Top Shelf – the best new-release spirits to add to your cocktail cabinet
Have a holiday coming up? Got something to celebrate? Want to overhaul your at-home booze collection? Allow us to introduce you to Top Shelf – an ever-evolving column dedicated showcasing the best spirits (think new small-batch brands and limited-edition drops) hitting the market. If you’re looking to fill a gap in your liquor cabinet or pick up a gift for a loved one, here’s a list of hot-to-trot drops worth considering.
Never Never’s Signature Vodka
When it comes to the world of gin, South Australian distillery Never Never is one of the biggest names in the game. Soon enough, however, the booze makers might also be regarded as a top-tier maker of vodka as well. Never Never has just released its own signature vodka – its first permanent product beyond gin. Looking to capitalise on the ongoing martini revival, Never Never’s vodka is a silky sip distilled from Australian wheat spirit and infused with olive, coconut and avocado oils, which is then filtered through activated carbon for 16 hours before being blended with McLaren Vale water to adjust and enhance pH levels. What results is a spirit boasting notes of white chocolate, honeyed macadamia and coconut cream – the perfect addition to your at-home martini cart. Head to Never Never’s website to purchase.
Beudi’s agave spirit
Crafted by a dream team of booze-industry veterans from Stone & Wood, Rosella’s and Travla, Beudi (pronounced “beauty”) is a bold new Aussie spirits label putting home-grown agave and native ingredients front and centre. The brand officially launched in August, kicking things off with two core products – a zippy Beudi Blanco agave spirit and Margi Spirit, Australia’s first bottled marg base – plus a pair of RTDs, including the sparkling Bushwater with desert lime and soda. Serious about flavour but never uptight, Beudi blends premium craft with Aussie charm, a focus on sustainability and a commitment to giving back. With native ingredients sourced via Indigenous-owned Bush to Bowl and plans to go 100-percent Aussie agave, Beudi isn’t just slinging great drinks, it’s looking to shape the future of Australian spirits. Get a bottle here.
El Toro’s Coconut Tequila
Keeping the agave train moving is El Toro’s brand-new Coconut Tequila – a bold, yet smooth spirit that packs a bit of toasted tropical punch in every bottle. Described as the perfect summer sidekick, this libation is crafted with El Toro Clásico as its base, which is then built upon with velvety coconut and given a bit of extra lift with some citrus notes. What results is a tequila that is perfect for entertaining, from poolside margaritas to barbecue refreshments. You can snag a bottle here.
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Archie Rose’s Mountain Yuzu Harvest Gin
One of the country’s leading spirit makers has done it again with a cracker of a limited-edition release. Famed Rosebery-based distillery Archie Rose has just debuted the latest drop to feature in its annual Harvest Series – the Mountain Yuzu Harvest Gin. This robust release is made from yuzu grown by Jane and Brian Casey in Victoria’s volcanic alpine country. The aroma of yuzu peel, ripe mandarin and fresh grapefruit greets sippers upon opening, with a citrus-driven taste mixing playfully with juniper, fresh pine and black pepper on the palate. If you love a refreshing G&T or a citrus-laced martini, this is the drop to cop. You can do so via the Archie Rose website.
Elijah Craig’s Small Batch Bourbon
Heaven Hill Distillery has made history with the release of the new Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon – the first lower-proof expression from the iconic ‘Father of Bourbon’. Crafted exclusively for the Australian market, Heaven Hill’s master distillers have fashioned this golden amber whisky and aged it in charred oak barrels, infusing the bourbon with notes of vanilla, caramel, toasted oak and a touch of spice and smoke. Designed to suit modern drinkers, this accessible and versatile bourbon can be enjoyed neat, in a highball or in a classic cocktail. You can find Elijah Craig’s Small Batch Bourbon at Dan Murphy’s now.
We’ll be updating this list with new releases as they debut – be sure to check back regularly for more booze news!