The Tasting Alliance has announced the highly anticipated results of the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits competition (SFWSC), with Australia scoring a swag of medals, including Starward Whisky taking home the largest haul in the competition by one distillery.

SFWSC is renowned as one of the most influential and respected spirits competitions, judging spirits across 31 different categories. It is the second oldest and largest spirits competition in the world, with more than 5000 entries from around the world.

With 70 judges, industry experts evaluate hundreds of spirits per category. High-scoring spirits receive Gold awards and, after re-tasting, those with multiple top scores earn Double Gold.

Platinum medals are awarded for receiving a Double Gold medal for the same spirit for three consecutive years.

The most impressive medal tally went to Starward Whisky which took home 13 perfectly scored Double Gold Medals. Eight of its whiskies, including its signature single malt Nova, were awarded the prestigious Platinum medal.

Starward founder David Vitale said: “To be consistently recognised at this calibre is gobsmacking, quite frankly. I started off with a simple vision; to create a distinctly approachable Australian whisky we can offer the world with pride. In our wildest dreams, the passionate and small team in Melbourne could not believe that this was an option, but now it’s a reality.

“We are firmly stood alongside, and sometimes above the world’s most renowned spirits including whisky, gin and tequila from countries such as Scotland, Japan, US and UK. We promise to continue to push for Australian spirits and showcase our best on the global stage.”

Other big Aussie winners were Archie Rose with two Double Golds and one Platinum and Morris with four Double Gold medals.

Australian whiskies were a favourite with the judges. Overall, 22 Aussie releases took out Double Gold, consolidating the industry’s position on the world stage. They included releases by Starward, Morris, Headlands, Hellyers, NED and Amber Lane.

Amber Lane Distillery co-owner Rod Berry said: “It’s wonderful to be recognised on the global stage for our whiskies, particularly for the second year in a row.

“Every single Amber Lane Distillery release since September 2022 has won a national or international gold medal. These new awards extend our phenomenal record to the past nine distillery releases. I don’t know of another whisky maker in the world with that track record.

“We’re incredibly proud of the calibre of whisky we’re making, and the feedback from both the public and the industry – it’s a testament to our passion and dedication to producing high-quality whisky.”

Australia’s Double Gold winners at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Amber Lane Distillery Pineau 350 (NSW)
Archie Rose Distilling Co. Bone Dry Gin (NSW)
Archie Rose Distilling Co. Signature Dry Gin (NSW)
Banks and Bloom Ice Vodka (Western Australia)
Billy Stitch Distillery Dry Gin (Western Australia)
Billy Stitch Distillery Berry Mojito Gin (Western Australia)
Burdekin Rum Virgin Cane Spirit (Queensland)
Callington Mill Distillery Quagmire (Tasmania)
Callington Mill Distillery El Sol (Tasmania)
Dasher+Fisher Sloe Gin (Tasmania)
Headlands Distilling Company Muscat Cask Whisky (NSW)
Headlands Distilling Company Seacliff Vodka (NSW)
Hellyers Road Distillery The Voyager Cask (Tasmania)
Inner Circle Cask Strength (Queensland)
Inner Circle Navy Strength (Queensland)
Juniperus Juniperus Gin (South Australia)
Macedon Ranges Pink Gin (Victoria)
Miners Gin Miners Gin (Victoria)
Morris Australian Single Malt Whisky Signature (Victoria)
Morris Australian Single Malt Whisky Muscat Barrel 48% (Victoria)
Morris Australian Single Malt Whisky Signature (Victoria)
Morris Australian Single Malt Whisky Muscat Barrel 46% (Victoria)
Morris Whisky Inaugural Aged Port Barrel (Victoria)
Ragazzi e Succo Aperitivo (South Australia)
Seabourne Distillery Barrel Aged Series – Pedrox Ximenez Cask (Queensland)
Settlers Spirits Yuzu Gin (South Australia)
Starward 100 Proof Australian Whisky (Victoria)
Starward Left-Field Australian Whisky (Victoria)
Starward Yering Station x Pinot Noir Cask Australian Whisky (Victoria)
Starward Hungarian Oak Australian Whisky (Victoria)
Starward Vitalis Australian Whisky (Victoria)
Starward Sticky Toffee Apple Australian Whisky (Victoria)
Starward Octave Barrels Australian Whisky (Victoria)
Starward Stout Cask Australian Whisky (Victoria)
Starward Single Barrel #684 Australian Whisky (Victoria)
Starward Tawny #2 Australian Whisky (Victoria)
Starward Single Barrel #8193 Australian Whisky (Victoria)
Starward Single Barrel #3278 Australian Whisky (Victoria)
Stoic Spirits Gin (NSW)
Wharf St Oyster Shell Gin (NSW)
Wharf St Citrus Gin (NSW)
NED Green Sash Reserve Whisky (Victoria)

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