Best Of Awards 2020: Spirits

They believe terroir is not just about the elements, it is also about the people: the community of growers and winemakers that surrounds the grapes. Up to 25 native botanicals – including desert lime, wattle seed and peppermint gum leaf – used in Applewood Australian Gin are steeped in high-grade grape spirit, the floral qualities of which balance the astringency of the botanicals. The grapes are often sourced from growers who cannot sell them elsewhere.

Of course, our panel was tasting blind and therefore unswayed by the magic of the story behind the best gin; they judged purely on the end result, a gin they praised for its intense eucalypt palate, its uniquely Australian presence and its impressive finish of locally grown juniper.

Best Of International Gin

Best Of International Gin:Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin

In deepest rural County Leitrim, set among rolling hills, woodlands and lakes, is the home of The Shed Distillery. Distiller PJ Rigny furnished The Shed with medieval copper pot stills and began a quest to fuse oriental botanicals with local Irish ones. The result of this passionate exploration is Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, which takes its name from one of the signature botanicals, slowly dried Gunpowder tea. Our tasting panel was wowed by the combination of lime, lemon and grapefruit with this slowly dried green tea making it one of the best spirits of the year. The flavour is bold and bright with a slight spicy freshness. After the initial intense aromas of black pepper, lemon peel and juniper, hints of orris root and cinnamon, liquorice root and cardamom follow. It’s a flavourful, spicy style of gin.

Best Of Other Spirits

Best Of Flavoured Gin: Verano Spanish Watermelon Gin

Verano is a colourful, premium gin inspired by the relaxed style and vibrancy of Spain but distilled in Scotland, where the gin scene is truly buzzing. The handcrafted, small-batch Verano Spanish Watermelon Gin is infused with a handmade distillate of Spanish watermelon to create a delicate flavour. Our panel was impressed by the clean, fresh taste, with the sweetness of the watermelon balanced perfectly to make a refreshing, fruity gin.

Best Of Vodka: Belvedere Vodka

Belvedere Vodka is named after Belweder, the Polish presidential palace in Warsaw you see illustrated on the bottle. Made from Polish rye and quadruple distilled for ultimate purity, Belvedere stakes a claim as the world’s first super premium Polska wódka. In the blind tasting, our panel made mention of the vodka’s aromas of vanilla, rye and white pepper; its distinctive creamy mouth feel; and the crisp and clean finish with lingering white pepper spice.

Best Of Tequila: Espolòn Tequila Reposado

Each Espolòn label captures a moment from Mexico’s rich history via the artwork of 19th-century rebel artist José Guadalupe Posada. According to our judges, the contents of the bottle are every bit as iconic. Espolòn Tequila Reposado has a bold, round palate with a rich roasted agave flavour, plus sweet tropical fruit, vanilla and brown spices. It begs to be mixed into cocktails that deserve a generous dose of tequila character.

Best Of Aperitif: Økar Bitter Amaro

The Italians invented amaro with dining in mind. It’s refreshing and light, and great to drink over ice or in a spritz with soda or tonic. Amaro leaves your palate dry making it one of the best spirits to have before a meal. Økar Bitter Amaro is hand-crafted in small batches in the pristine Adelaide Hills using botanicals native to the coastal rainforests of Australia, including rare native riberry, Davidson plum and aromatic strawberry gum leaf.

Best Of Liqueur:Applewood Limoncello

Have you ever seen an ugly lemon? The ones that supermarkets reject for being too big, too small or too misshapen? These are the lemons that are hand-peeled and used to make Applewood Limoncello. Our judges appreciated the cool, refreshing lemon flavour spliced with a touch of sweetness that comes from two different types of fruit from South Australia’s oldest citrus plantation in the Adelaide Hills. Applewood is a delicious drop, made to be drunk after dinner.

Best Of Coffee Liqueur:Antipodes Certified Organic Espresso Liqueur

From Australia’s first certified organic and carbon-neutral distillery comes this delicious coffee liqueur. Refined with pure Australian rainwater, Antipodes Espresso Liqueur is a harmonious combination of triple-distilled, charcoal-filtered spirit with sustainable coffee beans. Our panellists were impressed by the neat version, but it can also be enjoyed over ice or in an espresso martini.

Best Of Premixed

Best Of Premixed Drink: Koyomi Highball Blood Orange and Bitters

Shochu is Japan’s most popular liquor. A clear white spirit that is traditionally served neat on the rocks, it’s fast gaining favour as one of the best spirits for cocktails. The bold yet balanced Koyomi Highball Blood Orange and Bitters is a perfectly blended mix of shochu and soda with the rich citrus taste of blood orange and a gentle hint of bitters. Our judges recommend it as a lovely refresher simply poured over ice.

Best Of Bottled Cocktail: The Everleigh Bottling Co. Old Fashioned

Inheriting its name and recipe from Melbourne’s internationally renowned cocktail bar, The Everleigh Bottling Co.’s classic cocktails capture the old-world elegance of mixology in a single-serve bottle. What stood out to our judges was the sheer ‘old fashioned-ness’ of the Everleigh Bottling Co. Old Fashioned: simply and purely Bourbon, bitters and sugar, served ice cold in a rocks glass and garnished with an orange twist.