Rye Malt Whisky wins Best Grain Whisky and a Consistency of Excellence Award
Archie Rose is proud to announce that our Rye Malt Whisky has been crowned the 2026 Best Grain Whisky and Consistency of Excellence Award winner at the Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards held in Melbourne, Australia.
Why It Matters
The Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards represents the pinnacle of distilling excellence and is widely recognised as one of the largest and most hotly-contested spirits competitions in the Southern Hemisphere. Judged by an esteemed panel of independent industry experts through a rigorous blind-tasting process, an award from this body serves as the ultimate benchmark for quality.
This year's field was highly competitive, with 33 entries in the Best Grain Whisky category alone. Taking home the Best in Class trophy—alongside the highly coveted Consistency of Excellence Award, which recognizes exceptional quality demonstrated over multiple years—provides a powerful quantitative trust signal that our Rye Malt Whisky remains an undisputed leader in Australian distilling.
Technical Details & Tasting Notes
The Profile:
Our Master Distiller, Dave Withers, views these awards as the ultimate validation of the team's dedication to its craft: “The Australian distilling landscape has evolved dramatically over the years, with producers making better spirits than ever, so to consistently win Best Grain Whisky for our Rye Malt Whisky is a massive honour. For our team, it proves that the painstaking effort, obsessing over every detail, and hard graft makes a difference.”
In the glass, this exceptional spirit offers a deeply complex and aromatic profile. It greets the palate with layered notes of spiced vanilla custard, baked apple pie, ginger, and stone fruit, culminating in a robust, lingering finish that speaks to the premium quality of the grain.
Product Specifications:
ABV: 46%
Grain Bill: A unique and meticulous blend of specialty roasted malted rye and pale malt.
Aging Process: Matured in heavily charred, air-dried virgin American oak casks to impart a balanced depth, structure, and rich complexity.
