Tasmanian distiller Hellyers Road has won World’s Best Cream Liqueur at the World Liqueur Awards 2024 in London.

It’s the first time an Australian liqueur has taken out the trophy, with the judges describing Hellyers Road Tasmanian Whisky Cream as having “big and expressive flavours” that “shine through with a luxurious mouthfeel, creating a lovely experience.”

“The taste is well balanced, offering a pleasant and complex finish,” the judges concluded.

Hellyers also won Silver for its Whisky Cream Liqueur – Salted Caramel.

The cream liqueur category is a relatively new invention in the drinks world. It was created in 1973, during a 45-minute experiment by advertising gurus David Gluckman and Hugh Reade Seymour-Davies that resulted in Baileys Irish Cream.

The pair had been tasked by the International Distillers and Vintners (IDV) with creating a new Irish-centric alcoholic product with no brief. They decided to marry Ireland’s association with whiskey and high quality dairy. After mixing together a bottle of Jamesons Irish Whiskey, a tub of single cream and a few spoonfuls of Cadbury’s Powdered Drinking Chocolate, Baileys was born.

Australia was one of the first countries to fall in love with the liqueur.

“Whereas the wine and single malt buffs in the UK and Europe still held it at arm’s length, the Aussies had few pretensions and the local managing director, after a visit to the Baileys’ plant in Dublin, pronounced it in classic Australian fashion ‘a bloody good drop’,” Gluckman notes in his book ‘That S*it Will Never Sell’.

“He promptly ordered a full container, the contents of which flew off the shelves as soon as it landed. He ordered two more. Baileys became so popular that liquor stores carried signs which said things like ‘It’ll be here in a week. Place your orders now.’”

Cream liqueurs have been experiencing a revival in recent years, with sales booming during COVID-19 as at-home consumers embraced the comfort food equivalent of the drinks world.

Hellyers Road uniquely positioned to make world’s best cream liqueur

Hellyers Road Distillery was established in 1997 by a successful Tasmanian dairy cooperative that was founded in 1957 by a group of dairy farming families in remote North West Tasmania.

Hellyers Road’s aged single malt whiskies have become legendary, having been awarded Australia’s Best on 15 occasions at the World Whiskies Awards.

Hellyers Road Distillery CEO Derek Charge said the twin crafts of dairying and single malt whisky distilling have led Hellyers Road to produce the award-winning Tasmanian Whisky Cream.

“Hellyers Road Tasmanian Whisky Cream represents everything about who we are as makers in North West Tasmania,” he explained.

“Most liqueurs do not contain fresh cream as it is quite difficult to do so. Our heritage in dairy and whisky distilling places us uniquely to overcome these challenges. Hellyers Road uses Tasmanian fresh cream because it is in our nature to be uncompromising when it comes to quality. It is this authentic care for our ingredients that gives Hellyers Road Tasmanian Whisky Cream its unparalleled flavour and texture

“We have always known that Hellyers Road Tasmanian Whisky Cream liqueur was something very special and are immensely proud to have it recognised as the World’s Best Cream Liqueur at the World Liqueur Awards.”

Hellyers Road Tasmanian Whisky Cream Liqueur is made with Tasmanian fresh cream and Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky and, despite containing no added preservatives, retains its flavour and mouthfeel on shelf, without refrigeration, for at least two years.

Australia wins World’s Best Coffee Liqueur

Prohibition Liquor was another big winner at the World Liqueur Awards 2024, taking out World’s Best Coffee Liqueur and scoring the Country Winner accolade for its gin liqueur.

The judges said Prohibition Liquor’s Coffee Liqueur was “a bold and balanced liqueur with fruity and zesty notes, sweetness, and a lovely roasted coffee aroma. It is a great example of a well-balanced liqueur with a good finish, offering a harmonious blend of flavours.”

The Country Winner award for best Gin Liqueur went to its Christmas Gin.

The judges said: “This spirit offers a delightful aroma of Christmas spices—nutmeg, ginger cake, and cloves—complemented by a warm, rounded mouthfeel with clove and other warm spices on the palate. Juniper and additional clove enhance the nose, creating a richly spiced and sweet gin profile. It pairs well in cocktails, allowing the festive spices to shine without overpowering the essential gin characteristics.”