The London Spirits Competition is excited to announce the introduction of its new “Category Distillery of the Year” Medals, designed to recognise the exceptional achievements of distilleries in specific spirit categories. This prestigious accolade highlights producers that consistently deliver excellence across quality, value, and packaging in their respective categories.

The newly introduced awards include:

Whisky Distillery of the Year
Gin Distillery of the Year
Vodka Distillery of the Year
Rum Distillery of the Year
Tequila Distillery of the Year
Brandy Distillery of the Year
Cognac Distillery of the Year
Liqueur Distillery of the Year
RTD (Ready-to-Drink) Distillery of the Year

These medals are awarded based on the collective performance of a distillery’s entries within a category, rewarding consistency, innovation, and the ability to excel across multiple submissions. Distilleries earning these medals will gain an unparalleled platform to showcase their expertise and reinforce their leadership within the global spirits market.

“The ‘Category Distillery of the Year’ Medals are our way of celebrating not just individual products but the incredible work of distilleries that consistently deliver excellence across their portfolio,” said Sid Patel, CEO of the London Spirits Competition. “This new initiative underscores our commitment to highlighting the best producers in the industry and providing them with the recognition they deserve.”

Winning a “Category Distillery of the Year” medal offers distilleries an opportunity to enhance their reputation, attract trade buyers, and gain visibility among consumers. The award also serves as a powerful marketing tool, symbolizing a distillery’s dedication to producing high-quality spirits.

The winners of the 2025 “Category Distillery of the Year” Medals will be announced alongside the main competition results, which will celebrate the finest spirits from around the globe.

Benefits to Distilleries of Winning "Category Distillery of the Year" Medals

1) Global Recognition:
Establish your distillery as a leader in your spirit category on an international platform.

2) Credibility Boost:
Demonstrate your consistency and expertise in crafting high-quality spirits, enhancing your reputation among industry professionals and consumers.

3) Marketing Edge:
Use the medal as a powerful branding tool in promotional materials, packaging, and trade presentations to attract buyers and distributors.

4) Increased Consumer Trust:
This medal signifies excellence, encouraging consumers to choose your products with confidence.

5) Trade Buyer Appeal:
Makes your spirits more appealing to retailers, bars, and distributors, as the award highlights your portfolio's overall quality and consistency.

6) Sales Growth:
Awards influence purchasing decisions, potentially leading to higher sales and increased market share.

7) Competitive Differentiation:
Stand out in a crowded market with an award that highlights your distillery’s unique achievements in a specific category.

8) Media Exposure:
Gain visibility through competition press releases, social media campaigns, and industry coverage, putting your distillery in the spotlight.

9) Motivates Team Excellence:
Inspires your team to strive for higher standards and fosters pride in their craftsmanship.

10) Support for Export and Distribution:
Boosts your appeal to international markets, helping open doors to new territories and partnerships.

11) Recognition Across Multiple Spirits:
Encourages distilleries with diverse portfolios to showcase their strength across various spirit categories.

12) Long-term Branding Opportunities:
Leverage the medal’s prestige for years, reinforcing your distillery’s legacy of excellence.

How the "Category Distillery of the Year" Medals Work

The "Category Distillery of the Year" Medals by the London Spirits Competition are designed to reward distilleries for consistent excellence across their product range within specific spirit categories. Here’s how the process works:

1) Eligibility:
- Distilleries must participate in the London Spirits Competition and submit at least four spirits in a specific category (e.g., whisky, gin, vodka, etc.).
- All four (or more) entries are automatically considered for the "Category Distillery of the Year" medal based on their category.
- You must be a distillery.

2) Judging Process:
- Each spirit is evaluated by an expert panel on quality, value for money, and packaging, using the competition's established scoring system.
- The distillery’s overall score in a category is calculated as the average of its submitted entries in that category.
- You must have an average score of 90 and above across all entries in the same category to qualify.
- A minimum of 2 gold medals must be achieved from the distiller in the same category.
- Following the completion of award judging, LC will shortlist that country's top five performing distilleries. Short-listed distilleries will then be asked to fill out a questionnaire based on innovation, authenticity, expression, and craftsmanship. Each distillery will also be asked how they are making an overall impact in their respective categories.
- The judges’ insights and evaluations gathered through this questionnaire will play a crucial role in determining the winners of the prestigious "Category Distillery of the Year" medals. Their feedback will be factored into the final decision-making process, ensuring a holistic assessment of each distillery’s performance. This approach highlights not just numerical scores but also qualitative input, reflecting innovation, consistency, and the overall impact of the distillery’s portfolio in its specific spirit category. Ultimately, the final selection is at the discretion of the judges, leveraging their expertise and collective judgment to ensure the most deserving distilleries are recognized.

3) Medal Announcement:
- Winners are announced alongside the main competition results.
- Each winner receives the "Category Distillery of the Year" medal, recognizing their outstanding contribution to their specific spirit category.

4) Categories Recognised:
- Whisky Distillery of the Year
- Gin Distillery of the Year
- Vodka Distillery of the Year
- Rum Distillery of the Year
- Tequila Distillery of the Year
- Brandy Distillery of the Year
- Cognac Distillery of the Year
- Liqueur Distillery of the Year
- RTD (Ready-to-Drink) Distillery of the Year

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5) Promotional Opportunities:
- Winners receive digital and physical medals for use in marketing materials, product packaging, and promotional campaigns.
- Featured in London Spirits Competition’s press releases, website, and social media channels.

This process ensures that distilleries are recognised not just for individual products but for their overarching quality and expertise in producing exceptional spirits within their chosen category. Additional categories may be included based on trends in the market or consumer preferences. For example, in 2025 we will include the additional category of Low & No Distillery of the Year.