Final Entry Deadline Approaches for 2025 New Orleans Spirits Competition Presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation®

New Orleans, Louisiana Feb 7, 2026 (EMWNews.com) – The New Orleans Spirits Competition (NOSC), presented by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, is accepting entries through April 25, 2025. Known for its blind evaluation process, esteemed judging panel, and live Championship Round held during Tales of the Cocktail® from July 20-25, the New Orleans Spirits Competition has become a leading destination for both craft distillers and legacy producers seeking credible, high-impact recognition.

Only 5 days remain to enter. Producers of distilled spirits and non-alcoholic beverages–don’t miss your chance to compete alongside the best and be seen at Tales of the Cocktail®. Submit your entries now at https://nolaspiritscomp.com.

A Platform Rooted in Integrity and Visibility

Now in its fourth year, the competition remains grounded in a blind tasting format–judges see neither packaging nor brand until the final reveal. This approach ensures unbiased evaluation, where all products are judged on quality alone.

Top-scoring entries advance to the Championship Round, which has rapidly become one of the most talked-about events at Tales of the Cocktail®. In this live experience, elite spirits specialists evaluate the top six scoring products in each class while an audience of industry professionals taste the same flight and listen in on the judges’ feedback in real time. In 2023, attendees from nearly 50 countries participated in Tales of the Cocktail® programming, offering championship round brands a rare opportunity to be seen, tasted, and celebrated by some of the most influential figures in the global spirits community.

Elite Judges. Real Recognition.

This year’s panel features an impressive mix of globally respected spirits professionals, including:

• Dale DeGroff, “King Cocktail” and James Beard Award-winning author, widely credited with launching the modern cocktail renaissance

• Tracie Franklin, whiskey educator, blender, and advocate for inclusion in spirits, with deep experience in production and brand ambassadorship
• Paul Clarke, Editor in Chief of Imbibe magazine, WSET-certified spirits educator, and a leading voice in spirits journalism
• Elayne Duff, Global Director of Advocacy for Heaven Hill Brands, accomplished educator, and industry leader with more than two decades of experience shaping the spirits world
• Steve Beal, Keeper of the Quaich, Whisky Magazine Hall of Famer, and Tales of the Cocktail USBG Lifetime Achievement Award winner
• Kate Gerwin, award-winning bartender, 2023 Innovator of the Year, and owner of Happy Accidents, one of the nation’s top cocktail bars
• Tiffanie Barriere, 2023 Tales Visionary Award winner, cultural storyteller, and hospitality educator known as The Drinking Coach

And more. See the full roster at: https://www.nolaspiritscomp.com/judges

“I absolutely love judging, and I love exploring my own palate along with exploring what other creators are out here putting forth into the world–for my industry. My table and panel of retail, distiller, bartender, and international guru weren’t just giving things away. We felt this is a major competition. This is what goes into bartenders’ hands. This is from one artist to another artist.”

— Tiffanie Barriere, The Drinking Coach and NOSC Judge

Expanding Categories This Year

For 2025, NOSC has broadened its category set to reflect the full landscape of modern cocktail creation–welcoming entries not only from spirits and nonalcoholic producers, but also from makers of bitters and cocktail syrups. These products are judged with the same level of rigor and respect as traditional spirits, affirming their role in shaping the cocktail world.

Why Enter

Winning a NOSC medal means more than bragging rights–it means meaningful exposure at one of the industry’s most influential competitions. Medalists receive:

• Professional press support, including a high-quality digital press kit with award graphics
• Coverage across NOSC, Tales of the Cocktail®, official media sponsor Imbibe magazine, and other media platforms

• On-site promotion during Tales of the Cocktail®

• Validation from a judging panel of globally respected experts

NOSC was built to champion quality–wherever it lives. Whether it’s a centuries-old distillery or a boundary-pushing new entrant, every product is given a fair and focused tasting. And when you win, it means something.

Entries close Friday, April 25. Submit now at nolaspiritscomp.com.

A Word from the Founders

“Seeing the need for a spirits competition attached to the world’s premier cocktail event, the New Orleans Spirits Competition was founded in 2021 and has been presented by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation since 2022. We place craft brands on equal footing with legacy producers by recognizing the highest quality spirits and bringing them to the forefront for spirits professionals,” said Andrew Faulkner, Co-Founder of the New Orleans Spirits Competition.

About the New Orleans Spirits Competition

Launched in 2022, the New Orleans Spirits Competition is a globally respected spirits awards program presented by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. Held annually in New Orleans, NOSC honors excellence in distilled spirits and cocktail craftsmanship through a rigorous blind evaluation process led by world-class judges. Winners are celebrated each year at Tales of the Cocktail®, the industry’s most influential gathering.

About Tales of the Cocktail Foundation:

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the global hospitality industry through education, advocacy, and community support. As the world’s leading spirits education platform, the Foundation provides year-round programs and initiatives that foster professional growth and drive meaningful change. Each July, the industry gathers in New Orleans, the beating heart of cocktail culture and hospitality, for a one-of-a-kind conference that blends education, networking, and celebration like no other. Guided by its core pillars–Educate, Advance, and Support–the Foundation’s impact extends far beyond the U.S. reaching professionals and communities around the world.