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BROOMFIELD, Colorado, August 13, 2025 -- Wine Country Network, Inc., publisher of Wine Country International® Magazine and producer of numerous highly respected professional beverage competitions, announced that it will accept entries for the Canned Challenge Plus through October 10, 2025.

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, focusing on critical elements that help a brand stand out.

Ready-made alcoholic drinks are a rapidly growing market that is convenient and enjoyable in unlimited situations, including at home, on the beach, at events, on the boat, on the golf course, or camping. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated this growth, making canned alcoholic drink products the fastest-growing category in the beverage industry.

The 2025 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:

•Hard Seltzer •Spiked Spritzers •Premixed / Ready-To-Drink (RTD) Cocktails •CBD-infused •THC-infused •Hemp-infused •Non-alcoholic •Mixers •Hard Cider •Hard Kombucha •Sake

"We are proud to host the 5th Annual Canned Challenge Plus, witnessing the exciting evolution in Ready-made (RTD) alcoholic drinks, infused drinks, cocktails, and spritzers," said Christopher J. Davies, Wine Country Network CEO and Co-Founder. "We want to identify the best products in each exciting category. We have consciously kept entry fees more affordable than fees charged by spirits competitions."

The 2025 Canned Challenge Plus will announce winners in late October before the holiday buying season. This timing ensures maximum exposure for the winning products. Consumers can view the winners' list online and seek top-scoring products in their local market. All winners can promote their results with royalty-free digital images of the competition medals and other valuable brand marketing assets, significantly boosting their brand visibility and credibility.

For information, please visit www.cannedchallenge.com