill Classic Malt, Bakery Hill Distillery, Victoria
Awards: WWA, Silver; ADSA, Gold; IWSC, Silver Outstanding; SFWSC, Silver; GSM, Gold.
This expression features a delicate balance of malt sweetness, honey, and light fruit, with a smooth, clean finish.
Limeburners Single Malt, Great Southern Distilling Company, Western Australia
Awards: WWA, Best Australian Single Malt; SFWSC, Double Gold; ADSA, Gold; IWSC, Gold; WSA, Gold.
The whisky offers notes of citrus, vanilla, and spice, with a rich, creamy mouthfeel and a long, warming finish.
Starward Two-Fold, Starward Distillery, Victoria
Awards: SFWSC, Gold; WWA, Best Australian Blended Whisky; IWSC, Gold; ADSA, Gold; GSM, Master Medal.
Two-Fold is a blend of malted barley and wheat, offering a balanced profile of fruit, vanilla, and oak, with a soft, rounded finish.
Belgrove Rye Whisky, Belgrove Distillery, Tasmania
Awards: WWA, Best Australian Rye; ADSA, Gold; SFWSC, Silver Outstanding; IWSC, Gold; WSA, Gold.
Belgrove Rye is rich and spicy, with notes of rye bread, caramel, and pepper, leading to a dry, slightly smoky finish.
Redlands Estate Single Malt, Redlands Distillery, Tasmania
Awards: WWA, Gold; ADSA, Best Whisky; SFWSC, Silver Outstanding; IWSC, Gold; WSA, Gold.
This single malt features notes of honey, vanilla, and dried fruits, balanced by a soft maltiness and a gentle, lingering finish.
Corowa Bosque Verde, Corowa Distilling Co., New South Wales
Awards: WWA, Silver; ADSA, Gold; SFWSC, Gold; IWSC, Silver Outstanding; WSA, Gold.
Corowa Bosque Verde offers a complex palate of rich malt, caramel, and fruitcake, balanced by oak and spice, with a long, warming finish.
The Gospel Straight Rye Whiskey, The Gospel Distillers, Victoria
Awards: WWA, Best Australian Rye; ADSA, Gold; SFWSC, Silver Outstanding; IWSC, Silver; Global Spirits Masters, Gold.
The Gospel Rye showcases bold rye spice with notes of black pepper, cinnamon, and dark chocolate, balanced by a hint of caramel sweetness and a dry, spicy finish.
Adelaide Hills Distillery 78 Degrees, Adelaide Hills Distillery, South Australia
Awards: WWA, Best Australian Blended Malt; ADSA, Gold; SFWSC, Gold; IWSC, Silver Outstanding; WSA, Gold.
This blended malt offers a smooth balance of honey, vanilla, and oak, with subtle notes of citrus and spice, leading to a clean, refreshing finish.
Archie Rose Rye Malt, Archie Rose Distilling Co., New South Wales
Awards: WWA, Best Australian Rye; ADSA, Gold; SFWSC, Silver; IWSC, Silver Outstanding; WSA, Gold.
This rye malt whisky is rich and spicy, with flavors of dark chocolate, toffee, and clove, balanced by a subtle sweetness and a warm, lingering finish.
The Australian whisky industry has undergone a remarkable transformation from its early struggles to becoming a respected player on the global stage. These Australian whiskies have garnered international acclaim, showcasing the diversity and quality of whisky production in Australia.
Each distillery has contributed to the growing reputation of Australian whisky on the global stage, offering unique expressions that reflect the country’s distinctive climate, ingredients, and craftsmanship. If you are unfamiliar with Australia’s whiskies, this is an excellent time to explore.
This article was originally published on forbes.com.
