We are now accepting submissions for our fourth annual Best Of the Pacific Northwest issue! Out in October, this issue will feature the top picks for wine, beer, spirits and cider the region has to offer and will announce the winners in print. We will be awarding a “Category Champion” and announcing the products that followed closely behind. The issue will also cover industry leaders, trends, travel and products.
The beverages will be tasted blind, with a panel comprised of the Northwest’s top palates, judges and professionals, who will be relaying our verdict to the pages of the issue. Our goal is to provide our readers with unique and original content pertaining to the best of Northwest beverages and create an overall greater consumer awareness and appreciation of our area’s liquid assets.
If you are interested in submitting your cider to our blind tasting panel, please use the following rules for entry:
1) Cost of entry: $30 for each individual category submission. Payment is accepted by check at the address listed below, please call 623-341-2473 for credit card. The applicable fees must be paid with submission to be entered in the judging.
2) Please fill out the submission form (attached here), print and include with your package. The submission will not be entered in the judging if the form is not included.
3) Send three (3) samples of each submission for 500ml or less, two (2) samples for 22-ounce or 750ml bottles or one (1) growler.
4) Do not send more than two (2) submissions per category. For example, if you produce several hopped ciders, please only send two as that is all that will be judged for that category.
5) For the categories involved with pricing, it is based on MSRP.
6) The product must be currently available in the calendar year of 2015 or by March 1st of 2016.
7) All products must be produced in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska or British Columbia.
8) Submission receiving deadline is Friday, June 19th.
*Note, if you do not currently bottle and will be sending a growler, please call the number below to coordinate.
THE CATEGORIES ARE:
Traditional Apple (Old World, slow fermentation production, typically 3+ months)
Modern Apple (New World, fast fermentation production, typically 1 month or less)
Perry
Fruit-infused
Hopped
Barrel-aged
Ice cider, pommeaus and fortified
Single varietal (must be 80% varietal)
Spice/Herbs (spices, ginger, herbal, etc.)
Specialty (squash, unique yeast strain, etc.)
Sparkling (méthode champenoise, bottle conditioned)
Ship all entries and payment to the following address:
Sip Northwest Magazine
Attn: Best Of
1333 N. Northlake Way, Suite E
Seattle, WA 98103
For shipments from British Columbia that do not have compliance with Washington State, send to the following address:
Sip Northwest
Attn: Best Of
1460 Brooke Street
Victoria, BC
V8S 1M3
Canada
*For personal delivery, please call 206-467-4578.
Sip Northwest is an award-winning publication covering the wines, brews and spirits of the Pacific Northwest. Please join us in finding the best of the year to highlight and showcase in this issue. Thank you!
