Terms
I. CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION IN THE COMPETITION
I.I
The aim of the competition is to showcase producers of spirits, their distilleries, and distilling facilities, to familiarize both professionals and the general public with the results for the best product as well as the outcomes in individual competition categories, and to further cultivate the approach to and perception of spirits and liqueurs as part of European and global cultural heritage.
I.II
The competition is open to all producers of spirits and liqueurs. Competition samples must comply with the conditions of this statute and conform to Act No. 61/1997 Coll., on spirits, as amended, and the amended Act No. 455/1991 Coll., on trade (Trade Licensing Act), as amended, and Act No. 587/1992 Coll., of the Czech National Council, on excise duties, as amended (the Spirits Act), or equivalent standards in the respective European country.
I.III
All Czech and Slovak producers of spirits, including selected foreign producers, will be publicly invited to participate in the “Czech Noble Spirits Competition 2025.” All information about the competition (including results) will be published on www.CNSC.cz. The competition’s organizing committee will develop its own communication strategy to ensure presentation of the competition results. Results and information on the course and further details of the competition are public.
I.IV
The minimum quantity of competition spirit or liqueur for each competition sample is set at 100 bottles; that is, this quantity is ready for market release, is in stock, has been or will be sold, and can be purchased through the distribution network. (This means that the customer should have been, be, or will be able to acquire the product in a standard distribution network.)
I.V
The competitor shall provide free of charge 2 bottles of 0.7 L or 3 bottles of 0.5 L into the ownership of the competition organizer for the purpose of sensory evaluation and subsequent presentation of competition samples. Competition spirits shall be delivered to the address of the organizer specified in the application or to pre-designated collection points. Products shall be delivered in cartons labeled on the side with: competition category, product name, and producer.
I.VI
For each submitted sample, the organizer will charge the applicant an entry fee of CZK 1,000 (45 euros, 50 dollars).
I.VII
Each bottle must be labeled by the competitor in accordance with applicable law, including the producer’s identification (exact legal name and address or distillery, distiller, or bottling plant code).
I.VIII
Application to the Competition:
a) The competitor shall complete the application form with information about the producer and each competition sample. The application form can be requested from the competition organizer or downloaded from the official competition website www.CNSC.cz. The application must contain at least the following information:
- Producer’s name or company name, including its registration number (IČ)
- Exact address of the producer
- Contact person, their telephone number, and optionally an email address
- Type of spirit
b) If the same competitor submits multiple products of the same type, they must be clearly separated and described for full distinction.
c) Incorrect information on the application will exclude the product from the competition. In the case of intentional misrepresentation, all products of the competitor will be excluded from the competition. If it is later discovered that a competitor submitted another producer’s product without disclosing this on the submitted sample’s label, they will be excluded from the competition. Any award granted may be revoked subsequently. Products from a competitor who used prohibited production methods may also be excluded from the competition.
d) By completing and submitting the application, the competitor agrees to the processing and publication of data about the producer and products in both professional and general media and to the dissemination of this information through all communication and media partners both in the Czech Republic and abroad. They also agree to all points of this statute and commit to paying the specified entry fee.
I.IX
Every competitor who places between 1st and 3rd in the Czech Noble Spirits Competition 2025 has the right to showcase their product with a tasting during the gala evening, and this presentation will not be charged by the organizer. At the same time, each finalist commits to participate in the organizer’s marketing activities (e.g., providing the company logo for promotional materials free of charge, photos of the winning bottle, etc.).
II. ORGANIZATION OF THE COMPETITION AND EVALUATION PRINCIPLES
II.I
No minimum number of submitted samples is required for awarding Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals in individual competition categories or for awarding the title 'National Champion.'
Evaluation will take place from October 31 to November 2, 2025 (judges only).
The gala evening will be held on December 4, 2025, at the Strahov Monastery (for all participants, judges, and guests).
Based on the evaluation results, the following will be awarded:
- Awards in individual competition categories
- The 'National Champion' award
The evaluation is based on a point system ranging from 0–100 points, with medals awarded according to the following criteria:
• Gold medal: 88 points and above
• Silver medal: 82 to 87 points
• Bronze medal: 76 to 81 points
• Double Gold medal (Double Gold)
(A Double Gold medal is awarded if the sample: Receives a score higher than 88 points and is also the best spirit in its category based on a unanimous decision of the jury.)
Best in Show
• The title Best in Show is awarded to the best sample among all samples that received Double Gold across all categories.
Competition for Best Mixed Drink of the Year
Each participant may enter the “Best Mixed Drink of the Year” category. The participant shall provide:• Recipe and preparation method of the drink.
• The drink must consist exclusively of official Kofola brand products
(see https://www.kofola.cz/produkty ) and the participant’s own products.• At least 0.2 l of each component of the participant’s own products – for competition purposes only.
