AGA 2021 Awards Results - Australian GIN Awards

Australian Gin Awards Results 2021

The Senior Judging Team

109 Australian and 11 New Zealand Companies entered 370 gins into the 2021 Australian Gin Awards. The judges awarded seven trophies and 277 medals being 56 Gold, 110 Silver and 111 Bronze.

By focusing on GIN in Australia’s spirits industry our Association has offered an incentive for the established plus the new craft distillers to step up and see how they compare with their peers in the same marketplace.

Our Association is very proud of the caliber of our judges, lead by the Godfather of Gin Mr Bill Lark. As Chairman, Bill gives us all leadership and confidence in our planning and practice for the judging.

In 2021 the challenge of judging surrounded by Covid-19 was an interesting one. Through the use of Google Docs, guest judges working with our senior judges and new stewards in three states and the ACT, we successfully completed the judging over a two week period. Thank you and well done all. Let’s hope our regular team of Senior Judges will be able to judge in a Covid free environment in 2022.

The Association is growing in step with the number of distilleries by offering a national road show of gin festivals aimed at Australia’s gin drinkers. These events give great opportunities for our distillers to show their medal-winning craft gins and sell into an ever increasing market.

2021 Senior Judges: Bill Lark, Mikey Enright, Lindsay Silcox, Glenn McPhee, Scott Fitzsimons, Andrew Howell and Charles Casben.
Chief Steward: Chris Rose.
2021 Guest Judges: Philip Jones (ACT), Steve McDermott (NSW), Krystal Hart (NSW), Kristy Lark-Booth (TAS), Belinda Bowman (QLD).

Judith Kennedy AM – CEO

Judge
Tim Stones

Head Distiller, Hickson House Distilling Co.

Judge
Mikey Enright

Founder and Director, Hickson House Distilling Co.

Judge
Scott Fitzsimons

Retailer, The Oak Barrel

Judge
Genise Hollingworth

Distiller, Black Gate Distillery

Judge
Lindsay Silcox

Retailer,
Down Gin Lane

Judge
Andrew Howell

Retailer, The Gin Boutique

Judge
Philip Moore

Distiller, Distillery Botanica.

Judge
Glenn McPhee

Retailer, The Gin Boutique

Judge
Charles Casben

Owner, Bartender, Moya’s Juniper Lounge

BEST IN CLASS

CLASS 1 – CLASSIC DRY GIN

Gindu
An Australian Dry
Brighton, Victoria

THE JUDGES WROTE:
Perfectly integrated botanicals supporting the structure of the spirit and striking in its simplicity.

BEST IN CLASS

CLASS 2 – CONTEMPORARY STYLE

Turner Stillhouse
Three Cuts “Distillers Release”
Grindelwald, Tasmania

THE JUDGES WROTE:
Layers of citrus and cardamon on the nose, balanced with the perfect amount of juniper, spices and beautiful floral notes on the end.

BEST IN CLASS

CLASS 3 – MATURED GIN

Sunshine & Sons
Small Batch Barrel Aged Gin
Woombye, Queensland

THE JUDGES WROTE:
Overall a highly successful, matured gin that stands on its own.

BEST IN CLASS

CLASS 4 – OLD TOM GIN

Kangaroo Island Spirits
KIS Old Tom Gin
Kangaroo Island, South Australia

THE JUDGES WROTE:
A beautifully woven gin with a resoundingly smooth and luscious finish.

BEST IN CLASS

CLASS 5 – OVER-PROOF GIN

Never Never Distilling Co
Southern Strength Gin
McLaren Vale, South Australia

THE JUDGES WROTE:
A remarkable gin; distinct juniper at every stage, wonderful complexity on the palate, perfectly balanced, with soft mouth feel.

BEST IN CLASS

CLASS 6 – TRADITIONAL LIQUEURS USING A GIN BASE

The West Winds Gin
Wild Plum Gin
Osborne Park, Western Australia

THE JUDGES WROTE:
This entry shone in every element combining a balanced offering of a clean, fresh spirit which rides lusciously across the palate. The finish is long, balanced and satisfying in every respect.

