Mid-strength drinks
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The IWSC is proud to champion the world's best drinks.
As consumer preferences continue to evolve, so too does the scope of the IWSC. The introduction of mid-strength drinks reflects the increasing demand for products that offer flavour, complexity and balance at a lower alcohol level, while meeting the same rigorous quality standards applied across the competition.
Largest awards for mid-strength drinks
At the IWSC, we have seen consistent year-on-year growth in entries within the mid-strength category, reflecting a wider shift towards more considered and balanced alcohol consumption. In recent judging, our expert panels were impressed by the level of innovation on display, with producers demonstrating a clear understanding of how to deliver flavour, complexity and quality at lower alcohol levels. As consumer awareness of ABV continues to grow, brands are increasingly meeting expectations with confident, well-crafted mid-strength drinks.
Mixer add-on awards
We created our Mixer Awards to crown the world's best spirits and mixer pairings. If you are submitting a lighter-alcohol alternative spirit to our judging, you can also enter our Mixer Awards.
The judges will be selecting the best Mid-strength Gin & Tonic, Mid-strength Vodka & Tonic, Mid-strength Rum & Tonic, Mid-strength Whisky Highball, Mid-strength Paloma (Mid-strength tequila & grapefruit soda), Mid-strength Rum & Cola and Mid-strength Whisky & Ginger Ale.
"There were some lovely wines this year that, that in any category judged against higher alcohol wines, were just good drinking wines"
James Morgan, IWSC Judge
