Tasmanian company Lark Distilling Co has celebrated a strong showing at two prestigious spirits competitions, securing nine medals at the World Whisky Masters 2026 and four Gold medals at the 2026 Australian International Spirits Awards (AISA).
The distillery secured recognition for every whisky entered at the World Whisky Masters, including three Master medals and six Gold medals spanning its portfolio.
The three Master medal winners are:
- 294 Ember Eclipse Single Malt (TREX) – A global travel retail-exclusive (TREX) available at major Australian international airports and Singapore Changi Airport. RRP A$680 (US$480), RRP SGD590
- Mizunara Oak Rare Cask – Available online at larkdistilling.com. RRP A$1,000 (US$705)
- Rare Seppeltsfield II (The Whisky Club Edition) – Available exclusively to members of The Whisky Club. RRP A$150 (US$105)
The six gold medal winners are:
- 151 Fire Trail – Available online at larkdistilling.com, through domestic and international trade, and Lark Hobart venues. RRP A$170 (US$120)
- 168 Cinder Forest (TREX) – A global travel retail-exclusive at major Australian international airports and Singapore Changi Airport. RRP A$160 (US$113), RRP SGD140
- 161 Dark Lark (Special Edition) – Available online at larkdistilling.com, through domestic and international trade, Lark Hobart venues and through global travel retail at major Australian international airports and Singapore Changi Airport. RRP A$150 (US$105), RRP SGD119
- 172 Wild Haven (TREX) – A global travel retail-exclusive at major Australian international airports and Singapore Changi Airport. RRP A$280 (US$198), RRP SGD245
- 285 Ruby Abyss – Available online at larkdistilling.com, through domestic and international trade, global travel retail and Lark Hobart venues. RRP A$400 (US$282)
- Wilderness Collection: SEA, Chapter 08 – Available exclusively online at larkdistilling.com and through Lark Hobart venues. RRP A$650 (US$459)
Organised by The Spirits Business, the competition was judged by a panel of spirits experts through a blind-tasting format.
Silver, Gold and Master medals are awarded across categories, with Master winners advancing for consideration for the overall World Whisky Taste Master 2026 title. The results will be published in the August 2026 edition of The Spirits Business and online at thespiritsbusiness.com.
Lark CEO and Managing Director Stuart Gregor said: “Every single whisky we entered came home with a medal – that’s not luck, it’s a team that’s obsessive about quality across the whole range. It’s a great result for Chris and the whole team, and it’s another step towards Lark being recognised as the genuine leader in new world whisky.”
The Whisky Club General Manager Seamus Carroll added: “We knew all those painstaking hours tasting cask samples with Chris was worth it.
“When we select whiskies for Club Members we encourage whisky makers to flex their creative muscles, push them to create truly unique one-offs without worrying about needing to recreate it.
“That’s exactly what Chris and the team did with these historic Seppeltsfield barrels and this Masters Medal is further validation of what our Members have been enjoying in recent weeks.”
Lark also won four Gold medals at the Australian International Spirits Awards, organised by Melbourne Royal, with entries across its whisky range recognised for their taste and design.
The four Gold medal winners are:
- Mizunara Oak Rare Cask (Batch 4) – Gold, Taste. Available online. RRP A$1,000 (US$705)
- 294 Ember Eclipse – Gold, Taste. A global travel retail-exclusive in Sydney International Airport and Changi International Airport. RRP A$680 (US$480), RRP SGD590
- 285 Ruby Abyss – Gold, Taste. Available online, through trade, global travel retail and Lark’s venues. RRP A$400 (US$282)
- No.183 Devil’s Storm – Gold, Design. Available online, through trade, global travel retail and Lark’s venues. RRP A$200 (US$141)
Established in 2015, AISA is one of Australia’s longest-running spirits competitions and became open to international entries in 2025. Entries are judged blind and evaluated on commercial performance, technical quality and authenticity of style, with Gold medal winners advancing to a final judging round for category trophies.
Lark Master Distiller Chris Thomson said: “Four Gold Medals at the Australian International Spirits Awards means a lot, because this is home turf, judged by people who know Australian spirits better than anyone.
“To have both taste and design recognised, from the Mizunara Oak Rare Cask through to Ember Eclipse, Ruby Abyss and Devil’s Storm, tells us the work we’re doing across the whole range is landing. It’s a great result for the team.” ✈
*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 and our WeChat Video platforms. 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 3Our 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. EPISODE 4In this episode we taste two fine whiskies from Japan under the Misaka label – Misaka 12 Years Old Pure Malt PX Sherry Cask and Misaka 12 Years Old Mizunara Cask. Resident TREX Master Martin Moodie is joined by Hong Kong-based Australian entrepreneur, wines & spirits distributor, restaurateur, whisky aficionado and now whisky owner, Harry Kartasis, who introduced the brand to the world. EPISODE 5In this episode, we stay with the house of Misaka This time around Harry takes us up the premiumisation ladder, as he introduces Misaka 18 Years Old Pure Malt Mizunara Cask and its 21 Years sibling. Like its predecessor edition, Episode 5 was shot inside Harry’s acclaimed Mexican restaurant in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, El Gordo Tacos & Grill. Brands or retailers wishing to participate should contact Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com |
