The New Orleans Spirits Competition is an international spirits judging bringing wider recognition to fine beverages and spirits from top-flight producers across the globe. Presented by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, each spirit is tasted blind by a panel of industry experts, without identification, to ensure integrity and secrecy. The judging panels include preeminent industry professionals; including award winning bartenders and distillers, decorated beverage writers, and industry luminaries. Awards will be presented during Tales of the Cocktail, the largest and most prestigious cocktail conference. 

 

New for 2024

We are expanding our presence at Tales of the Cocktail! 
 
Following our successful, first-of-its-kind public judging in 2023 — we had overflow crowds eager to taste the top six spirits in each class —  we’re doubling our footprint at Tales in 2024. Our judging room will accommodate twice as many participants, and the judging panels twice as many spirits. That means more top-performing bartenders and industry professionals will be able to taste along with our esteemed judges as they determine  Whisky of the Year, Rum of the Year, Gin of the Year, and all other classes of distilled spirits.