Which industry awards should UK drinks brands prioritize entering?

The community consensus is to be selective with awards rather than enter everything — they're expensive and many feel like a racket. Members recommend focusing on the most recognized and credible ones:

- **San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SF)** — consistently cited as a top-tier award worth entering; members mentioned having SF Gold medals - **IWSC (International Wine and Spirit Competition)** — listed among the most-recognized competitions - **Great Taste Awards** — included in the trio of awards members prioritize - **Spirits Business Awards / Scotch Masters** — mentioned with some hesitation; one member questioned whether the link to spirits press justifies the entry cost, leaning toward "probably not essential if you already have major awards"

The broader advice: if you already have a major award like SF Gold, diminishing returns kick in fast. One member quoted the philosophy "the only award that matters is the empty bottle award" — i.e., repeat customers matter more than trophy collection. Budget and press relevance should guide your choices rather than trying to enter every available competition.