A Perth small batch distillery has won big at national spirits awards.
Wandering Distillery, which operates out of O’Connor, was named champion distillery at the Perth Royal Distilled Spirits Awards, beating more than 180 entrants from across Australia.
Owner Wade Willcocks said he was extremely proud of the win and three of the distillery’s gins — Naval Gazing, Miss Mi and Nomad — which won gold medals.
“I am absolutely thrilled and honoured to be recognised alongside some of Australia’s most talented distillers,” he said.
“We love the support we have received from the community and being awarded champion distillery is further validation that we’re creating high quality gins that people can love.”
Lisandras Distillery in Bayswater was awarded best whiskey and Mandurah’s Little Stiller Distillery won champion alternative spirit for its coffee vodka.
The Osborne Park-based Tailor Made Spirits company was another big winner, with its West Winds Sabre Gin awarded best spirit.
Chief judge Bill Lark said this year’s entrants were the highest standard he had seen.
“A full day of judging can be an arduous task, but it is made that much easier when the quality of spirits was as high as I’ve seen anywhere across the country,” he said.
“We all know our industry is growing rapidly and it is so important to distillers and especially emerging distillers to see how their products stand up alongside their industry colleagues.”
Peel and Perth brewers also featured heavily among the winners of the Perth Royal Beer Awards, held last month.
Whitelakes Brewing in Baldivis was named champion medium brewery and won best draught lager, while Boundary Island Brewery in Erskine took out best new exhibitor.
Judges deemed Myaree-based Otherside Brewing Co’s vinyl beer the top draught amber or dark ale, and rated Innate Brewers in Spearwood’s the best of the packaged pale ale.
Mindarie’s Indian Ocean Brewing Co was awarded for its draught pale ale and Golden West Brewing Co in Subiaco won best hybrid and specialty for its smooth bourbon vanilla porter.
Best low alcohol packaged beer went to Thorny Devil Brewing Company in Herron.