If you’ve ever wondered what heaven looks like to a dedicated mixology enthusiast, it probably resembles the black-tie opening night of the 2026 Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards. Established in 2015, the Awards are the largest program in Australia to recognise innovation and excellence in distilling, and as we all know, Australia is known for some of the best tipples in the world so the competition is fierce.
Mixing up their game from previous years (pun intended), Melbourne Royal swept their guests into a multi-room night of celebration rather than a traditional sit-down formal event. The evening was split across three distinct zones (with bonus gin & tonic hallway), each dedicated to different categories of spirits and allowing the crowd to sample everything from unique liquors to experimental gins alongside some tasty food.
Once the speeches wrapped and the heavy-hitter titles were announced, the night transitioned into the grand tasting finale: a sprawling showcase where attendees could indulge in sampling the year’s absolute best winners. And what a lineup it was. South Australia’s historic St Agnes Distillery took home the coveted Champion Large Australian Distiller trophy, alongside a win for their magnificent St Agnes XO 15-Year-Old Brandy. Queensland’s Nil Desperandum secured Champion Medium Australian Distiller, while Victoria’s own Maidenii triumphed as Champion Small Australian Distiller and Champion Victorian Distiller; a remarkably resilient win following what was a difficult year for producers.
Across the specific categories, the competition was fierce. Never Never Distilling Co. added another feather to its cap with its delicious Triple Juniper Gin taking Champion Australian Gin, while Archie Rose claimed Best Grain Whisky for its Rye Malt.
Collaboration was also the name of the game, with Fleurieu Distillery taking home Best Blended Malt Whisky for Bird, their joint venture with Bird in Hand Winery. Even international heavyweights made a splash, with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Teremana Tequila Añejo walking away with Best Tequila or Agave Spirit. While the Rock couldn’t be there, the team at Teremana made sure to bring a cardboard cutout along to celebrate this impressive win.
By the time the grand tasting wound down and guests spilled out into the brisk Melbourne night, it was clear that the local spirits scene isn’t just surviving, it’s completely dominating. Whether you spent the evening hunting down rare single malts or discovering your new favorite local aperitivo, it was a masterclass in why Australian spirits deserve to be celebrated.
– The Plus Ones
