Lark dominates inaugural Royal Tasmanian Whisky Awards
Lark’s Wilderness Collection: Sea 08 - Antarctic Edge has dominated the inaugural Royal Tasmanian Whisky & Spirits Awards, outperforming 160 whiskies to claim four of the five trophies open to the category, including Best Overall Whisky in Show.
The eighth and final edition in the distillery’s Sea Chapter series, Antarctic Edge is a single malt made from a single ex-Bourbon cask as a tribute to the frozen frontier from which it gets its name. The cask yielded just 235 bottles, each bottled at 54% ABV and retailing for $650.
In addition to the Best Overall Whisky title, Lark also received trophies for Best Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky, Best Tasmanian Whisky, and Best Single Malt Whisky. The final trophy for the category for – Best Other Whisky – was awarded to Hellyers Road Peated 7 Year Old.
Lark CEO Stuart Gregor said: “To win the top trophy at a competition judged here in Tasmania, by an international panel, in its first year, is about as good as it gets for us. Tasmania is making whisky that stands up anywhere in the world, and these awards finally give it a stage at home.”
Lark received a $10,000 cash prize for its Best in Show win, which it will direct evenly towards two initiatives, with $5,000 to go towards Antarctic research and $5,000 to establish a professional development bursary for one of its whisky makers, supporting the opportunity to travel and study abroad.
Despite whisky dominating entries into the inaugural Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania awards, with 160 versus 88 for other spirits, more Gold Medals were awarded to the latter.
Leading the gold medal tally count for whisky was New South Wales distillery Amber Lane, with four of the 19 whisky Golds, including for two of its core range whiskies Equinox and Liquid Amber.
"We’re overwhelmed with the results," said co-owner Rod Berry. “Tasmania has long been associated with premium Australian whisky. Its industry has really flourished over the past decade, with a cool climate suited to long-term barrel ageing, and many iconic whisky brands emerging. It’s been difficult to gauge how mainland Australian distilleries, like ours, compare against some of the major Tasmanian producers, so this competition was a chance to see how we measure up."
The full medal results can be viewed online here.
