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 ISC26) 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_2026_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.

NOTES

• Ensure bottles are safely packaged to avoid breakages.
• Ensure all carbonated products are in date for consumption in August 2026
• 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:

30th January: Armagnac, Brandy Calvados,  Cognac, Eaux de Vie & Fruit Brandies, Grappa,  Mezcal, Other Agave Spirits, Pisco,  Tequila

27th February: American Whiskey, Canadian Whiskey, Irish Whiskey, Japanese Whisky, Scotch Whisky, Worldwide Whisky

27th March: Gin, Rum & Cachaça, Vodka

1st May: Aquavit, Baijiu, Jenever, Low or No Distilled Spirits, Mixers, Vodka, Shochu, Soju, Speciality Spirits

29th May: Design & Packaging, Liqueurs & Specialities, Pre-Mixed Drinks 

PLEASE SEND YOUR SAMPLES TO:

Felicia Dawes

International Spirits Challenge 2026 c/o Wine Sorted

Little Owl Farm

Main Road

Murcott

Kidlington

OX5 2RE

UNITED KINGDOM

Telephone: +44 (0) 1869 226 256

All entries submitted to the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) are accepted under the following terms:

• Entrant Responsibility Until Delivery All products submitted for judging are shipped at the entrant’s sole risk and expense. ISC accept no liability for loss, damage, or delays occurring in transit, customs clearance, or prior to confirmed receipt, accompanying image of the delivery at our designated warehouse address.

•Insurance Entrants are strongly advised to arrange appropriate insurance for all samples during shipping and customs transit. ISC does not provide insurance coverage for submitted entries.

• Delivery Charges, Duties & Taxes All delivery costs, customs duties, import taxes, and any related charges must be pre-paid by the entrant. ISC will not accept delivery of samples where such charges are outstanding.

• Confirmation of Product Receipt Due to volume of products received by our warehouse, we are unable to confirm receipt on an individual basis. Please ensure your courier provides secure confirmation of delivery/receipt by our warehouse (including an image of your delivery at the warehouse). No responsibility is accepted by the ISC for goods lost or delayed before official receipt.

• Damage or Loss After Receipt In the rare event that an entry is damaged or lost after receipt but before judging, ISC will contact the entrant and request a replacement sample. Replacements must be supplied at the entrant’s expense and within the competition’s stated deadlines. Entry fees will not be refunded.

• Non-Compliance or Missing Entries ISC reserves the right to disqualify entries that are not received, are incomplete, or arrive after the stated deadline, with no obligation to refund entry fees.

• No Liability for Consequential Loss ISC shall not be held liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential loss or damages arising from participation in the competition, including but not limited to loss of profit, business disruption, or reputational impact. By submitting an entry to the ISC, entrants confirm acceptance of these terms.

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.