5th Annual

Sunset International Spirits Competition

SunsetSpiritLogoAward

About

SUNSET Magazine is the leading media brand of the Western lifestyle. Its International Spirits Competition makes its winning spirits part of the most influential spirit program in the country. With the number of subscribers, demographic of the Sunset Magazine reader base and number of social media followers this competition is a must-enter for all spirit producers desiring exposure to a perfect audience.

The esteemed judging panels represent large volume buyers, influential media, successful distillers and other professionals from the spirits category.

Winning producers will be featured in a Spring release of a Spirits Special non-print, digital edition with supporting microsite. Promotions for Spirits Award Special Issue will be placed in sunset.com, Sunset eNewsletters and Sunset social sites. The edition will be promoted and available for 12 months or until the 2024 Spirit Awards winners are announced.

The Sunset Magazine International Spirits Competition will take place on October 17th and 18th in Santa Rosa, CA and the deadline for submission is October 10th, 2023. To enter your product, please fill in our online entry form.   

*Note: All shipments must be received by 5pm on October 11th, 2023.

Best of the Best, Best of Class, Best Brandy Pendray’s Distillery XO Brandy (GG, 98 pts.) Judges “caramel and cardamom”; “balanced”; “simple finish”
Best of the Best 2023 - Pendray’s Distillery XO Brandy (GG, 98 pts.)
Press Release

“We couldn’t be more impressed by the diversity and caliber of entrants this year,” says Sunset Editor-in-Chief Hugh Garvey. “A hearty cheers to the winners. We can’t wait to celebrate them in our pages and share their delicious accomplishments with our audience.” - 2023

Hugh Garvey, Editor-in-Chief

View 2023 Winners
View 2022 Winners
View 2021 Winners
View 2021 Spirits Special Issue
View 2020 Winners
View 2019 Winners

Reasons to Enter

The Spirits Market size is expected to grow from USD 584.97 billion in 2023 to USD 779.50 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 5.91% during the forecast period (2023-2028).

  • Sunset is the definitive lifestyle brand of the modern American West and the single most trusted resource for a national audience aspiring to live the western lifestyle.
  • The Sunset audience:
    • Sunset readers depend on the magazine to expand their wine and spirits knowledge.
    • 7 out of 10 savor food & drink content
    • 64% drink spirits at least once a week (and 7.7% drink spirits 6–7 days a week)
    • 77% drink cocktails at least once a week (and 9.3% drink cocktails 6–7 days a week)
    • $229,619 Average HHI
    • $959,263 Average HH net worth
  • Sunset has a circulation of 230K in print and digital with 1.2MM+ site visits per month. Average page views are 1.57MM.
  • Sunset’s social audience is 1.1M
    • Facebook: 536,000
    • Pinterest: 298,000
    • Instagram: 242,000
    • Twitter: 70,300
    • YouTube: 8,900
  • U.S drinkers have increasingly identified liquor as their preferred alcoholic beverage over wine and beer, from 20% in 2016 to 31% in 2022 (just 4 points behind beer, which has always been the most popular)
  • Sunset readers appreciate Sunset‘s commitment to the wine and spirits industry and count on the magazine to expand their wine and spirits knowledge.
    • 4MM+ Total Cross-Platform Reach
    • 2.5% - 3.5% Industry-Leading Social Engagement
    • 103% YOY - Total Social Audience Growth
    • 120% YOY - @SunsetMag Instagram Community Growth
    • 80% of Sunset readers make decisions on brands and product choices based on ads seen in Sunset.
  • THE TOP 5 SPIRITS CATEGORIES BY REVENUE:
    • Vodka sales up 4.9 percent or $341 million to $7.3 billion
    • Tequila/Mezcal up 30.1 percent or $1.2 billion to $5.2 billion
    • American Whiskey up 6.7 percent or $288 million to $4.6 billion
    • Brandy & Cognac up 13.1 percent or $403 million to $3.5 billion
    • Cordials up 15.2 percent or $376 million to $2.9 billion
  • TOP FIVE FASTEST GROWING SPIRITS CATEGORIES BY REVENUE:
    • Premixed cocktails, including spirits-based RTDs up 42.3 percent or $489 million to $1.6 billion
    • Tequila/Mezcal up 30.1 percent or $1.2 billion to $5.2 billion
    • Irish Whiskey up 16.3 percent or $185 million to $1.3 billion
    • Cordials up 15.2 percent or $376 million to $2.9 billion
    • Single Malt Scotch up 14.4 percent or $130 million to $1 billion

