South West distilleries bring home swag of awards

The South West region has experienced a genuine spirit lifter, with three local distilleries taking home multiple accolades at the 2024 Perth Royal Distilled Spirits Awards.

The event at Claremont Showgrounds celebrated the exceptional quality and diversity of spirits produced across WA.

Busselton-based Beyond Distilling led the charge with an impressive haul of medals. Their trademark gin, x17, won Gold, while their Citrus Bomb gin earned Silver.

The distillery also received bronze medals for its Super Tuscan gin, Myles Beach Limoncello, and Jan21 Solera brandy.

Beyond Distilling believes that making great spirits comes from a sense of adventure, and the integrity of ingredients is essential.

The team has nailed the wild ride of gin and spirits, showcasing a true labour of love.

Greg Garnish, the distiller behind Beyond Distilling, expressed his gratitude for the recognition and highlighted the company’s commitment to supporting local farmers and maintaining integrity throughout the production process.

“The win is amazing for Beyond. We use local grain from Boyup Brook and Margaret River grapes to make our base spirit,” Greg said.

“We don’t buy our base in for our spirits, so my process costs 20 times as much and takes 3 to 4 days longer to make one bottle of gin.”

It may take longer, but it’s worth every hour and every cent for Greg and the team.

“Integrity is everything to Beyond,” Greg said. “I get emotional about this. I can tell you where 98 percent of my ingredients come from, the farmer’s names and even their dogs!”

“The core of our production is integrity and sustainability- better for the economy and the environment.” He added.

Bridgetown’s Blackwood Valley Distillery also displayed strongly, securing silver medals for its Grounded Gin and Apple Liqueur and bronze for its Cripps Pink Gin and Chestnut Liqueur.

The distillery, a family affair known for its artisanal approach, crafts small-batch spirits and liqueurs using locally sourced ingredients that pay homage to history and pave the way for the new.

“Our spirits are all about highlighting the incredible produce and producers of the South West. Cripps Pink Gin honours John Cripps, who developed the Pink Lady apple in Manjimup,” Blackwood Valley’s Founder David Christie said.

“Our Chestnut Liqueur, made with sweet chestnuts from Chestnut Brae in Nannup, is the only one of its kind made in Australia.”

“Liqueurs are still an emerging category in Australia. Events and awards help us introduce liqueurs to people who might not have considered them before, and the response has been incredible-our liqueurs are currently outselling our gins 5:1 at festivals.”

“We’re thrilled with our win at the Perth Royal Distilled Spirits Awards-it’s an incredible validation for us as a small, boutique producer.”

We’re passionate about what we create, but receiving this recognition from our peers and the wider industry is truly exciting. WA produces exceptional spirits, and we’re proud to be ranked among the best.” David expressed.

Completing the South West’s spirited performance at the awards, Black Cockatoo Distillery, another Bridgetown gem, secured a silver medal for its Desert Lime Gin. This boutique distillery is inspired by a love of gin and a deep connection to our distinct and precious environment in the South West.

Their gin reflects the beauty of our region and gives back to the community by supporting conservation efforts for the endangered native black cockatoos.

“We see this award as a recognition of our efforts at our distillery. We aim to produce a high-quality gin that embodies the beauty of the South West by using local products and ingredients and contributes to the region’s wildlife and our environment,” said Rachel Galvin of Black Cockatoo Distillery.

“It means a lot to us – Desert Lime has now won four awards, it’s nice to be recognised locally and internationally.”

“The bar is super high here in WA – it makes you want to do well and have a great product so we don’t let this growing industry down. The WA distilleries’ really are going from strength to strength,” she added.

Bill Lark, Head Judge praised the quality of entries.

“The standard across the board has risen significantly,” Lark noted.

“These awards provide the perfect platform for the emerging WA Spirits industry to push such high standards.”

As the South West’s distilling scene continues to boom, these awards showcase the region’s commitment to quality, innovation, and local sourcing.

While the success of Beyond Distilling, Blackwood Valley, and Black Cockatoo Distillery recognises their individual efforts, it also highlights the South West, reinforcing its growing reputation as a hub for world-class spirits.