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The world’s best whisky isn’t in Scotland; it’s in South Australia

Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission

Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
One of the world’s best whiskies isn’t in Scotland; it’s actually in Renmark, South Australia. And it’s actually affordable.

Australian whisky has come a long way since its beginnings, and now we’re competing (and winning) on the world stage. The 2026 New York International Spirits Competition – an annual, globally recognised event – has just named 23rd Street Distillery in Renmark, South Australia, the Australian Distillery of the Year.

About the win

23 street distillery cooperage
23rd Street Distillery earned unmatched scores.

For the second year in a row, 23rd Street Distillery has been named Australian Distillery of the Year. But in 2026, the judges’ scores made for an especially impressive milestone.

The distillery’s Australian single malt whisky took Double Gold with 96 points – an impressive score that placed it at the top of the entire competition, ahead of more than 500 whisky entries from 39 countries. For whisky lovers, this means it was judged to be better than whisky favourites like Glenmorangie Signet, Glenmorangie 18 Year Old, Highland Park 15 Year Old, The Glenrothes 18, Bruichladdich 18 and Crown Royal 31 Year Old – all of which retail for two to three times the price.

“We’re blown away! This recognition is built on beautiful Australian ingredients, hard work and a constant drive to refine what we do," said Paul Burnett, head distiller.

Visiting 23rd Street Distillery

23 street distillery reaturants table full of food
Sit down at the distillery restaurant, Twenty Third Street. (Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission)

South Australia’s Riverland region may be lesser-known, but its position next to the Murray River and incredible food, wine and spirit offerings make it one worth discovering.

And it’s here, in the suburb of Renmark, that you’ll find 23rd Street Distillery. Inside a restored building from 1914, the distillery draws on the Riverland’s warm climate, historic copper pot stills and locally grown Australian barley to create whiskies with a distinctly Australian identity.

Really get to know the whiskies by joining a guided tasting flight, distillery tour or even a cocktail masterclass. And then line the stomach at the distillery restaurant, Twenty Third Street. Find wood-fired pizzas and a seasonal menu making the most of Riverland’s produce.

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Australian single malt whisky

23 street distillery facade tasting
Visit the distillery for whisky and gin tastings. (Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission)

The winning whisky is crafted using barley grown on Kangaroo Island and matured for a minimum of three years in American oak ex-bourbon barrels. The result? A golden amber-coloured drop with aromas of toffee, lifted fruit and delicate vanillin oak. The palate is described as full and lightly sweet, with citrus, apricot and malted milk, finishing with butterscotch oak and lingering warmth.

“Our focus on maturing in a variety of oak types and finishing in old fortified barrels brings a depth and complexity that truly defines our whiskies," said Burnett. “To be recognised alongside the world’s best is something we don’t take lightly. It’s a real milestone for the brand and a reminder that you can push boundaries while still keeping exceptional spirits within reach."

The details

23 street distillery facade
Visit the winning distillery. (Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Address: Corner of Renmark Avenue and Twenty Third Street.
Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday from 10am – 4pm, Thursday to Saturday from 10am – 10pm.

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Kassia Byrnes
Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
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This geological wonder is hiding in the heart of Victoria

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    Mythical, historical and most of all, spectacularly beautiful, Buchan Caves demands you take your time – and a tour. 

    In the pools of water, so still they could be mirrors, the reflections of the stalactites make these limestone towers seem even taller. Almost 400 million years ago, an underground river carved through the rock to create the Buchan Caves. Now, artworks created by dripping water adorn these subterranean galleries: stalactites hanging from the ceiling, pillars connecting some to the ground, even curtain-like wave formations clinging to the stone.

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    Visit the caves for the day or stay onsite in the campground or at the self-contained Caves House. (Image: Ben Savage)

    “This is called the Fairy Cave because it’s full of fairy dust,” a guide tells visitors as they enter a cavern glittering with “calcite that’s solidified into thousands of tiny little diamond shapes”.  Buchan Caves is Victoria’s largest cave system, but Fairy Cave is a highlight and, along with nearby Royal Cave, is accessible only by tour. Naturally cold, naturally dark, these caverns deep below the surface light up as the local experts tell their stories. 

    couple walking in cave
    You’ll need to book a guided tour to see the caves. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Among the hundreds of caves, some can be easily accessed from the surface. For instance, a casual stroll along the FJ Wilson Interpreted Walk, as kangaroos watch on from beneath acacia trees, leads into the 400-metre-long Federal Cave and its natural steps of white limestone. A slightly longer track, the Granite Pools Walk heads through soaring forest down into moss-covered gullies where the calls of lyrebirds trill through the leaves. 

    A quick history lesson on Buchan Caves 

    Buchan Caves
    Buchan Caves are a must-visit attraction in Gippsland. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Among the geology and the nature are millennia of history. This part of East Gippsland connects the high country to the coast and was long a place of refuge for the local Gunaikurnai people on seasonal migrations to the mountains. Archaeological studies show humans lived here up to 18,000 years ago, with artefacts such as small stone tools found around the site. But not too far into the caverns – oh no! The Gunaikurnai didn’t dare venture deep into the dark at Buchan Caves, telling stories they were inhabited by gnome-like nyols (small grey-skinned creatures that could steal memories). 

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    The Buchan Caves Hotel was rebuilt after burning down in 2014. (Image: Jess Shapiro)

    By the early 1900s, more people had started to hear about these incredible caves and so the Moon family set up home at the site and started to run tours below ground for intrepid visitors. More than a century later, their historic residence is available as accommodation, with the three-bedroom house sleeping up to eight people and now equipped with modern amenities the Moons could only have dreamt of. 

    But whether you stay overnight or just spend the day here, it’s worth taking your time to explore more than just the main caves, to get a deeper understanding of one of Victoria’s fascinating geological attractions.