Penola’s St Mary’s Wines and Spirits is celebrating after its Mulligan’s White Cane Spirit won the Best Alternate Spirit accolade at the Tasting Australia Spirit Awards.

The annual Tasting Australia Spirit Awards were presented by Master Cask and celebrated the achievements of Australian distilleries and their spirits.

St Mary’s Winemaker Ian Mulligan said winning the award promoted the family business and backed up the quality of the product.

“You’re in the room with all your peers in the spirit industry of South Australia,” Mr Mulligan said.

“So to walk up in front of all those guys, it’s a humbling and exciting experience.”

St Mary’s spirits are triple-distilled from scratch by brothers Ian and Robin Mulligan using local ingredients at their family owned and operated St Mary’s Vineyard. The distillery’s range includes four vodkas, it’s popular gin and two cane spirits.

“Mum and dad have been a part of it from the word go and myself and my brother have been working pretty steadily on it and trying to build it as much as we can.” Mr Mulligan said.

Mr Mulligan said although Coonawarra was predominately renowned for it’s wine, it was now also gaining a reputation for quality spirit products.

“You have got breweries around the place popping up here and there and I’m sure there’s other spirit companies looking to set up shop around the place, so it’s nice to get some recognition happening for this area,” he said.

Mr Mulligan said their spirits had been an ever-increasing project.

“We started off small, we still are small, but it’s increasing every year,” he said.

“My brother is flat out making alcohol to keep up, we would not be too far away from considering an expansion, so everything’s working pretty well.”

St Mary’s Wines and Spirits can be found in many locations throughout the region including Mount Gambier, Robe, Millicent, Penola, Naracoorte and Bordertown.