The Spirit of Craft Awards (SOCraft Awards), Asia’s pioneering platform celebrating artisanal spirits, returns for its second edition on 1 February 2025. Organized by FoodNews Creative Marketing Agency, the awards aim to highlight exceptional craft distillers from around the world while connecting them to the thriving Asian bar and cocktail scene. This year’s program introduces a dedicated craft spirits festival in Singapore, running in November 2025, to showcase award-winning brands.
Recognizing Global Craft Distillers
The SOCraft Awards debuted in 2024, honoring 43 artisanal spirits from 15 countries, including Australia, Indonesia, Italy, the U.S., and more. Selected by a panel of 36 judges comprising Asia’s top bartenders, spirits experts, and drinks critics, the entries underwent six rigorous blind-tasting rounds. This year, the awards expand further, with early bird submissions starting on 1 February 2025 and the winners revealed on 19 May 2025.
SOCraft Awards focuses on amplifying the visibility of small-batch spirits in Asia. Ivy Woo, Managing Director of FoodNews and co-founder of the Singapore Cocktail Festival, explains, “SOCraft Awards was designed to inspire drink makers and connect them with Asia’s booming cocktail industry. Last year, 70% of the entries were new to our market. For 2025, we’re introducing an expanded sustainability focus and a craft festival to elevate the platform and deepen engagement between craft distillers, bartenders, and consumers.”
Judging and Criteria
SOCraft defines craft spirits as handcrafted beverages produced by independent distilleries with an annual output of no more than 750,000 gallons, in accordance with the American Craft Spirits Association. The 2025 judging panel comprises 36 industry leaders from Asia’s drinks and spirits scene, selected by a 10-member Judging Committee.
Blind tastings will take place from 5 to 7 May 2025, with each judge evaluating no more than 10 spirits per session. Spirits will be scored on a 120-point scale based on Aroma and Bouquet, Mouthfeel, Taste, Finish, and Overall Impression (20 points each).
A dedicated sustainability panel will also assess entries on environmental and social factors, awarding up to 20 additional points for a spirit’s Sustainability Footprint. Judges will consider production materials, waste management, emissions, and community support.
This year’s sustainability judges include notable industry figures such as Demie Kim (Zest, Seoul), Laura Prabowo (Penicillin, Hong Kong), and Rohan Matmary (Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur), among others. Spirits scoring over 15 points for sustainability will receive a special “Green Ring” recognition alongside the traditional 1 Star, 2 Stars, or 3 Stars (Platinum) ratings.
SOCraft Festival: A New Platform for Craft Spirits
New to the awards is the SOCraft Festival, running from 15 to 30 November 2025 in Singapore. The festival will provide a platform for consumers and enthusiasts to explore the winning spirits through exclusive cocktails crafted by some of Singapore’s top bars and bartenders.
Leveraging the organizers’ experience with the Singapore Cocktail Festival, SOCraft will collaborate with 20 leading bars in the city, each featuring three unique cocktails made with award-winning spirits. By bridging the gap between distillers, bartenders, and consumers, the festival aims to foster appreciation for artisanal spirits while positioning Singapore as a hub for craft cocktail culture.
Awards Timeline and Submissions
The SOCraft Awards 2025 submissions open on 1 February and close on 15 March 2025. Winners will be announced on 19 May, ahead of the craft spirits festival in November. With its expanded scope and commitment to sustainability, the SOCraft Awards continues to champion the art of artisanal distilling and connect global craft makers with Asia’s vibrant drinks industry.
