American Craft Spirits Competition
“It’s all great what your friends and family think about your spirits, but getting impartial and unbiased feedback from a panel of diverse spirit’s professionals is priceless…The feedback from the ACSA Judging notes was immeasurably helpful. Plus, it affirmed thoughts from family and friends. We will continue to be proud members of the American Craft Spirits Association for years to come – it’s worth it!”
— David Weglarz Owner/Distiller ; StilL 630; St Louis, MO
Entries Now Open for the 2026 American Craft Spirits Competition
The 2026 American Craft Spirits Competition is officially open for your entries until October 20, 2025!
It’s your moment to shine. We’re looking for American whiskeys, vodkas, rums, gins, brandies, RTDs, and other specialty craft spirits that could take home a medal!
Whether you’re nationally distributed or just launching your first product, we encourage you to submit your spirits to be tasted and reviewed by industry experts. ACSA recognition can help you build your brand, increase product distribution and sales, gain media exposure, and earn the industry cred you’ve been looking for.
Review the judging protocols and submission guidelines to see exactly what you’ll need.
For more than a decade, the annual ACSA Competition has been one of the most respected judging events in the craft spirits world—championing excellence and giving craft brands of all sizes a national stage. This competition is about more than hardware! Our diverse team of judges understands the competitive craft spirits landscape.
Every entry receives a thorough, thoughtful evaluation from seasoned industry pros, giving you validation you’re on the right track, plus insight to help take your spirits even further. Every entrant gets personalized tasting notes that reveal how your spirits resonate in today’s market. This is feedback you can use right away to fine-tune recipes, guide marketing, and strengthen your brand story.
The 2026 Competition judging will be held in Washington, D.C. at Cotton & Reed this November. This year’s competition will be chaired by Colton Weinstein of Liba Spirits and Jeff Wuslich of Cardinal Spirits
Entry Fees
Deadlines
Save $100 Per Entry as an ACSA Member
If you’re entering 4 or more products, becoming an ACSA member before you register can save you more than the cost of membership. That means you get all the year-round benefits for free—plus lower entry fees right now. Join ACSA now to lock in your savings.
Each judging panel is composed of three to five experts, carefully selected to represent diverse perspectives within the spirits industry—including retailers, mixologists, distributors, educators, journalists, reviewers, and distillers.
Judges will perform a sensory evaluation of the spirits and enter their perceptions on the score sheets provided. The nose, palate, finish, and balance of spirits will be evaluated in terms of cleanliness, length, depth, and complexity.
CHECK BACK SHORTLY TO SEE OUR LIST OF JUDGES FOR THE 2026 COMPETITION
Nov. 4-5, 2025 at Cotton & Reed distillery in Washington D.C.
We’ll announce the competition results at the 2026 American Craft Spirits Convention & Expo. We’ll also post all winners to our site, share the list with the media, and provide medalists with the marketing tools you need to promote your success.
While membership in ACSA is not a prerequisite for entering the competition, to enter your spirits you must be eligible for voting membership as defined by ACSA. ACSA membership does, however, provide a significant discount on entry fees.
ALL products must have a valid COLA from TTB. We reserve the right to request a copy of your COLA should there be a question as to an individual submission. Each spirit must have received formal approval for the “fanciful name” with a corresponding COLA by the date of judging or that spirit will be ineligible for evaluation.
You must identify whether your spirit is Third Party (made using a base spirit distilled off-site) or Made from Scratch (distilled on premise). You may classify a spirit as other or with some specific identifier. If your product is a blend of Third Party distillate and Made from Scratch distillate, please classify this as ‘other’ and note the blend. The Judging Chairs reserve the right to reclassify a submitted spirit based on its professional judgment.
Yes! Entries will be presented at an industry-wide tasting party at the 2026 American Craft Spirits Convention & Expo on April 17-18 in Sacramento California.
All products submitted will be considered property of the American Craft Spirits Association. The Judging Board retains the right not to award a medal, if, in its professional consensus, no medal is deserved in a specific category.
Neither ACSA nor Cotton & Reed will accept responsibility for entries damaged, late or lost in shipment.
Once registration is complete, all entries are final. We are unable to offer exceptions for delays, damages, or errors that occur during the shipping process.
No refunds will be issued for shipping-related issues.
