NEXT COMPETITION OPENS JANUARY 1, 2026

“WE ARE HERE TO LIVE NOT JUST EXIST”…Evel Knievel

American Icon Spirits was born to find them—the misfits, dreamers, and alchemists of alcohol—who pour their soul into every bottle, maybe without ever getting the recognition they deserve. The 2026 competition is OPEN to all global spirit brands.

​

The Daring Distillers Competition and Partnership Program is our searchlight to help grow your craft brand to the world stage! We do not just award trophies—we forge legends. Winners earn not just fame, but a full-spectrum launch: global distribution, high-end branding, media exposure, and strategic partnerships with great American Icons, like the Evel Knievel Museum, that turns underground talent into household names. Originally by invitation only, the competition is NOW OPEN TO ANY GLOBAL SPIRIT BRAND.

 

ASK OUR 2025 WINNER, LAND RUN DISTILLERY OUT OF

NEWKIRK, OKLAHOMA! This is not charity—it is a war on
mediocrity. We partner only with makers who are all-in.
Design, production, global sales, hype generation—we push
every release to sell out, fast. And for our efforts, we ask for
a percentage of your sales to reward our efforts. If you are
risky, rare, and ready for the spotlight, 2026 is your shot.
Send us what you have got, and maybe—just maybe—you
will rise further and faster among the legendary Icons. 

 

FIRST TIME OPEN TO ALL DISTILLERS IN 2026!

2026 marks the first year we open the gates to any size
company that believes they have something daring and
different - maybe not even able to be released under your
flagship brand! No longer ‘by invitation only’—any distiller with guts, edge, and an unshakable vision for their product can enter and be reviewed by our spirits sommelier team. We do not want safe. We want transformative. Let us show the world what American spirit and innovation really tastes like.

 

“WE WILL GROW INNOVATIVE AND DARING SPIRITS INTO GLOBAL PHENOMENA!
Lizzie Mack, Founder and Master Spirits Sommelier, Daring Distillers, Competition and Partnership

COMPETITION OPENS JANUARY 1 ANNUALLY: American Icon Spirits was created to find the best spirits, blenders, and barrels across the globe and that may be limited release, only available in some states or countries, or just not getting the recognition they receive. Each January 1st, we open our competition for that year to identify the best of the best spirits and pair them with American Icons who want to release a spirit with their backing.

We require one-750 ml bottle of spirits to be submitted for judging no later than February 1st of the competition year shipped to American Icon Spirits Company, Daring Distillers Competition Submission, Attn. Elizabeth Mack, Master Spirits Sommelier,  5701 W. Slaughter Lane A130, #444, Austin, TX, 78749.

 

BRANDS ARE ABOUT PEOPLE AND STORIES: We ask you write a short note (hand written is O.K.!) on why you believe your submission is daring, innovative, and how your distillery, brewery or cidery would benefit from a partnership with us. Tell us about you! Our goal is expanding your story and reputation, production, client-base, and profits.

WE ARE WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY! We catalyze your growth by providing: global distribution, high-end branding, media exposure and events, competition entries, label design, and strategic partnerships with great American Icons, like Evel Knievel. We are not interested in competition but co-opetition!...where both you and we benefit from taking your spirit masterpieces to a larger audience and distribution, provide business consulting at no cost to ensure a win-win between AISC and our Daring Distiller Winners! WINNERS ARE ANNOUNCED ON MARCH 31 OF EACH FISCAL YEAR!

​

TELL US YOU ARE SUBMITTING BELOW SO WE CAN WATCH FOR YOUR ENTRY!