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Canned Beverages

•Hard Seltzer • Spiked Spritzers •Premixed / Ready-To-Drink (RTD) Cocktails • Alcohol Based Ice Teas and Lemonades •CBD-infused •THC-infused •Hemp-infused •Non-alcoholic •Mixers •Bitters •Hard Cider •Hard Kombucha •Sake 
2026 Open Now(opens in new tab)
The Canned Challenge Plus is the world's first professionally judged competition to define excellence in ready-to-drink alcoholic and infused drinks. The Canned Challenge Plus Tasting Contest will be conducted double-blind by a prestigious panel of mixologists, bartenders, beverage professionals, sommeliers, buyers, and trade members. The Canned Challenge Packaging and Design Contest will be juried by a committee of art directors, designers, and retailers, with a focus on critical elements that help a brand stand out.
The 2026 Canned Challenge Plus is now accepting canned and RTD beverages in all packaging types (canned, bottled, boxed, Bag-in-box, Tetra Pak®, pouch, etc.) in the following categories:

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Tasting Competition:
We are now organizing a prestigious panel of industry professionals, including Master Sommeliers, Directors, Journalists, Retailers, and Buyers. Our goal is to create a well-rounded panel of experts who will taste the products “double-blind” and achieve the fairest possible scoring results. For our popular categories, we may separate products by price point to maintain a level playing field.

Packaging and Design Competition:
Packaging and design are crucial aspects of marketing and product positioning in the ever-crowded world of adult beverages. Many producers make enormous financial and time investments in developing the perfect design.

The 2026 Canned Challenge will offer a separate packaging and design contest judged by Art Directors, Designers, Marketers, and Retailers.

Awards Process:
Medal-winning spirits will be posted on this website within 7 days of the competition. Posted winners will remain listed in the results section of this website under the year that their products won a medal. Wine Country Network conducts an aggressive publicity campaign, generating valuable media exposure for all winners.

Product Categories List:
Click here for our full list of product categories

Competition Dates: October 17-18, 2026
Important Deadlines:
Online Entries: October 9, 2026
Samples delivered by: October 12, 2026

Location: Denver, Colorado, and conducted nationally with highly respected beverage professionals.

2026 Entry Fee:
$295 per entry
Sample Product Required:
•Tasting Contest
Please supply 8-12-oz cans (or the equivalent of 96 oz).
•Packaging and Design Contest
Please supply 1 can for Individual Packaging and Design, or 1 Can Each for your Canned Series Entry.
Questions?
Please call Tel. (303) 665-0855 or email the Competition Director. cdavies@winecountrynetwork.com