How SIP Awards Judging Works

Yes. The SIP Awards has been judged only by consumers since 2009. Judges are screened spirit enthusiasts, and anyone with professional ties to the spirits industry is excluded. Many other spirits competitions are judged by industry professionals.

An annual international spirits competition based in Irvine, California, founded by Pouya “Paul” Hashemi. Every spirit is judged in a double-blind tasting by consumers, not industry professionals. In 2026 it had 1,325 entries from 48 countries across 176 categories, judged by more than 400 consumers.

Judging takes place both at in-person events and at home, and both are controlled and blind. Spirits are served unlabeled, undiluted and chilled in a Neat glass. Judges score aroma, taste and finish from 1 to 5. Some samples are served twice to check each judge’s palate consistency, and a proprietary algorithm sets medals based on category size, number of judges and score trends.

Best of Class, Platinum, Double Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze. Brands that win medals two or more years in a row receive the Consumers’ Choice Award. There is also an Innovation Award and a separate Bottle and Packaging Design Competition. There are no participation awards: about 1 in 6 brands receives no medal.

Register your products online through the Enter Your Brand page, then ship or drop off your samples. Spirits need two 750 ml bottles, two 700 ml bottles or three 500 ml bottles per entry. Samples go to SIP Awards, 192 Technology Dr, Suite E, Irvine, CA 92618. Details for the 2027 competition will be announced November 15, 2026.

Brands from any country, including distillers, producers, distributors, agents and PR agencies, with the brand owner’s permission. Products must be commercially produced and available for retail, or planned for release that year. Spirits, mixers, ready-to-drink and non-alcoholic products are accepted, and U.S. distribution is not required.

It depends on whose opinion matters most to you. Industry-judged competitions show how professional tasters and buyers rate your spirit. The SIP Awards shows how the people who buy spirits rate it in a blind tasting. Many brands enter both kinds, because the medals answer different questions.

A medal gives shoppers and buyers an independent signal of quality. In the SIP Awards 2026 consumer survey, 38% of consumers said they make purchasing decisions based on a spirit’s competition accolades. SIP winners also get medal artwork, certificates and stickers through the marketing kit, and placement on the SIP Awards results pages.

SIP Awards is currently accepting judge interest applications. Apply through the Become a Judge page at sipawards.com/customcode/judge-registration-2027/. Anyone with professional ties to the spirits industry is not eligible, and judges are not paid.

Only entry fees. The SIP Awards has no holdings in alcohol companies, distributors, importers, stores, bars or restaurants.