Terms & Conditions 

By submitting an entry to USA Spirits Ratings ("USR"), the Entrant agrees to be bound by the following Terms & Conditions. These Terms apply to all participants, agents, importers, distributors, representatives, and organizations submitting products into the competition. 

 

1. Competition Registration 

Participation in USA Spirits Ratings is confirmed only when all of the following requirements have been completed: 

• Submission of a valid entry through the online entry system. 

• Payment of all applicable entry fees. 

• Successful delivery of the required samples to the designated competition warehouse before the published warehouse deadline. 

Submission of an entry form alone does not constitute a valid competition entry. 

USR reserves the right to reject, refuse, withdraw, reclassify, or disqualify any entry that does not comply with these Terms & Conditions. 

 

2. Entry Fees, Refunds & Cancellations 

All entry fees paid to USA Spirits Ratings are final and non-refundable. 

No refunds, credits, transfers, substitutions, withdrawals, or cancellations will be granted under any circumstances, including but not limited to: 

• Change of mind by the entrant. 

• Duplicate registrations. 

• Failure to ship samples. 

• Failure to obtain import approvals. 

• Customs delays or customs refusal. 

• Expired COLA Waivers. 

• Missing shipping documentation. 

• Courier delays. 

• Lost or damaged shipments. 

• Warehouse delivery after the deadline. 

• Product withdrawal by the entrant. 

• Product disqualification. 

• Regulatory restrictions. 

• Force Majeure events. 

Once samples have been delivered to the competition warehouse, entries cannot be cancelled, modified, transferred, returned, or withdrawn. 

USR is under no obligation to return samples, bottles, cartons, packaging materials, promotional materials, or accompanying documentation. 

 

3. Ownership of Samples 

Upon delivery to the designated warehouse, all submitted samples become the property of USA Spirits Ratings for purposes related to: 

• Judging 

• Quality control 

• Verification 

• Promotional activities 

• Educational tastings 

• Industry presentations 

• Competition administration 

Unused samples may be disposed of, retained, used for promotional activities, or otherwise handled at the discretion of USA Spirits Ratings. 

Samples will not be returned to entrants. 

 

4. Shipping Labels & Identification 

Entrants must use the official USA Spirits Ratings Shipping Label generated through their online account. 

The Shipping Label must: 

• Be attached to the outside of every carton. 

• Be included inside every carton. 

• Clearly display the assigned reference number. 

Shipments arriving without official shipping labels may be delayed, rejected, misidentified, or excluded from judging. 

USR accepts no responsibility for processing delays caused by missing or incorrect shipment identification. 

 

5. Sample Requirements 

Entrants must provide: 

• Two (2) bottles for products of 700ml or larger. 

• Three (3) bottles for products under 700ml. 

USR reserves the right to request additional samples if required for judging or verification purposes. 

Products submitted in insufficient quantities may be excluded from judging without refund. 

 

6. International Shipments & Customs Compliance 

International entrants are solely responsible for ensuring their products are legally imported into the United States. 

Entrants must obtain all necessary approvals, permits, waivers, registrations, and documentation required by: 

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection 

• Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) 

• Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 

• Applicable federal, state, and local authorities 

This may include: 

• COLA Waivers 

• FDA Prior Notice 

• FDA Registration 

• Import Permits 

• Commercial Invoices 

• Customs Documentation 

• Importer Authorization 

USR accepts no responsibility for providing customs clearance services. 

 

7. Importer Responsibility 

USR strongly recommends that international entrants use their own licensed U.S. importer or customs broker. 

Where importer introductions are provided by USR, such introductions are offered solely as a convenience. 

USR shall not be liable for: 

• Importer performance 

• Processing delays 

• Regulatory approvals 

• Customs examinations 

• Documentation errors 

• Additional importer fees 

• Shipment refusal 

• Shipment returns 

Any agreements between entrants and importers remain solely between those parties. 

 

8. COLA Waivers & Regulatory Approvals 

Where applicable, entrants must obtain an approved COLA Waiver before shipping samples. 

Entrants acknowledge that: 

• COLA Waivers are issued by regulatory authorities. 

• Approval timelines are outside USR's control. 

• Expired COLA Waivers must be re-applied for. 

• Additional government, importer, or service provider fees may apply. 

Failure to obtain or maintain valid approvals shall not qualify for a refund or extension. 

 

9. Duties, Taxes & Shipping Charges 

All shipments must be sent Delivered Duty Paid (DDP). 

The entrant shall be solely responsible for: 

• Shipping charges 

• Customs duties 

• Taxes 

• Brokerage fees 

• Government fees 

• Inspection fees 

• Storage fees 

• Demurrage charges 

• Return shipping charges 

• Administrative costs 

Shipments requiring payment upon delivery may be refused. 

