The 2024 winners of Dan Murphy’s Decoded Spirits Awards have been introduced, with this 12 months’s awards that includes extra detailed tasting notes to ease customers’ buying journeys.
The winners have been chosen by a panel of 13 judges throughout a two day tasting occasion, the place judges blind tasted greater than 450 merchandise throughout 19 classes. Among the many classes are three agave classes, Australian and worldwide gin, non-alcoholic spirits substitutes, and Australian, North American, single malt Scotch, and blended Scotch whiskies.
Dan Murphy’s Head of Spirits Sarah Corridor spoke to the standard of Australian spirits displayed throughout the awards.
“These awards actually recognise the high-quality spirits in the marketplace but additionally pay homage to the unbelievable workmanship of Australian producers. We’re extremely fortunate to have a number of the greatest producers within the business proper at our doorstep. Australian producers exhibit not solely a excessive stage of talent and tenacity but additionally creativity counting on pure merchandise from our various panorama.
“From sourcing components like botanicals distinctive solely to Australia to sourcing top quality Australian barley, all of those parts actually exhibit that Australian producers need to be on the world stage,” she mentioned.
A number of state-based tendencies emerged within the record of finalists and winners. South Australia and Victoria have been tied for the best variety of winners and finalists, with seven in every state. South Australia was additionally recognised as a hotspot for high quality gin, with Kangaroo Island Spirits Wild Gin profitable the Australian Gin, and two finalists hailing from South Australia.
Unsurprisingly, Queensland dominated the rum class, with two native producers among the many finalists, and Tasmania was properly represented within the Australian whisky class with three finalists.
Corridor defined that the awards have a good time excellence in addition to offering a information for customers, particularly for millennial and Gen Z customers who could also be new to the class.
“We wished to interrupt the mould and within the context of streamlining the method for folks to take pleasure in high quality spirits and supply one other stage of steering for these particularly who could also be unfamiliar with the world of spirits,” she mentioned.
“We all know by way of the youthful demographic, with altering macroeconomic situations many want to elevate their at-home experiences. The millennial and Gen Z cohort wish to discover new and sweeter tasting drinks and wish to have the ability to use their creativity to create insta-worthy cocktails. These are the folks we all know who will actually gravitate in direction of this type of initiative – high-quality spirits which are unpretentious and accessible, regardless you probably have the information of knowledgeable bartender or not.”
The winners are:
Agave – Anejo
Winner – Solento Natural Anejo Tequila 750ml
Tasting notes: Notes of wealthy caramel, brown sugar, banana and cinnamon with an oaky end.
Different finalists:
Prospero Anejo Tequila 700ml
Kimo Sabe Anejo Mezcal 750mL
Patrón Anejo Tequila 700mL
Don Julio 1942 Anejo Tequila 750mL
Agave – Blanco
Winner – Casamigos Blanco Tequila 700mL
Tasting notes: Superb blanco Tequila. Very floral nostril with properly balanced tropical, fruity sweetness, together with vegetal and honey notes.
Different finalists:
Sierra Antiguo Plata 700mL
Kah Tequila Blanco 700mL
Olmecca Altos Plata 1L
Patron El Cielo Blanco Tequila 700mL
Agave – Reposado
Winner – Don Julio Reposado Tequila 750mL
Tasting notes: Total an excellent Tequila. Complicated, vegetative, earthy and mature, with notes of vanilla and caramel on the nostril.
Different finalists:
Sierra Gold Tequila 700mL
1800 Reposado Tequila 700mL
Olmeca Altos Reposado Tequlia 1L
Patrón Reposado Tequila 700mL
Apéritifs, Digestifs & Liqueurs
Winner – Dubonnet 700mL
Tasting Notes: Scored properly throughout the judging panel, wealthy and natural with balanced attributes.
Different finalists:
Luxardo Aperitivo 700mL
Byrrh Grand Quinquina Aperitif 750mL
Baileys Irish Cream 700mL
Baileys Espresso Creme Liqueur 700mL
Brandy / Cognac / Armagnac
Winner – Hennessy VSOP Cognac 700mL
Tasting Notes: Flavours of apricots, fig, and a touch of marmalade, finishes clean and lengthy. Merely put, performed very properly.
Different finalists:
St Agnes XO 15 Yr Outdated Brandy 700mL (From South Australia)
Monnet VSOP Cognac 700mL
Hennessy XO Cognac 700mL
St Agnes XO Grand Reserve 40 Yr Outdated 700mL (From South Australia)
Gin – Australian
Winner – Kangaroo Island Spirits Wild Gin 700mL (From South Australia)
Tasting Notes: Nicely rated throughout the judging panel. A basic model with notes of peppermint and lime, tremendous sessionable and lends itself to all events.
Different finalists:
Manly Spirits Co. Australian Dry Gin 700mL (From New South Wales)
Naught Overproof Gin 700mL (From Victoria)
Adelaide Hills Distillery 78 Levels Small Batch Gin 700mL (From South Australia)
twenty third Road Distillery Signature Gin 700mL (From South Australia)
Gin – Colored & Sloe
Winner – MG Orange Blossom Gin 700mL
Tasting Notes: Easy with nice fruit flavour. Actually good all spherical
Different finalists:
Tanqueray Flor De Sevilla Gin 700mL
Gordon’s Pink Gin 700mL
Ink Gin Sloe & Berry Gin 700mL (From New South Wales)
Naught Sangiovese Gin 700mL (From Victoria)
Gin – Worldwide
Winner: Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin 700mL
Tasting Notes: Good mouthfeel to this Gin; complicated, properly balanced with good spice notes properly built-in.
