Australia is awash with a river of gold right now, thanks to of our distillers and their valuable contribution to the Australian economy.

According to 2022 statistics from the Australian Distillers’ Association and Spirits & Cocktails Australia, the industry directly supports “over 52,900 jobs in spirits manufacturing, retail, wholesale and hospitality, contributing $11.6 billion in added value to the Australian economy”.

Those figures continue to flow upwards with the world embracing the taste of Australian spirits, which according to one industry identity is having a “disruptive effect” on the market.

This is true in the almost sacred ground of whiskey distilling – an industry steeped in heritage and history with the first whiskey thought to have been distilled in Scotland or Ireland in 1,000 AD.

However, it’s now Australian whisky distillers who are winning global awards.

Recently, Starward Whisky from Victoria, was named the Most Awarded Distillery Of The Year for the second time in two years at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Starward was competing against some of the world’s most illustrious brands.

Starward’s founder, David Vitale, believes his brand can convincingly  compete  with  global  whiskies  because Melbourne has double the number of growing seasons of Scotland, “four, sometimes in one day” which forces the whisky barrels to expand and contract with the whisky engaging in oak more frequently, enriching its taste.

But it’s not only whisky where Australia is excelling. A gin created to celebrate Geelong has beaten more than 60 gins from the UK, USA, France, Canada, New Zealand, Brazil and Mexico to be voted best in the world.

Last May, at the 2024 international SIP Awards, Australian Distilling Co.’s Geelong Gin, created to pay homage to Geelong (company founder, Michael Hickinbotham’s father and grandparents were born in Geelong), was placed on a pinnacle. Australian Distilling Co, also claims the title of “Australia’s most awarded distillery” with more than 300 global awards.

So where is all of this success coming from?

According to Trent Fraser, CEO of Top Shelf International (whose brands include the award-winning Grainshaker Vodka, NED Whisky and Act Of Treason Australian Agave Spirit), it has a lot to do with our climate, our natural resources including our premium grains, plus the enthusiasm and creative energy of a new generation of Australian distillers.

Fraser spent 20 years in New York working in the industry for one of the world’s most prestigious luxury names but his dream was always to come home and put Australian spirits on the map.

“The idea was bubbling up inside me for some time,” he explains. “People have seen what Australia’s been able to do in the wine game but it was definitely time for Australian spirits to come of age.”

Leading the charge, he says, is Australian gin.

“And then you see the success of Starward, scooping the most prestigious whisky awards,” he points out.

Top Shelf’s NED Whisky (which is named after Australia’s most famous outlaw, Ned Kelly), has also won Gold Medals and Best in Class at the World Whisky Awards and the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards,” Fraser says, proudly.

Not to be outdone, the brand’s Grainshaker Vodka was awarded gold at the 2023 World Vodka Awards.

“We’re coming at it like a storm and we have to be taken seriously,” says Fraser. “It’s not just the people behind these brands saying how great they are but the biggest and best spirit judges in the world.

“At Top Shelf, our spirits not only look modern and contemporary but they’re all rule breakers – NED Whisky is about boldness and courage, Grainshaker Vodka is about frivolity and Act Of Treason is entirely rogue, starting a new playbook and not taking anything from brands that have come before it,” he tells Australian Life.

According to Fraser, Australian ingredients are key to the success of each spirit, especially our grains wheat and corn. Act Of Treason this is supported by the largest agave farm outside of Mexico, in Far North Queensland where the growing conditions mimic those in Mexico.

“Consumers are increasingly concerned about what they’re putting in their bodies,” Fraser explains, “so we’re using and celebrating Australian ingredients in all of their purest forms.”

This festive season, expect to see an increase of flavoured whiskies flooding the market. Top Shelf’s Golden Bickie Flavoured Aussie Whisky Liqueur, has just been released as a classic to be enjoyed on the rocks or perhaps poured over ice cream in the ultimate decadence.

“What we’re working on at present is challenging convention and pushing boundaries,” says Fraser. “We’re also investing in the land, the people and the expertise. We’d rather give back to the Australian consumer in terms of premium quality than follow the global trend of using a celebrity ambassador to boost the brand.”

It’s an approach that is common among the country’s growing band of distillers including Archie Rose, Cape Byron, Tin Shed, 78 Degrees, and Whipper Snapper, who all wish to boost the country’s national resources to produce the true spirits of Australia. Cheers to that.