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SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
How to Enter Spirits
ELIGIBILITY
What Spirits may Enter?
Distilled spirits that are legal to serve in the United States are eligible to enter the spirits competition.
Spirits that are not yet distributed in the United States must receive a Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) or COLA waiver from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).
For spirits that have not yet received a COLA, the entry deadline is April 21, 2023, to allow time for the paperwork process and international shipping. Separate shipping instructions for international spirits will be provided.
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TYPES OF SPIRITS
Spirits will be judged in these classes
Agave Spirits, Baijiu (Soju and Shochu), Brandy & Fruit Spirits, Gin, Liqueur/Infused/Aromatized, Non-alcoholic Elixirs, Ready-to-Drink Cocktails, Rum and Cane Spirits, Specialty Spirits, Vodka, and Whisky
NOLA Spirits Competition reserves the right to reclassify as staff considers appropriate.
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DEADLINES
Important Dates to Remember
April 21, 2023 - Deadline for Import Entries (Spirits not yet distributed in the USA).
May 19, 2023 - Deadline for Domestic Entries (Spirits already legal to market in the USA)
May 26, 2022 - Spirits Shipments Must Arrive
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INFORMATION WE WILL ASK
Preparing this information before you start will help you fill out the entry form
To help sort the hundreds of entrants into like products, we will ask the producer's name, address, email, phone number, brand name, mash bill or base material, ABV, retail price, time in barrel, secondary barrel(s), description or other notes. One important piece of information we will need is the 14-digit Certificate of Label Approval number. If you do not know the COLA number, you may search for it in the TTB's public COLA Registry. If you cannot find it, we will be happy to help: contact us.
Other information like social media handles will be useful in helping promote winnings but are not required to complete the form.
If in filling out the form you do not know an answer, please choose "other" and continue. You may go back and change information up until the registration deadline expires.
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AWARDS
To be Announced at Tales of the Cocktail
Double Gold, Gold, Silver and Broze Medals, Best of Category, Whiskey of the Year, Brandy of the Year, Gin of the Year, Baijiu of the Year, Vodka of the Year, Agave Spirit of the Year, Specialty Spirit of the Year, Liqueur of the Year, Best New Product, Best Craft Spirit, Packaging Excellence, and Distillery of the Year.
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ENTRY FEES
Price per brand entered
The price per Brand; General entry is $450.00, Import entry $550, Craft entry $400.00
Early-bird pricing; General entry $400.00, Import entry $500, Craft entry $350.00, (good through February 21, 2023)
SHIPPING SPIRITS
Directions for
Carefully pack a minimum of 1.4 liters of each distilled spirit.
Bitters producers may send 400 ml.
RTDs: Canned, carbonated cocktails, please send eight cans. In bottles, send 2.25 liters. Non-carbonated cocktails please send a minimum of 1.4 liters.
Ship bottles using pulp, corrugated bottle shippers, or inflatable bottle bags. Please do not use packing peanuts. An additional $25 disposal and cleanup fee will be charged for including styrofoam peanuts in the box.
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Mark all boxes as “Samples Materials: Not for Resale.” To make it easier to check-in your spirits, please tape the QR codes from the packing slip for each of your entries on the outside of each box. All samples received will be considered the property of New Orleans Spirits Competition.
Please use FedEx, UPS, DHL or another legal carrier for alcohol.
Do not use the United States Postal Service. USPS will not deliver distilled spirits.
Spirits must arrive no later than Friday May 26, 2023.
Send to:
New Orleans Spirits Competition
C/o Huber’s Starlight Distillery
19816 Huber Road
Borden, IN 47106
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If we didn't answer all your questions,
please drop us a note or give us a call.
