‘For spirits lovers, not experts’: Dan Murphy’s adds value picks to second annual Decoded Spirits Awards

Dan Murphy’s Decoded Spirits Awards are back for the second year running, with a program that everyone can understand and afford, today revealing 19 winners from more than 457 entries.

No matter your budget, your taste, or your cocktail of choice, the 14-strong panel of experts have blind tasted and identified the best of the best. And for the first time this year, judges have introduced a value pick across the 19 categories, ensuring customers shopping at all price points can participate in the campaign.

Dan Murphy’s Spirits Assistant Category Manager and Decoded Spirits judge Dom Patterson said this year’s awards were all about ditching the jargon and serving the best spirits from around the world, straight up.

“We are delighted to see the Decoded Spirits Awards enter their second year, as they are an important way to continue to demystify what is an incredibly exciting, yet sometimes overwhelming category for our customers,” he said.

“While all this year’s winning products represent exceptional value for money, it is fantastic to be able to showcase the best value options within each judging category too, so there really are options to suit all tastes and budgets.”

Australian Gins remain extremely popular with customers, and the category is well-represented by products from right across the country. This year saw a 50% increase in the number of Australian Gins submitted for judging.

The award for the Australian Gin category was taken out by Seven Seasons Green Ant Gin - a testament to the innovation of Australian distillers, using native botanicals and unique ingredients to stand out from the crowd.

Daniel Motlop, one of the founders of Seven Seasons is a legend of the Australian Football League, and an indigenous food entrepreneur. He has created a sustainable family business that passes down the knowledge of positive aboriginal culture and traditional methods of harvesting.  

“Our family is very honoured to win an amazing award especially within Australia. We started as a small harvesting business that wanted to help teach everyday Australians about the abundance of native foods we have right on our doorstep. Winning this award helps us showcase our amazing ingredients and our story of the seven seasons as well as the Green Ant Gin,” Motlop said.

The Australian Whisky category also continues to grow, with sales up over 20% on last year. The range of products submitted this year highlights the breadth of options now available to whisky enthusiasts across a range of price points.

The other notable category in this year’s Decoded Spirits Awards is Agave, which saw twice the number of submissions compared to last year.

“This reflects the growing number of options available across Blanco, Reposados and Anejos styles, as well as in the mezcal segment,” Dom added.

And at a time when customers are increasingly looking for value when they shop, to celebrate this year’s Decoded Spirits Award winners, My Dan’s members will have exclusive access to a spend for rewards offer. On Decoded award winning products, My Dan’s members can spend over $70 and get $5 off, spend over $120 and get $10 off, and spend over $200 and get $20 off.  

Dan Murphy’s Decoded Wine Awards will also return this September for the fourth year in a row. A few months later than previous years, holding the Decoded Wine Awards in September means the judges will have access to newer vintages.

Dan Murphy’s Managing Director Agi Pfeiffer-Smith said the Decoded Awards are a key part of making options across all categories accessible for customers - and most importantly - easy for them to understand.

“As the Decoded Spirits Awards enter their second year, and the Decoded Wine Awards enter their fourth year, we are so pleased to be able to celebrate these categories, and the amazing suppliers who continue to make the drinks discovery journey exciting and enjoyable for our customers.

“Congratulations to all the winners and finalists in this year’s Decoded Spirits Awards, and we look forward to bringing you the Decoded Wine Awards in just a few short months.”

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The full list of winners and value picks in the 2023 Dan Murphy’s Decoded Spirits Awards can be found here.

Category: Whisk(e)y - Australian

Winner: Lark Classic Cask Single Malt Australian Whiskey 500ml $189.90

Verdict: Lark is considered the brand that launched the Australian micro-distiller trend. An absolute classic and must-try for lovers of Australian Whiskey. This release from Australia’s oldest single malt distillery. A full-flavoured whiskey with malt, dry cacao, light-toasted oak, and stewed pears. Rich and rewarding.

Value Pick: 78 Degrees Australian Whiskey 700ml $90

Category: Whisk(e)y - North American

Winner: High West Distillery American Prairie Bourbon Whiskey 700ml $99.90

Verdict: A genuine American bourbon rich in dried apple, baking spice, and oak. A true top-shelf spirit that has all the flavour you could imagine in a dessert.

Value Pick: Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey 700ml $82.90

Category: Whisk(e)y - World

Winner: Proper No. Twelve Blended Irish Whiskey 1L $80.90

Verdict: A proper Irish whiskey. An ultra-smooth blend with light grain and oak notes. Single malt, so it comes from a single barrel, and best neat or over ice.

Value Pick: Redbreast 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey 700ml $109.90

Category: Whisk(e)y - Scotch

Winner: Scotch Aberlour 12 Year Old Double Cask Single Malt Scotch Whiskey 1L $129.90

Verdict: An award winner from way back. This double cask single malt comes from Scotland, and at over a decade old, it has a rich flavour and lovely mouthfeel (that’s code for how it sits in the mouth).  

