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 spirits 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 2027 American Craft Spirits Competition

For more than a decade, ACSA’s Annual Spirits 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! It’s an opportunity to get your products in front of a diverse set of esteemed industry members including, retailers, distributors, influencers, and media.

Benefits of Entering

New for 2027
- Double Gold Medal for All Spirits Categories: Building on 2026, we’re expanding a new top tier of recognition. Entries in every spirits category are now eligible for Double Gold medals.
- Enhanced Scoring & Feedback: This year, we’re rolling out new scoresheets to more accurately capture the type of commentary that can be turned into action.
360° Marketing Support: Medalist can expect a monthly email with tips for:
- Tasting rooms and on-premise signage
- Websites and digital marketing tips
- Distributor, retailer, and buyer communications
- Sell sheets, POS materials, and bottle packaging
- Email campaigns, sales outreach, and social media
Free Promotion Toolkit: Medalists will receive ready-to-use digital and physical materials to promote their medal free of charge.
Increased Brand Awareness: Coverage through industry press, CraftSpiritsMag.com, ACSA newsletters, and more.
Priority Event Opportunities: Gold medalists receive priority access to ACSA-partnered events designed to connect distillers with the craft spirits community and passionate fans.

The 2027 Spirits Competition will take place in Thornton, Illinois at Thornton Distilling Company. This year’s competition is chaired by Colton Weinstein of Liba Spirits and OJ Lima of Bainbridge Organic Distillers.

Entry Fees

ACSA Member: $300

Non-Member: $400

NEW for 2027: If you enter more than two spirits, you’ll receive a $50 discount on each additional entry.

Deadlines

September 21, 2026: Entry shipments may begin

October 19, 2026: Last day for registration

October 26, 2026: Entry receiving deadline

In 2027, scoring of spirits is based on a 60–100 point system with the points allotted to criteria uniquely weighted to appropriately match each individual spirits category. Judges will award silver, gold and double gold medals for spirits based on the average panel score. All spirits that medal are presented to a panel of judges for certifying that medal rather than simply allowing an average to be the final decision on an award. If there is a majority concern of the medal standing of a product in relation to the average score, the spirit may be certified by elevation to a higher medal or conversely, declassifying to a lower medal or in some cases, no medal at all. This is to account for outlier judges that can tank or inflate an average score.

New in 2027

ACSA will award silver, gold, and double gold medals based on the following average scores:

● Silver: Overall score of 80–89

● Gold: Overall score of 90–100

● Double Gold: Every judge at the table awarded the spirit a score of 90 or higher.

Best of Class

Once judging of the flights are complete, the staging room staff will compose a flight of each Best of Class. Flights will be composed of the top scoring spirits in each category. Judges will not be informed of the previous score or medal assignment of the spirits making up the Best of Class flight. Best of Class will be drawn from gold medal spirits first.

Best in Show

The Best in Show will be selected from the full slate of Best of Class winners across every category. The entire pool of judges will convene to rate this flight blind and rank the spirits in the flight. The top-ranked spirits will be named Best in Show.

Innovation Award

The Innovation Award can be awarded in any of the spirits categories. The Innovation Award, was created to showcase true creativity, honors an innovative, remarkable spirit that is not commonly associated with a flavor profile in a known spirits category.

At the discretion of the Judging Chairs, a modified mean may be used, allowing the lowest score from the panel of judges to be discarded. The judges are also permitted to upgrade a medal based on the spirit’s overall quality and merit.

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.

Coming Soon: Meet the Judges for the 2027 American Craft Spirits Competition!

When will judging take place?

The spirits competition will take place on November 3-4, 2026 at Thornton Distilling Company in Thornton, Illinois.

When will the awards be announced?

We’ll announce the competition results at the 2027 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.

Am I eligible to enter the ACSA Craft Spirits Competition?

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.

Is there an opportunity to taste spirits from the competition?

Yes! Entries will be presented at an industry-wide tasting party at the 2027 American Craft Spirits Convention & Expo on February 17-18, 2027 in Chicago, Illinois.

More about the convention.

What if my product doesn't arrive on time?

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 Thornton Distilling Co. 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.