About the awards
World Vodka Awards 2026
The World Vodka Awards aims to showcase the best people, products, and places in the global vodka industry.
Dates for your diary- Entry Deadline (Taste & Design) – 6 January 2026
- Shipping Deadline – 3 February 2026
- Final tastings & winner announcement: 7 April 2026
- Global Winner Announcement – 2 June 2026
What are the World Vodka Awards?
The World Vodka Awards are the global awards selecting the very best internationally recognised vodka styles. Our annual tasting selects, awards and promotes the best vodka to consumers and the trade throughout the world. Vodka must be generally available and for sale, which can be on and off trade, local or international.
Whether you're a seasoned distiller or just starting out, participating in the World Vodka Awards is an exciting way to gain exposure for your brand and connect with other vodka lovers, regionally and from across the globe. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to get noticed in the ever-expanding world of vodka!
Who should enter the World Vodka Awards?
The World Vodka Awards are for any passionate distillers, agents, importers, wholesalers, retailers or distilleries, who believe they have an exceptional product that the world needs to taste.
Why enter the World Vodka Awards?
1. Demonstrate your product's quality with individual assessments from our esteemed global judging panel, each expertly chosen for their proficiency in your specific drinks category. Taste and quality are the sole criteria that hold significance in our blind evaluation process.
2. Claim victory and empower consumers in their purchasing journey. Amidst the overwhelming array of products on shelves, being an award winner sets you apart, helping consumers to make informed choices.
3. Unlock exclusive benefits at no cost – receive complimentary logos and certificates to showcase your triumph and boost your brand image. All winning assets remain accessible on your online profile. Explore a diverse array of tailor-made promotional materials, curated specifically for your win.
4. Garner global recognition as every winner earns a dedicated profile and a direct link to their website on www.worlddrinksawards.com, a platform frequented by thousands monthly
5. Amplify your brand's visibility with coverage of award winners across our influential social media channels, ensuring your success reaches a vast global audience.
How to enter the World Vodka Awards
1. Head on over to www.worlddrinksawards.com and log in to your account, or register if this is your first time entering.
2. Tell us about you, your brand and the award-worthy product you want to submit.
3. Go to the checkout and pay the entrance fee to finish your registration.
4. Ship your product to us and we’ll take it from there!
Get in touch if you have any questions: info@worlddrinksawards.com +44 (0)1603 633 808
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: World Whiskies Awards
Instagram: @worlddrinksawards
LinkedIn: WorldDrinksAwards
Icons of Drinks
Welcome to the Icons of DrinksWe are delighted to say that the Icons of Drinks are now open for entries and introduce our new online entry system. You can simply make your applications through your customer profile.
The Icons of Drinks Awards are a celebration of the years of hard work that go into every bottle. From the distillers themselves and brand ambassadors, to visitor centre managers, bars, bar tenders and the industry’s communicators – a great deal of craftsmanship, skill and knowledge are imparted at each stage of the process. This is our way of saying thank you to the individuals and producers for their dedication to each innovative release, visitor experience or expert retail service, delivered in a tireless fashion.
Taste categories
A vodka that has been flavoured, at least in part, by the distillation of botanicals or plant materials and does not solely use extracts/flavourings or infusions. Specific flavour(s) must be declared on the entry form.
Minimum ABV: 30%ABV. Products can be sweetened. The specific flavour(s) must be declared on the entry form. If more than one flavour is included in the vodka, then main flavour(s) should be specified.
A flavoured vodka is one where the spirit has been processed to add flavour beyond that of the vodka’s base raw materials. It is made by either:
i) the addition of flavouring or essences (“compounding”);
ii) the infusion/maceration of raw material in the vodka;
iii) or a combination of the two.
Aged vodka is a subcategory of flavoured vodka and is a vodka aged in barrels or with wooden chips, staves, etc..
Vodka distilled from any permitted base material(s), in accordance with the country of origin’s regulations. In addition, impurities in aroma and flavour should be filtered out to leave a clear spirit of clean, flavourless, neutral character. Minimum ABV: 37.5%ABV.
Vodkas entered into this category will be judged based on their neutrality / flavourless qualities.
