Going solo

I’m a bit weary this morning after attending the combined ceremony for the inaugural 2024 Sydney Royal Distilled Spirits Awards and 2024 Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Show last night.

That’s a lot of trophies, so I didn’t make it home until quite late.

DD was supposed to be my plus one, but the celebration was in Darling Harbour and he lives a looooong way out of the city and I’ve enticed him to a function tonight, so he begged off.

I thought about getting someone to impersonate him, but ended up biting the bullet and attending solo.

I was worried about drifting around aimlessly as a Naomi No Friends, but I knew heaps of people there and made a ton of new friends, including the most lovely bloke who runs turtle tours on Lord Howe Island, in addition to making award-winning gin at Lord Howe Island Distilling Co, which took home Champion Other Gin courtesy of its Wolfe Rock Gin.

I can’t wait to visit him one day!

I also knew a bloke from Top Shelf International, Scott Fitzsimons, who accepted the award for Champion Alternative Spirit for Act of Treason Reposado, which is made from agave grown in Queensland.

Scott and I judged the Australian Gin Awards together, that’s him in the middle.

There are very few bottles of Act of Treason Reposado left and he generously shared tastes of it with a circle of us.

Very delicious … watch out Mexico!

Taking the top award on the night, however, was St Agnes Distillery which won the inaugural Best Distilled Spirit of Show thanks to the St Agnes XO Grand Reserve, with the 40-year-old brandy that earned an impressive 98 points out of 100.

Sydney Royal Chair of Judges Stuart Gregor (above) said: “The highest pointed entrant in the entire show was the St Agnes XO Grand Reserve 40-year-old brandy and quite honestly nothing really came close. The final aggregated score for it was 98/100 and to be perfectly truthful I’m a bit surprised it didn’t end up as 99 or 100.

“This is a truly incredible brandy, as good, and frankly probably better than many of the most expensive and prestigious French Cognacs. It has an almost impossibly rich and unctuous palate and length that seems to go forever. Sure, its expensive, but if drinking the greatest spirits in the world is your thing, then you simply MUST taste this St Agnes.”

And I was lucky enough to taste it on the night, which felt pretty special since it retails for around $1000 a bottle! And I can confirm it’s fabulous.

A craft beer from Sydney’s Hills District was named Australia’s best at the 2024 Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Show. Go The Hills!

Esker Beer Co’s Esker Citrus Gose was the standout among the 206 exhibits entered from across the country, claiming not only the title of Australia’s best beer but two additional trophies for Best NSW Beer or Cider and Champion Fruit or Sour. Esker Beer Co also took home Champion Indian Pale Ale with its Esker West Coast IPA. 

Geez I felt old after standing up for three hours watching the winners being announced. My gammy hips were so stiff and sore that I literally hobbled from the venue to the bus stop, wincing with every step.

Fortunately there will be plenty of seats at tonight’s event.

OK, time for me to get up and battle through another long day …

Song of the day: Hot Chocolate “Everyone’s a winner”