Different finalists:
Hendricks Lunar Gin 700mL
The Botanist Islay Dry Gin 700mL
Tanqueray No. Ten Batch Distilled Gin 700mL
Mars Wa Bi Japanese Gin 700mL
Non Alcoholic (Spirits Substitute)
Winner: Abstinence Blood Orange Aperitif Non Alcoholic Spirit 750mL
Tasting Notes: A runaway winner within the class, good steadiness with flavours of citrus and orange.
Different finalists:
Gordons 0% 700mL
Banks Botanicals 700mL (From Victoria)
Doc Sensibles UnWhisky 500mL
Doc Sensibles Zero Alcohol UnTriple Sec 500ml
Pre Batched Cocktails
Winner: Hochstadter’s Gradual & Low Rock & Rye Whisky Can 100mL
Tasting notes: Flavours of stewed navel orange, candy honeycomb and satisfying spice. All properly rounded with good warmth and heat. Nice to take pleasure in while watching a footy recreation
Different finalists:
Batch & Bottle Monkey Shoulder Outdated Original 500mL
Brookies Byron Negroni 700mL (From New South Wales)
Avero Negroni Cocktail 700mL (From Victoria)
Prohibition Negroni 500mL (From South Australia)
Rum
Winner: Zacapa Centenario 23 Solera Gran Reserva Rum 700mL
Tasting notes: Balanced and clean Rum, wealthy flavours however with a simple going model / texture.
Different finalists:
Beenleigh Handcrafted Double Cask Rum 700mL (From Queensland)
Husk Uncommon Mix 700mL (From New South Wales)
Mt. Uncle Distillery Iridium Gold Rum 700mL (From Queensland)
Ron Obispo Rum 700mL
Rum – Spiced
Winner: RATU Spiced Rum 5 Yr Outdated 700mL
Tasting notes: Wealthy and flavoursome with notes of toffee apple, stonefruit, apricot, peach,
confectionary, biscuit and nougat.
Different finalists:
Captain Morgan Unique Spiced Gold 700mL
Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum 700mL
Bumbu Rum 700mL
Rockstar Spirits Passionfruit Grenade Navy Power Spiced Rum 500mL
Scotch – Blended Whisky
Winner: Chivas Regal XV 15 Yr Outdated Blended Scotch Whisky 700mL
Tasting notes: This Whisky gives notes of orchard fruits, darkish caramel, toffee and cedar-y spice, with lengthy notes of creme brulee and toasted sugar on the end.
Different finalists:
The Bare Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky 700mL
Shackleton Blended Malt Whisky 700mL
Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky 700mL
Johnnie Walker Blue Label Blended Scotch Whisky 700mL
Scotch – Single Malt Whisky
Winner: The Macallan 12 Yr Outdated Sherry Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700mL
Tasting notes: A plethora of flavours; candied fruit, candied nut, corinth raisin, fig, chocolate and Christmas pudding spice, find it irresistible!
Different finalists:
Ledaig 10 Yr Outdated Scotch Whisky 700mL
The Balvenie 12 Yr Outdated DoubleWood Scotch Whisky 700mL
Glenmorangie Signet Scotch Whisky 700mL
Aberlour 12 Yr Outdated Double Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700mL
Vodka – Australian
Winner: Tread Softly Vodka 700mL (From Victoria)
Tasting notes: Nicely balanced Vodka; delicate, constant and brilliant with end.
Different finalists:
Aether Vodka 700mL (From Victoria)
Manly Spirits Grape and Grain Vodka 700mL (From New South Wales)
78 Levels Australian Vodka 700mL (From South Australia)
Outdated Younger’s Pavlova Vodka 700mL (From Western Australia)
Vodka – Worldwide
Winner: Belvedere Vodka 700mL
Tasting notes: This Vodka supplied a fruity, herbaceous and floral nostril, complemented with a fancy and heavy mouthfeel with mild oily texture, lingering sweetness, and notes of citrus and lime. All completely balanced with alcohol properly built-in and no burn.
Different finalists:
Stolichnaya Cucumber Vodka 700mL
Cîroc Vodka 750mL
Chopin Potato Vodka 700mL
Crystal Head Aurora Vodka 700mL
Whisk(e)y – Australian
Winner: Morris Rutherglen Signature Single Malt Australian Whisky 700mL (From Victoria)
Tasting notes: Darkish fruit notes and flavours to this Whisky, with savoury notes and an extended end.
Different finalists:
Corowa Distillery Bosque Verde Single Malt Whisky 500mL (From New South Wales)
Lark Rebel Single Malt Australian Whisky 500mL (From Tasmania)
Lark Tasmanian Peated Single Malt Australian Whisky 500mL (From Tasmania)
Overeem Port Cask Matured Single Malt Australian Whisky 700mL (From Tasmania)
Whisk(e)y – North American
Winner: Redemption Bourbon Whiskey 750mL
Tasting notes: Orange, ginger, and zest on the nostril, wth nutty notes of almond, cashew and a creamy palate akin to 2022 Winner within the Class. Vanilla, spice and every part good!
Different finalists:
Angel’s Envy Bourbon
Maker’s Mark 46 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky 700mL
Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey 700mL
Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey 750mL
Whisk(e)y – World
Winner: Yamazaki 12 Yr Outdated Whisky 700mL
Tasting notes: An excellent Whisky; nice steadiness of spicy oak, candied fruit, orange, florals, toffee with a strong spine and ending with spiciness. Merely “mmmm” (sic!).
Different finalists:
Pearse Lyons Founders Selection 12 Yr Outdated Single Malt Whiskey 700mL
Redbreast 12 Yr Outdated Irish Whiskey 700mL
Mars Iwai Custom Blended Japanese Whisky 750mL
Jameson Black Barrel Blended Irish Whiskey 700mL
