The Winners

Australian Drinks Awards 2021

BRAND AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Now in its ninth year, the Australian Drinks Awards recognises, encourages and celebrates excellence in the Australian drinks industry.

These awards are divided into two categories, Fan Favourite and Gaining in Popularity, and are determined by research undertaken by Thrive Insight via a survey of over 4,000 target consumers.

Thirty-five brand awards are distributed across Beer, Cider, Wine, Spirits and RTDs categories. This year, for the first time, there is a Fan Favourite Non-Alcoholic Award in each beverage category.

Thrive Insights’ Director, Chris Papadimitriou said, “The Fan Favourite award is a prestigious award as it encompasses both brand and loyalty metrics to crown the most beloved brands across Beer, Cider, Wine, Spirits and RTDs.”

Mr Papadimitriou observed that this year brand affinity has increased making the Fan Favourite awards more closely contested than ever.

The 2021 Contribution to Industry winners will be announced at the Drinks Association’s International Women’s Day event in March next year while the Supplier Awards were announced virtually in August.

The last Australian Drinks’ Brand Awards were announced in 2019. There were none awarded last year due to the pandemic.

AND THE WINNERS ARE…

BEER

CLASSIC XXXX Gold

CONTEMPORARY Great Northern Original

PREMIUM Heineken

CRAFT James Squire One Fifty Lashes

NON-ALCOHOLIC BEER Heineken 0.0

CIDER

CLASSIC Somersby

NON-ALCOHOLIC Bilpin

Bilpin Cider Co is delighted to have been recognised as the ADA Fan Favourite in the N/A Cider segment. The award validates our recognition of this evolving category and the work that we have done with the brand. Our range has expanded to five varieties and our offering is underpinned by using only freshly crushed fruit. We have developed a marketing campaign called “Find Your Free” that promotes the brands features and benefits of free from alcohol, gluten, added sugar and artificial flavours” said Sean Prendergast, the owner of Bilpin Cider Co. Sean Prendergast

– Owner, Bilpin

FAN FAVOURITE CATEGORY WINNERS

RTD

DARK Jack Daniel’s Double Jack & Cola

WHITE Vodka Cruiser Original

We’re immensely proud Vodka Cruiser has won the Light RTD fan favourite award for the third year in a row – it just shows the continued love consumers have for the brand, and its cultural relevance with young Australians has never been stronger. Our thanks to the Cruiser community! Michael Ritoli.

- General Manager - CUB Premium Beverages.

NON-ALCOHOLIC Seedlip Spice 94 & Grapefruit Tonic

SPIRIT

DARK Jack Daniel’s

White Smirnoff

This is so exciting – thank you! Smirnoff really is a beloved powerhouse, and this recognition is important as we continue to focus our efforts in delivering not only a great product but one that supports its community and fans. Our upcoming ‘Ads for Artists’ campaign will shine a light on this; more to

come soon. – Maddy Stockwell, Diageo Australia Marketing Manager Light Spirits.

APERITIFS/LIQUEURS Baileys

The Baileys fan club has spoken - and what fantastic news! Baileys is the world’s most loved spirits brand, with a huge and loyal fan base, and this recognition really underlines its popularity here in Australia. We love the brand; it’s a truly versatile and indulgent liquid, lending itself to some fantastic recent innovations. Thank you for your ongoing support.

– Maddy Stockwell, Diageo Australia Marketing Manager Light Spirits.

NON-ALCOHOLIC Seedlip Spice 94

As the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirit, this is fantastic news for Seedlip. We are proud to be working with the founder Ben Branson to continue to build the Seedlip brand. I would like to recognise and thank the team at Think Spirits for the fantastic job they did building the brand in Australia up until July this year.

- Jonathan Morgan, Diageo Head of Reserve Brands Australia.

WINE

RED Penfolds

WHITE Oyster Bay

ROSÉ Jacob’s Creek

SPARKLING Brown Brothers

CHAMPAGNE Moët & Chandon

Non-Alcoholic McGuigan Zero Rosé

From our FAN FAVOURITE Sponsor

The Fan Favourite Awards are sponsored by Manildra Group. Head of Ethanol, Debbie Forster said, “The Fan Favourite award is an immense honour, celebrating a brand that consumers ‘most like to be seen with’. It recognises a brand that undoubtedly has excelled in innovation and resonated with fans across Australia.”

AUTHENTIC, PREMIUM, PRESTIGE

Premium Collection by Brown Family Wine Group is a curated range of current, limited release and back vintage wines, accessible to some of the best wine lists and limited release and back vintage wines, accessible to some of the best wine lists and progressive retail across the country. This wine portfolio includes Tasmanian Pinot Noir progressive retail across the country. This wine portfolio includes Tasmanian Pinot Noir producer Tamar Ridge, award winning sparkling house, Pirie, select cool climate Yarra Valley wines from Innocent Bystander, highly acclaimed, Resolution & Hazard ranges from Devils Corner and Brown Brothers Iconic range of Patricia wines.

