A little something to lift your Spirits
The judges have deliberated, and the awards have been presented for the 2021 Perth Royal Distilled Spirits Awards. Covid tried to stop us in our tracks again but if the past 18 odd months has taught us anything, it’s how to rise above and continually adapt in an ever-changing environment and that, we did.
We had an incredible panel of judges on site putting their pallets to work early on a Tuesday morning judging 87 different varieties of Gin, Vodka, Rum, Brandy, Whisky and Alternative Spirits. But how did Covid try and create an obstacle for us you wonder? By keeping our Chief Judge, Godfather of Australian Whisky and Whisky Hall of Famer, Bill Lark, homebound in Tasmania – that’s how. But, thanks to the support of Plasdene-Glass Plak who graciously provided us with a generous supply of 50ml liquor bottles, the Perth Royal Distilled Spirits Awards team patiently distilled off a sample of every exhibitor entry and sent them across to Bill ready for him to adjudicate ‘remotely’ at the same time as our judges onsite here in the West.
Having Bill onboard in support of the Perth Royal Distilled Spirit Awards was every bit the honour and to have him just a zoom call away in support of our judging panel here was the icing on the cake. Next year we hope to have Bill front and centre in the judging room supporting our experienced judges, mentoring our new associate judges and sharing his knowledge and expertise of his beloved craft.
And that’s the short version of how we arrived at the ever-important results for 2021.
In total, there were 77 medals awarded and a total of 7 trophies. This year it was a WA local, The Tailor Made Spirits Company, who walked away with the coveted Champion Distillery Trophy which was accompanied by their trophies for Champion Spirit and Champion Gin, both awarded for The West Winds Gin – Garden Gin, plus an additional 6 Gold and 2 Silver Medals.
The Grove Distillery & Brewery in WA’s South-West took home trophies for both Champion Vodka AND Champion Rum plus 3 Gold medals. Champion Whisky was awarded to Union Brewery & Distillery Fremantle and Champion Brandy went to South Australia’s St Agnes Distillery for their St Agnes XO.
Click here for the full list of results of the 2021 Perth Royal Distilled Spirits Awards.