Any charges arising from non-compliance with customs or declaration requirements shall remain the sole responsibility of the entrant. 

 

10. Tracking & Delivery Responsibility 

Entrants are solely responsible for monitoring and tracking shipments. 

USR does not guarantee: 

• Shipment tracking 

• Customs clearance 

• Delivery timelines 

• Courier performance 

Proof of shipment does not constitute proof of delivery. 

Only products physically received at the warehouse before the deadline will be eligible for judging. 

 

11. Delayed, Lost, Damaged or Returned Shipments 

USR and its logistics partners shall not be liable for: 

• Lost shipments 

• Damaged shipments 

• Leaking bottles 

• Broken bottles 

• Customs delays 

• Courier delays 

• Returned shipments 

• Regulatory holds 

• Warehouse delivery failures 

If a shipment is returned, delayed, damaged, abandoned, or refused, the entrant remains responsible for all associated costs. 

No refunds, credits, or compensation shall be provided. 

 

12. Warehouse Deadlines 

All samples must arrive at the designated warehouse no later than the published warehouse deadline. 

Products arriving after the deadline may be excluded from judging. 

No exceptions are guaranteed for: 

• Customs delays 

• Courier delays 

• Weather disruptions 

• Documentation errors 

• Regulatory inspections 

• Importer delays 

USR reserves the right to determine eligibility of late-arriving samples at its sole discretion. 

 

13. Judging Process 

All products are judged blind by qualified trade buyers and industry professionals. 

Judging decisions are final. 

USR shall not enter into correspondence regarding: 

• Scores 

• Medal outcomes 

• Ranking positions 

• Judging methodology 

• Comparative performance of products 

No appeals process exists. 

 

14. Results & Awards 

Results will be published on the announced results date. 

USR reserves the right to: 

• Correct administrative errors. 

• Amend classifications. 

• Recalculate scores. 

• Modify award levels where necessary. 

Such decisions shall be final. 

 

15. Intellectual Property & Marketing Rights 

By entering the competition, entrants grant USA Spirits Ratings a non-exclusive, royalty-free worldwide licence to use: 

• Product names 

• Brand names 

• Company names 

• Product images 

• Logos 

• Packaging imagery 

• Marketing materials 

for competition, educational, editorial, promotional, publicity, reporting, and marketing purposes. 

No compensation shall be payable for such use. 

 

16. Winner Artwork Usage Rights 

Winning entrants may use USA Spirits Ratings award artwork for: 

• Websites 

• Social Media 

• Presentations 

• Press Releases 

• Advertising 

• Sales Materials 

• Trade Shows 

• Marketing Campaigns 

provided the artwork is used only in relation to the winning product. 

 

17. Medal Stickers & License to Print 

Application of USA Spirits Ratings award marks directly onto: 

• Bottles 

• Labels 

• Packaging 

• Cases 

• Cartons 

requires either: 

• Official USA Spirits Ratings Medal Stickers; or 

• A valid USA Spirits Ratings License to Print. 

Both options are available to winners following the announcement of results. 

Usage rights are subject to the quantities purchased and applicable licensing conditions. 

 

18. Insurance 

USR and its logistics partners do not provide insurance coverage for submitted products. 

Entrants are strongly encouraged to obtain independent transit and shipping insurance. 

USR shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, incidental, commercial, or financial loss arising from participation in the competition. 

 

19. Force Majeure 

USR shall not be liable for any delay, interruption, modification, postponement, suspension, or cancellation resulting from circumstances beyond its reasonable control. 

Such circumstances include, but are not limited to: 

• Acts of God 

• Natural disasters 

• Floods 

• Fires 

• Epidemics 

• Pandemics 

• War 

• Terrorism 

• Civil unrest 

• Government restrictions 

• Customs actions 

• Transportation disruptions 

• Labour disputes 

• Utility failures 

• Technology failures 

• Regulatory actions 

USR reserves the right to amend schedules, deadlines, judging dates, procedures, or competition formats where necessary. 

No refunds, compensation, or damages shall be payable. 

 

20. Limitation of Liability 

To the fullest extent permitted by law, USA Spirits Ratings, its directors, employees, contractors, agents, judges, warehouse operators, logistics providers, and affiliates shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or economic loss arising from participation in the competition. 

Participation is undertaken entirely at the entrant's own risk. 

 

21. Acceptance of Terms 

Submission of an entry constitutes full acceptance of these Terms & Conditions. 

Entrants confirm that they have read, understood, and agreed to comply with all competition rules, shipping requirements, customs obligations, and deadlines. 

Failure to comply may result in disqualification without refund or compensation.