High spirits: Tassie’s first whisky distiller a finalist for coveted global producer award

Tasmania’s first whisky distillery is one of four finalists for the coveted, global Worldwide Producer of the Year Award at the International Whisky and Spirits Competition.

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BILL Lark is in high spirits after finding out the whisky company he founded has been named one of the top four in the world and still has a shot at being crowned the best.

Lark Distilling Co is among the final four nominees for the prestigious International Whisky and Spirits Competition’s Worldwide Producer of the Year Award after a long list of 20 nominees was whittled down.

The winner of the global prize will be announced in London on November 18.

Tasmania’s first distillery took out a record number of accolades at the International Whisky and Spirits Competition (IWSC) on Friday including two gold medals and its highest ever score (96 points) for Lark Muscat Cask Single Malt.

Lark’s gin distillery Forty Spotted was also awarded a silver medal at the IWSC for its Forty Spotted Citrus Gin.

Bill Lark with a glass of the new whisky. The worldÕs best-travelled whisky is being bottled right now in Tasmania. Originally placed in two unique 20-litre Australian fortified wine barrels in 2013 and loaded on board Spirit of Tasmania I and II more than 12-months ago, the whisky has matured on 403 crossings, travelling 172,887 kilometers in the process.

The IWSC judging panel of experts from more than 30 countries carefully blind-taste hundreds of spirits individually.

Lark Managing Director Geoff Bainbridge said it was an “incredible achievement for a little distillery at the bottom of the world to step onto the global stage and bring home two golds, five silvers and the coveted nomination for Worldwide Whisky Producer of the Year”.

“We are immensely proud of the quality of product we produce here in Tasmania and are honoured to be recognised by the global industry and the IWSC in 2020.”

Lark founder and global ambassador Bill Lark said it was an “amazing and humbling honour”.

“This means a tremendous amount to myself and Lyn as we started Lark Distillery with only a dream to see if we could make a world class whisky here in Tasmania,” he said.

“To win this award would be a salute to the world wide families of distilleries who have inspired us and helped us from day one.”