NZ Spirits Awards open for 2025
Entries for the 2025 NZ Spirits Awards have opened and organisers have added new categories for this year’s event.
Organised and hosted by Distilled Spirits Aotearoa and Spirits New Zealand, the New Zealand Spirits Awards recognise the best in local and international spirits.
This year, the competition will include three new categories: New Zealand Best Cocktail Bar, New Zealand Best Cocktail Menu, and New Zealand Bartender of the Year.
A new Fever-Tree Best Pairing Award will also reward the best combinations of spirits and mixers.
As with previous years, the top spirits in each category will be recognised with bronze, silver, gold and double-gold medals as judged by panels of industry experts. The best of these are then recognised with Trophies awarded for Best New Zealand and Best Overall in each category.
Trophies are also awarded annually for the best New Zealand Emerging Product Award, New Zealand Packaging Design Award and New Zealand Innovation Award
Judging will take place in Wellington in mid-July with medal winners announced on 24 July and trophy winners revealed at an Awards Dinner on 15 August. Entries close on 6 June.
