Chicago, USA – June 2026 — The results of the 8th Annual Bartender Spirits Awards have been officially announced, recognizing the best spirits from around the world as judged by some of the United States’ leading bartenders, beverage directors, and hospitality professionals.

Held annually in Chicago, one of America’s leading cities for hospitality and cocktail innovation, the Bartender Spirits Awards continues to establish itself as one of the most influential spirits competitions for brands looking to succeed in the U.S. on-premise market. Designed specifically to evaluate spirits for real-world relevance behind the bar, the competition brings together international and domestic producers seeking recognition from the very professionals who influence cocktail menus, purchasing decisions, and consumer recommendations every day.

The coveted Spirit of the Year award in 2026 was awarded to WhistlePig PiggyBack 100% Rye Whiskey from the United States, which earned an outstanding 99 points and a Double Gold Medal, making it the highest-scoring spirit of the competition.

The 2026 awards also highlighted continued momentum across categories such as Whisky, Tequila, Ready-to-Drink cocktails, and premium agave spirits, reflecting evolving bartender preferences and changing consumer demand in bars and restaurants across the United States.

Top Winners of the 2026 Bartender Spirits Awards

Special Awards

Awards	Product Name	Country	Category
Spirit of the Year	WhistlePig PiggyBack 100% Rye Whiskey	United States	Whisky
Vodka of the Year	Chopin Bartender's Choice Rye Vodka	Poland	Vodka
Rum of the Year	Denizen the Wanderer Series: Jamaican 8 YO Port Finish Rum	Jamaica	Rum
Tequila of the Year	Desnuda Blanco	Mexico	Tequila
Gin of the Year	S by Sorgin Rose	France	Gin
Whisky of the Year	WhistlePig PiggyBack 100% Rye Whiskey	United States	Whisky
Brandy of the Year	St-Rémy XO	France	Brandy
Liqueur of the Year	PAMA	United States	Liqueurs
Cognac of the Year	Ferrand 1840	France	Cognac
Mezcal of the Year	400 Conejos Espadin Joven	Mexico	Mezcal
RTD of the Year	The Barker Company Cappuccino Martini	United States	Ready to Drink (RTD)
Non-Alcoholic of the Year	Zing Zang Dill Pickle Bloody Mary Mix	United States	Non-Alcoholic
Bitters & Mixers of the Year	Underberg Bitters	Germany	Bitters & Mixers
Vermouth of the Year	Carpano Bianco	Italy	Other Spirits
Pisco of the Year	Mulita Quebranta by Vina Tacama	Peru	Other Spirits
Best Spirit by Value	Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond	United States	Whisky
Best Spirit by Quality	10-Year-Old Straight Rye Whiskey	United States	Whisky
Best Spirit by Package	Desnuda Blanco	Mexico	Tequila

Among the standout performers of the competition, Desnuda Blanco from Mexico emerged as one of the biggest winners of 2026, earning Tequila of the Year, Tequila Producer of the Year, and Best Spirit by Package, reinforcing tequila’s continued growth and premiumization within U.S. cocktail culture.

The competition also highlighted the growing international recognition of emerging whisky-producing regions. India delivered a strong showing, with Godawan Single Malt Fruit & Spice Artisan Whisky earning Spirit of the Year India, Indian Single Malt Whiskey of the Year and Other Whiskey of the Year, reinforcing the growing global reputation of Indian whisky among bartenders and beverage buyers.

Additional standout category winners included Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition as American Blended Whiskey of the Year, Thornton Distilling Signature Malt as American Single Malt Whiskey of the Year, Single Malt Dessin Series Flora 2025 from Japan as Japanese Whiskey of the Year, and Maclean’s Nose as Blended Scotch of the Year. Other notable winners included Accord Stone Irish Whiskey: Purpose & Provenance for Blended Irish Whiskey of the Year and Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Heritage Barrel Tennessee Whiskey for Single Barrel American Whiskey of the Year.

Global Participation Reflects Growing International Influence

The 2026 Bartender Spirits Awards attracted spirits from leading producing regions around the world, reinforcing the competition’s growing importance for brands seeking credibility and commercial success in the U.S. market.

The United States remained the leading participating market, followed closely by Mexico, reflecting the continued strength of domestic spirits and sustained bartender demand for tequila and agave-based products. Strong participation also came from France, Italy, Japan, India, the United Kingdom, Peru, Poland, and Canada, showcasing the increasingly international profile of the competition.

Mexico continued to demonstrate strong momentum in tequila and mezcal, while countries such as Japan and India showcased the growing influence of premium whisky and craft spirits, categories increasingly gaining attention among bartenders and beverage buyers.

Whisky, Tequila, and RTDs Lead Industry Momentum in 2026

Category participation in 2026 reflected broader shifts in bartender preferences and consumer demand across the U.S. hospitality landscape.

Whisky remained one of the strongest-performing categories, reaffirming its importance in cocktail culture, premium pours, and back-bar programs. Tequila continued its strong upward momentum, reflecting ongoing consumer demand and bartender enthusiasm for premium agave expressions.

At the same time, Ready-to-Drink cocktails, gin, vodka, and liqueurs continued to perform strongly, highlighting how today’s bar programs increasingly balance classic cocktail foundations with innovation, versatility, and convenience.

The continued growth of categories such as mezcal, bitters, mixers, and emerging craft spirits also reflects bartenders’ growing appetite for experimentation, authenticity, and premium ingredient-driven cocktails.