BEST IN CLASS

CLASS 7 – OTHER FLAVOURED SPIRITS USING A GIN BASE

Jones and Smith Distillery
Epoch – Sloe Gin
Spring Hill New South Wales

THE JUDGES WROTE:
Rich ripe fruit with a pleasant sweetness, pronounced acidity and freshness of finish.

Chairman’s Report

“Well 2021 has been another tough year for Australia and the Australian spirits industry. Amazingly the industry continues to grow with a record, yet again, of high quality Australian Gins in this year’s Australian Gin Awards.

My thanks go to Judith Kennedy and her never failing family and staff to be able to pull off an almost seamless competition with Gins being sent to a number of states where judging panels and stewards acted professionally and in isolation. Wonderful organisation and technology came to the fore and I couldn’t be more pleased to have been part of this competition. This could only have happened with the tremendous support of our judging team and my special thanks go the them. I would also like to thank the many wonderful Aussie gin producers out there who had the confidence to enter their Gins.

Like all the entrants I am excited in anticipation of the results being announced at the end of the month. Good luck to all the entrants and let’s all look forward to a more normal year in 2022.

Cheers for now,
Bill Lark – Chairman

All 2021 Results

CLASS 1 - Classic Dry Gin

MEDAL	COMPANY	GIN NAME
Best In Class Trophy	Gindu	An Australian Dry
Gold	20 20 Distillery	East London Dry
Gold	Arise Spirits Ltd t/a Dr Beak	New Zealand Premium Gin
Gold	Billson’s	George’s Dry Gin
Gold	Broken Heart Spirits	Queenstown Edition Gin
Gold	Sunshine & Sons	Original Dry Gin
Gold	Darling Distillery	Darling Gin
Gold	Diviners Distillery	Apparition
Gold	Elemental Distillers	Roots Marlborough Dry Gin
Gold	Ester Spirits	The Dry
Gold	Finders Distillery	Australian Dry Gin
Gold	Furneaux Distillers	Untamed
Gold	Gin Brothers	SevenZeroEight GIN
Gold	Hellfire Bluff Distillery	London Dry Gin
Gold	Holcombe Distilling Company	Barfold Dry Gin
Gold	Imperial Measures	Ounce Gin Bold
Gold	Never Never Distilling	Triple Juniper Gin
Gold	Newy Distillery	Dry Gin
Gold	One Drop Brewing Co	Native Gin
Gold	Shene Distillery	Poltergeist Gin Unfiltered
Gold	Southarm Craft Distillery	Taswegian Dry Gin
Gold	The National Distillery Company	Verdigris
Gold	White Light Bev	Triple G Gin
Silver	Bondi Liquor Co	Original Dry Gin
Silver	Broken Hill Distillery	Far West Gin
Silver	Cauldron Distillery	Five To Five – Mountain Gin
Silver	Clark Beverages	Sundown Gin
Silver	Clark Beverages	Christmas Gin
Silver	Cuprum Distillery	West Coast Signature Dry Gin
Silver	Earp Distilling Co.	No.8 Dry Gin
Silver	GinFinity	Triple Juniper
Silver	Gingin Gin	Gingin Gin
Silver	Jones and Smith Distillery	Epoch – Signature Dry Gin
Silver	Libation Liquor	Honcho Gin
Silver	Magpie Distilling	Murrurundi Dry Gin
Silver	Mobius Distilling	The Company You Keep
Silver	Mt Fyffe Distillery	Woolshed Gin
Silver	Old Kempton Distillery	Embezzler Gin
Silver	Old Young’s Distillery	Old Young’s 1829 Gin
Silver	Pants Off Distillery	Original Gin
Silver	Port Phillip Gin	Hells Bell’s
Silver	Republic of Fremantle Distillery	Full Bodied Gin
Silver	Rocky Jones Distillery	Signature Gin
Silver	Snowgum Distillery	Classic Dry Gin
Silver	The West Winds Gin	Sabre
Silver	Unexpected Guest Gistillery	Bobby’s London Dry
Silver	Western Tiers Distillery	Dry’s Bluff
Bronze	Australian Distilling Co.	Classic Dry Gin
Bronze	Bathtub Gin Co	Angry Duck Gin
Bronze	Blue Mountains Gin Company	Mountain Devil Classic Dry Gin
Bronze	Clark Beverages	Five O’Clock Gin
Bronze	Henry Fisher	Dry Gin
Bronze	Mrs Baker’s Still House	DRY GIN – sensual and intellectual
Bronze	Otter Craft Distilling	Mary St Gin
Bronze	The National Distillery Company	New Zealand Dry Gin
Bronze	The Vicar’s Son Gin	Classic London Dry
Bronze	Wandering Distillery	Nomad Gin
Bronze	Willing Distillery	Darwin Dry Gin

