Local Heroes: Lark Distilling earns global recognition with five Gold Medals for key whisky expressions

Welcome to Local Heroes*, our column dedicated to emerging local and national brands across all categories and geographies. Today’s spotlight falls on Lark Distilling Co’s Tasmanian whisky and its recent success at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Lark Distilling Co from Tasmania, Australia has been awarded five Gold Medals at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), recognising its Signature Collection, global travel retail-exclusive (TREX) range and a forthcoming Cask Strength release.

Launched in March, the travel retail-exclusive (TREX) trio features two Gold Medal-winning expressions from the 2026 SFWSC, each reflecting the influence of world-class cask maturation {Photo: Alexander Roux, Moodie Davitt STUDIO}

Among the Gold Medal winners were two expressions from the channel-exclusive Atlas Series: Wild Haven No.172 (RRP A$280/US$193) and Ember Eclipse No.294 (RRP A$680/US$468). Both are available exclusively at Australian airports and will soon launch at Changi Airport.

Wild Haven is a bold single malt, initially matured in vintage first-fill Port and sherry casks from Seppeltsfield, then finished in select rum casks {Photo: Alexander Roux, Moodie Davitt STUDIO}

Also recognised were Devil’s Storm No.183 and Fire Trail No.151, both available through retail and bars across Australia and Asia, together with the forthcoming Devil’s Storm Cask Strength No.187, which will launch in August exclusively online and at Lark Distilling’s three Hobart venues.

Ember Eclipse is a refined single malt, finished in premium Cognac casks after ageing in 100% first-fill vintage Port and sherry casks {Photo: Alexander Roux, Moodie Davitt STUDIO}

Since its launch in 2000, SFWSC has established itself as one of the world’s prestigious spirits competitions. Organised by The Tasting Alliance, it receives thousands of submissions each year from distilleries worldwide.

The competition is known for its rigorous blind-tasting process, with spirits assessed by a panel of industry professionals, including distillers, bartenders, beverage directors and drinks journalists.

Resident ‘TREX Master’ Martin Moodie profiles and tastes the brilliantly packaged (and superb tasting) Lark trio of travel retail-exclusive (TREX) variants for an upcoming episode of The TREX Factor. The filming by Alexander Roux for Moodie Davitt STUDIO took place in May at El Gordo Tacos & Grill, a top-quality Mexican restaurant owned by Global Drinks Ltd and Misaka Japanese whisky Founder Harry Kartasis. 

Lark Master Distiller Chris Thomson said: “Five Gold Medals at San Francisco is a fantastic result for the whole team. The SFWSC is one of the toughest blind judging competitions in the world, so to have whiskies across our Signature Collection and GTR range recognised at this level is incredibly exciting.

“It’s a reflection of just how far Tasmanian whisky has come – and for us, we feel like we’re only just getting started.”

* If you would like your independent, local/national brand to appear on Local Heroes, please contact Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com

 *Announcing The TREX Factor – Reaching B2C + B2B Audiences

The Moodie Davitt Report has launched a breakthrough crossover B2B to B2C video series focused entirely on travel retail-exclusive (TREX) products.

{Click on the YouTube Icon to view TREX Travels to the Duty-Free World, the introductory video to The TREX Factor}

Filmed by our acclaimed Shenzhen-based Moodie Davitt STUDIO division, the pioneering B2B and B2C crossover series is being shown in multi-lingual form (led by but not limited to Chinese and English) on the Moodie Davitt STUDIO YouTube channel, our dual WeChat Video platforms and (coming soon) Xiaohongshu.

EPISODE 1

{Click on the YouTube icon to view Episode 1 on the Moodie Davitt STUDIO platform or here to watch on WeChat with Chinese subtitles}

In our worldwide premiere, resident TREX Master Martin Moodie – the world’s leading duty-free shopping commentator and Founder of world-renowned The Moodie Davitt Report, introduces Johnnie Walker Blue Label Xordinaire, aged in former French XO Cognac casks, designed to add an element of smoothness and sweetness.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Xordinaire brings these elements together for an extraordinary finish.  And, most importantly, it is a definitive TREX, available only in duty-free and travel retail stores. Click on the YouTube icon to view.

EPISODE 2

{Click on the YouTube icon to view Episode 2 on the Moodie Davitt STUDIO platform or here to watch on WeChat with Chinese subtitles}

In our second episode, resident TREX Master Martin Moodie introduces you to two single malt whiskies from The Macallan, one of the truly famous Scotch whiskey distilleries of the world.

Two very interesting variants with very different stories behind them. Click on the YouTube icon to view.

EPISODE 3

Our third episode features 叠川 The Chuan, which celebrates the vision of French drinks powerhouse Pernod Ricard to create a prestige Chinese malt whisky. Resident TREX Master Martin Moodie is joined on set by Rolls Wang, Retail Manager at Duty Zero by cdf, Hong Kong International Airport.

Brands or retailers wishing to participate should contact Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com 

 

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