The capital of Jalisco is set to return to the global spirits industry spotlight following the announcement of the 3rd edition of the Latin America World Spirits Competition. The event will bring together the region’s top producers on April 22 and 23, 2027.
The official announcement took place during a press conference led by agribusiness leaders, technical experts, and tourism and business executives. The panel featured Ana Cristina Villalpando, General Director of the Cámara Nacional de la Industria Tequilera (CNIT); María Bertha Becerra, Head of Finished Product Quality Assurance at the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT); Alfredo Cachúa Torres, President of the Consejo Mexicano Promotor de la Raicilla; Gustavo Staufert Buclón, CEO of the Guadalajara Convention and Visitors Bureau (Oficina de Visitantes y Convenciones de Guadalajara); Carlos Alfonso Hernández Ramos, Executive at Tequila La Cofradía; and Víctor Martínez Quezada, Global Agave Spirits Ambassador for Suntory Global Spirits.
During the panel, speakers underscored Guadalajara’s strategic importance as the premier host city for the competition. While entries are open to all Latin American distilled spirits categories—ranging from rums and gins to regional aguardientes—the event holds special significance for Tequila and Raicilla. Both are Mexican Denominaciones de Origen (Denominations of Origin) deeply rooted in Jalisco, aiming to strengthen their market presence among international buyers and judges.
A Seal of Distinction and Technical Credibility
Beyond a symbolic award, earning a medal in this international competition delivers a decisive competitive edge on the retail shelf. Winners earn the right to feature the competition’s official seal directly on their bottle labels—a visual differentiator for consumers backed by world-class, blind-tasting panels.
Organizers and industry specialists noted that the award provides assurance of proven quality that “resonates with a broader audience,” leveling the playing field for high-level sensory recognition across established distilleries, emerging brands, and boutique craft projects alike.
A key topic addressed during the press conference was the competition’s economic impact on participating brands. The event goes far beyond handing out medals; it acts as a commercial launchpad fostering strategic partnerships and distribution channels with importers, wholesalers, on-premise venues, and specialty retailers.
Based on insights from past participants, brands awarded top honors frequently see exponential commercial traction, often doubling or even tripling their sales volumes by leveraging the competition’s prestige in their international marketing and PR campaigns. Furthermore, the presence of major buyers boosts the local supply chain and reinforces Guadalajara’s status as a top-tier destination for agribusiness-related MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) tourism.
Call for Entries Open
The organizers invited maestros destiladores, artisanal craft producers, and established distilleries from across Mexico and Latin America to register their expressions early. Competition rules, entry categories, registration requirements, and judging guidelines are now available on the event’s official digital platforms and social media channels.
With this announcement, Guadalajara reaffirms its continental leadership as the heart of agave spirits and the epicentre of distillation quality and expertise.
Register here: https://thetastingalliance.com/events/latin-america-world-spirits-competition