Our commitment to quality is unwavering, and our passion is to share the very best award-winning premium wines we produce. Over the years we have invested in increased capability and innovation to enhance our wines throughout our viticultural regions of Tasmania, the Yarra Valley, Heathcote and the King Valley.

Don’t just take our word for this – here’s what the critics have been saying about our wines

• Pirie NV Chardonnay Pinot Noir - Gold, Tasmanian Wine Show 2021 (class 3)

• Brown Brothers - Five Stars 2022

Halliday Wine Companion

• Tamar Ridge Reserve Pinot Noir 2019 – Gold, Decanter World Wine

Awards 2021 • 2020 Winemaker of the Year,

Cate Looney, Brown Family

Wine Group – Australian Women in Wine Awards

• Pinot Noir Producer of the Year -

Tasmania Wine Show 2021 – Brown

Family Wine Group • Devils Corner Mt Amos Pinot Noir 2019, Gold, Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2021 (class 37)

• Brown Brothers Premium Prosecco,

Trophy, Best Australian Sparkling,

Rutherglen Wine

Show 2021

For more information please contact your Premium Collection – Key Account Manager

BRISBANE Janenne Page

0479 195 980

SYDNEY Ben Hallett

0466 920 629

GAINING IN POPULARITY CATEGORY WINNERS

BEER

CLASSIC Victoria Bitter

CONTEMPORARY Byron Bay Premium Lager

PREMIUM Asahi Super Dry

CRAFT Brick Lane Pale Ale

CIDER

CLASSIC Young Henry’s

C.C. Soda. Lime.

RTD

DARK Brookvale Union Spice Rum & Ginger Beer

WHITE White Claw Hard Seltzer

SPIRITS

DARK Dead Man’s Fingers

WHITE Giniversity

APERITIFS/LIQUEURS Hellfire

WINE

RED Elephant in the Room

WHITE 19 Crimes

ROSÉ Bird in Hand

SPARKLING Squealing Pig

CHAMPAGNE Veuve Clicquot

From our GAINING IN POPULARITY Sponsor

IRI returned as the sponsor of the Gaining in Popularity category again this year and Marketing Director, Chelsey Peace said, “We are delighted to sponsor the Australian Drinks Awards ‘Gaining in Popularity’ category. At IRI, an organisation dedicated to helping brands to drive growth through enhanced understanding of consumer behaviour and the broader market, this category is about recognising and celebrating the brands that do this the best.”

“The past year has been a year like no other and at IRI we are pleased to see so many wonderful brands in contention this year, from well-known household brands through to new market entrants. This year’s awards show us that innovation, insights, agility and action are alive and well and have helped so many drinks businesses to not only survive over the last year, but to thrive. Well done.”

LAWRENNY ESTATE DISTILLERY

PASSION, PURITY AND PROVENANCE.

Nestled deep in the Central Highlands of Tasmania, Lawrenny Estate is 400 acres of family-owned farmland renowned for producing some of the finest spirits, including award-winning gins, vodka, whisky and liqueurs.

But behind the estate lies history as rich as its fertile soil. Lawrenny is unique. A place to be discovered. And so is its story.

THE STORY STARTS IN THE SOIL

For over 200 years, generations of families have labored this land, passing down stories of colorful characters, colonial cattle, and bountiful wheat fields, barley and hops.

Once one of the largest private landholdings of the state comprising over 80,000 acres, the fertile fields and abundant water supplies produced some of the best stocks in Australia.

RETURNING TO ITS FORMER GLORY

The Mace Family took over the once majestic estate in 1991, returning the property to its former glory of luscious gardens, fertile pastures, and cattle among the finest in the world.

But with the prospect of retirement from farming for owner Ross, a family dinner led to discussions of what was next for the much-adored family property. With the fertile soils, the perfect climate, and the River Derwent’s pure waters, the family agreed that the farm could provide all the natural ingredients required to make beautiful premium spirits.

Lawrenny Estate house built in 1883

Distillery founders Cameron Mace, Ross Mace and Jensen Farley

A NEW CHAPTER IN THE LAWRENNY ESTATE STORY

In 2016, the decision to diversify was made. The land was turned and graded, converting paddocks into fields, and the old Dutch Barn was converted into a modern distillery and cellar door. Fast forward to 2021, and the Mace family is committed to delivering products that truly reflect the premium surroundings of Lawrenny. The majority of barley used in the production of their single malt whisky is grown on the property then mashed on site, several botanicals used in their gins can be found across the estate and the water used in every bottle is sourced from the river that flows meters past the distillery doors.

The result is award-winning spirits that embody the passion, purity and provenance that only Lawrenny Estate can offer.