Blackwattle Distilling Co. Dry Sydney Gin has been crowned Best in Show at the 2026 Australian Gin Distillers Association Gin Awards.

Winners were announced at the home of the 2025 Best In Show winner, Ester Distillery in Enmore, NSW.

Blackwattle Distilling Co. was established during the pandemic and is located in the heritage ‘Steelworks’ complex in Rozelle, in Sydney’s Inner West. Its Dry Sydney Gin was inspired by the history of Blackwattle Bay, the site of Australia’s first legal distillery, and the people that live and work around it.

Owner and Head Distiller Kieren Doyle uses local and international ingredients to echo the cultural melting pot of the Inner West. Dry Sydney Gin was the first spirit created by the distillery when it launched during the pandemic. Doyle and co-founder Paul McLeay accepted the Best in Show award.

Western Australia, South Australia, NSW and the Northern Territory shared the six Best in Class gin trophies.

Gin Awards Chair Mikey Enright said: “Over the years since the competition began, we’ve noticed that the quality and balance of gins have become exponentially better, and this year was no exception.”

And the winners are …

• Classic Gin: Blackwattle Distilling Co. (NSW) Dry Sydney Gin
• Contemporary Gin: Prohibition Liquor Co. (SA) Original Gin
• Barrel Aged Gin: Willing Distillery (NT) Port Barr Port Barrel Rested Gin
• Over-Proof Gin: Never Never Distilling Co. (SA) Southern Strength
• Flavoured Gin: Never Never Distilling Co. Ginache
• Gin Liqueur: Sin Gin Distillery (WA) Sloe Gin

2026 Gin Packaging Awards

Gin Packaging Awards Chair Lindsay Silcox announced the two packaging trophy winners, highlighting the increasingly sophisticated approach distillers are taking to bottle and brand presentation.

“More distillers are bringing a cohesive design to the table: bottles that marry unique customisations with well-presented legalities, story and serve suggestions,” he said.

Best Bottle was won by Coast Distillery (NSW) with its Latitude 16 Organic Gin. Best Bottle Range was awarded to Prohibition Liquor Co. for its seven-bottle Prohibition Gin Range.

Australian Gin Distillers Association CEO Judith Kennedy AM said: “It’s encouraging to see strong support for the ninth year of the awards, and we anticipate 2027 being another year of strong quality development from the craft gin distillers.”

All results are published on www.australianginawards.com.au