CLASS 2 - Contemporary Style Gin

MEDAL	COMPANY	GIN NAME
Best In Class Trophy	Turner Stillhouse	Three Cuts “Distillers Release”
Gold	AmberChes Spirits Distillery	Botanial Gin
Gold	Clark Beverages	Five O’Clock Gin
Gold	Ester Spirits	Ester Dry
Gold	Happenstance Distillery	Fiesta Gin
Gold	Never Never Distilling	Med Gin
Gold	Old Young’s Distillery	Old Young’s 1829 Gin
Gold	Plan B Distillery	Pepper-Rose
Gold	SA Distilling Co	Heaps Good Gin
Gold	The Farmer’s Wife Distillery	Autumn Dry Gin
Gold	The National Distillery Company	Adorn \| Beauty Gin
Gold	The Vicar’s Son Gin	Ascension
Gold	Unexpected Guest Gistillery	Clementine’s American Gin
Silver	AmberChes Spirits Distillery	Orange Infusion
Silver	Aust Distilling- Old Youngs Juniper Society	Forager Valley
Silver	Aust Distilling- Old Youngs Juniper Society	Christmas Tree
Silver	Aust Distilling- Old Youngs Juniper Society	Rise & Shine
Silver	Barossa Distilling Company	Generations Gin
Silver	Bombak Distillery	Citrus Gin
Silver	Clarence Distillery	Ruby Rosella Gin
Silver	Cuprum Distillery	Truffle Gin
Silver	Diviners Distillery	Outlier
Silver	Dos Dragones Distillery	Stoken XII Apostles BC
Silver	Good George	Day Off Original
Silver	Good George	Day Off Feijoa
Silver	Great Ocean Road Gin	Guvvos Gin
Silver	Impression Spirits	Impression Gin
Silver	Logan’s Micro Distillery	Blush Gin
Silver	Lord Howe Island Distilling Co	Wild Lemon & Hibiscus Gin
Silver	Moontide Distillery	Pride Tide
Silver	Mrs Baker’s Still House	Dry Gin – mountain pepperberry
Silver	Mt. Uncle Distillery	Botanic Australis Northern Gem Gin
Silver	Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards/Virginia Spirits	Quince Gin
Silver	Pants Off Distillery	Fancy Pants
Silver	Pants Off Distillery	Hot Pants
Silver	Plan B Distillery	Pepper-Zest
Silver	Port Phillip Gin	Insanity
Silver	Sinclair Distillery	Urban Gin “Flowers”
Silver	storytellers distillery	Volume 1: Australian Dry Gin
Silver	Natural Distilling Co	Hemp Gin with Beta-C
Silver	Thomas Bros Distilling Pty Ltd / Wild Road Spirits	Gin Ne Sais Quoi
Silver	The National Distillery Company	Hemp Gin
Silver	Threefold Distilling	Aromatic Gin
Silver	Twelfth Hour Distillery	Dry Gin
Silver	Wandering Distillery	Odyssey Gin
Silver	Western Tiers Distillery	Nells Bluff
Silver	Wild River Mountain Distillery	Wild Dragon Gin
Silver	Willing Distillery	Desert Lime Gin
Bronze	1919 Distilling Limited	1919 Classic
Bronze	AmberChes Spirits Distillery	Raspberry Delight
Bronze	Arise Spirits Ltd t/a Dr Beak	New Zealand Garden Gin
Bronze	Aust Distilling- Old Youngs Juniper Society	Verry Berry
Bronze	Aust Distilling- Old Youngs Juniper Society	Cider Gin
Bronze	Aust Distilling- Old Youngs Juniper Society	Heat of the Moment
Bronze	Australian Distilling Co.	Geelong Gin
Bronze	Australian Distilling Co.	Fremantle Gin
