The 2024 World Drinks Awards have been judged and a swag of Australian brands have come out on top, including a treasonous agave spirit!
The awards aims to showcase the diverse excellence of the drinks world, no matter if that excellence comes from a big name in the industry or a newcomer to the drinks scene.
This year’s winners include Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple for World’s Best Flavoured Rum, Schluck Dry for World’s Best Dry Vermouth and Wicker Basket Tea Spritz for World’s Best Speciality Cocktail
David T Smith, chair of judges for the World Drinks Awards said: “This year’s World Drinks Awards has been particularly exciting and has been a great way to round-out the judging season. We had an incredible response to our pastis competition and it was great to see the new innovation in such an established category.”
Tobia Gorn, chair of judges for Liqueur and International Drinks Specialists Consultant said: “It was another outstanding year at the World Drink Awards and being one of the key judges and chair of a couple of categories means that I had the privilege to look into it and we have seen a lovely variety and diversity of entries. We had a fantastic time judging with some industry legends and friends and after some lovely discussions we came up with some great results.”
The 2024 Awards categories included:
- World Brandy Awards
- World Grappa
- World Liqueur Awards
- World Mezcal Awards
- World Premix Awards
- World Rum Awards
- World Tequila Awards
- World Vermouth Awards
- Design Awards
The Aussie winners
World’s Best Hybrid Still Rum – Solander Rum Company, Cask Strength Rum
World’s Best Sugarcane Spirit – FNQ Rum Co., Platinum Cane Spirit
World’s Best Traditional Spiced Rum – Ester Spirits, Spiced Cane
World’s Best Cream Liqueur – Hellyers Road, Whisky Cream Liqueur – Original
World’s Best Flavoured Spirits & Speciality – Act Of Treason Australian Agave, Blanco
World’s Best Premix Contemporary Cocktail – Melbourne Martini, Bar Strength Smoked Chilli
Margarita
World’s Best Premix Spirit and Mixer – Starward, Tonic And Juicy Ruby Grapefruit
World’s Best Premix Range Design – FELLR x MESSINA
World’s Best No & Low Design – Noot, Classic G+T
Act of Treason takes out top award
Top Shelf International released its first agave spirit, Act of Treason, in January, and it sold out in less than a day. The spirit, produced from agave plants grown in Queensland, is already winning awards.
Top Shelf International CEO Trent Fraser said: “Act of Treason symbolises the pioneering spirit of a project that will create a new region of agave spirit. The dry tropics of north Queensland are the ideal place for that to occur.
“Like many others producers, we feel there is an opportunity for agave to be shared with the world and for others to put their distinctive imprint on a category that continues to surge in popularity in Australia and overseas.
“Act of Treason has joined the new global era of agave. We’re approaching this as an opportunity to create something new and expand the horizons of a category that has been geographically limited for centuries. In many ways it’s no different to the evolution wine underwent three decades ago.
“If some feel that we’re being treasonous, then so be it. The greater crime would be not doing it all.”
FELLR celebrates big win
FELLR picked up two Gold Medals and the Best Range Design trophy at the 2024 World Premix Awards for its FELLR x MESSINA collaboration.
The three limited seltzer flavours were inspired by MESSINA’s most famous sorbets – Yuzu Sorbet, Blood Orange Sorbet and Salted Coconut & Mango Sorbet.
FELLR Co-Founder Will Morgan said: “It was a dream to work with such an incredible brand and product such as MESSINA. We knew we had our work cut out for us to create a liquid that stood up to such an incredible product that’s so well-loved across the country.”
MESSINA Co-Founder Declan Lee said: “We’re very selective on the brands we collaborate with – FELLR were able to turn our best selling sorbets into seltzers flavours which really did justice to the recipes, and we’re very drinkable. We always love working with good brands who create excellent products.”
The Collaboration has drawn huge excitement from the trade, which has seen it ranged in over 1000 liquor stores around the country and now available in select on-premise pubs and bars too.
The FELLR x MESSINA Sorbet Seltzer series is available in 10 packs now nationally in BWS & Dan Murphys, and available through wholesale for independent retailers around the country.
View the full list of World Drinks Awards winners here.