The Gospel Whiskey is celebrating the news its Straight Rye Whiskey has won a Gold medal at the prestigious 2024 International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) and, for the second consecutive year, is Australia’s highest-scoring whiskey across all categories and the 2nd-highest-scoring rye whiskey in the world.
In the global rye whiskey category, The Gospel’s Straight Rye Whiskey ($95) tied equal second with the Thomas H. Handy Straight Rye Whiskey (96 points) – a rare whiskey that retails in Australia for upwards of $1,200. The only rye whiskey to outscore The Gospel Straight Rye was the Sazerac 18-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Rye at 98 points, which is found on some Australian liquor store shelves for upwards of $2,400.
“The Gospel Whiskey has one mission – to take the distinct taste of Mallee grown rye to the world and continued success like this on the world stage really helps to endorse that mission,” The Gospel’s Co-Founder Andrew Fitzgerald said. “We’ve spent years defining The Gospel’s unique style of whiskey to craft something distinctly Australian and expressive to the site we source the grain from. We’re not aiming to taste like other whiskeys or fit in with the crowd – it’s unique to us, and I think the judges at the IWSC appreciated its difference.”
“The Gospel Whiskey has one mission – to take the distinct taste of Mallee grown rye to the world and continued success like this on the world stage really helps to endorse that mission,” – The Gospel’s Co-Founder Andrew Fitzgerald
The judges said of The Gospel’s Straight Rye Whiskey: “Perfumed and wonderfully peppery on the nose, full of pleasing, punchy rye spice aromas with deep liquorice tumbling through. Dry and remarkably layered, with well-defined flavours of cognac, green tea, and menthol adding complexity on the palate. The finish is long, sweet, and satisfying with a refreshing hint of mint complementing indulgent chocolatey tones. Divine!”
The IWSC is one of the world’s biggest and longest-running spirits competitions. Producers of the world’s wines and spirits have entered the competition for over 50 years, with more than 250 specialist judges from all over the world coming together to score and review more than 4100 entries from 98 countries. The Gospel’s achievements at the IWSC follow an incredible year for the distillery and its team, with Ian Thorn, The Gospel’s Master Distiller, winning Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year at the 2024 Icons of Whisky Awards (part of the World Whiskies Awards).
“Ian (pictured here) is an often quiet achiever. He is an integral part of the foundation that created the modern-day Australian whiskey movement. He is also the most qualified distiller in the country and is always helping the next generation. To have him leading our team is such an honour,” Fitzgerald said.
For more information on The Gospel Whiskey, visit their website at www.thegospelwhiskey.com or follow them on Instagram @thegospelwhiskey