A small craft distillery based in Sydney’s south has taken out Champion Cane Spirit or Rum at the 2025 Sydney Royal Distilled Spirits Show.

Solander Rum Company, based in Botany, also took out Best NSW Distilled Spirit at the awards, hosted by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW.

The winning entry, Single Cask Rum SRC-2632, achieved an impressive score of 95, confirming its place as one of Australia’s stand-out rums. The distillery also received Silver for its Solander Rum Company White.

The winners at the Sydney Royal Distilled Spirits Show are chosen via rigorous judging across categories including gin, brandy, whisky, rum, vodka and RTDs.

SRC-2632 is a single cask release matured for just over three years in an ex-bourbon American oak barrel. It reveals layers of sweet oak, roasted chestnuts, golden syrup, cherry cola, pineapple and peach, with a long, creamy finish. 

This latest Sydney Royal Distilled Spirits Show success adds to a growing track record of award recognition for Solander Rum Company. Earlier this year, Solander Rum Company’s Aged Cask Strength SRC-2632 won Gold and Best in Style in the Hybrid Still category at the 2025 World Rum Awards. This follows its first major award win of single cask SRC-2634’s ‘World’s Best’ win in the Hybrid Still category in 2024.

Solander Rum Company is the sister company to Banks & Solander Distillery, is a boutique, family-owned distillery that emphasises slow fermentation and careful distillation using Australian molasses.

Visitors can explore the distillery and cellar door at 31 Salisbury Street, Botany, NSW, which is open on Saturdays from 11 am to 5 pm.