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Global Whisky Challenge

Celebrating the World of Whiskey – A World-Class Competition

The Global Whiskey Challenge is an international competition celebrating the world’s finest whiskies across North America, the UK & Europe, and Asia & Oceania. Organized by Valinch Guild International, the event features a double-blind tasting judged by experts, culminating in a final showdown in Denver, CO, to crown the Global Champion. Our mission is to spotlight excellence and elevate the global whiskey community—one award-winning bottle at a time.

More about who we are

The Spirit Behind the Challenge: Meet Valinch Guild

Valinch Guild is run by beverage professionals and dedicated to the industry’s health. Our team has spent decades working across the wine, spirits, and broader beverage industries as judges, educators, writers, and industry professionals. We understand what producers value from a competition, and we are committed to carrying these competitions forward with integrity and transparency. For us, earning a medal is just the beginning. We will continue to support our medal winners with marketing resources, social media exposure, and public relations initiatives designed to turn that recognition into meaningful marketplace value.
 
“We are excited to be handed the reins to this established portfolio of respected beverage competitions and look forward to building on the strong foundation Wine Country Network has created,” said Jonathan Odde, President and CEO of Valinch Guild International. Jonathan is a spirit expert and educator with over 30 years of industry experience. He founded and co-owns the Burns Pub and co-founded Little Wolf in Denver, the world’s first establishment dedicated to American Single Malt Whiskies.

Why Enter The Global Whiskey Challenge?

  • Industry Recognition – Gain credibility with a prestigious award.
  • Expert Evaluation – Judged by top professionals in the beverage industry.
  • Fair & Unbiased Scoring – Spirits are tasted double-blind for accuracy.
  • Price-Point Segmentation – Ensuring a level playing field for all entrants.
  • Media Exposure – Medal winners receive strong publicity through Wine Country Network.
  • Permanent Recognition – Winning spirits are listed in our results archive for continued visibility.
2027 Entries Coming Soon!
Scotch whisky barrels lined up by the seaside on an Island

Our Other Competitions

The Denver International Spirits Competition is organized by Wine Country Network, Inc., a multi-platform media and event company dedicated to wine, beer, spirits, food, and travel. Wine Country Network is also the organizer of other world-class beverage competitions, including:

Denver International Wine Competition

Denver International Beer Competition

Drink Pink International Rosé Wine Competition

North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition

Denver International Spirits Competition

Canned Challenge

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

meet the team

Our Leadership

Jonathan Odde

President and CEO of Valinch Guild International.

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The Global Whiskey Challenge
NOW OPEN!

Showcase your Whiskey in one of the world’s best whiskey competitions. Get in front of expert judges, elevate your brand, and earn the recognition your craft deserves.

2027 Entries Coming Soon