Mt Uncle Distillery Botanic Australia’s Navy Strength Gin has been named the world’s best gin at the London Spirit Competition, while Adelaide Hills Distillery 2020 Native Grain Weeping Grass Whiskey has been awarded best grain whiskey at the World Whiskies Awards.

The London Spirit Competition is an annual judging of international spirits organised by the Beverage Trade Network. Now in its fourth year, the competition judges the entries on three primary criteria: quality, value and packaging on a 100-point scale.

Spirits that scored 90 points or more are awarded gold medals. Entrants that scored between 76 and 89 points were awarded silver medals, while those spirits that scored between 65 and 75 were awarded bronze medals.

Mt Uncle, which is based in the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland, said: “We are beyond humbled and blown away by the latest round of awards handed out by the London Competitions – a couple of Golds, a couple of Silvers, Gin of the Year and Best in Show by Country.

“The London Spirits Competition is a pretty big deal, so we’re a little bit breathless with this swag. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet (but we’ve no doubt it will soon enough!).

“As [Head Distiller] Mark [Watkins, above, right] said, “Mum I hope you’re proud! Sorry about all the water I tipped into your gin bottles in the cupboard! Yes it was me!” All for a good cause, Mama Watkins.”

Here’s the full list of winners at the London Spirit Competition:

Spirit Of The Year – Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka by Ramsbury Brewing & Distilling Co. Ltd

Vodka Of The Year – Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka by Ramsbury Brewing & Distilling Co. Ltd

Rum Of The Year – Rum Nation by Rum Nation International

Tequila Of The Year – IZO Tequila Extra Anejo Cristalino by Belzmart Group, Llc Dba Izo Mezcal   

Gin Of The Year – Botanic Australis Navy Strength Gin by Mt. Uncle Distillery

Whisky Of The Year – Dingle Distillery Fourth Single Pot Still Release by The Dingle Distillery

Brandy Of The Year – St-Rémy Signature by St-Rémy

Liqueur Of The Year – Muyu Vetiver Gris by De Kuyper Royal Distillers

Cognac Of The Year – A. de Fussigny Grande Champagne VSOP by A De Fussigny Sas

Distillery Of The Year – De Kuyper Royal Distillers from Netherlands.

A complete list of the 2021 medalists is available on the London Spirits Competition website.

The world’s best whiskey

Forget Kentucky making the world’s best grain whiskey, the World Whiskies Awards reckon you should look to the Adelaide Hills instead.

Just one barrel (150 bottles) of the Adelaide Hills Distillery 2020 Native Grain Weeping Grass Whiskey was made, which explains why it’s $450 a bottle.

The World Whiskies Awards, hosted annually by Whisky Magazine in London, are the premier global awards for the whisky industry. Adelaide Hills Distillery also won a gold medal in the Blended Malt Category for its 78 Degrees Australian Whiskey.

“This is huge recognition for the whole team who have created the world’s best whiskey,” founder Sacha La Forgia (pictured main, left) told Adelaide Now. “It is the only whiskey ever made from native Australian grains and it shows the world that Australia is a force to be reckoned with. We have some of the best flavours in the world.”

Here are the winners at the World Whiskies Awards:

Best Blended: Dewar’s Double Double 21 Year Old

Best Blended Limited Release: Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Limited Edition 2021

Best Blended Malt: Chivas Regal Ultis

Best Bourbon: WL Weller CYPB

Best Canadian Blended: Royal Canadian Small Batch Canadian Whisky

Best Corn Whiskey: Ironroot Republic Hubris

Best Flavoured Whisky: Bird Dog Peanut Butter Flavored Whiskey

Best Grain: Native Grain Whiskey Weeping Grass

Best New Make & Young Spirit: Boann Distillery New Make Pot Still Spirit

Best Pot Still: Redbreast 21 Year Old

Best Rye: Lot No. 40 Dark Oak

Best Single Barrel Bourbon: Tumblin’ Dice Bourbon Single Barrel – Barrel Proof

Best Single Cask Single Malt: Spey from Speyside Distillery Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2020

World’s Best Single Malt: The Glenallachie 10 Year Old Batch 4

Best Tennessee Whiskey: George Dickel Bottled-in-Bond

World’s Best Wheat: Distillery 291 E Batch #7

You can also find the winners of the Icons of Whisky awards as well as the newest inductees into the Whisky Hall of Fame here, and the full list of category winners here.

Why Australia is winning the whisky game