2026 Spirits & Aperitifs Categories

Please find the 2026 Spirits & Aperitifs categories listed below. Category definitions have been provided to help you select the right place for your product to be entered.

To enter, click on the category that is the best fit for your product and you will be taken to the online entry form. You will be able to enter multiple categories within one entry.

Entries close at midnight on Friday 4 September 2026

Our discounted Small Producer rate is available for all companies with a turnover less than £2 million and fewer than 10 staff:
Small producer Discount Code

Our discounted Medium Producer rate is available for all companies with a turnover more than £2 million and under £5 million, and fewer than 50 staff:
Medium Producer Discoutn Code

Bourbon

American whiskey produced primarily from corn and aged in new charred oak barrels. Includes straight, small batch and flavoured bourbons intended for retail sale.
£ 309.00
Standard Rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

The Drinks categories recognise excellence across alcoholic beverages, celebrating quality, craftsmanship, innovation and performance within the drinks sector. Awards reflect the diversity of beer, wine, spirits and emerging drink formats available to UK consumers.

Judging Criteria

  1. Taste
  2. Texture
  3. Flavour
  4. Aroma
  5. Ingredients List
  6. Provenance
  7. Product Appearance
  8. Packaging
  9. Price Point/Value for Money
  10. Innovation/Aims in the Marketplace

Gin

Distilled spirits flavoured predominantly with juniper. Includes London Dry, flavoured, contemporary and craft gins.
£ 309.00
Standard Rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

The Drinks categories recognise excellence across alcoholic beverages, celebrating quality, craftsmanship, innovation and performance within the drinks sector. Awards reflect the diversity of beer, wine, spirits and emerging drink formats available to UK consumers.

Judging Criteria

  1. Taste
  2. Texture
  3. Flavour
  4. Aroma
  5. Ingredients List
  6. Provenance
  7. Product Appearance
  8. Packaging
  9. Price Point/Value for Money
  10. Innovation/Aims in the Marketplace

Vodka

Neutral distilled spirits typically produced from grains or potatoes. Includes flavoured and premium vodkas.
£ 309.00
Standard Rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

The Drinks categories recognise excellence across alcoholic beverages, celebrating quality, craftsmanship, innovation and performance within the drinks sector. Awards reflect the diversity of beer, wine, spirits and emerging drink formats available to UK consumers.

Judging Criteria

  1. Taste
  2. Texture
  3. Flavour
  4. Aroma
  5. Ingredients List
  6. Provenance
  7. Product Appearance
  8. Packaging
  9. Price Point/Value for Money
  10. Innovation/Aims in the Marketplace

Tequila & Agave Spirits

Distilled spirits produced from agave, including tequila and other agave-based products. Includes blanco, reposado, añejo and flavoured styles intended for sipping, mixing or cocktail use.
£ 309.00
Standard Rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

The Drinks categories recognise excellence across alcoholic beverages, celebrating quality, craftsmanship, innovation and performance within the drinks sector. Awards reflect the diversity of beer, wine, spirits and emerging drink formats available to UK consumers.

Judging Criteria

  1. Taste
  2. Texture
  3. Flavour
  4. Aroma
  5. Ingredients List
  6. Provenance
  7. Product Appearance
  8. Packaging
  9. Price Point/Value for Money
  10. Innovation/Aims in the Marketplace

Liqueurs and Speciality Spirits

Sweetened, flavoured or specialist distilled spirits intended for sipping, mixing or cocktail use. Includes cream liqueurs, fruit liqueurs, herbal liqueurs and other speciality spirit products sold in retail.
£ 309.00
Standard Rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

The Drinks categories recognise excellence across alcoholic beverages, celebrating quality, craftsmanship, innovation and performance within the drinks sector. Awards reflect the diversity of beer, wine, spirits and emerging drink formats available to UK consumers.

Judging Criteria

  1. Taste
  2. Texture
  3. Flavour
  4. Aroma
  5. Ingredients List
  6. Provenance
  7. Product Appearance
  8. Packaging
  9. Price Point/Value for Money
  10. Innovation/Aims in the Marketplace

Brandy and Cognac

Distilled grape-based spirits including brandy and Cognac. Products may be aged or unaged and intended for sipping or mixing.
£ 309.00
Standard Rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

The Drinks categories recognise excellence across alcoholic beverages, celebrating quality, craftsmanship, innovation and performance within the drinks sector. Awards reflect the diversity of beer, wine, spirits and emerging drink formats available to UK consumers.

Judging Criteria

  1. Taste
  2. Texture
  3. Flavour
  4. Aroma
  5. Ingredients List
  6. Provenance
  7. Product Appearance
  8. Packaging
  9. Price Point/Value for Money
  10. Innovation/Aims in the Marketplace

Rum

Distilled spirits made from sugarcane by-products. Includes white, golden, dark, spiced and aged rum styles.
£ 309.00
Standard Rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

The Drinks categories recognise excellence across alcoholic beverages, celebrating quality, craftsmanship, innovation and performance within the drinks sector. Awards reflect the diversity of beer, wine, spirits and emerging drink formats available to UK consumers.

Judging Criteria

  1. Taste
  2. Texture
  3. Flavour
  4. Aroma
  5. Ingredients List
  6. Provenance
  7. Product Appearance
  8. Packaging
  9. Price Point/Value for Money
  10. Innovation/Aims in the Marketplace

Whisky & Whiskey

Distilled spirits made from fermented grain mash and aged in wood. Includes Scotch, American and world whiskeys.
£ 309.00
Standard Rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

The Drinks categories recognise excellence across alcoholic beverages, celebrating quality, craftsmanship, innovation and performance within the drinks sector. Awards reflect the diversity of beer, wine, spirits and emerging drink formats available to UK consumers.

Judging Criteria

  1. Taste
  2. Texture
  3. Flavour
  4. Aroma
  5. Ingredients List
  6. Provenance
  7. Product Appearance
  8. Packaging
  9. Price Point/Value for Money
  10. Innovation/Aims in the Marketplace

Aperitifs, Aromatised Wines and Bitters

Aperitif-style drinks designed for pre-dinner, spritz or mixed serves. Includes vermouth, aromatised wines, bitters and contemporary aperitif products intended for retail sale.
£ 309.00
Standard Rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

The Drinks categories recognise excellence across alcoholic beverages, celebrating quality, craftsmanship, innovation and performance within the drinks sector. Awards reflect the diversity of beer, wine, spirits and emerging drink formats available to UK consumers.

Judging Criteria

  1. Taste
  2. Texture
  3. Flavour
  4. Aroma
  5. Ingredients List
  6. Provenance
  7. Product Appearance
  8. Packaging
  9. Price Point/Value for Money
  10. Innovation/Aims in the Marketplace

Fortified Wine

Wines strengthened with additional alcohol, typically for sipping or mixed serves. Includes port, sherry, Madeira, Marsala and other fortified wine styles intended for retail sale.
£ 309.00
Standard Rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

The Drinks categories recognise excellence across alcoholic beverages, celebrating quality, craftsmanship, innovation and performance within the drinks sector. Awards reflect the diversity of beer, wine, spirits and emerging drink formats available to UK consumers.

Judging Criteria

  1. Taste
  2. Texture
  3. Flavour
  4. Aroma
  5. Ingredients List
  6. Provenance
  7. Product Appearance
  8. Packaging
  9. Price Point/Value for Money
  10. Innovation/Aims in the Marketplace