Ballarat’s Best Pie competition returned for a second year, with distillery Itinerant Spirits taking home the 2024 title for their Wild Orchard Apple and Vansetter Vodka Pie.

Described as a “sweet apple and vodka pie served warm with a creamy pine nettle ice cream” the pie also took home the Best Sweet Pie title.

Itinerant Spirit bar manager Sebastian Haintz said the win was very exciting for them.

“We’re obviously known for our drinks, but it’s really cool to be recognised now for the great food people can come and try,” he said.

“What Konstantin [Putkin, chef] does in the kitchen is amazing, and we’re really excited to hopefully see some new faces at Itinerant Spirits because of this.

“We’d love people to come on down and enjoy the Wild Orchard Apple and Vansetter Vodka Pie with nettle ice cream.”

Second place – and Best Savoury Pie winner – was awarded to 321 Cafe for their lamb shank with mustard mashed potato pie, while third place went to Flying Chillies for their curry laksa pie.

A total of 28 pies battled it out for the title of 2024 Ballarat Best Pie, which was judged by a panel of including Tim Bone (Good Chef Bad Chef co-host), food writer Richard Cornish, and MasterChef Australia co-host Sofia Levin.

The Ballarat Best Pie competition was run throughout the city for the month of July, with the winners announced on August 3. All the pies will remain on offer at the respective venues until August 31.

The 2024 Ballarat Best Pie winners were:

• 1st place: Ballarat’s Best Pie Grand Prize Winner: Itinerant Spirits‘ wild orchard apple and Vansetter Vodka pie
• 2nd place: Ballarat’s Best Pie: 321 Cafe Learmonth‘s lamb shank and mustard mash potato pie
• 3rd place: Ballarat’s Best Pie: Flying Chillies’ Mum’s curry laksa pie
• Best Savoury Pie: 321 Cafe Learmonth‘s lamb shank and mustard mash potato pie
• Best Sweet Pie: Itinerant Spirits‘ wild orchard apple and Vansetter Vodka pie
• Best Bakery Pie: 1816 Bakehouse‘s beef filet mignon pie
• Best Hero of Local Produce: Peasant‘s The Urban Shepherd pie