International
Spirits Competition
ABOUT US
Distillers Challenge International Spirits Competition celebrates the best in today’s spirits industry – from innovative products to legacy brands. Part of the influential Challenge Series of international wine and spirits competitions, founded in 2003, Distillers Challenge presents spirits awards to products that exhibit exceptional character, providing a valuable third-party endorsement to inform and influence consumers, industry experts and the trade.
Whether you’re a well-established international producer or a craft spirit start-up, distinguishing your product from the crowd is critical to success. Winning a Distillers Challenge spirits awards – conferred by a panel of industry peers – recognizes the quality and craftsmanship of your products and becomes an important sales tool.
Executive Director
Diane Salisbury
Diane has been on the management end of wine and spirits competitions for 20 years.
In addition to founding Distillers Challenge International Spirits Competition, she is publisher and managing partner of
winereviewonline.com
and publisher/co-editor of
spiritsreviewonline.com
Director of Competitions
Rich Cook
Rich is a wine and spirits competition professional with more than 30 years’ experience in all facets of competition production.
He serves as Competition Director for all of the Challenge Series of competitions.
Rich is also a regular contributor to
winereviewonline.com
and serves as co-editor and a contributor to
spiritsreviewonline.com
Associate
Competition Director
Del Milholland
Del has 10-plus years of experience running the operations end of wine and spirits competitions. He is as adept at overseeing back-of-house functions as he is in managing judging sessions.
In addition to his role at Distillers Challenge International Spirits Competition, Del oversees participation in the entire Challenge Series of public tastings held at restaurants and event venues.