Aussie whiskey distillers win prestigious int'l awards

Xinhua

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Tasmanian whisky distillers are making their mark on the world after winning more accolades at the World Whiskies Awards in London overnight.

Tasmanian whisky pioneer Bill Lark was inducted into the Hall of Fame and local distillery Sullivans Cove was named the best craft distillery off UK shores, a year after it won the world's best single malt category.

Lark is just the seventh person outside of the United Kingdom to receive the honor, and the first from the southern hemisphere.

Meanwhile, Sullivans Cove owner Patrick Maguire said the results reflected the quality and growing reputation of Tasmanian whiskies.

"This has told me that the outside world and the giants of the whisky distilling industry have accepted what we're doing and to me that's a mind-blowing thing," Maguire said on Friday.

"I thought it would take many, many more years before we got to this level."

The Tasmanian whisky industry only dates back to 1992, when Bill Lark noticed the conditions and climate in Tasmania were perfect for creating the liquor.

"(There are) rich fields of barley, an abundance of wonderfully pure soft water, highland peat bogs and the perfect climate to bring all the ingredients together in a marriage of science, art and passion," he said.

Tasmania is home to 11 operating distilleries, with four more expected open in coming years, but the supply of the product cannot keep up with the current demand, such is the reputation of Tasmanian whisky.

Lark said these two awards would only increase the awareness of fine Australian whisky throughout the world.

"I really see that Tasmania has taken its place on the world stage," he said.

"It's certainly an award that I'm very proud to have received, but I really believe this will have a huge impact on the Tasmanian whisky industry and Tasmania in general."