AWARD CATEGORIES


The categories for the 2024 awards have been reworked to better reflect industry trends and now fifteen trophies will be awarded in this year’s competition.

The categories are based upon the commonly held spirit groupings which define the style and process of spirit production.  The organisers reserve the right to move any entry into a different category (with the approval of the submitter), if there are not enough entries in any one category

WHISKEY

Scotch/Irish Traditional

All whisk(e)y following the Scotch or Irish definitions regarding ingredients, production methodology and maturation requirements.

Judging Sub Categories

  • Single malt NAS
  • Single Malt - Age
  • Single grain
  • Single pot still
  • Blended

North American Traditional

All whisk(e)y following the Traditional North American definitions regarding ingredients, production methodology and maturation requirements.

Note: US Single Malt should be entered in the World Whisky category

Judging Sub Categories

  • Bourbon
  • Rye
  • Canadian
  • Other incl. Corn Whisky and Moonshine

Other World Whisky  

Whisky from non-traditional whisky producing nations or non-traditional styles from traditional whisky producing countries. Note: Whiskies entered must conform to the regulations in the country of production. All New Zealand Whisky entered must adhere to DSA rules and specifications (NZ Whisky Definition – Distilled Spirits Aotearoa), pending introduction of FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) standards for Australia/NZ spirits. 

Note any New Zealand entry that doesn’t meet these definitions may still be entered labelled for example “Malt Spirit”, “Moonshine” or “New Make” but will be disqualified if labelled Whisky.

Judging Sub Categories

  • Single Malt
  • Other Malt/Grain/Blend
  • North American Style
  • Unaged Malt Spirit/ New Make / Moonshine 

GIN

London Dry Gin  

Juniper-forward, traditional-style gins made using the London Gin production technique: all flavours distilled, with only water and neutral spirit to be added after distillation. Must be bottled at a minimum of 37.5% ABV 


Contemporary & Navy Strength Gin

Contemporary Gins – with flavour profiles where juniper is still discernible, but other flavours such as citrus, spice and floral notes are more prominent than in a traditional gin. Contemporary Gin is a catch-all term for gins described as “New-Wave”, "New Western”, “New American Dry”, etc. Must be bottled at a minimum of 37.5% ABV 

Navy Strength – Includes Higher strength Gin >50% and Navy Gin (Any gin bottled between 57% and 58% ABV) 

Judging Sub Categories

  • Contemporary Gins
  • Navy Strength

Flavoured and Aged Gin  

Flavoured – Gin that has been flavoured with fruit or another botanicals, typically via infusion or maceration, and may be sweetened. Must be bottled at a minimum of 37.5% ABV

Aged – Gins that have been aged in wood after distillation

Judging Sub Categories

  • Flavoured 
  • Aged

RUM

Rum

Must be made from sugar cane or sugarcane by product and bottled at a minimum of 37.5% ABV

Judging Sub Categories

  • White
  • Age 3 - 6
  • Age 7+ Navy Strength
  • Aged up to 3 years

Spiced, Botanical and Flavoured Rum

Rum that is flavored with spices, botanicals like fresh or dried herbs or flavoured

Judging Sub Categories

  • Botanical
  • Spiced
  • Flavoured

BRANDY

Brandy

Wine Brandy, Pomace or Marc Brandy - This category applies to all brandies made from wine or grapes including Pisco and Grappa.

Judging Sub Categories

  • Brandy
  • Grappa
  • Pisco
  • Other

Fruit Brandy - This can be a brandy/schnapps/ Eau-de-vie of any age that has been distilled from fruits other than grapes, such as apples, peaches, apricots, plums, berries; or a combination of fruits, which can include a portion of apples or grapes. 

Judging Sub Categories

  • Fruit Brandy
  • Eau de Vie
  • Schnappes
  • Other

Cognac/Armagnac

Cognac must originate from white grapes from the Cognac region in Southwest France. Cognac is distilled at least twice in copper stills, then aged for a minimum of two years in French oak.

Armagnac must be produced in the Armagnac region of France from traditional grapes, distilled only once

Judging Sub Categories

  • Cognac
  • Armagnac 

VODKA

Varietal Vodka

Vodka intended to be consumed neat or in cocktails whereby a little character determined by the base ingredient is acceptable, desirable even. A pure, clear and clean vodka, but not necessarily totally neutral


Flavoured and Aged Vodka   

Flavoured – Minimum of 37% ABV. 

Note Juniper flavoured spirit must be entered as Gin

Aged – Vodkas that have been aged in wood after distillation.

Judging Sub Categories

  • Flavoured
  • Aged

OTHER

Botanical & Other Spirits 

Botanical Spirits – this may include unsweetened Absinthe, Akavit and Amaro

Judging Sub Categories

  • Absinthe
  • Akavit
  • Amaro
  • Other

Vermouth

Fortified wine based Vermouths with minimum Alcohol content of 15%

Liqueurs 

Sweetened and flavoured spirits with a minimum alcohol content of 15% alcohol by volume

Judging Sub Categories

  • Fruit – non-cream variants
  • Cream – This can be any spirit which includes cream.
  • Spirit – Gin, whiskey, rum etc where the base spirit must be recognisable as the flavour
  • Anise/herbal – This includes sweetened Pastis, Sambuca, Ouzo, Arak, Raki, Mastika, Absinthe, Amaro
  • Other – eg: Honey, Coffee, Chocolate, Nut, combination of other sub-categories


Tequila/Agave Spirits  

Tequila can only be produced in the state of Jalisco and limited municipalities in the states of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas in Mexico. Aside from its geographical distinction, tequila is differentiated from mezcal in that it is made only from blue agave and the beverages are prepared in different ways.

Judging Sub Categories

  • Tequila
  • Mezcal
  • Other agave based spirits incl. flavoured Tequilas and Mezcals

New Zealand Innovation Award

Entries will be judged as a whole package. Judging will be based on the uniqueness of the innovation in the New Zealand Spirits market context and its potential value to spirits consumers or to change the spirits market or industry in New Zealand.

Submission Guidelines:

  • Ensure all applicable information is included to enable judging.
  • Submit your entry by the specified deadline.
  • Include supporting materials to strengthen your application.
  • Send a product sample that demonstrates the innovation and how it is presented in the market.
  • Incomplete or late submissions may not be considered.

New Zealand Design and Packaging Award

The Packaging Design Award recognises excellence in packaging design. The entries will be assessed for their degree of innovation, aesthetic quality, functionality, and whether the concept or design offers enjoyment beyond a mere practical purpose.

Submission Guidelines:

  • Ensure all applicable information is included to enable judging.
  • Submit your entry by the specified deadline.
  • Include supporting materials to strengthen your entry.
  • Send a product sample that showcases the packaging design and how it is presented in the market.
  • Incomplete or late submissions may not be considered

The New Zealand Emerging Product Award

The New Zealand Emerging Product Award is open to all New Zealand distilleries who have a brand requiring a final refinement. This could be a pre-commercial distillery with a product concept close to launching into the market or a commercial distillery with a brand in development or in the market (must be less than 1 year old) which would benefit from further brand development. The trophy will be awarded to a distillery demonstrating a real dedication and passion to the New Zealand spirits industry with an impressive level of preparation for the future. The winner will receive design assistance to develop a new innovative product, brand or packaging concept for release in the New Zealand and international market.

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