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By Archie Rose

Archie Rose Single Malt Whisky Wins Gold at the IWSC

Archie Rose is proud to announce that our Single Malt Whisky has been awarded a prestigious Gold Medal and a phenomenal 95-point score at the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) held in London. To receive such high-level recognition from one of the world's most venerated tasting panels reaffirms our Single Malt as a world-class spirit of the highest calibre.

The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) represents the absolute pinnacle of global spirits judging. Operating as a blind-tasting competition chaired strictly by independent industry experts, the IWSC sets an incredibly high bar for quality. Every entry is meticulously scored out of 100 points, meaning a 95-point Gold Medal is a profound quantitative trust signal. For a bottle to earn this distinction, it must display exceptional character, balance, and complexity, proving that Australian distilling can confidently lead the global stage.

Sweeping a major gold category on this platform is a testament to the unique maturation conditions of Sydney and the uncompromised quality of our locally sourced grains.

Our Single Malt Whisky is a true labour of love that intentionally breaks the traditional mold. While most conventional single malts rely on just one or two varieties of malted barley, our expression uniquely utilises six distinct specialty malts, with each individual grain contributing a specific layer of complexity to the spirit.

On behalf of our Master Distiller, Dave Withers, we invite you to explore the rich, carefully structured nuances of this award-winning dram:

"On the nose, our Single Malt immediately offers sun-dried apricots, preserved peaches, and handmade honeycomb, laced beautifully with sultanas. A second pass yields muesli, roasted nuts, and chalk, while the background teases lurking cacao and dark chocolate. On the palate, a soft entry and syrupy texture delivers an unctuous, velvety mouthfeel. The prominent sweetness of sultanas is perfectly balanced by the dryness delivered from the malt, making way for bold flavours of amaretto and espresso that build the intensity to a magnificent crescendo before evolving into a satisfyingly dry finish with a whisper of smoke."

Product Specifications

ABV: 46%

The Six-Malt Mash Bill: Pale Malt (La Trobe, VIC), Amber Malt (NSW), Caramel Malt (La Trobe, VIC), Aromatic Roasted Malt, Chocolate Malt (NSW), and a hint of Peated Malt.

Aging Process: Matured predominantly in 100L, 200L, and 300L toasted and charred Australian Apera (Sherry) casks, complemented by a selection of ex-bourbon and Archie Rose’s own 36-month air-dried ex-rye casks.

The Toasting Factor: Unlike standard industry charring, our casks are coopered with a specific balance of both char and toast. The lower heat and longer duration of the toasting process penetrates deeper into the oak, offering an entirely different level of complexity.

Single Malt Whisky

Single Malt Whisky

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