Competition – Judges – Sponsors – FAQ – Award Winners
In addition to written feedback from our judges and free entry into our Excellence in Packaging Awards, competition winners receive a number of additional benefits.
Distribution Partner Program
All Best of Class trophy winners will be given the chance to schedule a meeting with senior executives from our distribution partners American Spirits Exchange, Pacific Edge Wine & Spirits, Southern Glazer’s Craft Collection Luxury Spirits Division, and Winebow to discuss goals and possible distribution opportunities.
American Spirits Exchange
Founded in 2011, American Spirits Exchange is a national importer and distributor serving the alcoholic beverage industry. They focus on the back office work of the industry, such as complicated alcohol beverage compliance, so producers and brands can focus on marketing and sales. They also have over 27 million cubic feet of warehouse space in Pennsylvania and California.
Pacific Edge Wine & Spirits
Founded in 2002, Pacific Edge Wine & Spirits is a wholesale distribution company that specialize in craft, handcrafted products along with assortments of specialty spirits and wine products from around the world. The goal of Pacific Edge is to bring the highest quality products from around the world to the country’s top retailers.
Southern Glazer Wine & Spirits
Since 2021, Southern’s Craft Collection Luxury Spirits has specialized in selling premium craft and luxury spirits and led by Ray Lombard, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Craft Spirits. This division is focused on brand development and incubation and connects unique craft brands with accounts, creating long-term relationships and growth.
Winebow Fine Wine & Spirits
Founded in 1980, Winebow has grown into a leading importer and distributor in the United States, that offers a dynamic portfolio of fine wine and spirits from around the world. Winebow is in all 51 U.S. markets: 33 as an importer and 18 as both an importer and distributor. Winebow represent a collection of best-in-class artisanal spirits and works to understand the needs of retailer, restaurants and bars, and to get them the products they want.
Retail Partner Program
All Best of Class trophy winners are given the chance to schedule meetings with senior sales executives from our retail partners Binny’s Beverage Depot, K&L Wine Merchants, and Total Wine & More to discuss goals and possible placement opportunities.
Binny’s Beverage Depot
Chicago family owned since 1948, Binny’s Beverage Depot is the Midwest’s largest wine, spirits and beer superstore with 44 locations throughout Illinois. Binny’s has been a long time supporter of craft spirits championed by long time ADI judge and Binny’s Spirits Buyer Brett Pontoni.
K&L Wine Merchants
Since 1976 K&L Wine Merchants offers the world’s finest wines and spirits, with great service and competitive prices. K&L operates three retail stores, in San Francisco, Redwood City, and Hollywood, California, and offers direct to consumer shipping throughout the state.
Total Wine & More
Total Wine & More is the nation’s leading retailer of wine, spirits and beer. Since 1991 Total Wine & More has grown from one location in Delaware to 214 superstores across 26 states.
E-commerce Partner Program
Gold medal winners will be able to meet with representatives from our e-commerce partners Seelbach’s and TIPXY. ADI winners receive special pricing from TIPXY off their standard service fees and additional digital marketing support.
Seelbach’s
Seelbach’s is dedicated to unconventional spirits. Seelbach’s works directly with craft distilleries to share their brands with people across the country. Seelbach’s specializes in limited run spirits that they are sharing constantly with spirit enthusiasts across the US.
TIPXY
Tipxy is an online spirit & wine retailer that was launched out of a love for craft beverages and ships to 46 states throughout the US. Tipxy has helped hundreds of craft brands with their sales and marketing through its own website as well as custom DtC solutions.
Import Partner Program
All International Best of Class trophy winners can meet with representatives from our import partners Aiko Importers, MHW, and Preiss Imports for a free consultation to discuss goals and possible import services.
Aiko Brands
Aiko Brands is a nationally recognized importer of alcoholic beverages to the US market. Our portfolio represents the broad variety of products that can satisfy the most exquisite taste. Our distribution network consists of 127 partner-companies located in 46 US states.
MHW Ltd.
Since 1995, MHW has been dedicated to delivering service excellence in the global beverage alcohol industry, helping thousands of international brands enter and excel in new markets around the world.
Preiss Imports
Preiss Imports is a third-generation company specializing in the importing and marketing of international spirits, wines, and culinary specialties, and is dedicated to developing a portfolio that embodies the fusion of spirits, wine, and culinary arts.
Media Partner Program
Winners are shared with the hundreds of ADI’s media contacts and our more than 13,000 e-newsletter subscribers. Double Gold and Gold medal winners also receive additional coverage with our media partners Forbes.com and The Whisk[e]y Wash as well as through ADI’s social media channels.
Forbes
The mission of Forbes it to give people the knowledge, resources, inspiration and connections they need to achieve success. Forbes Spirits features industry news, brand profiles, market analysis, interviews as well as lifestyle trends. Our content is tailored to enthusiasts and professionals interested in the spirits industry.
The Whiskey Wash
The Whiskey Wash is your one stop shop for all things whiskey. Our goal is to make learning about whiskey accessible, fun, relevant and independent. We cover all aspects of whiskey and you can rely on us for your news, reviews, history, commentary and more.
Awards & Certificates
ADI provides physical awards, digital images and certificates for each winning spirit. There are no additional licensing fees or costs for for any of these materials. ADI does not sell bottle stickers however, winners have a free license to use the provided digital images to make their own stickers.
Excellence in Packaging Awards
All competition entries are automatically entered into ADI’s Excellence in Packaging Awards with no additional fees, bottles, or paperwork.
- Best Backbar Packaging: A best of category award to one Gold Medal bottle that the packaging panel believed pops and does the best job of standing out from the crowd of other bottles on a backbar.
- Best Retail Packaging: A best of category award to one Gold Medal bottle that has a label and bottle design that most invites a customer to pick up the bottle off the shelf from all the others.
- Brand Identity Medals: Award to a spirit company that in addition to superior execution in individual spirits packaging, has a harmony of design across multiple products that also distinguishes individual spirits within the lineup.
- Packaging Medals: Award for spirit packaging that has shows overall originality, creativity, graphic design, integration of bottle design to label style, aesthetic appeal, and handleability.
