Australia’s leading distillers and their exceptional creations have been crowned at the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards.
After an intensive assessment across three days at Melbourne Showgrounds, 103 gold, 372 silver and 281 bronze medals were awarded from over 820 entries, with 20 Best in Category awards and four Champion trophies handed out.
South Australia’s Prohibition Liquor Co took home Champion Australian Distiller and Champion Australian Gin trophy for its Juniperus Gin.
Prohibition described the spirit as “the gin rewriting the classics”.
“Juniperus is our tribute to the London Dry style — a pure, powerful expression of juniper, crafted with layers of warmth, citrus and spice,” the distiller said.
“Crushed, macerated and vapour-infused for maximum depth, it’s a modern classic with a trophy and Gold medal this week to prove it.”
Melbourne Royal Food and Beverage Awards Senior Manager Kirrily Waldhorn said winning at the Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards is considered a hallmark of quality.
“It assures consumers and trade that a spirit has been rigorously evaluated by an internationally esteemed judging panel, representing the very best our country has to offer,” she said.
“Winning a Melbourne Royal trophy or medal is wonderful recognition and reward for the expertise, passion and commitment devoted to distilling excellence.
“The opportunity to display the Melbourne Royal seal of excellence medal on product, packaging and marketing can contribute to an uplift in sales, brand equity and commercial growth.”
The full list of winners at the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards:
- Best Design: Triple Juniper Gin – Never Never Distilling Co, South Australia
- Best Ready to Serve Cocktail or Pre-Mix or Spritz: Yuzu Chu-Hai – Reed & Co
Distillery, Victoria - Best Bitter: Amaro e Agave, Bitter Liqueur – Ragazzi e Succo Aperitivos, South
Australia - Best Alternative Spirit: Williams Pear Schnapps – Snowgum Distillery, Victoria
- Best Liqueur: Auvert Herbal Liqueur – Imperial Measures Distilling, South Australia
- Best Tequila or Agave Spirit: Mezcal Artesenal Joven – Amigos Aotearoa, Auckland,
New Zealand - Best Cane Spirit: Virgin Cane Spirit – Burdekin Rum, Queensland
- Raymond B ‘Spike’ Dessert III Trophy for Best Rum: Husk Rare Blend – Husk Rum,
New South Wales - Best Brandy: St Agnes XO – St Agnes Distillery, South Australia
- Best Flavoured Vodka: The Gwendoline Vodka – Moontide Distillery, Western
Australia - Best Unflavoured Vodka: Original Vodka – Bunker Distillery, New South Wales
- Best Other Gin (not LD, NW or Navy): Sawmill Gin – Brandy Barrel Gin – Mid North
Distilling Co, South Australia - Best Fruit or Wine / Grape Gin: Ginache Gin – Never Never Distilling Co, South
Australia - Best Navy Gin: Epoch Strength Navy Gin – Jones and Smith Distillery, New South
Wales - Best New World / Contemporary Gin: NEO New World Dry Gin – Reed & Co Distillery,
Victoria - Best London Dry Gin: Juniperus Gin – Prohibition Liquor Co, South Australia
- Best Blended Malt Whisky: Country to Coast 6 by Black Gate Distillery & Fleurieu
Distillery – Fleurieu Distillery, South Australia - Best Grain Whisky: Rye Malt Whisky – Archie Rose Distilling Co, New South Wales
- Best International Single Malt Whisky: Levenside Special Reserve Highland Single
Malt Scotch Whisky – Coles Liquor, Victoria - Best Australian Single Malt Whisky: Single Malt Whisky – Small Batch Reserve Series
- Chardonnay Barrel – Backwoods Distilling Co, Victoria
- Champion Victorian Gin: NEO New World Dry Gin – Reed & Co Distillery, Victoria
- Champion Victorian Distiller: Top Shelf International, Victoria
- Champion Australian Gin: Juniperus Gin – Prohibition Liquor Co, South Australia
- Champion Australian Distiller: Prohibition Liquor Co, South Australia
Most awarded agave globally
It was a big night for Top Shelf International, with Act Of Treason Australian Agave Spirit receiving Gold Medals for all its expressions – Blanco, Reposado and Extra Aged – making it the most awarded agave brand globally.
NED Australian Whisky’s premium Grand Reward expression was also named the Champion Victorian Spirit. The Melbourne-distilled and matured bourbon-style whisky was described by the judges as “a whisky that embodies grit, quality, and craftsmanship. A proud moment for Victorian distilling.”
The unique release was matured in sweet ex-tawny casks from the Rutherglen region and bottled at 50% ABV – 100 proof by the American scale.
The release prompted judges to name Top Shelf the 2025 Champion Victorian distiller.
“Grand Reward was the final expression to join the core range and we were very specific when sourcing the barrels,” said NED Head of Maturation Rachel Murphy (above).
“This tiny parcel of barrels is one of my favourite parts of the warehouse and it’s so great that people enjoying sharing it as much as we enjoyed crafting it.”
The entry level NED Australian Sour Mash Whisky also received a gold medal at the awards.
Australia’s best rum
Husk Rare Blend was been awarded a gold medal and named the highest scoring rum at the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards, earning the prestigious Raymond B “Spike” Dessert III Trophy for Best Rum.
The judges awarded Husk Rare Blend a remarkable score of 95/100, praising its craftsmanship and unique cane
character.
Head Distiller Quentin Brival and Founder Paul Messenger (above) accepted the awards.
“This is a huge honour for our small team in Tumbulgum,” said Messenger. “It’s recognition of everything that goes into Husk Rare Blend – from long days on the cane harvester to late nights in the still house.
“We’ve spent years refining our approach to Australian rum, and we’re thrilled to see it acknowledged on an international stage.”
Husk Rare Blend is an innovative and expressive aged rum made from a unique blend of 100% single estate cane juice rum and cane honey rum. The rum is pot-distilled using Husk’s 6000L Forsyth still and sub-tropically aged in ex-Australian wine casks before being blended for a smooth, complex finish.
View all the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards medal winners here.