23rd Street Distillery's award winning whisky

23rd Street Distillery has just taken out major international awards for not one, but two of their whiskies. The Australian Whisky and Single Malt have been awarded Gold and Double Gold respectively at the 2025 New York International Spirits Competition, meaning they're so good they might just make you weep gently into your Glencairn.

First up is the Australian Whisky, a golden tribute to Riverland’s sun-drenched brilliance and three years of alchemy involving premium barley, yeast, and sheer determination.

Paul Burnett, head distiller at 23rd Street, says, “The stunning climate of the Riverland allows gradual development and ensures an ideal environment for maturation in carefully selected barrels”.

Matured for a minimum of two years in American oak, this spirit is like an Aussie Road trip in a glass: starting with zesty citrus spice, stopping for roasted nuts and raisins, and finishing strong with vanilla-soaked toffee and a subtle nod to dark chocolate.

There's even a hint of sweet nostalgia thanks to the seasoned Tawny barrels used in the blend. Drink it on ice with scorched almonds and Grana Padano if you're feeling fancy. Or just sit back, sip, and smile knowingly at the poor souls still drinking bottom-shelf blends.

Now, let’s talk about the second drop, the Single Malt, because this one’s for the whisky purists and oak nerds. Only the crème de la crème (aka the “purest heart’s fractions”) makes it into the bottle, matured lovingly in a mix of American and French oak barriques, first-fill bourbon barrels, ancient Topaque and 25-year-old Galway Tawny casks. It’s rich. It’s rare. And it’s rocking a 46% ABV, just to keep you on your toes.

Paul says, “A few months prior to bottling, we transfer a few of the Whiskies’ bases into newer, shaved barrels to increase the nuances of vanilla and delicate oak structure”.

So that’s why you can expect layers of barley malt, creamy spice, polished oak, and a lingering vanilla hum that’ll make you forget what you did in the morning every time you take a sip.

Bottled without colouring (because it’s already beautiful, thanks), the Single Malt is a bold expression of everything 23rd Street does best: balance and complexity.

To sum it up, there are two whiskies. One distillery (that won Australian Whiskey Distillery of the year at the same awards, might we add). And zero excuses not to pour yourself a dram right now.