Willie Smith’s Tasmanian cleaned up at the Australian Cider Awards on Friday evening winning Most Successful Larger Producer and beating over 200 entries to win Best in Show for the 2021 Heritage Blend.
The Australian Cider Awards presentation was held on Friday evening in the Adelaide Hills, with Willie Smith’s Tasmanian taking three of the eight available trophies, including the Best in Show, Best Traditional Cider and Best Larger Producer in a boon for the cider industry in Tasmania.
Willie Smith’s 2021 Heritage Blend Cider was awarded a gold medal, Best in Class in the Traditional Medium Sweet Cider class, Best Traditional Cider, and it was the highest awarded cider in the show taking out the Best in Show trophy wowing the judges with its deep apple characters, balanced tannins and lingering, bold finish.
Head Cider Maker Malcolm Freedman said that he puts Willie Smith’s success down to the availability of superb Tasmanian Apples and having our cidery located on the orchard, meaning complete control over flavour.
“We’re so lucky in Tasmania to have such an array of cider apples nurtured by amazing orchardists, which allows us to craft the most complex and layered ciders which are beautifully balanced,”
“I’m also very proud of the recognition as ‘Most Successful Larger Producer’, because it shows our versatility. Not only can we produce Best in Show traditional ciders, but our contemporary ciders like the Lucidity - which used experimentation to create flavour - are also being recognised.”
The recognition for Willie Smith’s was seen across several classes receiving nine medals in total including their flagship organic cider, and innovative new non-alc apple cider. The Lucidity Sturmer Pippen Apple Cider also took Best in Class for the New World Dry.
Willie Smith’s was awarded the Most Successful Larger Producer in the awards with the weight of these achievements.
Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Jo Palmer, congratulated the team at Willie Smith’s Tasmanian for their success on the national stage.
“Willie Smith’s success at the Australian Cider Awards is a testament to their innovative and high-quality Tasmanian products,” Minister Palmer said.
“We know Tasmania has the products the nation and world wants, and Willie Smith’s is the perfect example of an iconic Tasmanian brand showcasing the best of our State.
“I also congratulate Brady’s Lookout Cider, Old Twelfth Cider, Plenty Cider and Spretyon Cider Co for their success at the awards.”
Further to Willie Smith’s success, the Tasmanian Cider Industry was well represented at the awards, with Tasmanian producers winning the Best in Show and taking out a quarter of the awarded classes.
Plenty Cider receiving the Best in Class for their Cornucopia Cider – Traditional Medium Sweet, and Spreyton Cider Co for their Pear Cider – New World Perry Sweet.
Boutique Tasmanian cider producers were well represented also with Brady’s Lookout Cider’s 2018 Heritage Blend MT Cuvee winning best in class for the New World Cider MT (Disgorged) class, and Old Twelfth Perry taking out the best in class for the Traditional Perry Dry.
The Australian Cider Awards celebrate the best ciders in Australia and is run by the peak body, Cider Australia. The awards were judged by a panel of local industry professionals and this year included visiting international judge Yann Gilles from Malus & Vitis in France.
Willie Smith’s Awards at the Australian Cider Awards
Only nine gold medals and eight trophies are awarded.
2022 Australian Cider Award Trophy winners:
Best in Show: William Smith & Sons with Heritage Blend Apple Cider (TAS)
Best New World Cider: The Hills Cider Company with Apple Cider (SA)
Best Traditional Cider: William Smith & Sons with Heritage Blend Apple Cider (TAS)
Best Perry: Core Cider with Perilous 2020 (WA)
Best Specialty Cider or Perry: Roleystone Brewing Co with Rosé Cheeks (WA)
Best Intensified / Distilled Cider or Perry: Carmel Cider Company with Apple Brandy (WA)
Most Successful Small Producer: LOBO Juice and Cider (SA)
Most Successful Larger Producer: William Smith & Sons (TAS)