*It is expected that tequila will become the most valuable subcategory in the U.S. spirits market in 2023, overtaking vodka and whiskey*

Sources: 2018 MRI Doublebase. 2019 Sunset Digital Survey, 2022 & 2023 Sunset Media Kit, 2022 VinePair article, Mordor Intelligence, Gallup, Statista, and Park Street. 

Entry Deadline and Product Shipments Due

Entry Deadline: October 10th, 2023

Product Shipments Due: October 11th, 2023

*Note: Product must be received by 5pm

 

Judging

October 17th & 18th, 2023

 

Click Here for list of 2023 WINNERS!

Frequently Asked Questions

The registration fee is $345 per on-line entry / $195 Mixers and Pre-Mixed Cocktails.

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Official Rules

  • Deadline

    Entry Deadline: October 10th, 2023

    Shipping Deadline: 5pm - October 11th, 2023

    Judging: October 17th & 18th, 2023

  • Fees

    Fees are $345 per entry online or $195 for Mixers and Pre-mixed Cocktails.

  • Legal

    Spirits produced in any region of the world that meet the applicable federal legal requirements

  • Who may enter

    Open to Commercial Distillers, Craft Distillers, Producers, Importers and Distributors

  • Advertising & Licensing Opportunities

    Available a few months after completion of the competition, a special non-print, digital magazine edition with supporting microsite on sunset.com will launch. As part of the digital magazine there will be paid ad opportunities and paid listings in a microsite directory. These ad positions will allow for prominent placement and the larger ad units will allow for your ad to contain your label or logo image along with a link to your website and a “Buy Button” included on Awards page on Sunset.com. Also, if you are looking to leverage your award medal for commercial purposes there is a licensing program that is available upon request. This additional paid licensing program allows entrants to license, on an annual basis, the logo award for commercial purposes to boost sales using your Sunset award. As example, the licensing program will allow you to leverage the Sunset brand on your bottle label, neckers, case cards, shelf talkers and more. Please contact sunsetadops@sunset.com for pricing details for advertising and licensing opportunities.

  • Entries

    An official entry shall consist of two (2) bottles, each bottle no less than 750 ml in volume or larger For sizes less than 750 ml, please submit three (3) bottles per entry

  • Labels

    Any spirit that is delivered to the competition without a full and proper label will be disqualified from the judging. Please do not send spirits with laboratory, temporary, photocopied, or altered labels

    Download a mailing label

  • Medals

    Please note that only Best of Class winners will be receiving medals automatically. Gold medals will be made available upon request. Digital plaques will be available for all winners for use on websites, social media sites and/or email campaigns.

2023 Judges

Chris Sawyer

Sommelier to the Stars,  Radio and TV Personality

Dan Berger

Award-Winning Wine Columnist

Debra Del Fiorentino

Sommelier, CSW and CWP

Jason Jorgensen

Co-Founder and Head Distiller - Alley 6

Jason Schneider

General Manager - Bottle Barn. Chief Spirit Buyer

Jennifer Kelly

Sommelier, Consultant, and Spirit Expert

Larry VanAalst

Sommelier, Radio Host, The Sonoma Report, CRN Radio

Laura Sanfilippo

Sommelier & Restaurant Owner

Tara Heffernon

Sommelier & Restaurant Owner

Vicki Tomesello

Sommelier & Consultant

Ziggy Eschliman

Radio and TV Host, Blogger, The Contessa of Cocktails

Bottoms Up!

Reach a perfect audience.

Wow an esteemed judging panel.

It's your time to shine!

Click Here for list of 2023 WINNERS!
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