Participation in 2025 is free of charge. The preparation and evaluation of the drink is organized by the host.• Gold medal: 88 points and above
• Silver medal: 82 to 87 points
• Bronze medal: 76 to 81 points
• Double Gold medal (Double Gold)
(A Double Gold medal is awarded if the sample: Receives a score higher than 88 points and is also the best spirit in its category based on a unanimous decision of the jury.)
II.II
JUDGING COMMITTEE
In the evaluation, we cooperate with domestic sommeliers, tasters, journalists, and other recognized experts in the field whom we want to acquaint with the quality of Czech products. Product evaluation is independent, with an emphasis on high objectivity. The judging committee will be appointed by the organizer. The average time for evaluating samples is at least 3 minutes. The role of a judge is honorary and irreplaceable. Inappropriate or rude behavior or obvious intoxication of a taster may result in disqualification from evaluation or removal. To ensure high objectivity, no taster on the committees may be a representative, employee, or owner of a competing entity.
II.III
SUBJECT OF EVALUATION
The subject of evaluation is only the quality of the spirit, i.e., the product. Spirit quality is for us the only objective measure for each competitor. Our expert committees evaluate products in a global quality context.
II.IV
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Each individual tasting committee operates under the supervision of a chair. The chair supervises and oversees the evaluation of the respective committee and ensures the completeness of documentation for the computing center. After the committee’s work is completed, the chair confirms with their signature the accuracy of the scoring table for individual competition samples and the integrity of the evaluation. The chair of the committee is Mgr. Michal Šedík.
II.V
EVALUATION CONDITIONS
A bright, well-ventilated room protected from external influences. Each taster has an individual tasting station equipped according to tasting rules. The competition organizer provides tasting glasses for evaluation. Sample anonymity is maintained – the taster is given the competition sample already poured in a glass and knows only the sample number and competition category. The committee works from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM. Breaks between evaluations are determined by the individual chairs. The order of samples must comply with evaluation rules.
All data about the competition and evaluation are archived for three years, and absolute objectivity and impartiality of result processing are guaranteed.
II.VI
Main Awards
Fruit Spirits Not Aged in Barrel
- Best Czech / by country plum brandy
- Best Czech / by country apple brandy
- Best Czech / by country pear brandy
- Best Czech / by country apricot brandy
- Best Czech / by country cherry and sour cherry brandy
- Best Czech / by country grape spirit
- Best Czech / by country other fruit spirits
- Best Czech / by country beer distillate
- Best Czech / by country gin
Barrel-Aged Spirits
- Best Czech / by country whisky up to 5 years
- Best Czech / by country whisky over 5 years
- Best Czech / by country apple brandy
- Best Czech / by country wine distillate (brandy)
- Best Czech / by country other fruit distillate
- Best Czech / by country beer distillate
- Best Czech / by country rum
- Best Czech / by country tequila
The section for the best Czech / Slovak liqueur will be divided into three main categories:
- Best Czech / by country rum liqueur
- Best Czech / by country herbal liqueur
- Best Czech / by country fruit liqueur
Based on the submitted samples, separate categories may emerge, e.g., best coffee liqueur, cherry liqueur (griottes), walnut liqueur, etc.
The 'National Champion' will be awarded based on mutual assessment of all products that receive first place, the gold medal.
II.VII
ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS
The announcement of results and awarding ceremony will take place on December 4, 2025. All awardees will be announced in a press release, in professional journals, and other media. The locations and dates of the announcement may change depending on the number of accredited journalists and attendees.
II.VIII
USE OF THE CZECH NOBLE SPIRITS COMPETITION TRADEMARK AND LOGO
Each competition participant has the option to use the competition’s trademark and logo free of charge for presentations exclusively in communications related to their participation in the competition, provided that proper use of the logo is approved by the organizer. Bottle labeling is permitted only with the original Czech Noble Spirits Competition medal, which the organizer will provide to the participant for a fee. Use of other bottle labeling or production of custom medals containing the name Czech Noble Spirits Competition (CNSC) is considered a violation of the organizer’s copyright.
III.
If there is a small number of submitted samples, the organizer may, at their discretion, combine the category with the nearest category, in which awards will be given for both (all) combined categories together. If fewer than 5 products meeting the competition statute participate in a category, the organizer will always merge that category, if logically possible. If a category cannot be merged with another and fewer than 5 statutory products participate, no award will be given.
IV.
Applications and samples must be sent no later than October 27, 2025.
V.
Contact person:
Competition Director and Chairman of the Organizing Committee: Mgr. Martin Krupička
The organizer of the competition is: Three little monkeys s.r.o. IČO: 11791616 ADRESA: Chudenická 1059/30, Hostivař, 102 00 Praha