{This article is now a few years old, and discusses a unique awards program that operated as a public-vote. You might like to read our more recent article, Whisky Awards – Who really wins?}
February 2022 saw the second annual Australian Whisky Awards, presented and organised again in Sydney by the Australian Whisky Appreciation Society, or “AWAS”, as it’s more commonly known. The awards ceremony and gala dinner was held on the top floor of the Museum of Contemporary Art overlooking Sydney Harbour, and some 120 people gathered to mingle, celebrate with, and recognise the many people involved in various aspects of the industry.
The AWA is a unique awards program within Australia in that it is essentially a popularity contest. That’s not intended to sound disparaging or untoward….it is, as the organisers say, the world’s biggest whisky democracy at work! The winners and place-getters are essentially determined by public vote, with anyone in the whisky community (and outside the whisky community) able to vote for their favourite whisky, distillery, producer, personality, and venue.
Votes are essentially compiled in two rounds, with an initial round of nominations to determine short lists in each category, and then a second round of voting to determine the eventual winners. A handpicked selection of judges – people involved in the industry – have a weighting assigned to their votes, and these are then tallied in with the public votes. With nominees welcome (and encouraged) to lobby and campaign for votes, it’s almost the whisky equivalent of the Logie Awards!
Formalities on the night were overseen by joint MC’s Scott Fitzsimons (reprising his role from last year) and Alexandra Dahlenburg. The awards were presented over the course of the evening, interspersed between a four-course dinner. The awards are presented in five categories, with the winner, second, and third places denoted by Gold, Silver, and Copper, respectively. Those who finished on the podium on the night were:
Whisky of the Year
Gold – Lark – Christmas Cask Release III
Silver- Overeem – Bourbon 12 Year old
Copper – Archie Rose – Whisky in Every Port
Distillery of the Year
Gold – Lark
Silver – Archie Rose Distilling Co.
Copper – Overeem
Distiller/Producer of the Year
Gold – Kristy Booth-Lark
Silver – Craig Field
Copper – Lisa Truscott
Personality of the Year
Gold – Matt Bailey
Silver – Bill Lark
Copper – Craig Field
Venue of the Year
Gold – Archie Rose Bar and Cellar door
Silver – Whisky and Alement
Copper – Elysian Whisky Bar
The AWA has also established a Hall of Fame, and this year’s inductee was Cameron Syme. Syme has had a long and distinguished career in the industry, having founded Limeburners Distillery in 2004, as well as its associated distilleries and brands. A pivotal player in the Australian Distillers Association, he’s also been a leader, spokesperson, and campaigner for industry across many fronts. His acceptance speech on the night gave great insight into the pioneering days of establishing a distillery and marketing a product at a time when Australian whisky was still a rare, enigmatic curiosity, rather than a celebrated, globally recognised, and award-winning spirit.
Needless to say, the evening was enjoyed by all in the room, and – after lockdowns and COVID restrictions – it was a welcome occasion for so many people within the industry to gather in the one room for a “live” event and catch up. Despite being a Sunday night, one or two of Sydney’s late night whisky venues sustained the celebrations later into the night and the wee hours….
Knowing the enthusiasm and tenacity of the organisers, plans are no doubt already underway for next year’s awards. If I may express a suggestion/request voiced by several in the room on the night and from the branches of the whisky community’s grapevine…..next year’s awards would benefit by giving clarity to nominators, nominees, and judges alike whether these are the Australian Whisky Awards or the Australian Whisky Awards. 😉
Cheers,
AD
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(Interested in the details of the inaugural Australian Whisky Awards held in 2021? Read the full story here.)
