Blackwood Valley Distillery and Black Cockatoo Distillery honoured at Perth Royal Distilled Spirits Awards

Two Bridgetown distilleries have been recognised for their high-quality products at the 2024 Perth Royal Distilled Spirits Awards. Blackwood Valley Distillery and Black Cockatoo Distillery both won medals in this year’s competition, which was held at Claremont Showgrounds earlier this month. It was Blackwood Valley who was the big winner in the region, taking out silver medals for its Grounded Gin and Apple Liqueur, and bronze for its Cripps Pink Gin and Chestnut Liqueur. Distillery co-founder David Christie said it was motivating to receive such a range of medals. “We obviously like what we make, otherwise we wouldn’t make it, but to get that validation from the wider industry is fantastic,” he said. The distillery, based out of The Cidery on Gifford Road, started during the COVID-19 pandemic with the Grounded Gin. Mr Christie said it remained a popular product. “It’s a big, bold, juicy gin that works with pretty much anything you throw at it,” he said. “With the liqueurs, the apple has always been our favourite. It’s really bright and fresh. It’s like biting into a fresh pink lady apple.” Mr Christie said the demand for liqueurs was increasing, outselling gins at festivals in a five-to-one ratio. After taking out bronze at last year’s awards, Black Cockatoo went one better with its Desert Lime Gin receiving a silver medal. The gin consists of traditional ingredients such as allspice and liquorice root, combined with the Australian native fruit and other citrus ingredients. Old Young’s Distillery in the Swan Valley won the top honours on the night with its 1829 Gin receiving the champion spirit award. Head judge Bill Lark said the standard of entries for this year’s awards had risen significantly. “I truly believe that these awards provide the perfect platform for the emerging WA spirits industry together with entries from across the country to push such high standards,” he said.