If a vodka has residual base character coming through from the raw materials, it should be entered into the Varietal Vodka category.
An unflavoured vodka where at least some of the residual character of the base material is retained after distillation e.g. apple, potato, etc., but no other flavours are added. Minimum ABV: 37.5%ABV.
Vodkas in this category will be judged on the residual character that comes through from the base spirit. Please declare the base material on the entry form to enable the spirit to be judged appropriately.
Design categories
This design category includes only singular bottles without outer packaging. It does include any decorative items such as neck tags or collars. The overall design, including closure, of the glass or PET bottle: shape, colour, functionality and any embossing, decorative finishes, coatings, or direct printed elements as well as visual appeal will be assessed in this category.
This category is designed to cater for all on shelf gift packs. These can be either gift packs containing individual bottles with packaging and accessories (such as glassware) or multi-product sets, including miniatures.
This includes all aspects of on-bottle brand/product communication, including the application of any direct printing onto bottle, capsule or closure, as well as paper and film labels and sleeves. This will be judged on the overall design and quality of materials, print, decoration and application.
This category applies to designs where the number produced was limited, such as for a special production, occasion or season. This can include individual bottles as well as bottles with outer packaging. This does not include gift packs, travel retail exclusives or special edition designs, which should be entered separately.
Packaging for a new product launched after February 1, 2025. This must be a new product, not a re-design of an existing product. Redesigns, please see the redesign/relaunch category.
This is a packaging design that carries through and unites a range or ‘family’ of different products from one producer or brand. To enter this category a minimum of three expressions need to be provided in order to assess the range design.
This category refers to a new or refreshed packaging design created for an existing product and introduced to the market after February 1, 2025. A picture or sample of the previous packaging must be supplied along with a description of what changes have been made and why
This applies to the secondary, outer, presentation packaging, such as cartons, boxes, cases, plinths, chests etc. The presentation will be judged on the overall effect with the bottle in place. This does not include gift packs or speciality designs, which should be entered separately.
This category is for speciality designs or ‘one off’ productions which have been exclusively designed for a very special occasion, are very limited and mostly in a higher price range. Must contain outer packaging. Sale is extremely selected and not generally available.
Products created specifically and only for sale in the duty-free / travel retail market. This can either individual bottles or products with outer packaging.
The judging process
Taste
Round OneEach vodka is tasted in its relevant style to identify and select the style winners. Judges making up the World Vodka Awards panel include international, leading journalists, specialist drinks retailers and industry experts.
Round TwoStyle winners are tasted against each other to identify the ‘Best’ vodka in each category.
Round ThreeThe ‘Best’ vodka in each category are then tasted against each other one last time to select the World’s Best Vodka. Judges at this stage include those in Round 1 and 2 to whom are added a panel of leading distillers and experts from the vodka industry.
Design
All design judging is conducted by a panel of leading international design experts.
Please send 3 bottles. If you have entered only in design, please only send 2 bottles.
Shipping
When shipping your product, please keep in mind the following:
- Ensure all products are packaged securely.
- Print the packing slip from your online profile for each product and attach this to your package(s).
- World Vodka Awards accepts bottles.
- Ensure all customs and duties fees are cleared when booking in the shipment yourself. Should the World Vodka Awards be required to pay any charges, you will be invoiced for the amount plus an administration fee.
- The World Drinks Awards has collection depots in Italy and France. You will be provided with all details once your shipment is booked, but you will need to ensure you deliver your entries to the local depot yourself. The transport costs for which are not part of the shipping fee.
Quantities Required
For
Taste entries, we require for each entry:
- 3 x 500ml (minimum) Bottles
For
Design entries, we require for each entry:
If you have entered both Taste and Design, please provide the number of bottles specified under the 'Taste' entries quantities section.
How to Ship
We are delighted to introduce our shipping system, allowing you to ship your entries straight through our own booking system in conjunction with our shipping partner. For a set shipping fee, that covers customs and duties costs, we get your shipment booked in, picked up and on its way! Pallet shipping is also available. Download the shipping guide
here. Please note this service is available for shipments destined for the
UK only. Please check your individual entry confirmation email for details of where to send your shipment.
