We’re delighted to announce that we are an official media partner to the 2027 London Spirits Competition, organised by Beverage Trade Network.
As reported previously, the 10th anniversary competition will be the best yet, with many new innovations, including the new Buyer Market Intelligence Report…
Get More Than A Medal From Now On
From now on, every London Spirits Competition entrant will receive a Buyer Intelligence report as part of their entry.
The London Spirits Competition is introducing another valuable entrant benefit for its upcoming edition with the launch of the London Spirits Competition Buyer Market Intelligence Report—an exclusive annual report compiled from surveys completed by the competition’s judges during the judging process.
The report goes beyond medals and scores to provide producers with practical commercial insight into what spirits buyers are purchasing, listing, and looking for across the UK and international markets.
Market Intelligence From The People Who Buy Spirits
Unlike traditional market reports, the Buyer Market Intelligence Report is built from the opinions and buying priorities of professionals actively making purchasing decisions every day.
Michele Lombardi Head of Bars at Four Seasons Tower Bridge (left) and Phoebe Doran Head of Bars UK at the Hakkasan Group (Right) are judges at London Spirits Competition
The competition’s judging panels include importers, distributors, retailers, sommeliers, restaurant buyers, spirits directors, hospitality buyers, and independent merchants. Alongside evaluating spirits, judges will complete a short buyer survey covering current purchasing behaviour, category trends, pricing, packaging preferences, sustainability, and emerging market opportunities.
The result is a report that reflects real commercial sentiment from professionals working throughout the spirits trade.
What The Report Covers
The Buyer Market Intelligence Report includes insights across a wide range of commercial topics, including:
• Buyer purchasing priorities when evaluating new spirits
• Fastest-growing spirits categories and styles
• Packaging and format trends
• Price point demand across different trade channels
• Categories buyers are actively looking to purchase
• Categories buyers are reducing or discontinuing
• How buyers discover new spirits
• Sustainability factors influencing purchasing decisions
• The biggest commercial opportunities for distilleries entering the UK market
Rather than relying on assumptions or historical market data, distilleries receive current intelligence gathered directly from professionals buying spirits today.
Supporting Better Commercial Decisions
The London Spirits Competition was created to recognise spirits that combine quality, value, and packaging for market success. The addition of the Buyer Market Intelligence Report further strengthens that mission by helping producers better understand the commercial environment their spirits are entering.
Whether planning exports, reviewing pricing strategies, developing packaging, or deciding which products to launch internationally, entrants will gain valuable insights into the priorities of today’s spirits buyers.
More Than A Medal
The Buyer Market Intelligence Report joins a growing range of value-added benefits available to London Spirits Competition entrants.
Together with the competition’s detailed score breakdowns, expanded judge feedback, marketing recommendations, commercial positioning insights, and increased judging transparency, the new report gives producers far more than recognition alone.
It provides practical intelligence that can help distilleries make more informed business decisions and better align their products with market demand. Read the detailed score feedback update here.
Built From Buyer Experience
Each survey is completed anonymously by judges participating in the London Spirits Competition. Individual responses remain confidential and are aggregated into a comprehensive annual industry report available exclusively to competition entrants.
The report is designed to become one of the most practical buyer intelligence resources available to distilleries seeking to grow their presence in the UK and international spirits markets.
London Spirits Competition Judging
As the London Spirits Competition continues to evolve, the focus remains clear: helping distilleries understand not only how their spirits perform in competition, but how they can achieve greater commercial success in the marketplace.
Entries for the next edition of the London Spirits Competition are now open. Every entrant will receive access to the exclusive Buyer Market Intelligence Report alongside their competition results, giving producers both recognition and actionable market insight from the professionals who buy, list, and recommend spirits every day. We invite our past entrants to enter the spirits now and secure the lowest entry pricing.
Also Read:
More Feedback and Transparency For Entrants At London Competitions
Enter Early. Save More. Ship Later.
Take advantage of Super Early Bird pricing today and secure your place in one of the drinks industry’s most commercially focused spirits competitions. This year’s standout winners have already set the benchmark.
Entries for the 2027 London Spirits Competition are now open. This is your opportunity to participate in the leading spirits competition, designed around buyer decision-making & commercial impact.
ENTER YOUR SPIRITS TODAY
We look forward to celebrating the landmark 10th edition of the London Spirits Competition with you.
ENTER YOUR SPIRITS!
WINNING BENEFITS!
With the beverage industry becoming increasingly competitive, the 2026 competition introduces exclusive benefits designed to help spirits brands not just win medals – but turns those wins into meaningful commercial success:
- New Buyer Exposure Channels
Medal-winning spirits will be promoted directly to a targeted list of UK-based importers, distributors, bar managers, and mixologists through Beverage Trade Network’s enhanced trade buyer program.
- Feature Placements Across Media & Retail Platforms
Awarded brands will be spotlighted in BTN’s media assets, including London Drinks Guide, Bartenders Business, and Drinks Merchants, reaching both consumers and trade decision-makers. - Real Trade Judges Who Make Buying Decisions
The judging panel is composed of working professionals: spirits buyers, bar directors, mixologists and category managers from some of the UK’s most influential venues and retail groups. - Access to UK Distribution Pipeline
Medal winners will be considered for BTN’s new distributor matchmaking initiative, designed to connect brands with potential UK trade partners post-competition. - Optimised Toolkits for Promotion
Winners receive customised medal artwork, shelf talkers, press release templates and digital assets to accelerate brand promotion across e-commerce and in-store activations.
Products are judged by the people who matter
Sid Patel, founder of the London Spirits Competition and CEO of Beverage Trade Network, says: “This year’s competition is about taking the next step.
Winning a medal is just the start. We’re giving spirits brands the post-competition assets and trade access to drive real sales.”
Producers are encouraged to enter early and take advantage of the Super Early Bird Discount, valid until 31 August 2025.
Key Dates:
- Super Early Bird Deadline: 31 August 2025
- Judging Week: 24–26 March 2026
- Winners Announced: 17 April 2026
Enter Your Spirits before the deadline of August 31 and Save.
Beverage Trade Network organises three annual competitions that take place in London, for producers and brand owners of spirits, beers and wines:
Enter the London Spirits Competition
Enter the London Beer Competition
Enter the London Wine Competition