Best Victorian Alcoholic Beverage Types
Rutherglen Muscat is a fortified dessert wine hailing from the Rutherglen wine region in North East Victoria. The wines are made from Muscat à Petits Grains Rouge—one of the red small-berried varieties belonging to the Muscat family that is usually called Brown Muscat or Rutherglen Brown Muscat.
These rich and luscious wines are a result of a unique climate and regional wine practices. The grapes are left longer on the wine because of stable, dry, and sunny weather, allowing sugar to become more concentrated. The wines are fortified to retain sugar and are then aged in wood using a solera system.
THE BEST Rutherglen Muscat Fortified Wines
De Bortoli Wines
Rutherglen Estate Red Shiraz-Durif 2018
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Gold 2020
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Death Flip is one of the so-called modern classics. This cocktail combines blanco tequila, yellow Chartreuse, Jägermeister, simple syrup, and a whole egg. The ingredients are shaken with ice and strained into a glass. Death Flip is usually served in a coupe glass.
The top is traditionally garnished with freshly grated nutmeg. The cocktail was created by Chris Hysted-Adams, a bartender at Black Pearl in Melbourne, Australia. It was first introduced in 2010. The name is a reference to flip cocktails—a 19th-century cocktail category that includes eggs, while the death part could be a reference to its potency.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Japanese Slipper is a cocktail made with a combination of equal parts Midori liqueur, Cointreau, and lemon juice. In order to prepare it, all ingredients should be shaken with ice, then strained into a cocktail glass with a single maraschino cherry on the bottom.
The cocktail is often garnished with a honeydew melon slice. This fruity drink was invented in 1984 by Jean-Paul Bourguignon, at the Mietta’s Restaurant in Melbourne.
Best Victorian Alcoholic Beverage Producers
Starward Whisky, founded in 2007 by David Vitale, is an Australian distillery located in Melbourne. The distillery is renowned for its innovative approach to whisky production, utilizing locally sourced ingredients and maturing its spirits in Australian red wine barrels.
This unique maturation process imparts distinctive flavors to their whiskies, reflecting the rich wine heritage of the region.
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023
NYWSC - New York World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2023
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2024
BEST Starward Spirits
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023
NYWSC - New York World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2023
USC- Ultimate Spirits Challenge - Top 100
2022
AWARDS
Bartender Spirits Awards - Double Gold
2023
BEST Aregak Brandy Factory Spirits
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2024
BEST Levenside Spirits
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024
BEST NED Australian Whisky Spirits
Westernport Distillery, established in 2018 by Gippsland Distilling Company, is a boutique craft distillery located in Blind Bight, on the scenic shores of Westernport Bay in Victoria, Australia. Founded by David McLeod and Scott Hooper, the distillery specializes in producing premium single malt whiskies.
Westernport Distillery is known for its meticulous, small-batch approach, ensuring each bottle reflects the highest quality and craftsmanship. The distillery takes pride in sourcing the finest malts and re-coopering antique barrels that have previously matured fortified wines for decades.
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024
BEST Westernport Single Malt Whisky Spirits
Itinerant Spirits is a distillery located in the historic "Goods Shed" building in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. They specialize in crafting high-quality gins, vodkas, and whiskies, using locally sourced ingredients and natural volcanic spring water from the region.
Their products, such as Gallivanter Gin and Vansetter Vodka, are renowned for their rich and balanced flavors, inspired by the spirit of travel and exploration. In addition to production, Itinerant Spirits offers visitors the chance to enjoy cocktails in their beautiful setting, participate in masterclasses, and explore the world of spirits through various events and experiences.
AWARDS
Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2020
Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2019
BEST Soumah Wines
Best Victorian Alcoholic Beverages
Starward Nova is an Australian single malt whisky crafted in Melbourne, known for its unique maturation process. Aged exclusively in red wine barrels from local wineries producing Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir, the barrels are used fresh—often still wet with wine—and only lightly charred or steamed.
This method allows the rich red wine flavors to impart a distinctive profile to the whisky.
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023
NYWSC - New York World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2023
The World Whiskey Masters - Master
2023
Starward Tawny #2 is an exceptional single malt whisky crafted by Starward Distillery in Melbourne, Australia, and is part of a limited edition series that showcases the unique influence of tawny (port) fortified wine casks. Fully matured in both fresh and charred Australian tawny casks, this whisky draws richly from the wood, bringing a complexity of flavors distinctive to the region’s wine tradition.
On the nose, Tawny #2 reveals tropical aromas alongside dried raisins and a touch of toasted oak. The palate offers a rich combination of brown sugar, caramel, and notes of dried fruits, layered with hints of spice and wood influence from the tawny barrels.
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023
The World Whiskey Masters - Gold
2023
The World Whiskey Masters - Master & Taste Master
2022
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023
Starward Single Barrel Pour and Sip Whisky is an Australian single malt whisky that showcases the country’s unique approach to whisky making. This expression is matured in a single barrel, allowing for a distinctive, rich flavor profile with notes of ripe fruits, caramel, and a hint of spice.
The whisky is known for its smooth, rounded mouthfeel and complex layers, with hints of oak and vanilla complementing the fruity sweetness.
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024
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