Value Pick: Glenfiddich Fire & Cane Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700ml $98.90

Category: Rum - Australian

Winner: Hoochery Distillery Ord River Rum $87.90

Verdict: Mellow, smooth and a touch of sweetness with notes of brown sugar.

Value Pick: Beenleigh Handcrafted Double Cask Rum $52.90

Category: Rum - International

Winner: Appleton Estate Signature Blend Jamaica Rum $57.90

Verdict: Balanced, subtle flavours, soft texture with notes of caramel and molasses.

Value Pick: Santisima Trinidad 15 Year Old Cuban Rum $109.90

Category: Rum - Spiced

Winner: Rockstar Spirits Banana Bomb Navy Strength Spiced Rum $67.90

Verdict: This one’s got layers. A mix of vanilla oak, pineapple, and banana that lingers with a cinnamon bite. If you ever wanted to get into rum, your time is now.

Value Pick: Dead Mans Fingers Coffee Rum $51.90

Category: Agave - Tequila

Winner: Patron Reposado Tequila $99.90

Verdict:  Handcrafted from 100% weber blue agave (the good stuff), Patron’s Reposado Tequila strikes the right balance. Perfect neat or in a paloma cocktail.

Value Pick: Cazadores Anejo Tequila $84.90

Category: Agave - Mezcal

Winner: Del Maguey Vida Mezcal 750ml $99.90

Verdict: Mezcal is a category that continues to grow in popularity in the Australian drinks scene. Coming from the agave family, much like tequila, mezcal typically has a much smokier flavour than tequila. This mezcal is a must-try for anyone looking to stay at the forefront of trends in the drinks industry.

Value Pick: Peloton De La Muerte Espadin Mezcal 700ml $69.90

Category: Aperitifs & Digestifs

Winner: Sofi Aperitivo Blood Orange & Bitters 750ml $25.90

Verdict: Backing it up to take out honours in this category for the second year in a row, Sofi is Australian-owned and operated. From humble beginnings at the Bondi Farmers Markets in 2013, Sofi were the first Australian start-up to receive funding on the television show Shark Tank.

Value Pick: Luxardo Bitter Rosso 700ml $34.90

Category: Vodka - Australian

Winner: 78 Degrees Australian Vodka 700ml $59.90

Verdict: Well balanced with clean, peppery, subtle notes.

Value Pick: White Light Vodka Original 700ml $44.90

Category: Vodka - International

Winner: Ciroc Vodka 750ml $79.99

Verdict: A modern vodka distilled from the finest French grapes. Clean and silky with light citrus notes and a peppery finish. Serve it neat, on the rocks, or shaken into your favourite cocktail.

Value Pick: Vestal Vodka 700ml $52.90

Category: Pre-batched Cocktails

Winner: Curatif Amaretto Sour Cans 4-pack $49.9

Verdict: It took over a year for Curatif and Bar Bambi to perfect this collaboration cocktail. The first sip is all almond, and then brace yourself for its lemon sour zing. And get all of that in a can.

Value Pick: Campari Negroni 500ml $49.90

Category: Gin - Australian

Winner: Seven Seasons Green Ant Gin 700ml $88

Verdict:  The name says it all. Traditionally favoured by indigenous societies for their medicinal benefits and protein content, native green ants are a unique bush tucker hand harvested in the Northern Territory by the Motlop family of the Larrakia people. This is a gin armed with surprises. Well-rounded and spirited, it comes bursting with pine, makrut lime, and coriander. Delicious.

Value Pick: Tread Softly Dry Gin 700ml $59.90

Category: Gin - International

Winner: Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin 500ml $90.90

Verdict: With a whopping 47 botanicals, there’s no shortage of flavour. Citrus, floral and bitter notes jumped out at us, but somehow, it all comes together nicely.

Value Pick: Mars Iwai Wa Bi Gin 700ml $139.90

Category: Gin - Coloured & Sloe

Winner: Ginato Pompelmo Gin 700ml $63.90

Verdict: Distilled from Italy’s finest grapes and botanicals, it bursts with blood orange brightness. With citrus notes and a delightful finish, it’s made to be enjoyed in the sunshine.

Value Pick: La Plancheliere Pink Gin 700ml $44.90

Category: Brandy & Cognac

Winner: St Agnes XO 15 Year Old Brandy 700ml $119.90

Verdict: Blended well with beautifully balanced flavours of cedar oil, oak, fig, raisins and orange and a lingering finish.

Value Pick: Hennessy VSOP Privilege Cognac 700ml $114.90

Category: Liqueurs

Winner: Baileys Espresso Creme 700ml $37.90

Verdict: Beautifully balanced, simple. Creamy notes and subtle coffee flavour.

Value Pick: Cello Liqueur Passioncello 375ml $40.90

Category: Non-alc

Winner: Gordons 0% Gin 700ml $31.90

Verdict: Backing it up as the winner in the non-alc category for the second year, Gordons Gin is known for its distinctive and refreshing taste. A zesty mix of citrus, lime and notes of pine. Now you can enjoy that - minus the alcohol.

Value Pick: Brunswick Aces Spades Sapiir 700ml $49.90