The 2026 New Zealand Spirits Awards have gotten underway for another year, with judging beginning today and continuing tomorrow.

The awards are set to commemorate the very best in local and internationally available spirits within their categories.

Spirits NZ CEO Robert Brewer says a 'remarkable' number of entries have been admitted and the judges are working their way through the options.

"You've sort of got to keep innovating and keeping up with the times, so we've got a design and packaging award, emerging products - we even go and judge best cocktail bars, bar vendors." 

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