Bronze	Australian Distilling Co.	Darwin Craft Gin
Bronze	Barossa Distilling Company	Australian Garden Gin
Bronze	Billson’s	Yuzu Gin
Bronze	Blackmans Bay Distillery	Botanical Gin
Bronze	Blackwood Valley Distillery	Grounded Gin
Bronze	Blue Mountains Gin Company	Mountain Devil Black Label Gin
Bronze	Bombak Distillery	Flora Gin
Bronze	Bondi Liquor Co	Citrus Gin
Bronze	Cappella Spirits	Cappella Ruby Grapefruit & Rosemary Gin
Bronze	Capricorn Distilling Co	Summer Gin
Bronze	CarbonSix Distillery	Takapuna Zesty Citrus Gin
Bronze	CarbonSix Distillery	Carbon6 Black Gin
Bronze	CarbonSix Distillery	Takapuna Berry Pink Gin
Bronze	Sunshine & Sons	Pineapple Parfait Gin
Bronze	Clark Beverages	Sundown Gin
Bronze	Dandah Distillery, t/a Yack Creek Distillery	Hibiscus Gin
Bronze	Dandah Distillery, t/a Yack Creek Distillery	Silk Road Gin
Bronze	Darling Distillery	Darling Gin
Bronze	Distil on the Hill	Mandarin Gin
Bronze	Earp Distilling Co.	Just Juniper
Bronze	Envy Distilling	Sea & Stars
Bronze	Finders Distillery	Native Red Lime Gin
Bronze	Flinders Gin	Quandong Gin
Bronze	Flowstate Brewers and Distillers	Craft Gin
Bronze	Fossey’s Distillery	Original Gin Elixir
Bronze	Gindu	An Australian Gin
Bronze	Gold Emotion Australia / Gypsy Hub	Pure Gold Gin
Bronze	Happenstance Distillery	Signature Gin
Bronze	Happenstance Distillery	Fireside Gin
Bronze	Hellfire Bluff Distillery	Piquant
Bronze	Henry Fisher	Citrus Gin
Bronze	Hepburn Distillery	Smithers’ Gin
Bronze	Hepburn Springs Gin	Gin
Bronze	HHH Distill	KLC
Bronze	Imperial Measures	Ounce Gin Signature
Bronze	Kangaroo Island Spirits	KIS O’Gin
Bronze	Kangaroo Island Spirits	KIS Wild Gin
Bronze	Karu Distillery	Affinity Gin
Bronze	Kilderkin Distillery	Lola
Bronze	Lark Distilling Co	Forty Spotted Classic Gin
Bronze	Logan’s Micro Distillery	Vivacity Gin
Bronze	Margaret River Distilling Company	Giniversity Botanical Gin
Bronze	Mt. Uncle Distillery	Botanic Australis Gin
Bronze	Mt. Uncle Distillery	Botanic Australis Bushfire Smoked Gin
Bronze	Newy Distillery	Spice Explorer Gin
Bronze	Old Macdonald Distillery	Australian Rare Dry Gin
Bronze	Old Macdonald Distillery	Citrus Twist
Bronze	Oneday Distillery	Ewing Blyth Shipwrecked Gin
Bronze	Organic Bay Distillery	Kakadu Plum and Grapefruit
Bronze	Organic Bay Distillery	Raspberry & aniseed Gin
Bronze	Prohibition Liquor	Moonlight Gin
Bronze	Prohibition Liquor	Original Gin
Bronze	Rocky Jones Spirits	Pink Gin
Bronze	Saint Felix Distillery	Wild Forest Gin
Bronze	Sandymount Distillery	Lovers Leap Dry Gin
Bronze	Seven Seasons	Green Ant Gin
Bronze	Swan Valley Gin Company	Diablo Saltbush Gin
Bronze	The National Distillery Company	Meow
Bronze	The Story	Native Australian Botanicals Gin
Bronze	The Vicar’s Son Gin	Cocoa and Mandarin
Bronze	Thunderbolt Distillery	Poppy Gin
Bronze	Winding Road Distilling Co	Citrus and Sea Gin

