Buy now Register/LoginEnter Contact us Sponsors

HOW TO ENTER

About the awards

Winners will be announced in April 2023

The World Rum Awards are the global awards selecting the very best in all internationally recognised styles of rum.

We are in the midst of an extraordinary situation which is affecting those in the industry in a number of ways. However, we want to look to the future, and let you know what winning an award in the 2023 World Drinks Awards could mean for you and your business. Advertising is more important than ever, and a win at the World Drinks Awards equals direct advertising opportunities.

Winning helps consumers make their purchasing decisions. It can be hard to pick from the hundreds of products lining the shelves; but as an award winner, you will stand out You will receive logos and certificates free of charge, to use as you wish to promote your win and your product.

Every entrant receives…
  • A personalized World Rum Awards tasting note
  • Invitation to the World Rum Awards final round tasting in London

    Winners receive…
  • Extensive coverage on World Rum Awards.com
  • High resolution logos
  • International, regional and national coverage targeting rums consumers and trade buyers
  • Boxed set: inclusion in the World rum Awards boxed set, featuring the winners
  • Point of sale materials including: stickers and collarets with your award in corporate collars
  • All country and world winners are featured in the annual Best Spirits publication

    Medals, Certificates and Trophies receive…
  • Medal, certificate and logo pack
  • Country certificate and logo pack
  • World Style certificate and logo pack
  • World’s Best Trophies, certificate and logo pack

    Icons of Drinks

    Welcome to the Icons of Rum

    We are delighted to say that the Icons of Rum are now open for entries and introduce our new online entry system. You can simply make your applications through your customer profile.

    The Icons of Rum Awards are a celebration of the years of hard work that go into every bottle. From the distillers themselves and brand ambassadors, to visitor centre managers, bars, bar tenders and the industry’s communicators – a great deal of craftsmanship, skill and knowledge are imparted at each stage of the process. This is our way of saying thank you to the individuals and producers for their dedication to each innovative release, visitor experience or expert retail service, delivered in a tireless fashion.

    A list of rates, categories and definitions can be found here

    Entry Deadline for Online Applications – 10 March 2023

    Taste categories

    Agricole & Sugarcane Juice
    Rums/Rhums made from freshly pressed sugarcane juice or syrup produced from a sugarcane juice reduction. The competition recognises that Agricole Rhum is an EU-protected term applicable to Rhum/Rum from Martinique, Guadeloupe, Marie Galante, French Guyana, Reunion, and Madeira; and further recognises that Rums produced from fresh sugarcane juice & syrup are produced throughout the world.

    Unaged

    5 Years & under

    6 to 10 Years old

    11 Years & older

    Solera

    Solera / Average Age

    No Age Statement

    Cachaça
    Are taken as being distillates produced from sugarcane juice that has been fresh-pressed and not treated in any way or form. Distillation using a pot still or traditional column stills is assumed.

    Unaged

    5 Years & under

    6 to 10 Years old

    11 Years & older

    Solera

    Solera / Average Age

    No Age Statement

    Column Still
    Can include single-column, twin or multi-column systems and refers to a continuous distillation set-up.

    Unaged

    5 Years & under

    6 to 10 Years old

    11 Years & older

    Solera

    Solera / Average Age

    No Age Statement

    Contemporary & Botanical
    Flavoured rums following non-traditional (mainstream) and /or with more subtle flavour profiles.
    Flavoured
    Full flavoured rums with a single predominant ingredient, such as pineapple, coconut, and coffee. This does not include rum arrangements. Minimum ABV 37.5%
    Hybrid Still
    Distillation set-up that comprises a pot still and a distinct column selection directly attached and configured such that spirit production can be completed in a single pass. Still included.

    Unaged

    5 Years & under

    6 to 10 Years old

    11 Years & older

    Solera

    Solera / Average Age

    No Age Statement

    Pot & Column Still
    Refers to a blend of batch and continuous distillation types, irrespective of the proportions or origin.

    Unaged

    5 Years & under

    6 to 10 Years old

    11 Years & older

    Solera

    Solera / Average Age

    No Age Statement

    Pot Still
    Refers to batch distillation only. Still modifications such as extra rectification plates (sometimes known as column sections) can be included in this category.

    Unaged

    5 Years & under

    6 to 10 Years old

    11 Years & older

    Solera

    Solera / Average Age

    No Age Statement

    Rhum Arrangement
    Sugarcane Spirit
    Rum produced from unrefined evaporated sugarcane juice, also known as rapadura and panela (with regional variation in spelling acknowledged)
    Traditional Spiced
    Flavoured rum with ingredients that are predominantly flavoured using these key components: cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, ginger, clove and pimento/all-spice

    Design categories

    Bottle Design
    The overall design of the glass or PET bottle: shape, colour, functionality and any embossing, decorative finishes, coatings or direct printed elements as well as visual appeal.
    Label design
    This includes all aspects of on-bottle brand/product communication, including the application of any direct printing onto bottle, capsule or closure, as well as paper and film labels and sleeves. The pack will be judged on the overall design and quality of materials, print, decoration and application.
    Limited edition
    This category applies to pack designs where the number produced was limited, such as for a special production, occasion or season.
    New launch
    Packaging for a new product launched after February 1, 2019.
    Presentation
    This applies to the secondary, outer, presentation packaging, such as cartons, boxes, cases, plinths, chests etc. The presentation will be judged on the overall effect with the bottle in place.
    Range design
    This is a packaging design that carries through and unites a range or ‘family’ of different products from one producer or brand.
    Redesign / relaunch
    This category refers to a new or refreshed packaging design created for an existing product and introduced to the market after February 1, 2019. A picture or sample of the previous packaging must be supplied along with a description of what changes have been made and why
    Travel retail exclusive
    Packaging created specifically for sale in the duty-free / travel retail market

    The judging process

    TASTE

    The taste judging is held in three rounds.

