There’s a fair chance that if you check any Australian liquor cabinet right now, you’ll find a bottle of Baileys (mum), half a bottle of crap Scotch (dad) and some watered down vodka (thanks to whichever teenager thought that mum and dad wouldn’t notice.) The well-stocked liquor cabinet is a bit of a lost art, and one which we at Man of Many are intent on bringing back as a standard in the modern gent’s home. One way to set your’s apart is to fill it up with quality bottles made by the best Australian alcohol brands.
Australian Liquor at a Glance
Australia is home to a burgeoning liquor industry, which can make it hard to stay on top of who’s who and what’s what. While many of our smaller, craft distilleries receive widespread media attention for their award winning whiskies, rums and gins, there’s a huge sector of the market made up ofliqueurs that are distilled and fortified right here on Aussie soil, as well as a bunch of big-names you might not have realised were killing it on the international awards stage.
“Socially and culturally we have always been closely aligned to the USA, but there has been a change in the way most spirits are being perceived in Australia,” Malcolm Gandar, masterclass host and brand ambassador for co*cktail Porter & The Whiskey Mill tells Man of Many. “Consumers are much more knowledgeable than they ever have been, with a real push for transparency into what people are actually eating and drinking. A deeper understanding and appreciation has been shown to good craftmanship and as a whole consumers are looking for well-made and good quality spirits. Certain categories have definitely benefitted more than others from this, however, the rise of craft and premium spirits has been evident across all categories – Vodka, Gin, Tequila, Whisky, Bourbon and Liqueur.”
According to the Australian spirits expert, the category is continuing to grow. In line with the US market, he predicts interest in local spirits will continue, with an emphasis on some specific flavours.
“One category that has seen a huge boom recently has been the agave spirit category, including Tequila and Mezcal,” Gandar said. “A key example is the amount of celebrities either putting their name or their money behind tequila brands – George Clooney, Rita Ora, Nick Jonas, Michael Jordan, Carlos Santana, LeBron James, The Rock and of course Kendall Jenner. I feel that is a trend will only get stronger in Australia, with the first Australian made Agave Spirits already hitting the shelves.”
Best Australian Liquor Brands
With Australian liquor brands producing some of the world’s top drops, it’s worth investing your time and money on domestic beauties. Here are just a few of our favourites that deserve a spot on your shelf.
1. Mr Black Coffee Liqueur
When master distiller Phillip Moore and designer Tom Baker agreed that they both loved coffee and drinking, but didn’t like anything available on the market in the form of a decent coffee liqueur, they got to work. After 9 months investing in R&D, their brainchild, Mr Black, won a gold medal at the London International Wine & Spirits Competition in 2012.
Since then, they’ve found their way onto just about every back bar in the country, and into all the best espresso martinis. They even collaborated on an ultra-rare Panama Geisha edition with Campos coffee roasters, but don’t get your hopes up for a bottle – all 6were snapped up for £115 each upon release.
Type: Coffee liqueur
Alcohol Content: 25% ABV
Price: $54.99 AUD
2. Archie Rose
Rosebery’s finest – if you’re keen to stock something that most of your mates won’t have, then sort yourself out with a bottle or two from these guys. Staples of Signature Dry Gin, Signature Vodka and White Rye (all of which have won multiple awards) won’t disappoint (whisky is also in the pipeline), but also keep an eye out for their limited release goodies, perfect if you really want your cabinet’s collection to stand out.
Type: Gin
Alcohol Content: 42% ABV
Price: $79 AUD
3. Starward Whisky
Born in the backstreets of Melbourne, Starward whisky has gone on to become one of the country best and most-awarded alcohol brands. Most recently, the whisky producer secured a series of accolades at the World Whisky Masters, coming away with a swag of gold medals and a prestigious Master award for its newly unveiled UNEXPEATED release. With a focus on fine craftsmanship and natural ingredients, Starwards is a refined take on Australian spirits.
Type: Whisky
Alcohol Content: from 40% ABV
Price: $49 AUD
4. St Agnes
While there’s definitely a dodgy bottle of the VS sitting up the back of your nanna’s cupboard (just for Christmas pudding – sure, nan), don’t count these guys out as serious contenders in the world of brandy. While you may be inclined to assume that the best stuff comes from Cognac in France, St Agnes have been plying their trade for over 90 years, and have learned a thing or two along the way. Get a bottle of their premium range for when you want a tipple after dinner that’s not spent a year in a shipping container.
Type: Brandy
Alcohol Content: differs per bottle
Price: starts at $110 AUD
5. 666 Vodka
Made from the oh-so clean waters of Cape Grim, this Australian liquor brand is making one of the best localspirits we’ve tasted. With a small range comprising a classic vodka, a butter flavoured vodka and a vodka infused with coffee from legendary Melbourne roasters St Ali, these guys have followed the winning formula of finding one thing and doing it well. These are about as smooth as they come for drinking neat, or try the Autumn Butter Vodka in an espresso martini.
