America’s Top Hemp Beverage Competition

Stand out locally, regionally and nationally with one competition.

Entries Open May 1st, 2025

Entries Open May 1st, 2025

From Local Heroes to National Icons

Highlighting one of the most exciting categories in the beverage sector, America’s Best is excited to become one of the first competitions dedicated to judging Hemp THC beverages. With new brands entering the market every day, America’s Best will award the best by state, region and nationally, allowing brands to highlight their credentials to customers near and far.

September 2025 (Entries open May 1st)
3 Entry Options (State, Regional or β€œTriple Crown”)
1 Entry = 3 Competitions

Why Enter?

Maximize the value of your entry by leveraging three layers of awards, allowing you to communicate your brand credentials locally, regionally and nationally.

3 COMPETITIONS, 1 ENTRY

Travis Hartong
Bottles Beverage Superstore

β€œAmerica’s Best has put together a fantastic and very professional spirits competition. I am honored to be a judge and retail partner.”

50 States, 5 Regions, 1 Country

Most competitions don’t connect with consumers. America’s Best changes that - spotlighting top Hemp THC beverages not just nationally, but by state and region. We help brands stand out where it matters most: locally. With strong regional recognition and flexible marketing assets, each win delivers real value for consumer trust and brand growth.

Judged by Experts, Tasted Blind

Our panel is made up of industry expertsβ€”retailers, restaurateurs, influencers, and writersβ€”who specialize in the beverage space. Every Hemp THC beverage is evaluated blind, without branding or context, ensuring an unbiased and fair assessment. Each entry is judged on its own merits, not compared to others. Top-scoring entries receive Double Gold, with the highest achievers considered for Best in Show and a perfect 100-point score.

Bartender

Retailer

Restauranteur

Writer

Influencer

Past Competition Judges

  • Mike van Beyrer

    Bottles

    Mike is the Owner of Mount Pleasant’s Bottles Beverage Superstore. A cross between a superstore that boasts unbeatable price points and a neighborhood wine shop that offers boutique bottles and personalized services, his 15,000 sq. ft. establishment boasts a wide variety of wine, beer, bourbon and more. From working at wineries in California to a distributor in Atlanta, he’s been in the alcohol and beverage business for 18 years.

  • Jamie Bolt

    The Gin Joint

    Jamie is the owner and operator of The Gin Joint, a 1920s-inspired craft cocktails bar on East Bay St. With over a decade of experience working in bars and restaurants, he uses his culinary background to thoughtfully create seasonal cocktails with fresh ingredients, which have landed him in numerous award-winning publications.

  • Johnny Caldwell

    The Cocktail Bandits

    Johnny joins Taneka to create the dynamic duo known as the Cocktail Bandits. The curly ladies who talk cocktails daily, educate and entertain their growing audience by sharing original cocktail recipes, promoting the craftsmanship of other bar professionals and sharing their experiences at F+B events around the Holy City and beyond.

  • Austin Dain

    The Hive

    Austin has worked in a variety of different roles in the alcohol beverage industry since he was 21 years old. First as a distributor, then for a retail liquor store, he spent four years on a journey that led him from barback, to craft bartender and ultimately restaurant manager. He currently works for creative agency The Hive on behalf of a large wine and spirit supplier.

  • Nicholas Dowling

    Daps Beverage Co.

    Nicholas brings over 20 years of restaurant experience to his position as Owner of Daps Beverage Co., a beverage company producing the original canned mimosa. He previously served as Head Distiller for a local distillery, where he helped open and run production for over four years.

  • Travis Hartong

    Bottles

    With a bartending career extending all the way back to 2001, Travis transitioned to his current role as Mount Pleasant’s Bottles Beverage Superstore’s Spirits Consultant and Liquor Buyer Wholesale Manager in 2013. His primary focus is selling liquor to bars and restaurants throughout the state of South Carolina.

  • Emily Heintz

    SΓ©chey

    Emily serves as the Founder of Sèchey, an alternative spirits shop and lounge on King Street featuring functional and alcohol-free beer, wine, spirits and mixers. Since launching Sèchey in 2021, a nod to the French word for dry, she has curated a premium selection of alternatives to alcohol not only for Sèchey's assortment, but for a national retail partner, as well as cocktail menus at leading hospitality groups.

  • James Hewlette

    Brindiamo Group

    Joining Hopmayer from Brindiamo Group is their Vice President of Brand and Distillery Sales. James’ extensive background in the beverage and alcohol industry includes more than 15 years of managing all facets of the bulk whiskey sales cycle, as well as domestic and international customer relations.

  • Jeff Hopmayer

    Brindiamo Group

    Jeff Hopmayer boasts decades of experience in food and wine, spirits, bulk sourcing, mergers, acquisitions, branding, marketing, turnarounds and capital sourcing. Serving as its Founder, his company Brindiamo Group is one of the largest suppliers of bourbon, whiskey and other bulk spirits in the world.

  • Jim McCourt

    Prohibition

    Originally from Belfast, in Northern Ireland, Jim left school at age 15 to begin a career in the bar industry. He has held positions from dishwasher to bar manager, working in a variety of establishments including Irish bars, hotels, fine dining restaurants and cocktail bars. He brings this versatility and depth of experience to his position as Co-Owner and Bar Director at Prohibition on upper King Street.

  • Amanda Phelps

    Frannie & The Fox

    Amanda serves as Beverage Manager and lead bartender at Frannie & The Fox, located inside Hotel Emeline. With refreshing and intriguing cocktails such as the Gus & Mandy, featuring ramazzotti, red wine, lemon, cola and soda, she creates a one-of-a-kind experience for all guests who have the chance to visit the downtown restaurant.

  • Taneka Reaves

    The Cocktail Bandits

    Co-founder of The Cocktail Bandits, Taneka has been in the beverage industry for over 15 years, beginning her career in local dive bars and neighborhood restaurants. The Cocktail Bandits aims to educate, empower and entertain followers about beverages from a feminine urban perspective. In 2018, The Cocktail Bandits wrote the book β€œHoly Spirits: Charleston’s Culture Through Cocktails.”

  • Nathan Thurston

    Millers All Day

    Working as a professional chef in the South for over 25 years, Nathan went on to gain extensive experience as a restauranteur and restaurant consultant, working with the likes of Kiawah Island’s The Ocean Room, The Darling Oyster Bar and FΓ©lix Cocktails et Cuisine. He also serves as Chef and Owner of Millers All Day.

  • Drew Hannush

    Best-selling author Whisky story teller & researcher

    Drew is the Amazon best-selling author of "Whiskey Lore's Travel Guide to Experiencing Irish Whiskey," and "Experiencing Kentucky Bourbon," and the recently released landmark book β€œThe Lost History of Tennessee Whiskey.” Drew has a passion for researching whisky history and uses his books and Whiskey Lore podcasts to discover hidden truths and dispel whisky myths and lore. His mission is to develop foundational material for whisky history research while creating educational and entertaining material for brands and whisky fans.

Thank you to our Sponsors!

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WE ARE MORE THAN A BEVERAGE COMPETITION

America’s Best is more than an awards programβ€”it’s a turnkey marketing solution. We provide digital and retail-ready assets that help brands stand out at the point of purchase and amplify their PR efforts. Winning isn’t just about a medal; it’s about telling a story. Our awards help communicate your product’s benefits with local relevance, expert credibility, and eye-catching recognition that resonates with both consumers and buyers.