The Spirits Guide Awards 2026 - Liqueur Entry Categories

Liqueur Entry Categories 2026

The Spirits Guide Awards celebrates liqueurs and producers in the following categories. Please ensure you have read the full descriptions of each category before entering your liqueur(s) to ensure that they are placed in the most suitable category:

Tasting categories
Geographic categories
Distillery & Product Awards
Design & Branding category

If you are unsure if your liqueur is eligible for a category, please contact [email protected] before entering.

Liqueur Tasting Categories

These categories are defined by the taste, character and quality of the liqueur:

Gin & Vodka Based Liqueurs: Flavoured and sweetened alcoholic beverages produced with a base of gin / vodka / neutral spirit, with a minimum of 100g of sugar per litre, and with an ABV of 15% or above. This category is divided into the following sub-categories:
- Coffee Liqueurs
- Fruit Liqueurs (including Limoncello)
- Herbal Liqueurs
- Liqueurs with other flavours (including nuts, spices, flowers)
Rum Based Liqueurs: Flavoured and sweetened alcoholic beverages produced with a base of rum, with a minimum of 100g of sugar per litre, and with an ABV of 15% or above. This category is divided into the following sub-categories:
- Coffee Liqueurs
- Fruit / Tropical Liqueurs
- Spiced Liqueurs
- Liqueurs with other flavours (e.g. caramel, honey, chocolate)

Please Note: The 2026 Awards are not open to brandy based liqueurs, whisky based liqueurs, or cream liqueurs - additional categories will be launched in 2027.

International Liqueur Awards

These categories are defined by the production location of the liqueur. Awards are presented in each country and/or continent that receives the threshold minimum number of entries, including:

Africa | Asia | Australasia | Britain | Europe |North America | South & Central America

Country Categories: Additional national and regional Awards are awarded for all countries and geographical regions from which the threshold number of entries are received. For example, see the 2025 International Awards results.

Distillery & Product Awards

These categories are Awarded to distilleries entering multiple products and achieving the highest average scores across their entries:

Distillery of the Year Award: Awarded to the distillery whose product range (2 or more entries across 2 or more product categories (e.g. gin and vodka) in the 2026 Awards) has achieved the highest average score. The Winner receives the Glencairn Glass 'Distillery of the Year 2026' Trophy.
New Distillery of the Year Award: Awarded to the distillery launched in 2025 whose products (2 or more entries across 2 or more product categories (e.g. gin and vodka) in the 2026 Awards) have achieved the highest average score. The Winner receives the coveted Glencairn Glass 'New Distillery of the Year 2026' Trophy.

Liqueur of the Year Award: Awarded to the liqueur which achieves the highest combined score from its blind tasting category together with the Design & Branding category.

Design & Branding Award

Design & Branding Award (additional cost - £95)
For the brands or individual products with the most outstanding combination of branding, bottling, labelling, presentation, and related brand activity and materials. Judged by spirits industry professionals and specialists in spirits marketing, PR, retail and merchandising.

You will be contacted after entry for additional information to support your entry into these categories. You can view the Information Form in advance here.