{"id":59659,"date":"2026-07-28T00:33:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T00:33:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/59659\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T00:33:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T00:33:08","slug":"2026-melbourne-royal-australian-international-spirits-awards-winners-announced-hospitality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/59659\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards winners announced – hospitality"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Melbourne Royal Food & Beverage Award has recognised some of the country\u2019s finest distillers across 33 categories in the 2026 Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards.<\/p>\n

This year marked the first time international spirit producers were included in the awards. Distillerie Bonne M\u00e8re (Guadeloupe, France) took out the Champion International Distiller award, while Cipriani White Peach Bellini from Italy claimed Best Ready to Serve Pre-Mix or Spritz.<\/p>\n

This year also saw the addition of a new Best Gin and Tonic category, which went to Bunker Distillery\u2019s Traditional Dry Gin (NSW) mixed with Strangelove Coastal Tonic.<\/p>\n

Other standout winners include Bird, a blended malt whisky created through a collaboration between Mark Bouris, South Australia\u2019s Fleurieu Distillery and Bird in Hand Winery. Meanwhile, Dwayne \u201cThe Rock\u201d Johnson\u2019s Teremana A\u00f1ejo Tequila was awarded Best Tequila or Agave Spirit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

See the full list of winners below.<\/p>\n

2026 Champion Trophy winners include:<\/p>\n

Champion Large Australian Distiller \u2014 St Agnes Distillery, South Australia<\/p>\n

Champion Medium Australian Distiller \u2014 Nil Desperandum Rum, Queensland<\/p>\n

Champion Small Australian Distiller \u2014 Maidenii, Victoria<\/p>\n

Champion International Distiller \u2014 Distillerie Bonne M\u00e8re, Guadeloupe, France<\/p>\n

Champion Australian Nomad Distiller \u2014 Island Coast Spirits, Tasmania<\/p>\n

Champion Victorian Distiller \u2014 Maidenii, Victoria<\/p>\n

Champion category winners include:<\/p>\n

Champion Australian Gin \u2014 Triple Juniper Gin, Never Never Distilling Co, South Australia<\/p>\n

Champion Victorian Gin \u2014 Australian Dry Gin, Daylesford Spirit Distillery, Victoria<\/p>\n

Consistency of Excellence Awards include:
Recognising products that have demonstrated exceptional quality over multiple years<\/p>\n

Rye Malt Whisky \u2014 Archie Rose Distilling Co, New South Wales<\/p>\n

All Seasons Gin Liqueur \u2014 Imbue Distillery, Victoria<\/p>\n

Troppo Yuzu Gin \u2014 Northern Distilling, Northern Territory<\/p>\n

Hazelnut and Macadamia Liqueur \u2014 Prohibition Liquor Co, South Australia<\/p>\n

Best in Class Winners include:<\/p>\n

Whisky<\/p>\n

Best Australian Single Malt Whisky \u2014 Tapestry, Fleurieu Distillery, South Australia<\/p>\n

Best Blended Malt Whisky \u2014 Bird, Bird in Hand and Fleurieu Distillery, South Australia<\/p>\n

Best Grain Whisky \u2014 Rye Malt Whisk, Archie Rose Distilling Co, New South Wales<\/p>\n

Gin<\/p>\n

Best London Dry Gin \u2014 Triple Juniper Gin , Never Never Distilling Co, South Australia<\/p>\n

Best New World \/ Contemporary Gin \u2014 Troppo Yuzu Gin , Northern Distilling, Northern Territory<\/p>\n

Best Navy Gin \u2014 Man O\u2019 War, Hold Fast Distillery, New South Wales<\/p>\n

\"\"Hold Fast<\/p>\n

Best Fruit or Wine\/Grape Gin \u2014 Strawberries and Cream Gin, Brogan\u2019s Way Distillery, Victoria<\/p>\n

Best Other Gin \u2014 Old Tom Gin, Ester Spirits, New South Wales<\/p>\n

Best Gin and Tonic \u2014 Traditional Dry Gin, Bunker Distillery, New South Wales<\/p>\n

Vodka<\/p>\n

Best Unflavoured Vodka \u2014 Midnight Vodka, Saint Felix Distillery, Victoria<\/p>\n

Best Flavoured Vodka \u2014 SUNCHASER Dirty Vodka, Oakburn Distillery, Victoria<\/p>\n

Brandy, Rum, and Cane Spirits<\/p>\n

Best Brandy \u2014 St Agnes XO \u2013 15YO, St Agnes Distillery, South Australia<\/p>\n

Raymond B \u2018Spike\u2019 Dessert III Trophy for Best Rum \u2014 The Triple Six, Nil Desperandum Rum, Queensland<\/p>\n

Best Cane Spirit \u2014 Virgin Cane Spirit, Burdekin Rum, Queensland<\/p>\n

Tequila and Agave<\/p>\n

Best Tequila or Agave Spirit \u2014 Teremana Tequila A\u00f1ejo, Destiler\u00eda Teremana De Agave, Jalisco, Mexico<\/p>\n

Liqueurs, Bitters, and Alternative Spirits<\/p>\n

Best Liqueur \u2014 Caretaker\u2019s Cottage Black Forest, Marionette, Victoria<\/p>\n

\"\"Caretaker\u2019s Cottage Black Forest<\/p>\n

Best Alternative Spirit \u2014 Absinthe Verte, Cedar Fox Distilling Co, Victoria<\/p>\n

Best Bitter or Vermouth \u2014 Alternativo Aperitivo, Ester Spirits, New South Wales<\/p>\n

Ready to Serve<\/p>\n

Best Ready to Serve Cocktail \u2014 Pornstar Martini, Good George Distilling Co, Waikato, New Zealand<\/p>\n

Best Ready to Serve Pre-Mix or Spritz \u2014 Cipriani White Peach Bellini, Cipriani Bellini, Italy<\/p>\n

Design<\/p>\n

Best Design \u2014 Single Cask, Timbertide, Western Australia<\/p>\n

Photography by SDP Media<\/p>\n

For exclusive hospitality news every Tuesday and Thursday, subscribe\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0or follow us on\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n