IWSC Spirits & RTD Judging in Kentucky

Building on the success of recent years, the IWSC’s 2026 Kentucky judging will welcome an expanded range of entries from across the United States and the wider North American continent.

Eligible categories are clearly defined by region:

United States of America
All spirits, RTDs, and No, Low & Mid Strength spirits

North America (excluding the USA)
Whiskies, RTDs, and No, Low & Mid Strength spirits

If you need any assistance in understanding our entry categories, please get in touch with us at info@iwsc.net

The IWSC Judging in Kentucky will offer its entrants unprecedented opportunities to build industry connections, get new listings and increase their brand awareness via extensive media campaigns held in the US and internationally.

• We promote our winners globally, via year-round social media campaigns; weekly features in our consumer magazine Club Oenologique and on the IWSC website; as well as at international trade fairs and tastings. In 2026 we will be conducting a US focused PR campaign for this Global Judging event.
• IWSC winners are regularly featured in key media, from Forbes to Time Out and many others. Our Kentucky Judging results will be a part of our UK and global PR campaigns, maximizing the exposure for our North American winners.
• Kentucky entrants will benefit from the same rigorous judging process as in the UK judging, and will have access to the same medals, certificates and toolkits.
• We are one of the only competitions to reveal the names of the judges, connecting you to the key decision-makers.
• The IWSC is also the only industry award body to share constructive feedback with the non-winners.
• Producers entering the IWSC Spirits & RTD Judging in Kentucky will benefit from convenient local delivery of their entries.

Launched in 2024, the IWSC Bourbon Producer Trophy celebrates outstanding bourbon producers making a mark at the heart of American whiskey country. Awarded following our dedicated Kentucky judging, it recognises producers demonstrating exceptional quality, consistency and craftsmanship across their bourbon portfolio.

Every bourbon producer who enters into the IWSC and assessed during our Kentucky judging is automatically considered for this highly regarded Producer Trophy. Once judging is complete, the IWSC reviews results to identify a shortlist of the top-performing bourbon producers.

This shortlist is then carefully assessed by members of the IWSC Judging Committee, who select the overall winner of the 2026 Bourbon Producer Trophy.

The winning producer will be announced at the IWSC Awards Celebration in November 2026.

Entry deadline: 25 April 2026

IWSC Spirits & RTD Judging in Kentucky: 1-6 June 2026

Results announcement: 12 June 2026

Entry fee

Number of samples

Spirits: Please send 2 x bottles of each entry.

RTD: Please send 4 x cans (or 1ltr in total) of each entry.

(Please note, if your spirit/RTD is awarded a gold medal, we may request additional samples to be sent to the UK for our Trophy judging and the IWSC Awards Celebration).

Delivery address:
Kentucky Eagle
Attn: Jim Gann and IWSC
2440 Innovation Drive
Lexington, KY 40511

Please make sure to include the IWSC in the delivery address.

Delivery timeframe: TBC

If you have any further questions, please check our Kentucky FAQ or contact us.