Gincident – a regrettable decision, or event caused by one too many gins!
We all love a good G and T, especially on a hot Summer’s evening while relaxing alfresco watching the world pass by.
With Father’s Day this Sunday, why not treat Dad to a bottle of Australia’s finest and fix him a Quarantini to celebrate. The Australian Gin Awards were announced this week at a small socially distanced and COVID-safe event at the Barber Shop Gin Bar in Sydney.
It was a night to toast all things juniper for new kid on the block, NSW-based Ester Spirits who won Best in Class for their Australian Navy Gin. Ester founders Felix and Corinne Clark also took out the Joint Best in Show trophy for this ‘Strong Gin’, sharing the limelight with well-known South Australian craft producer Never Never Distilling Co.
Thrilled with their success, Felix described the awards as truly amazing.
"Our company is only five months old – we knew this gin was good, however we didn’t expect this much success so soon,” he said.
The judges described the double winner as: ‘a super gin, full-flavoured and great body.’ While Never Never’s gin was judged to be ‘big juniper, pure and clean.’
Felix and Corinne Clark from Ester Spirits.
Australian Gin Distillers Association chairman, Mikey Enright awarded crystal trophies to the six category winners; standing in for Bill Lark, who was unable to hop the Tasmanian border for the event.
"We had two excellent days judging 250 gins across all six categories, with a talented and varied judging panel,” Mikey said. "We managed to deliver written feedback to every entry and I’m delighted to say that 74% of entries won a medal, as there were 22 Gold, 67 Silver and 97 Bronze medals.”
The six category winners were:
Classic Dry – Never Never Distilling Co ‘Southern Strength Gin’.
Contemporary Style Gin – Imperial Measures Distilling ‘Ounce Signature Gin’.
Matured Gin – The West Winds Gin ‘Sur Lie Gin’.
Old Tom Gin – Settlers Spirits ‘Old Tom Gin’.
Australian Navy Gin – Ester Spirits ‘Strong Gin’.
Flavoured Gin – The West Winds Gin ‘Wild Plum’.
South Australia’s Prohibition Liquor Company won the Australian Gin Awards Design Competition and the CCL $5000 production prize with their Navy Gin bottle.
Click here for all 2020 award winners and remember: ‘More gin, more grins’.
