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  • COMPETITIONS

    Integrity you can trust.
    Quality you can celebrate.
    Recognition you can publicize.


A medal is just the beginning. The Tasting Alliance’s competitions are the most influential in the industry, helping brands stand out in the U.S. and international markets. But we’re more than a competition—we’re an accelerator. As a beverage marketing company, we provide impactful opportunities that go beyond the award, giving producers the tools to gain industry and consumer recognition and truly elevate their brands.

"Each year’s results are closely followed, both by consumers eager for the expert judgments and more importantly by the trade, especially the distributor community. Many a craft distillery startup has found that recognition by the SFWSC is the golden key to unlocking broad national, and often, international distribution. Even established producers look to the SFWSC for confirmation of their core ranges, as well as validation of new products and new production techniques.”
— Joseph V Micallef, Forbes

  • San Francisco International Wine Competition
  • San Francisco World Spirits Competition
  • New York World Wine & Spirits Competition
  • Asia World Spirits Competition
  • Latin America World Spirits Competition
  • San Francisco Ready to Drink Competition


What Does a Medal Mean for You?

The Tasting Alliance’s medal winners range from some of the most renowned international distillers to small-batch producers that we’ve helped put on the map. Not only is an SFWSC medal a testament to your hard work, it’s a universally recognized indicator of exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

Our medals are valuable sales tools that can garner a flood of attention from press, industry experts, and consumers. In a saturated marketplace, winning a medal set from The Tasting Alliance sets you apart from your competitors while giving you opportunities to further promote, market, and position your product to consumers.

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Medal Guidelines

Bronze

A Bronze medal signifies a spirit that is not only commercially sound but modestly attractive, showcasing a commendable absence of appreciable flaws. Awarded to spirits deserving recognition as among the better examples of their category, Bronzes hold a special place of honor. This recognition underscores the spirit’s merit, acknowledging its commendable qualities and contribution to the diverse tapestry of distilling excellence.

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  • Two medal winners at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
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  • Group of medal winners at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
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  • A man holding a glass of wine in a room filled with casks.
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How Can We Help?

At The Tasting Alliance, a medal isn't just a badge — it's a business asset. We've built an entire ecosystem around helping medalists turn recognition into real, measurable growth. Here's what you unlock when you win:

Make Your Medal Visible: Put your win to work immediately with professional-grade award recognition tools — including bottle stickers and high-resolution medallion imagery ready for packaging, marketing materials, and point-of-sale displays. Every medalist receives our complimentary Marketing Toolkit — a practical, strategy-driven guide built specifically to help you promote your award, influence purchase decisions, and drive sales across retail, on-premise, and eCommerce channels.

Get in the Room: Medal winners receive exclusive invitations to media, trade, and consumer events that put your product directly in front of the buyers, press, and tastemakers who matter most. These aren't just events — they're opportunities to build relationships that move the needle.

Amplify Across Digital Channels: Gain promotional exposure across The Tasting Alliance's owned platforms, including email campaigns, social features, and digital spotlights extending your reach well beyond the competition itself.

Sell More Online: Break into or scale your eCommerce presence with complimentary onboarding and discounted white-label solutions through our partnership with Flaviar, one of the leading spirits eCommerce platforms. Your award deserves to be seen where consumers are shopping.

Making The Connections That Matter: Through Tasting Alliance Advisors, medalists have access to expert consulting across product development, brand strategy, talent recruitment, and market activation. Through our extensive partner network, medalists gain direct introductions to distributors, importers, retailers, and agencies actively looking for standout brands. Whether you're expanding into new markets or deepening existing trade relationships, we help get you connected.

Exclusive Industry PerksAs a medalist, you'll receive 10% off a DISCUS Craft Membership for your first year — connecting you to one of the most respected trade organizations in the beverage alcohol industry and the advocacy, resources, and networking that come with it. You'll also get your products in front of the United States Bartender's Guild (USBG) to further promote your medal win within the trade.

Get Featured. Get Noticed.Top medalists have the opportunity to be featured in leading publications including Forbes, UPROXX, Food & Wine, The Daily Pour and more. Our media relationships create editorial pathways that put your brand in front of consumers, trade professionals, and industry influencers at scale.

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