“The Bartender Spirits Awards was created with one goal in mind — to identify spirits that truly work in the real world of bars, restaurants, and hospitality,” said Sid Patel, CEO of Beverage Trade Network and Founder of Bartender Spirits Awards. “Winning here means your product has been evaluated by the very professionals who recommend spirits every day, build cocktail programs, and influence purchasing decisions behind the bar. For spirits brands looking to grow in the U.S. market, bartender endorsement and trade credibility matter more than ever.”

“What continues to excite us is seeing the diversity of entries and the innovation happening globally,” Patel added. “From premium whiskies and tequilas to RTDs, craft spirits, and emerging categories, the 2026 competition reflects where consumer tastes and bartender preferences are heading. Chicago remains the perfect city to host this competition because of its incredible hospitality culture and influence on beverage trends.”

What Sets the Bartender Spirits Awards Apart

Unlike traditional spirits competitions, the Bartender Spirits Awards is designed specifically for the U.S. on-premise trade, helping identify products most likely to succeed in bars, restaurants, hotels, and hospitality venues.

Spirits are evaluated based on five key criteria:

- Mixability
- Balance and Versatility
- Taste, Mouthfeel, and Finish
- Value
- Packaging

The judging process begins with a blind tasting where spirits are evaluated by leading bartenders and beverage professionals for cocktail compatibility, versatility, and overall quality. Judges then review pricing to assess value, followed by packaging evaluation to determine visual appeal, back-bar presence, functionality, and ease of use in a hospitality setting.

Judges of the 2026 Bartender Spirits Awards

Judges include beverage buyers, award-winning bartenders, and bar directors from leading hospitality groups, restaurants, and hotels across the United States. Spirits are blind-tasted and scored based on how likely they are to be used and recommended within real-world beverage programs. This year, Bartender Spirits Awards welcomed top names from the industry to judge entries:

Russell ‘Wishka’ Davis - Celeb Mixologist & Former Producer of Netflix - DrinkMasters

John Chesney - Chief Whiskey Officer, Slightly Toasted and Toasted Hospitality

Felix Fernandez - Beverage Manager and Sommelier for Luxury Brands

Eric Hausser - Head Bartender at Beatnik/Goodfunk

Ari Klafter - Head Distiller at Thornton Distilling Company

Kelly Kuhn - Key Account Specialist at Winebow Illinois

Steven Minor - Corporate Beverage Director at Starwood Hotels

Lyndsi Hastings Mundy - National Corporate Beverage Director at Riot Hospitality Group

Lisa Selman CSS - Director of Beverage for the Alchemy Room, Breakthru Beverage

Charles Steadman - Director of Food & Beverage at Virgin Voyages

View the entire panel of the 2026 Bartender Spirits Awards judges here.

Why This Matters for Spirits Brands

Success at the Bartender Spirits Awards offers brands a unique advantage in the U.S. market through:

- Validation from leading bartenders and beverage professionals
- Increased credibility with importers, distributors, and hospitality groups
- Greater marketing and PR visibility
- Enhanced opportunities for cocktail placements and menu listings
- Stronger positioning in one of the world’s most competitive spirits markets

In an industry driven by trust, storytelling, and trade credibility, recognition at the Bartender Spirits Awards can become a powerful catalyst for growth and market access.

View Full 2026 Bartender Spirits Awards Winners Here.

Russell ‘Wishka’ Davis, Celeb Mixologist & Former Producer of Netflix - DrinkMasters (left), and Lyndsi Hastings Mundy - National Corporate Beverage Director at Riot Hospitality Group (right)

About Bartender Spirits Awards

Founded in 2018, the Bartender Spirits Awards is an international spirits competition focused exclusively on the U.S. on-premise market. Organized by Beverage Trade Network and held annually in Chicago, the competition is judged by leading U.S. bartenders, beverage directors, and hospitality professionals who evaluate spirits based on quality, value, mixability, and package appeal for modern bar programs.

Image Assets and Marketing Tools for Winners

To support media coverage and help winning brands maximize the value of their achievement, the Bartender Spirits Awards provides a comprehensive set of official assets and marketing tools available to medal winners, importers, distributors, retailers, bars, restaurants, and media professionals.

Winning producers and trade partners can access a range of materials designed to help showcase award-winning spirits across bars, restaurants, retail shelves, hospitality venues, digital campaigns, and e-commerce channels.

Available Assets Include:

- Press Selection Images

- Official Medal Artwork (PNG Format)

- Official Medal Artwork (SVG Format)

- Full Results Link on the Bartender Spirits Awards Website

- Medal Sticker Purchase Section for Winners

- Certificates and Tasting Notes for Medal Winners

- Marketing Tools to Promote Winning Spirits

These assets are designed to help producers, importers, distributors, retailers, bars, restaurants, and media effectively communicate their success and showcase award-winning spirits across cocktail menus, back bars, retail shelves, distributor presentations, digital campaigns, websites, social media, and consumer-facing marketing initiatives.

Usage Guidelines

The Bartender Spirits Awards authorizes press, entrants, distributors, importers, retailers, bars, restaurants, and hospitality partners to use official competition assets free of charge for editorial, promotional, and marketing purposes.

To ensure accurate representation and maintain the integrity of the competition, users are requested to follow these guidelines:

- Always use official competition assets without modification or distortion
- Ensure medals and scores are correctly attributed to the respective winning spirit
- Do not use medals, awards, or scores that were not awarded to your specific product
- Maintain the credibility of the competition by presenting results truthfully and transparently

By following these guidelines, brands and media partners help uphold the reputation, trust, and credibility associated with the Bartender Spirits Awards and its winning spirits.

Media Contact

Malvika Patel
Editor, Beverage Trade Network
Malvika@beveragetradenetwork.com

For more details, visit the Bartender Spirits Awards website to explore the complete list of 2026 winners, medal recipients, tasting notes, and special award honorees.