What's New in 2026

As the Awards opens its doors to the world, several exciting changes have been introduced to ensure the competition evolves with the dynamic spirits industry. With new categories, expanded international participation, and updates to existing classes, the 2026 Awards promise to be more diverse and innovative than ever before.

Since opening up to the world in 2025, the Awards have continued to evolve. In 2026, categories and classes have been fine-tuned to evolve and better reflect the shifting landscape of the spirits industry.

New Gin & Tonic Category

Gin producers will have the opportunity to have their gins assessed as a gin & tonic, with StrangeLove Tonic Waters. Exhibitors will be able to enter as an optional extra that can be selected when entering a Gin into a gin class for a special introductory entry fee of $80, with no additional product required to be sent.

Eligibility: Only products entered in the Gin category that have been entered into the tasting section will be eligible.

Entries will be assessed with chilled tonic water at the ratio of after 1 part Gin (15mL) to 3 parts Tonic Water (45mL).

Exhibitors will have a choice of one of the following StrangeLove Tonic Waters to have mixed with their Gin:

New Small, Medium and Large Champion Australian Distiller Trophies

The Champion Australian Distiller Trophy has been refined to recognise excellence across different distillery size categories, ensuring fair and meaningful competition among peers. By awarding Champions within each size classification, the trophies acknowledge the diversity of Australia’s distilling landscape and creates greater opportunity for distilleries of all scales to be recognised for their achievement.

To be eligible for a Champion Australian Distiller Trophy, the distillery must be located within Australia and must be the licensed distiller and exhibitor of the awarded exhibit. The award will be judged on the distillery’s top three (3) scoring exhibits, at least one of which must be a gold medal-winning exhibit.

Australian nomad-distilled exhibits and exhibitors who have had the awarded exhibits made under contract by a contract distiller are not eligible to win a Champion Australian Distillery Trophy, as the exhibitor who entered the exhibit is not a distillery.

See the ‘Entry Fees’ on page in the 2026 Entry Booklet for distillery size specifications.

New Classes

RUM006 – Other Rum will cater for rums that don’t fit in the existing rum classes and have unusual production methods and/or are blends, such as cane juice and sugarcane honey or cane juice and molasses.

BRN007 – Pisco – Unaged Brandy distilled from fermented grape juice from Peru or Chile.

Updates to existing categories and classes

Rum

RUM003 – Spiced Rum has been renamed to RUM003 – Flavoured and Spiced Rum / Flavoured and Spiced Cane Juice Rum.

RUM005 – Rhum Agricole has been renamed to RUM005 – Cane Juice Rum with sub-styles for Underproof, Overproof and Blanco.

Cane Spirit

Introduction of CNE003 – Other Cane Spirit, which will be for cane spirits that don’t fit in existing cane spirit classes and have unusual production methods and/or are blends, such as cane juice and honey or cane juice and molasses.

The class will replace CNE003 – Rhum Agricole (1–2yo) and CNE004 – Cachaça (less than 2yo) classes.

Agave Spirit

Entries will now be categorised by style:

  • Blanco (Silver)
  • Joven (Gold)
  • Reposado (Aged)
  • Añejo (Extra Aged)
  • Extra Añejo (Ultra Aged)
  • Mixto
  • Flavoured

Brandy

BRN001 – Grape Brady, Age Statement and BRN002 Grape Brandy, Non-Age Statement have been replaced by BRN001 – Grape Brandy, Under 6 Years and BRN002 – Grape Brandy 6 Years and Older.

Trophy Review

The Best Ready to Serve Cocktail, Pre-Mix or Spritz has been split into Best Ready to Serve Cocktail and Best Ready to Serve Pre-Mix or Spritz. The Best Vermouth Trophy will now merge with the Best Bitter Trophy to become the Best Bitter or Vermouth Trophy.