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SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
How to Enter Spirits
ELEGIBILITY
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). Separate shipping instructions for international spirits will be provided when receiving begins on March, 20, 2023
For spirits that have not yet received a COLA, we have an entry deadline of April 21, 2023 to allow time for the paperwork process and international shipping.
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, 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.
DEADLINES
Important Dates to Remember
April 21, 2023 - Deadline for International Entries
May 5, 2023 - Deadline for Domestic Entries
May 12, 2022 - Spirits Shipments Must Arrive
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.
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.
ENTRY FEES
Price per brand entered
The price per Brand; General entry is $450.00, International entry $550, Craft entry $400.00
Early-bird pricing; General entry $400.00, International Entry $500, Craft entry $350.00, (good through February 21, 2023)
SHIPPING SPIRITS
Directions for
A minimum of 1.5 liters of each spirit entered must be sent to the address specified using FedEx, UPS or another legal carrier. USPS will not deliver distilled spirits. NOSC will begin receiving spirits in March 20, 2023. Instructions on where to ship will be sent to entrants by email. Spirits must be received no later than May 12. All samples received will be considered the property of New Orleans Spirits Competition.
Please do not use packing peanuts! Entrants who send Styrofoam peanuts in the box will be charged an additional $50.
If we didn't answer all your questions,
please drop us a note or give us a call.