CLASS 3 - Matured Gin

MEDAL	COMPANY	GIN NAME
Best In Class Trophy	Sunshine & Sons	Small Batch Barrel Aged Gin
Gold	Broken Hill Distillery	Gunpowder Gin
Gold	Billson’s	Isabella’s Barrel Aged Gin
Gold	Capricorn Distilling Co	Oak Aged Gin
Gold	Fossey’s Distillery	Navel Gin on Chardonnay Barrel
Gold	Margaret River Distilling Company	Giniversity Whisky Cask Gin
Gold	Old Kempton Distillery	Barrel Aged Embezzler Gin
Silver	Fossey’s Distillery	Original Gin on Redgum Rum Barrel
Silver	Fossey’s Distillery	Shiraz Gin on Shiraz Barrel
Silver	Kangaroo Island Spirits	KIS Whisky Barrel Gin
Silver	Prohibition Liquor	Shiraz Barrel Aged Gin
Silver	The Farmer’s Wife Distillery	Warm Winter Gin
Silver	The Story	Barrel Aged Gin
Silver	The West Winds Gin	Sur Lie – Barrel Expedition III
Silver	Turner Stillhouse	Three Cuts “Pinot Barrel Rested”
Bronze	Dos Dragones Distillery	STOKEN XII Apostles BC
Bronze	Fossey’s Distillery	Original Gin in Aglianico Barrel
Bronze	Gin Brothers	SevenZeroEight Reserve
Bronze	Mrs Baker’s Still House	Fennel Gin – loud & rebellious
Bronze	Turner Stillhouse	Three Cuts “Chardonnay Barrel Rested”
Bronze	Wildflower Gin Distilling / Wildflower	Cask Projects – Shiraz Oak Gin

CLASS 4 - Old Tom Gin

MEDAL	COMPANY	GIN NAME
Best In Class Trophy	Kangaroo Island Spirits	KIS Old Tom Gin
Gold	Old Kempton Distillery	Six Shillings Gin
Silver	Aust Distilling- Old Youngs Juniper Society	Lilly Pilly Old Tom
Silver	Capricorn Distilling Co	Old Tom Gin
Silver	Glenbosch	Golden Granite Gin
Silver	Unexpected Guest Gistillery	Young Tom’s Bathtub Gin

CLASS 5 - Over-Proof Gin

MEDAL	COMPANY	GIN NAME
Best In Class Trophy	Never Never Distilling Co	Southern Strength Gin
Gold	Ester Spirits	Ester Strong
Gold	Mt. Uncle Distillery	Botanic Australis Navy Strength Gin
Gold	Fossey’s Distillery	Navel Strength Gin
Gold	Sinclair Distillery	Urban Gin “Rocks”
Gold	Prohibition Liquor	Navy Strength Gin
Gold	Never Never Distilling	Juniper Freak 2020 gin
Silver	Kilderkin Distillery	Sunburnt Country
Silver	Karu Distillery	Lightning Gin
Silver	Australian Distilling Co.	Navy Gin
Silver	Kilderkin Distillery	Buccaneer
Silver	Lord Howe Island Distilling Co	Wolfe Rock Gin
Silver	Winston Quinn Handcrafted Gin	Double Denim (Navy Strength) Gin
Silver	Port Phillip Gin	Fiona’s Fury
Silver	Jones and Smith Distillery	Epoch – Navy Strength
Silver	Cauldron Distillery	Five To Five – Coastal Gin
Silver	Swan Valley Gin Company	Diablo Navy Strength Gin
Silver	The West Winds Gin	Broadside
Silver	Wandering Distillery	Naval Gazing
Silver	Old Young’s Distillery	Common Gin
Silver	Aust Distilling- Old Youngs Juniper Society	F*CK Bushfires
Silver	20 20 Distillery	George
Silver	Darby Norris	Navy Strength Gin
Bronze	Elemental Distillers	Roots Norwester Navy Strength Dry Gin
Bronze	Newy Distillery	Coal Miner Gin
Bronze	Bombak Distillery	Navy Citrus Gin
Bronze	Broken Heart Spirits	Navy Strength Gin
Bronze	Pants Off Distillery	Pants on Fire
Bronze	Earp Distilling Co.	Port Side