    Round 1
    Each rum is tasted in its relevant style to identify and select the style winners. Judges making up the World rum Awards panel include international, leading journalists, specialist drinks retailers and industry experts.

    Round 2
    Style winners are tasted against each other to identify the ‘World's Best’ rum in each category.

    DESIGN
    All DESIGN judging is conducted by a panel of leading international design experts.

    For each entry, the following quantities should be supplied
    • Taste only – 3 bottles
    • Design only – 2 bottles
    • Taste and Design – 3 bottles


    Shipping

    Brexit and shipping from Europe

    Customs Declarations will be required from 1 January 2021 for shipments between Great Britain and the European Union (and vice-versa). Although the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement refers to 'zero tariffs' (zero customs duties), this doesn't replace the need to generate a Customs Declaration and so a Commercial or Pro-forma Invoice is required. The trade deal only applies to Customs duties, meaning that in most cases Customs duties will not be applied to goods fulfilling all necessary "rules of origin" requirements. However, VAT will still be levied. Customs declarations are therefore required for goods to clear the border, as the UK will have left the single market and the customs union. Country-specific restrictions will still be in place and any associated licences will also be required.

    If you have any queries regarding the shipment of your samples, please get in touch via email info@worlddrinksawards.com with subject line ‘World Drinks Awards shipping query’

    Shipping Deadline (Product needs to be received by): January 31, 2023

    Our delivery facility is open for entries. All samples should be delivered to Norwich, UK.

  • Ensure your products are packed securely.
  • Print the packaging slip from your online profile for each product
  • Complete the Quantity and ML specification
  • Attached the pack slip to the outside of the box if possible, if not please include in the box
  • If you have multiple entries per box, please attached all pack slips to the outside of the box

    The pack slip is not a customs document.

    If you have also entered your products into design, no additional product needs to be provided.

    Quantities required
    3 bottles of each product entered should be supplied with a minimum volume of 500ml
    (For premix – please use beer specifications)

    For DESIGN ONLY
    If you have only entered design, 2 bottles of each should be provided.

    We are delighted to introduce our new shipping system which. You can then ship your entries straight through our own booking system in conjunction with DHL. For a set shipping fee, we get your shipment booked in and arrange for pick up. This fee will then cover any duties as well.

    When you are shipping your entries yourself, please ensure that all customs, clearance and any associated costs have been paid. If these are not paid, World Beer Awards can either not accept the entries or will have to invoice any costs occurred, including a £25.00 administration fee. All duty invoices will come directly from our accounts team.

    Rates

    Entry fees

    Note: price is for each entry
     1 entry2 entries3 entries4+ entries
    Sterling
    Taste & Design£260 + VAT£245 + VAT£235 + VAT£220 + VAT
    Design£184 + VAT£174 + VAT£164 + VAT£159 + VAT
    Taste or Design£184 + VAT£174 + VAT£164 + VAT£159 + VAT
    Euro
    Taste & Design€325€315€305€295
    Design€215€210€205€200
    Taste or Design€215€210€205€200
    USD
    Taste & Design$430$415$400$385
    Design$290$280$270$260
    Taste or Design$290$280$270$260
    Canadian Dollar
    Taste & Design$490$475$460$445
    Design$335$325$315$305
    Taste or Design$335$325$315$305

    Terms & conditions

  • Products must be sent by prepaid post and be received by the Shipping Date listed.
  • Entries are only accepted on a completed online entry form with the appropriate entry fee.
  • If an entry is withdrawn by the Due Date (or disqualified), the entry fee will be returned subject to an administration charge of 50% of the entry fee. Products will be made available for collection at the entrant’s expense or retained by the Organiser if not collected within eight weeks of the Due Date. Due Date is the entry deadline.
  • If an entry is withdrawn after the Due Date, no refunds will be given. This includes entries for which product has not been received.
  • Payment in full is required before judging commences.
  • Substitutions of entries is possible, but needs to be communicated to the World Drinks Awards prior to the Due Date.
  • If you are shipping your entries yourself, please ensure that all customs, clearance and any associated costs have been paid in advance. If these costs are not paid, the World Drinks Awards will invoice any costs occurred, including a £25.00 administration fee. If these costs remain unpaid, the World Drinks Awards are unable to accept the entries.
  • The judges’ decision on all matters is final.
  • The Organisers may, at their discretion, refuse to accept an entry.
  • The Organisers may alter the closing date for the awards, place an entry in the most appropriate style, rule that an entry may not compete or is ineligible to compete, or alter the date, time or place on or at which the awards are scheduled to take place.
  • The Chair of Judges has the power to disqualify any entry not deemed as meeting the entry criteria.
  • These rules are governed by the laws of the UK.
  • Please note: bottles are unable to be returned. Our policy on unreturned bottles is as follows:
    o Opened bottles may be poured at trade and consumer events to promote the individual brand, or included in a charity bottling, the proceeds of which are distributed to charity.
    o Closed bottles may be distributed to individual charities on a case by basis, or presented for auction, all proceeds of which are distributed to charity.
  • Our sponsors

    Glencairn Crystal
    The Glenturret
    Rankin
    Kräuter Mix