Wine & Spirits · Australia

Best Australian Whiskies to Buy in 2026

Updated 2026-06-305 products reviewedCurated by Bikram Nath

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Quick answer

The Lark Classic Cask Single Malt leads Australian whiskies, prized for its rich Tasmanian sherry-cask character and balanced sweetness. Starward Nova is a strong runner-up, offering an approachable, wine-cask-matured profile at a lower entry price. Expect to pay AU$60 – AU$500 across the range.

Editor's choice

Lark

Lark Classic Cask Single Malt Whisky

Australia's founding craft whisky distillery's flagship expression — Tasmanian rainwater and barley with ex-port barrel aging create a uniquely Australian single malt.

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Australian whisky has achieved global recognition beyond all expectations for a category that barely existed 30 years ago. Tasmania leads the world in innovative Antipodean single malt, with Sullivan's Cove French Oak winning World's Best Single Malt at the Whisky Bible multiple times, and Lark Distillery founding what is now a thriving 50+ distillery Australian whisky industry. Beyond Tasmania, Melbourne's Starward produces wine-cask whisky uniquely suited to Australian palates, and Queensland's Archie Rose and Husk Distillers bring genuinely distinctive Australian character. This guide covers the best Australian whiskies available from Dan Murphy's, BWS, and specialist Australian bottle shops in 2026.

At a glance

#ProductStandoutBest for
1Lark Classic Cask Single Malt WhiskyLarkLark is Australia's founding craft whisky distillery (est. 1992)—View ↗
2Starward Nova Single Malt WhiskyStarwardMatured in Australian red wine barrels — uniquely Australian flavour profileBest for beginnersView ↗
3Sullivan's Cove Double Cask Single MaltSullivan's CoveSullivan's Cove is the distillery that put Australian whisky on the international mapBest for giftingView ↗
4Archie Rose White RyeArchie RoseFirst commercially produced Australian rye whisky—View ↗
5Hellyers Road 10 Year Original Peated Tasmanian Single MaltHellyers RoadLight peat smoke from Tasmanian barley — approachable Australian alternative to heavy Scotch peatingBest for peat loversView ↗

How to choose the best australian whiskies to buy in 2026 in Australia

  1. 1Tasmanian single malts (Sullivan's Cove, Lark, Nant, Hellyers Road) are the premium Australian whisky category — aged in small ex-wine and ex-bourbon barrels using Tasmanian rainwater and barley.
  2. 2Starward (Melbourne) produces wine-cask Australian whisky matured in Australian red wine barrels — more accessible price point with distinctly Australian character.
  3. 3Australian whisky is typically bottled at 43–46% ABV without chill-filtering — this preserves the full flavour spectrum from Australian barley and wine barrels.
  4. 4Buy from Dan Murphy's, BWS, or specialist whisky retailers like Archie Rose's cellar door for current release Australian whiskies — availability varies by state.
  5. 5For collector-focused Australian whiskies, Sullivan's Cove single cask releases sell out quickly — sign up for distillery newsletters to access limited Australian releases.
  6. 6Australian whisky is best appreciated with a few drops of room-temperature water to open up aromatics — particularly for the higher-alcohol Tasmanian expressions.

Top 5 wine & spirits picks for Australia

#1Top pick
No product image available

Lark

Lark Classic Cask Single Malt Whisky

Top Pick

Australia's founding craft whisky distillery's flagship expression — Tasmanian rainwater and barley with ex-port barrel aging create a uniquely Australian single malt.

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OriginLark Distillery, Hobart, Tasmania
ABV43%
CaskEx-port barrel maturation
AvailabilityDan Murphy's, Lark cellar door AU

Pros

  • Lark is Australia's founding craft whisky distillery (est. 1992)
  • Classic Cask is the entry point to Tasmanian single malt excellence
  • Multiple international award winner
  • Available at Dan Murphy's and specialist bottle shops across Australia

Cons

  • Premium price vs mainstream Scotch at the same price point
  • Tasmanian releases can sell out at Dan Murphy's — buy online for reliability
#2
No product image available

Starward

Starward Nova Single Malt Whisky

Best Introduction
Best for beginners

Melbourne's most accessible Australian single malt — red wine cask maturation gives a distinctly fruity, Australian character at an accessible price.

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OriginStarward Whisky, Melbourne, VIC
ABV41%
CaskAustralian red wine barrels
AvailabilityDan Murphy's nationwide AU

Pros

  • Matured in Australian red wine barrels — uniquely Australian flavour profile
  • Most accessible price point for quality Australian single malt
  • Widely available at Dan Murphy's and Woolworths Metro stores across Australia
  • Excellent introduction to Australian whisky culture

Cons

  • Lighter character than Tasmanian single malts — some Australian whisky enthusiasts find it too approachable
#3
No product image available

Sullivan's Cove

Sullivan's Cove Double Cask Single Malt

Most Awarded
Best for gifting

Tasmania's most internationally recognised whisky — Double Cask balances American oak and French oak for an accessible entry into Sullivan's Cove's range.

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OriginSullivan's Cove, Cambridge, Tasmania
ABV40%
CaskAmerican oak + French oak
AwardWorld's Best Single Malt Distillery

Pros

  • Sullivan's Cove is the distillery that put Australian whisky on the international map
  • Double Cask balances bourbon and wine barrel influence
  • Multiple-time World's Best Single Malt distillery
  • Available at Dan Murphy's and specialist stores nationally in Australia

Cons

  • More expensive than Lark Classic Cask for entry Tasmanian single malt
  • Single Cask releases sell out extremely quickly
#4
No product image available

Archie Rose

Archie Rose White Rye

Most Unique

Sydney craft distillery's distinctive rye whisky — a rare Australian take on American rye style with Sydney's unique grain character.

