Entries have opened for the 2026 Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards (AISA), with a new Gin & Tonic category and international producers allowed for the first time.

Distillers, producers and spirit brands of all sizes are invited to enter for the opportunity to earn medals and major trophies — including Champion Distiller, awarded to the highest-scoring distiller across their top three entries.

With AISA formally open to international spirits producers for the first time, entries will be assessed within a global field.

The awards also introduce a new Gin & Tonic category, recognising the enduring appeal of this classic serve while offering a more practical measure of product performance.

Entries in the category will be judged as a gin and tonic using StrangeLove Tonic Water, prepared to a standardised ratio and served chilled to ensure consistency. Producers may select from a range of premium mixers to best represent their spirit. By moving beyond neat tasting, the category provides a more accurate reflection of how gin is experienced in market.

Senior Manager of Food & Beverage Awards at Melbourne Royal Kirrily Waldhorn, said: “Opening the Awards to
international entries marks an important step forward, giving Australian producers the opportunity to benchmark their spirits against a genuinely global field.

“The introduction of the Gin & Tonic category reflects how gin is most often enjoyed, providing producers and the trade with more relevant insight, while recognising a classic serve that continues to resonate with consumers worldwide.”

Overseeing the awards are newly appointed Co-Head Judges Sebastian Reaburn and Holly Klintworth, both highly respected industry leaders with extensive experience and a shared commitment to advancing Australian spirits.

Elected as the first woman President of the Australian Distillers Association (2022–2025), Holly Klintworth, Managing Director of Bass & Flinders Distillery, has judged the Awards since 2021 and served as Panel Chair since 2023.

Klintworth said: “As the next generation of our family distillery, I feel a deep responsibility to honour tradition while continuing to push the boundaries of what Australian spirits can be. I’m proud to represent an industry that is collaborative, progressive and distinctly Australian, and to play a role in continuing to elevate it on the global stage.”

Sebastian Reaburn is an award-winning distiller recognised nationally and internationally for his work across production and hospitality. A committee member of the Australian Distillers Association and a founding figure in the independent spirits sector, he has been involved with AISA since its inception in 2014.

Reaburn said: “The Australian International Spirits Awards are a highlight of my year, bringing together exceptional products and industry peers. To step into the role of Co-Head Judge is both a responsibility and an opportunity to uphold the Awards’ legacy of rigorous judging and industry-leading feedback.”

For more information about the Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards, click here.