IWSC Judges’ Picks for Dry January: low & no alcohol spirits

Fri 5 Jan 2024

By Mila Gorchakova

The demand for low & no alcohol drinks is seeing a remarkable surge, not only during dry January but consistently throughout the entire year. A recent UK survey has highlighted this trend, indicating a substantial increase in the preference for alcohol alternatives, especially among the younger demographic. In 2023, nearly half (44%) of 18-24-year-olds surveyed considered themselves either occasional or regular drinkers of low & no (compared to 31% in 2022).

At the IWSC, Low & No is one of the most exciting emerging categories, with the number of entries growing year on year. To ensure a fair judging process, in 2023 we introduced two separate categories – Low/No Wine and Low/No Spirits.

During our most recent judging, the panel overseen by the IWSC Judging Committee member Claire Warner, was impressed by the diversity of flavours and the quality of low & no alcohol spirits. “We've seen a real increase in how close those alternatives are getting to the traditional spirits. So a real narrowing of that gap. It was great to see some very interesting uses of ingredients,” said Claire Warner.

A total of 8 golds, over 15 silvers and over 40 bronze medals were awarded to low/no alcohol spirits in 2023.