When you are shipping your entries yourself, please ensure that all customs, clearance and any associated costs have been paid. If these are not paid, World Vodka Awards can either not accept the entries or will have to invoice any costs occurred, including an administration fee. All duty invoices will come directly from our accounts team.
We do accept in-person deliveries. Please contact our awards team at
info@worlddrinkawards.com to ensure someone is on site to receive your package(s).
Rates
Entry fees
Early Entry Rates - only until 30 November |
|---|
| Note: price is for each entry |
|---|
| | 1 entry | 2 entries | 3 entries | 4+ entries |
|---|
| Sterling |
| Taste & Design | £315 + VAT | £295 + VAT | £285 + VAT | £275 + VAT |
| Design only | £209 + VAT | £199 + VAT | £189 + VAT | £179 + VAT |
| Taste only | £209 + VAT | £199 + VAT | £189 + VAT | £179 + VAT |
| Euro |
| Taste & Design | €375 | €365 | €355 | €345 |
| Design only | €245 | €240 | €235 | €230 |
| Taste only | €245 | €240 | €235 | €230 |
| USD |
| Taste & Design | $449 | $429 | $419 | $409 |
| Design only | $299 | $289 | $279 | $269 |
| Taste only | $299 | $289 | $279 | $269 |
| Canadian Dollar |
| Taste & Design | $535 | $520 | $505 | $490 |
| Design only | $365 | $355 | $345 | $335 |
| Taste only | $365 | $355 | $345 | $335 |
Standard Pricing |
|---|
| Note: price is for each entry |
|---|
| | 1 entry | 2 entries | 3 entries | 4+ entries |
|---|
| Sterling |
| Taste & Design | £327 + VAT | £307 + VAT | £297 + VAT | £286 + VAT |
| Design only | £217 + VAT | £207 + VAT | £197 + VAT | £186 + VAT |
| Taste only | £217 + VAT | £207 + VAT | £197 + VAT | £186 + VAT |
| Euro |
| Taste & Design | €390 | €380 | €369 | €359 |
| Design only | €255 | €250 | €245 | €239 |
| Taste only | €255 | €250 | €245 | €239 |
| USD |
| Taste & Design | $459 | $439 | $429 | $419 |
| Design only | $305 | $295 | $285 | $275 |
| Taste only | $305 | $295 | $285 | $275 |
| Canadian Dollar |
| Taste & Design | $560 | $545 | $530 | $515 |
| Design only | $385 | $375 | $365 | $350 |
| Taste only | $385 | $375 | $365 | $350 |
Terms & conditions
- Products must be sent by prepaid post and be received by the Shipping Date listed.
- Entries are only accepted on a completed online entry form with the appropriate entry fee.
- If an entry is withdrawn by the Due Date (or disqualified), the entry fee will be returned subject to an administration charge of 50% of the entry fee. Products will be made available for collection at the entrant’s expense or retained by the Organiser if not collected within eight weeks of the due date. Due Date is the entry deadline.
- If an entry is withdrawn after the Due Date, no refunds will be given. This includes entries for which product has not been received.
- Payment in full is required before judging commences.
- Substitutions of entries is possible, but needs to be communicated to the World Drinks Awards prior to the Due Date.
- If you are shipping your entries yourself, please ensure that all customs, clearance and any associated costs have been paid in advance. If these costs are not paid, the World Drinks Awards will invoice any costs occurred, including an administration fee. If these costs remain unpaid, the World Drinks Awards are unable to accept the entries.
- The judges’ decision on all matters is final.
- The Organisers may, at their discretion, refuse to accept an entry.
- The Organisers may alter the closing date for the awards, place an entry in the most appropriate style, rule that an entry may not compete or is ineligible to compete, or alter the date, time or place on or at which the awards are scheduled to take place.
- The Chair of Judges has the power to disqualify any entry not deemed as meeting the entry criteria.
- These rules are governed by the laws of the UK.
- Please note, bottles are unable to be returned. Our policy on unreturned bottles is as follows:
- Opened bottles may be poured at trade and consumer events to promote the individual brand, or included in a charity bottling, the proceeds of which are distributed to charity.
- Closed bottles may be distributed to individual charities on a case by basis, or presented for auction, all proceeds of which are distributed to charity.