Type: Vodka
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV
Price: starts at $65 AUD
6. Vodka O
So we’ve all turned our noses up at it for being under $40 and not made in Poland, or worse – assumed that because of its price it’s a dodgy import sent straight to the bargain bin. I hate to be the one to tell you, but if you’ve made this assumption, you’re so, so wrong.
Vodka O is the result of two Sydney-based mates who wanted to make a completely purity-free vodka, and started their company on the smell of an oily rag. Made from whey in New Zealand, it’s now crept up to number 3 in the Australian marketplace, and has won a number of awards. It’s also ranked in the top 10% of vodkas worldwide for purity. Not bad for a bargain, and definitely worth keeping on hand.Vodka O is a super popular Australian liquor.
Type: Vodka
Alcohol Content: 37.5% ABV
Price: starts at $36 AUD
7. Hippocampus
When the team behind Fremantle’sLittle Creatures brewing walked away with pockets full of cash back in 2012, after selling the company to Japanese beer giant Lion, they didn’t do the classic WA thing and spend it all on jet skis and business class flights to Bali. Instead, they decided to up the ABV on their product, and open a distillery instead. Fast forward 5 years and Hippocampus Metropolitan Distillery is one of the best Australian liquor brands making some of the yummiest gin and vodka around.
Type: Gin, Vodka
Alcohol Content: from 40% ABV
Price: starts at $75 AUD
8. Tamborine Mountain Distillery
There’s a fair chance that you’ve never heard of Michael Ward’s distillery before now – you won’t find his products on the shelves at Dan Murphy’s, or probably even at a local boutique. That doesn’t mean nobody knows about themthough. The Tamborine Mountain Distillery (or TMD, as most would call it) is, in fact, known mostly to spirit judges, having amassed a huge 300+ awards in its near 20 years of operation.
Having moved to Queensland from Tasmania to escape the cold, Michael and Alla Ward decided to turn the excessive amounts of fruit on their property into booze (logically). Michael distills some of the weirdest (and seriously most delicious) stuff you can think of, including an Apricot Brandy favoured by bartenders nationwide, a Lilly Pilly Gin that makes one of the best GnTs you’ll ever have, and a Quandong Liqueur (don’t ask, just drink it). Better still, you can buy it online. Tamborine is a rare, stunning Australian liquor.
Type: Vodka, Schnapps, etc.
Alcohol Content: varies per product
Price: starts at $18 AUD
9. Bundaberg Rum
Alright, before you jump down our throats for including Queensland fightin’ juice on the list, stay with us while we justify why we’ve named Bundy as one of best Australian liquor brands. Sure, a few sugarcane champagnes (read: Bundy & co*kes) have caused dramas for all of us, if not least of all our heads the day after a big night on the turps, back we were just wee lads. The thing is: their Master Distillers Collection keeps winning huge awards – both locally and abroad. They’ve also donated huge amounts to disaster relief when Queensland has copped it rough. Keep a bottle of the good stuff with pride. Bundaberg Rum is quintessentially Australian liquor.
Type: Rum
Alcohol Content: 37% ABV
Price: starts at $40 AUD
10. Old Young’s
Old Young’s have already made a big splash, winning shared top-spot as Distillery of The Year at the 2017 Australian Distilled Spirits awards, for their flavoursome and quirky range of spirits, which they carefully craft in the Swan Valley, WA. Cold drip coffee, vodka and a selection of gins feature as a foundation for the line, but if you want to go all-out whacky, get stuck into their Pavlova vodka. Old Young’s is a hugely popular Australian liquor.
Type: Gin, Vodka
Alcohol Content: from 40% ABV
Price: starts at $65 AUD
11. Onyx Coffee Spirits
Based on NSW’s Central Coast, brothers Mitch and Matt Faulkner make a coffee liqueur, a coffee vodka, cold-drip co*cktail coffee and what we’ve unofficially dubbed an ‘Espresso MaRTD’ (yes, a pre-made espresso martini). They’ve also launched an espresso martini on tap, coming soon to a venue near you. Basically these dudes really love espresso martinis, and seeing as most people do, their goods are worth stocking up on.
Type: Coffee spirit
Alcohol Content: 20% ABV
Price: $42.50 AUD
You may also like:
Top 13 Australian Whiskies You Need to Try
16 Best Australian Gins for the Tonic of Your Dreams
Ice, Ice, Baby – How to Make the Perfect Ice Ball
General FAQ
What is the most popular alcohol in Australia?
The most popular alcoholic beverage in Australia is wine, beating beer and other spirits. However, the alcohol consumed the most by volume is beer.
What alcohol is made in Australia?
Just about every type of alcohol can be made in Australia. With about 120 distilleries, Australia produces whisky, gin, vodka, brandy, absinthe, and moonshine.
Alcohol, Australia, Brews and Bottles, Bundaberg Rum, co*cktails, Cognac
Joe Cutcliffe is a Sydney-based writer and editor with over five years of experience in the digital media industry. Formerly the editor of Man of Many, Joe is an accomplished copywriter and reporter, whose work has been featured in Penthouse.
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