The Spirits Guide Awards 2026 - Entry Categories

Vodka Entry Categories 2026

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

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

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

Vodka Tasting Categories

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

Pure Neutral Vodka: Colourless vodkas distilled without botanicals and not enhanced with flavourings, infusions, or sweetening. Minimum 37.5% ABV, maximum 50% ABV.
Botanical Vodka: Vodkas distilled with natural botanicals and unsweetened. Excludes Flavoured / Infused Vodkas. Minimum 37.5% ABV, maximum 50% ABV.
Flavoured / Infused Vodka: Vodkas with prominent natural flavours of fruit, flowers or other ingredients from which flavour is achieved through infusion or blending. Excludes vodka liqueurs. Minimum 37.5% ABV, maximum 50% ABV.

International Vodka Awards

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

African Vodka: Vodkas distilled and bottled within Africa.
Asian Vodka: Vodkas distilled and bottled within Asia.
Australasian Vodka: Vodkas distilled and bottled within Australia or New Zealand.
British Vodka: Vodkas distilled and bottled within England, Scotland and Wales.
European Vodka: Vodkas distilled and bottled within Europe.
North American Vodka: Vodkas distilled and bottled within the USA or Canada.
South & Central American Vodka: Vodkas distilled and bottled within South America, Central America or the Caribbean.

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:

Vodka Distillery of the Year Award: Awarded to the distillery whose vodka range (2 or more entries across 2 or more Vodka categories) has achieved the highest average score. The Winner receives the Glencairn Glass 'Vodka Distillery of the Year 2026' Trophy.
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.

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

Vodka Cocktail Categories

Vodka Martini Category (additional cost - £80 per vodka)
Each vodka entered into this category is judged as a Martini made with a 6:1 ratio of vodka to Dolin vermouth.

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.