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Awards & Recognition
Award-Winning Australian Whisky, Gin, Vodka, Wine & Liqueurs
Ancient Wisdom Distillery is an award-winning Australian distillery based in Pakenham, Victoria, producing Australian whisky, botanical gin, vodka and other distinctive spirits.
Since 2017, Ancient Wisdom has received more than 45 national and international awards and recognitions across whisky, gin, vodka, wine and liqueurs.
Our spirits have been recognised at competitions including the Australian International Spirits Awards, Australian Distilled Spirits Awards, Australian Gin Awards, Melbourne International Spirits Competition, Royal Australian Spirit Awards, Perth Royal Distilled Spirits Awards, Melbourne International Wine Competition, Women's Wine & Spirits Awards and China Wine & Spirits Awards.
Among our proudest achievements is being named Best Whisky Distillery of the Year at the Melbourne International Spirits Competition 2024.
From 8-year-old Australian single malt whisky matured in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Bourbon and Tawny Port casks to experimental Coffee and Chocolate Whiskies, botanical gin and Australian vodka, these awards reflect our continuing commitment to quality, experimentation, distinctive cask maturation and Australian distilling.
Major Distillery & Category Awards
Best Whisky Distillery of the Year – 2024
Melbourne International Spirits Competition
Best Whisky Distillery of the Year – Ancient Wisdom Distillery
This recognition was accompanied by individual medals for Ancient Wisdom's Chardonnay Barrel Whisky, Pinot Noir Barrel Whisky and Barrel Aged Gin.
Best Victorian Contemporary Gin – 2024
Australian Gin Awards
Best Victorian Contemporary Gin – Ancient Wisdom Dry Botanical Gin
Ancient Wisdom Dry Botanical Gin also received a Gold Medal at the 2024 Australian Gin Awards.
Australian Cream Liqueur of the Year – 2017
Melbourne International Spirits Competition
Australian Cream Liqueur of the Year – Fable Cream Liqueur
Best McLaren Vale Winery Award – 2019
Melbourne International Wine Competition
Best McLaren Vale Winery Award – Ancient Wisdom
2026 Awards
Australian International Spirits Awards 2026
Silver Medal – American Oak Pinot Barrel Whisky
Ancient Wisdom's American Oak Pinot Noir Cask Whisky combines extended whisky maturation with the red-fruit character of Pinot Noir-seasoned American oak.
Silver Medal – Bourbon Barrel Whisky
Our Bourbon Cask Whisky was recognised for its rich combination of malt, caramel, vanilla, molasses and toasted oak character.
Silver Medal – French Oak Chardonnay Barrel Whisky
Our French Oak Chardonnay Cask Whisky received Silver for its combination of orchard fruit, honey, citrus and creamy French oak character.
Silver Medal – Coffee Whisky
Ancient Wisdom Coffee Whisky, matured in barrels previously used for coffee extract, received Silver for its distinctive combination of whisky, roasted coffee and oak character.
Bronze Medal – Tawny Port Whisky
Our Tawny Port Cask Whisky received Bronze for its rich dried-fruit, caramel, molasses and dark-chocolate profile.
Bronze Medal – Chocolate Whisky
Ancient Wisdom Chocolate Whisky, matured in specially prepared cocoa-seasoned oak barrels, received Bronze for its distinctive cacao and whisky character.
2025 Awards
Australian & International Spirits Recognition 2025
Silver Medal – American Oak Pinot Barrel Whisky
Silver Medal – Bourbon Barrel Whisky
Bronze Medal – French Oak Chardonnay Barrel Whisky
Silver Medal – Dry Botanical Gin
Silver Medal – Reserve Vodka
These awards recognised Ancient Wisdom across three major spirit categories—Australian whisky, botanical gin and vodka.
2024 Awards
2024 marked one of the most significant years in Ancient Wisdom Distillery's history, with recognition across whisky and gin competitions.
Melbourne International Spirits Competition 2024
Best Whisky Distillery of the Year – Ancient Wisdom Distillery
Gold Medal – Chardonnay Barrel Whisky
Silver Medal – Pinot Noir Barrel Whisky
Bronze Medal – Barrel Aged Gin
Australian Gin Awards 2024
Best Victorian Contemporary Gin – Dry Botanical Gin
Gold Medal – Dry Botanical Gin
Bronze Medal – Barrel Aged Gin
Australian Distilled Spirits Awards 2024
Silver Medal – Chardonnay Barrel Whisky
Bronze Medal – Pinot Noir Barrel Whisky
Bronze Medal – Coffee Whisky
Bronze Medal – Dry Botanical Gin
Silver Medal – Barrel Aged Gin
2023 Awards
Australian Distilled Spirits Awards 2023
Silver Medal – Single Barrel Whisky
Bronze Medal – Chocolate Whisky
Silver Medal – Dry Botanical Gin
2022 Awards
Royal Australian Spirit Awards 2022
Silver Medal – Single Barrel Whisky
Silver Medal – Barrel Aged Gin
Australian Distilled Spirits Awards 2022
Bronze Medal – Winter Grain Vodka
Bronze Medal – Barrel Aged Gin
Bronze Medal – Single Barrel Whisky
2021 Awards
Australian Distilled Spirits Awards 2021
Bronze Medal – Winter Grain Vodka
Silver Medal – Malted Chocolate Whisky
Bronze Medal – Single Barrel Whisky
Silver Medal – Barrel Aged Gin
Perth Royal Distilled Spirits Awards 2021
Bronze Medal – Gin
2020 Awards
Australian Gin Awards 2020
Silver Medal – Barrel Aged Gin
2019 Awards
Melbourne International Wine Competition 2019
Best McLaren Vale Winery Award – Ancient Wisdom
Double Gold – Ancient Wisdom Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, McLaren Vale – 96 Points
Double Gold – Ancient Wisdom Shiraz 2016, McLaren Vale – 96 Points
2018 Awards
Women's Wine & Spirits Awards 2018
Gold Medal – Fable Cream Liqueur
Double Gold – Celeste Noir
China Wine & Spirits Awards 2018
Gold Medal – Celeste Noir
Double Gold – Fable
2017 Awards
Melbourne International Spirits Competition 2017
Australian Cream Liqueur of the Year – Fable Cream Liqueur
Gold Medal – Fable Cream Liqueur
Silver Medal – Celeste Noir
Award-Winning Australian Whisky
Whisky has become one of the most recognised parts of the Ancient Wisdom portfolio.
