Launched in 2019, the LA Spirits Awards is a modern spirits competition rooted in industry experience and a commitment to inclusive, professional judging. Held annually in Los Angeles, this competition was founded by industry veterans Nicolette Teo and Joel Blum, who aimed to create a judging platform that reflects the diversity, rigor, and relevance of the modern spirits landscape.
Though open to all spirit categories, whisky is a central focus of the awards, with dedicated panels evaluating a wide range of styles including American, world, and cask-strength expressions. What sets the LA Spirits Awards apart is its deliberate approach to judging — featuring a diverse panel of industry professionals with real-world experience in bartending, hospitality, and beverage buying.
The competition also prioritizes transparency, detailed feedback, and equitable representation—factors that resonate strongly with today’s whisky producers. As an emerging but increasingly influential player, the LA Spirits Awards offers a fresh West Coast voice in the global whisky awards circuit.
For those seeking a quick overview, the following table summarizes the essential details of the LA Spirits Awards. This at-a-glance format provides the most critical data points for a rapid understanding of the competition’s framework.
Organiser: LA Spirits Awards, founded by Nicolette Teo & Joel Blum
Founded: 2019
Headquarters: Los Angeles
Cadence: Annual
Next Awards: 2026
At the LA Spirits Awards, evaluation begins with a rigorous blind tasting. Judges receive entries identified only by category and proof range, allowing for impartial assessment of the spirit’s aroma, balance, taste, and finish—free from branding or packaging influence.
Each panel is made up of industry professionals including bartenders, beverage directors, spirits buyers, educators, and consultants, bringing both expertise and real-world relevance to the process. The judging team also prioritizes inclusivity and diversity, representing a broad cross-section of voices from across the hospitality and beverage sectors.
Medals are determined collaboratively during the medaling round and awarded based on the following scale:
Platinum Medal – Awarded to top-of-class spirits that receive unanimous Gold votes from the panel during the initial medaling round.
Gold Medal – Reserved for spirits considered among the finest in their category.
Silver Medal – Given to spirits of notable refinement and complexity that demonstrate superior quality.
Bronze Medal – Assigned to well-made, commercially appealing spirits that consumers can trust.
The most exceptional entries are re-tasted and voted on by the full judging team to determine Best in Show winners—spirits that outperformed all others in their category during the year’s competition.
Whisky receives serious attention at the LA Spirits Awards, with judges evaluating a broad range of styles—from bourbon and rye to world whiskies, single malts, blends, and flavored expressions. The competition is particularly well suited to identifying whiskies that excel not just in complexity and craftsmanship, but also in real-world drinkability and bar appeal.
Top-performing whiskies may receive recognition through medal awards, and the most outstanding among them are further elevated with Best in Show honors. This final accolade is reserved for whiskies that outperform all other entries in their category during a special re-tasting by the full judging panel—marking them as the year’s standout bottles.
The LA Spirits Awards has quickly become a respected force in the world of spirits competitions, known for its contemporary approach and credible panel of hospitality professionals. For whisky brands, a medal from this competition—particularly a Best in Show nod—can serve as a powerful endorsement in both trade and consumer circles.
Winners often benefit from increased visibility through media coverage, distributor interest, and enhanced shelf appeal thanks to medal marketing assets. For consumers, an LA Spirits Awards medal signals not just quality, but also real-world relevance—whiskies that perform well behind the bar and in the glass. For the trade, these accolades serve as trusted indicators of spirits that meet the high standards of today’s on-premise professionals.
For more information or to view past winners, visit the official website: https://www.laspiritsawards.com/
