Leading whisky distillery Amber Lane, in the Yarramalong Valley, is now one of the most decorated whisky distilleries in Australia, after taking out the Champion Small Batch spirit trophy at the 2024 Royal Australian Spirits Awards (RASA).
The distillery received the award – one of just two major trophies of the competition – at an award ceremony in Adelaide on Friday, October 4.
The Best Small Batch trophy recognises the best small-batch spirit across the entire competition, spanning multiple spirit categories.
Amber Lane’s Apera 100 received the Best Cask Strength Whisky medallion, while its Alchemical Series – Fire and Silk Road expressions, came second and third respectively in the cask strength category.
The distillery also notched up gold medals for Alchemical Series – Air and Apera 100, along with silver awards for Alchemical Series – Water, Earth and Fire, Pineau 350 and Silk Road.
This is Amber Lane’s second consecutive stellar year at the RASA following last year’s gold medals for its Silk Road and Noble Lane expressions, which also took out the category winner award.
The RASA aims to celebrate the success of the nation’s ever-growing craft spirits industry.
This year, judges blind-tasted 156 entries from both a technical and consumer appreciation perspective, noting each spirit’s appearance, aroma, flavour, and overall impression.
The award wins take Amber Lane’s 2024 gold medal haul to 10, including the champion trophy for the best Single Malt Whisky at the inaugural Sydney Royal Distilled Show, Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and Australia’s equal best single malt at the International Wine and Spirits Competition.
Amber Lane Distillery co-owner Rod Berry said they were overwhelmed with Amber Lane’s results at the 2024 RASA.
“To have our whisky named Best Small Batch Spirit means it has been recognised as the top spirit, across all spirit categories, in the competition – it’s an incredible honour,” he said.
“We are competing against some of the nation’s most iconic distilleries, who have been making spirits for decades, so it’s a testament to our whisky-making skills and the outstanding quality of whisky we’re producing.
“These awards take our gold medal tally for 2024 to 10 – we are now one of the most decorated whisky distilleries in the country and we’re just getting started.
“We’re proud of what we’ve achieved this year and we’re looking forward to what lies ahead on the Amber Lane journey.”
Amber Lane Distillery is one of Australia’s most awarded whisky producers.
The distillery has become renowned for its large premium barrels, longer maturation cycles and the careful application of principles learned from European distilling traditions.