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OriginArchie Rose Distilling, Sydney, NSW
StyleRye whisky
ABV43%
AvailabilityDan Murphy's, Archie Rose cellar door AU

Pros

  • First commercially produced Australian rye whisky
  • Archie Rose is Sydney's most acclaimed craft distillery
  • Unique Australian character — a true conversation piece
  • Available at Dan Murphy's and Archie Rose Cellar Door (Sydney)

Cons

  • Rye whisky style may not appeal to all Australian whisky drinkers
  • Less sweetness than malt-forward Australian alternatives
#5
No product image available

Hellyers Road

Hellyers Road 10 Year Original Peated Tasmanian Single Malt

Best Peated
Best for peat lovers

Tasmania's largest distillery's peated expression — an Australian alternative to Scotch lovers familiar with Islay smoky styles.

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OriginHellyers Road Distillery, Burnie, Tasmania
ABV46.2%
Age10 years
StylePeated single malt

Pros

  • Light peat smoke from Tasmanian barley — approachable Australian alternative to heavy Scotch peating
  • 10-year age statement unusual for Australian single malts
  • Hellyers Road is Tasmania's most productive distillery with wide availability
  • Available at Dan Murphy's across Australia

Cons

  • Peat style may not appeal to Australian drinkers unfamiliar with smoky whisky
  • Lighter peat than Scotch Islay fans may expect

Editor's note

Australia's whisky industry has grown from a single distillery (Lark, 1992) to over 150 licensed distilleries in 2026. The global whisky community has taken notice — World Whiskies Awards, Whisky Bible, and San Francisco World Spirits Competition consistently feature Australian whiskies alongside established Scottish, Japanese, and Irish expressions. The Australian Distillers Association (ADA) has set regulations requiring minimum 2 years barrel maturation for Australian whisky to use that designation.

Our take

For Australian whisky newcomers, Starward Nova ($60–$70 at Dan Murphy's) is the most accessible entry point — lighter, fruitier, and approachable before graduating to Tasmanian single malts. For a true premium Australian experience, Lark Classic Cask ($120) or Sullivan's Cove Double Cask ($160) represent Australia's whisky at its finest. Celebrate an Australian occasion with Australian whisky rather than defaulting to Scotch — the quality justifies the national pride.

Honourable mentions

Nant Port Cask Tasmanian Whisky

Tasmania's Nant Distillery produces whisky matured in Australian port casks — rich, sweet expressions popular with Australian dessert wine lovers transitioning to whisky.

Husk Distillers Ink Gin & Rum Range (Queensland)

Queensland-based Husk Distillers producing distinctive cane spirit, rum, and gin — Australia's tropical spirits equivalent of Tasmania's cool-climate single malts.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Australian whisky for beginners?

Starward Nova ($60–$70) is the best Australian whisky for beginners — it's matured in Australian red wine barrels, giving it a fruit-forward, approachable character without the complexity that can initially overwhelm. It's widely available at Dan Murphy's and BWS across Australia. After Starward Nova, progress to Lark Classic Cask or Archie Rose White Rye for more complexity.

Where can I buy Australian whisky?

Dan Murphy's (largest Australian selection), BWS, First Choice Liquor, and specialist stores like Archie Rose Cellar Door (Sydney), Lark Cellar Door (Hobart), and Starward Whisky Bar (Melbourne) are the main Australian whisky retail channels. Online ordering from distillery websites delivers to most Australian states. For limited releases, sign up to distillery mailing lists — Sullivan's Cove single casks sell out within hours of release to their Australian mailing list.

Is Australian whisky better than Scotch?

Australian and Scotch whiskies are different expressions of the same category rather than directly comparable. Australian single malts (particularly Tasmanian) have a unique character driven by the southern hemisphere climate's faster maturation, local Australian barley, and creative cask choices (ex-Australian wine, ex-port, ex-sherry). Scotch has centuries of tradition and a broader flavour spectrum from dozens of established distilleries. Many Australian whisky enthusiasts appreciate both styles — Australian for local pride and unique character, Scotch for traditional depth.

How should I drink Australian single malt whisky?

Australian single malts are best enjoyed neat or with a few drops of room-temperature water — add water gradually to find the point where the aroma opens up without losing the spirit character. Ice is acceptable for casual drinking but reduces aromatic complexity. A Glencairn glass (available at Dan Murphy's and Amazon Australia) is the correct vessel for tasting Australian single malts at their best. Save carbonated mixers for blended whisky rather than premium Australian single malts.

Which Australian whisky has won the most international awards?

Sullivan's Cove French Oak Single Cask (from the Sullivan's Cove Distillery in Cambridge, Tasmania) has been named World's Best Single Malt Whisky by Jim Murray's Whisky Bible on multiple occasions — the first non-Scotch whisky to win this title. Lark Distillery's releases regularly win gold at the Whisky Bible, World Whiskies Awards, and San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Starward has won multiple international awards for its wine-cask Australian whisky expressions.

Further reading

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Affiliate disclosure: AUPicks may earn a commission from links on this page at no extra cost to you. This never influences our rankings. Curated by Bikram Nath · Last updated 2026-06-30.

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Top pick

Lark Classic Cask Single Malt Whisky

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