The winner of this award will have no equal and embody excellence in spirits retailing. They will have achieved significant sales growth in the UK or overseas and will have an impressive display of value and range for their customers. Efforts to offer education, category exploration, and deeper consumer connections will be rewarded.

This award will be split into three sections, which will be judged separately:

• E-Commerce

• Specialist

• Supermarket

This award recognises the very best distributors. Our judges will be looking for interesting and varied portfolios in addition to evidence that entrants are committed to continually developing their unique products and services. Proven brand-building capabilities, marketing support, category and market expertise, and dedicated, reliable teams will be celebrated.

The world's greatest bar groups have strong global/regional influences, and are industry leaders. Not only do they create successful venues, with strong identities and bold visions, but they are able to shape the future of drinking culture. People are at the heart of the bar industry - how is your bar group not only creating meaningful and memorable experiences for guests, but thriving work environment for employees?

Whether your bottling business is more services-driven or you're creating a point of difference in the independent bottling space, we want to hear about your great work. There's a particular level of efficiency, adaptability and capacity that comes with being a third-party spirits bottler - is that you? Or perhaps you're sourcing some seriously cool liquid from around the world and opening new markets and audiences to the wonderful world of spirits. This award is open to spirits bottlers of all shapes and sizes.

Public relations are a crucial part of the spirits industry. This award will go to a PR company whose work demonstrates how they have pushed their clients to the fore. They will have demonstrable success in securing high-profile media coverage across B2B and consumer-facing publications, the ability to win new clients and retain long-lasting brand relationships. The ability to successfully think outside the box when it comes to creating campaigns and marketing initiatives will be evident, along with managing crisis situations.

Have you created the most eye-catching campaign of the year? Have you got consumers fighting in the aisles for your brands? Have you inspired unprecedented customer brand loyalty with a super strategy and tangible results? We are looking for dazzling advertising, targeted PR and targeted online/social marketing. In-house and agency candidates are welcome to enter.

This category is designed to encompass a range of events, from annual tastings to exhibitions, masterclasses and seminars. To succeed in this category, please clearly illustrate what made your event successful. This should include an explanation of the initial concept, how it was planned and promoted, what it set out to achieve, before clearly stating the results. Please include the timeline, visitor numbers, costs, attendee feedback, and, most importantly, the results.

The environment matters and the need for greener distilling is greater than ever. Our judges are looking for evidence of environmental efforts that go beyond traditional standards. Where and how is your company going above and beyond to protect the environment, reduce its carbon footprint, and create better conditions for its local community? Our judges will taking a holistic approach to this category, so evidence of creating sustainable ways of working for both the planet and people will be expected.

Awarded to a company or product that shows commitment to worthy causes, the Ethical Award will consider all types of activities covering community engagement, charity donations, best practices in promoting responsible drinking, and more.

Has your production team come up with a ground-breaking, industry-leading innovation? Has a new process or procedure increased yield or become a world first? This is a technical category, and our judges are looking for evidence that your team's innovation has significantly boosted business, enhanced product quality, or even improved efficiency in some way. But above all, it has to be new and it has to be different.

It is often said that while the liquid in the bottle wins the second sale, it is the packaging that secures the first. With this in mind, there's no denying the importance of physical appearance in the spirits world. Here, the judges will be looking for innovation in artwork and packaging. Sustainability will play an important role in the final decision, so be sure to share this information with our judges.

This category rewards and recognises consumer experience excellence. Tell us how you delight your visitors: it could be an experiential distillery tour, an immersive sampling experience, a purpose-built, engaging visitor centre - or something else. Let us know what makes your distillery special for consumers and why you are so successful.

Cities like London and Edinburgh have garnered global reputations for being home to some of the world's greatest bars. And we also know there are plenty of bars in towns and cities outside of these areas with heaps of on-trade talent that deserve to be celebrated. Our judges will be looking for carefully - and creatively - curated cocktail menus, strong interiors, the utmost care for guests and staff, and venues that make you want to return again and again. Bars are an important part of local communities - how does your bar contribute towards yours?

Which bars outside of the UK are shaping the future of hospitality? Our judges want to know about the most forward-thinking cocktail menus, interiors, training programmes, community impact, and USPs of bars from around the world. What sets you apart from other venues out there, and how are you making a positive difference to the global bar scene? People - from consumers to staff - are the beating heart of venues, so be sure to show how you deliver world-class hospitality and care for employees in your application.

This award recognises both launches and relaunches across an 18-month period (1 January 2025 to 30 June 2026). Judges will consider the design and packaging of the brand, inspiration, and marketing support. But also, the quality of the liquid will play a key role in the assessment. We strongly encourage physical products to be supplied with this entry, though samples with supporting imagery and information will be accepted.

The Brand of the Year award is split into seven sections in an aim to recognise the best-performing brands across each spirit category. Judges will consider the overall performance of the brand, including the product range, growth, and commitment to quality. The storytelling, distribution/retail growth, and sustainable considerations will also be assessed.

• Whisky/Whiskey

• Gin

• Vodka

• Speciality Spirits (Low & No/Liqueurs/Pre-Mixed/Other)

• Tequila & Mezcal

• Brandy & Cognac

• Rum & Cachaça

Are your blending abilities making waves in the spirits world? If so, we want to hear why you deserve to be crowned Blender of the Year. Our judges are looking for evidence of skill, creativity and innovation when approaching the art of blending spirits, and how this has contributed to both company and wider category success.

Have you mastered the craft of distilling over your career in the industry? Our judges are looking to award an individual who has displayed distilling expertise to develop remarkable spirits. Applicants should clearly highlight their accomplishments and precisely how their distilling experience sets them apart.

Are you on a meteoric rise to the top of your game? You must be under 35 to enter this category and demonstrate how you have delivered exceptional work over the last 18 months (1 January 2025 to 30 June 2026). This award is open to professionals spanning the breadth of the spirits industry, and no role is off limits. Judges will be looking at how you have made impressive strides in your career, overall ambition, and how you are bringing fresh ideas to the table.

The Bartender of the Year Award recognises the pinnacle of mixology and hospitality, honouring an individual whose exceptional skills elevate the overall drinking experience. This individual's talents will extend well beyond drinks; we're looking to reward someone who embodies the true meaning of hospitality, with care for people and communities as much as cocktails.

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognises an outstanding and inspirational figure in the world of spirits, whose enduring contribution spans an impressive career. They will have a clear passion for spirits, with years of success and positive impacts on the industry. This individual will be able to show tangible evidence of improvement, innovation and growth across their category/area of expertise. They will be a leader in their field, inspiring others to continue upholding the foundations they have built and the values they hold. They will be an indisputable inspiration to the wider trade.

From mentorship schemes and training programmes to educational offerings, there are a plethora of fantastic initiatives that aim to inspire, teach and offer new skills to industry professionals. If you've created a training initiative for the spirits and hospitality industries, with demonstrable success and positive impacts, you could win our inaugural Training Initiatives award.