SHIPPING INFORMATION

PACKING YOUR SAMPLES

Please complete steps 1-9 outlined below

  1. Please try to include your Transaction ID (found on your invoice and confirmation email, starting ISC25) and Company Name on the outside of the package. 
  2. Please ensure your courier includes your Transaction ID on their shipping label and paperwork.
  3. Please do not send samples to Agile Media. All samples are to be sent to our warehouse - Wine Sorted, Little Owl Farm, Main Road, Murcott, Kidlington, OX5 2RE
  4. Send your samples Delivered Duty Paid (DDP). Instruction to complete the import declaration should be given to your chosen shipping agent or courier company such as Fedex, DHL, UPS and TNT.
  5. You must package your samples marked "Shipper accepts charges" on the documentation provided by your shipping agent or courier company, as all charges are your responsibility as the entrant to pay. Keep a copy of the documents as proof that UK Duties have been paid.
  6. Print out the document named International_Spirits_Challenge_2025_nomination.pdf which was sent to you in your confirmation email and include it inside your package with your samples. This document cannot be used as a commercial invoice.  
  7. All bottles being sent from outside the UK must be accompanied by a commercial invoice. All bottles sent are for competition tasting and have no commercial value. Please indicate a nominal value for your bottles being sent. If you use your own commercial invoice you MUST include the following: Importers Record - Agile Media, Product name, Description of product, Quantity of products, Bottle Volume and ABV of bottle. A sample commercial invoice can be downloaded from the top of the page and must be included with your shipment. When using the sample commercial invoice please complete all sections highlighted in red.
  8. Please DO NOT use standard postal systems. They regularly get held up at customs, and we are unable to clear or collect.
  9. For any bottle samples where the brand name is not written in English, please accompany each bottle with a label in English stating the brand name and the ABV.
Download Commercial Invoice Template

NOTES

  • Ensure bottles are safely packaged to avoid breakages.
  • Ensure all carbonated products are in date for consumption in August 2025
  • The ISC take no responsibility for spirits bottles damaged, broken or lost in transit.
  • We advise taking out insurance where applicable.
  • Please note bottles will not be returned.
  • No spirits deliveries will be accepted at the Agile Media offices
  • Please adhere to the shipping delivery deadlines outlined below.
  • Late arrivals will not be accepted and neither credits nor refunds will be issued if samples fail to arrive on time.

SHIPPING QUANTITIES

Tasting Awards:

Please send TWO (2) bottles for all distilled spirits per entry.

Please send SIX (6) products per entry for those in pre-mixed drinks or mixers format if they are sparkling. If they are still, please send 2 bottles.

Design & Packaging:

Please send ONE (1) bottle per product entered. If entering a product range please send ONE bottle for each product in the range.

Please ensure your samples arrive by the deadline set out below:

28th February: American Whiskies, Armagnac, Brandy, Cachaça, Calvados, Cognac, Eaux de Vie & Fruit Brandies, Grappa, Irish Whiskey, Japanese Whisky,  Mezcal, Other Agave Spirits, Pisco, Rum, Scotch Whisky, Tequila, Worldwide Whisky

4th April: Gin, Shochu, Soju, Vodka

25th April: Aquavit, Baijiu, Jenever, Low or No Distilled Spirits, Mixers, Vodka, Speciality Spirits

20th May: Design & Packaging, Liqueurs & Specialities. Pre- Mixed Drinks 

PLEASE SEND YOUR SAMPLES TO:

Matt Westcott

International Spirits Challenge 2025 c/o Wine Sorted

Little Owl Farm

Main Road

Murcott

Kidlington

OX5 2RE

UNITED KINGDOM

Telephone: +44 (0) 1869 226 256

TAXES AND EXCISE DUTY COSTS

Entrants are fully responsible for ALL shipping costs including taxes, excise duty, custom charges and storage when sending bottles into the competition (this is not included in the entry fee). The International Spirits Challenge (ISC) will not be responsible for any of these charges. The purchase of UK Excise Duty is different to Customs Duty charges and these must be paid for by the entrant before they are received by the ISC or they will be rejected from the challenge. It is an offence to avoid the payment of UK excise duty on alcoholic spirit samples arriving into the UK. Further guidance may be obtained from the HMRC website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/customs-international-trade-and-excise-enquiries Here you will find a step to step guide on how to import your items to the UK as well as a chat option should you require something specific.