CLASS 6 - Traditional Liqueurs using a gin base

MEDAL	COMPANY	GIN NAME
Best In Class Trophy	The West Winds Gin	Wild Plum Gin
Gold	Barossa Distilling Company	2021 Barossa Shiraz Gin
Gold	Hellfire Bluff Distillery	Sloe Gin
Gold	Never Never Distilling	Ginache 2021
Silver	Unexpected Guest Gistillery	Disco Flamingo’s Pink Gin
Silver	Swan Valley Gin Company	Four Vines Shiraz Gin
Bronze	Big River Distilling Co	Fig Gin Liqueur
Bronze	Henry Fisher	Shiraz Gin
Bronze	Baby Pink Gin	Baby Pink Gin
Bronze	Seven Seasons	Bush Apple Gin

CLASS 7 - Other Flavoured Spirits using a gin base

MEDAL	COMPANY	GIN NAME
Best In Class Trophy	Jones and Smith Distillery	Epoch – Sloe Gin
Gold	Cauldron Distillery	Five To Five – Sunset Gin
Silver	Wildflower Gin Distilling / Wildflower	Wildflower Pink Gin
Silver	Threefold Distilling	Australian Lemoncello
Silver	Threefold Distilling	2021 GSM (Gin, Shiraz, Mourvedre)
Silver	The Farmer’s Wife Distillery	Summer Spritz Gin
Silver	storytellers distillery	Volume 2: Grenache Sour Gin
Silver	Snowgum Distillery	Blue Tongue Gin
Silver	Rocky Jones Distillery	Salted Caramel Gin
Silver	Old Macdonald Distillery	Wildflower honey, Lime and Lemongrass
Silver	Magpie Distilling	Autumn Harvest Gin
Silver	Magpie Distilling	Songbird Gin
Silver	Magpie Distilling	Wildfire Gin
Silver	Logan’s Micro Distillery	Spiced Cherry Gin
Silver	Jones and Smith Distillery	Epoch – Cherry Gin
Silver	Hepburn Distillery	Bullarto Strawberry Gin
Silver	Growers Own Distillery	Saffron Gin
Silver	Great Ocean Road Gin	Raspberry Gin Liqueur
Silver	Gin Brothers	SevenZeroEight 23
Silver	Fossey’s Distillery	Shiraz Gin
Silver	Cuprum Distillery	Raspberry Gin
Silver	Big River Distilling Co	Pink Gin
Silver	Barossa Distilling Company	Budburst Gin
Silver	1919 Distilling Limited	1919 Dry Pink Gin
Bronze	Barossa Distilling Company	Miss Maple Gin Liqueur
Bronze	Darby Norris	Summer Gin
Bronze	Flowstate Brewers and Distillers	Oaked & Smoked
Bronze	Fossey’s Distillery	Kaffir Leaf Gin
Bronze	Fossey’s Distillery	Frontignac Gin
Bronze	Four Winds Vineyard	Riesling Gin
Bronze	Glenbosch	Rooibos Gin
Bronze	Lark Distilling Co	Forty Spotted Tassie Bush Honey
Bronze	Lark Distilling Co	Forty Spotted Pinot Noir
Bronze	Lark Distilling Co	Forty Spotted Raspberry & Rose
Bronze	Mt. Uncle Distillery	Botanic Australis Ooray Native Plum Gin
Bronze	Newy Distillery	Passionfruit Gin
Bronze	Newy Distillery	Pumpkin Spice Gin

Order your GIN Medal Stickers here

The CCL Gin Packaging Competition will be judged in November and the results will be announced right here shortly after.

Please place your medal order before 15 November 2021 to meet the dispatch date of the printed labels by 1 December 2021.
Medal stickers are printed and dispatched by CCL Label Australia and payment will also be handled by CCL Label Australia.