Our Australian whiskies have received medals across multiple expressions and cask styles, including:
French Oak Chardonnay Cask Whisky
Gold, Silver and Bronze medal recognition across major Australian spirits competitions.
American Oak Pinot Noir Cask Whisky
Multiple Silver and Bronze medals for our Pinot Noir-influenced Australian whisky.
Bourbon Cask Whisky
Multiple Silver medals at the Australian International Spirits Awards.
Tawny Port Cask Whisky
Bronze Medal at the Australian International Spirits Awards 2026.
Coffee Whisky
Silver Medal at the Australian International Spirits Awards 2026 and Bronze at the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards 2024.
Chocolate Whisky
Recognition spanning 2021 to 2026, including Silver and Bronze medals.
Together, these expressions demonstrate Ancient Wisdom's approach to Australian whisky: extended maturation, distinctive cask selection and experimentation with flavour through oak.
Award-Winning Australian Gin
Ancient Wisdom's gin range has also received extensive competition recognition.
Our Dry Botanical Gin was named Best Victorian Contemporary Gin at the Australian Gin Awards 2024 and received a Gold Medal at the same competition.
The gin has also received medals at the Australian International Spirits Awards and Australian Distilled Spirits Awards.
Our Barrel Aged Gin has received recognition across multiple years and competitions, including the Australian Gin Awards, Melbourne International Spirits Competition, Australian Distilled Spirits Awards and Royal Australian Spirit Awards.
These awards reflect two different approaches to gin—one focused on aromatic botanicals including green cardamom, black cardamom and fennel, and another exploring the complexity created through extended oak maturation.
Award-Winning Australian Vodka
Ancient Wisdom Reserve Vodka received a Silver Medal at the Australian International Spirits Awards 2025.
Earlier expressions of our Winter Grain Vodka received Bronze Medals at the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards in 2021 and 2022.
Our Reserve Vodka is produced using Australian winter-grown wheat and Blue Mountains spring water before being triple-distilled and carefully filtered through silver and heavily charred oak.
Our Approach to Australian Distilling
Awards are important to us, but they are ultimately recognition of something more fundamental: the way we make our spirits.
Ancient Wisdom Distillery combines traditional distilling principles with an experimental approach to cask maturation, botanical extraction and flavour development.
Our whisky program explores barrels previously used for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Bourbon and Tawny Port alongside unconventional coffee and cocoa-seasoned casks.
Our gin program explores distinctive Australian contemporary botanical profiles as well as extended barrel maturation.
Our vodka program focuses on Australian grain, water quality, careful distillation and refinement.
Across every category, the objective remains the same:
Create Australian spirits with genuine character, a clear sense of identity and flavours worth remembering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ancient Wisdom Distillery an award-winning Australian distillery?
Yes. Ancient Wisdom Distillery has received more than 45 national and international awards and recognitions across whisky, gin, vodka, wine and liqueurs since 2017.
Where is Ancient Wisdom Distillery located?
Ancient Wisdom Distillery is based in Pakenham, Victoria, Australia, southeast of Melbourne.
Has Ancient Wisdom won awards for Australian whisky?
Yes. Ancient Wisdom whiskies have received numerous Gold, Silver and Bronze medals across major spirits competitions.
Ancient Wisdom Distillery was also named Best Whisky Distillery of the Year at the Melbourne International Spirits Competition 2024.
Which Ancient Wisdom whisky has won a Gold Medal?
Ancient Wisdom's Chardonnay Barrel Whisky received a Gold Medal at the Melbourne International Spirits Competition 2024.
The French Oak Chardonnay expression has also received Silver and Bronze recognition at other Australian spirits competitions.
Has Ancient Wisdom Gin won awards?
Yes. Ancient Wisdom Dry Botanical Gin was named Best Victorian Contemporary Gin at the Australian Gin Awards 2024 and received a Gold Medal at the same competition.
Ancient Wisdom Barrel Aged Gin has also received multiple medals across several Australian spirits competitions.
Has Ancient Wisdom Vodka won awards?
Yes. Ancient Wisdom Reserve Vodka received a Silver Medal at the Australian International Spirits Awards 2025.
Winter Grain Vodka also received Bronze Medals at the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards in 2021 and 2022.
What is Ancient Wisdom's most significant whisky award?
One of the distillery's most significant recognitions was being named Best Whisky Distillery of the Year at the Melbourne International Spirits Competition 2024.
What spirits does Ancient Wisdom Distillery produce?
Ancient Wisdom produces a range of Australian spirits including single malt whisky, Coffee Whisky, Chocolate Whisky, botanical gin, barrel-aged gin and Reserve Vodka.
The distillery is particularly known for experimenting with distinctive cask maturation, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Bourbon, Tawny Port, coffee and cocoa-seasoned barrels.