Please join us in celebrating New York's Inaugural Water Choice Awards celebrating the best in water. The Water Choice Awards are presented by The Daily Pour, the ultimate drinks guide for the modern consumer. The Head Judge spearheading the event is industry insider, Water Sommelier and co-founder of Salacious Drinks, Ashley Epperson.
3/01/2026
$200 per submission
6/30/2026
Register on the website (live soon).
Mail either two (2) 700/750ml bottles of product or (2) 500ml bottles/boxes of product with a printed list including brand name, brand SKUs and contact information. If the water is tap water it should be sent in clear glass 750ml bottles with product name labels.
Abrams Media
Attn: Zoe - Water Choice Awards
1261 Broadway, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10011
Shipments will be accepted Monday through Friday from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm.
Judges will taste and rate your entry on August 17th.
Winners will be announced in September 2026.
Please join us in celebrating New York's Inaugural Water Choice Awards celebrating the best in water. The Water Choice Awards are presented by The Daily Pour, the ultimate drinks guide for the modern consumer. The Head Judge spearheading the event is industry insider, Water Sommelier and co-founder of Salacious Drinks, Ashley Epperson.
March 1st, 2026
March 1st - April 30th, 2026
May 1st - June 30th, 2026
All submissions CLOSE June 30th. Products MUST arrive by July 1st in order to be judged.
August 17th, 2026
September 2026
$200 per submission
$250 per submission
$75
$100/additional
Payments can be made through online platform (coming soon).
Low (50-250 TDS), Medium (250-800 TDS), High (800-1,500 TDS), Very High (>1,500 TDS)
All tap waters and commercially-produced water products from anywhere in the world are eligible to enter.
All entries submitted on time will be judged.
Judging panels are composed of professionals from diverse disciplines including water sommeliers and drinks experts and reviewers to ensure multiple perspectives.
Each category is evaluated by three judges.
Each beverage will be rated on a scale from 1-10. The criteria are if the beverage meets the normative expectations for the segment and the taste.
Then the judges will come to a consensus to give each drink a final medal: double gold, gold, silver or bronze.
| Medal | Individual Score | Cumulative Score |
|---|---|---|
| Double Gold | 10 | 29-30 |
| Gold | 9 | 25-28 |
| Silver | 7-8 | 20-24 |
| Bronze | 5-6 | 15-19 |
| No medal | Less than 5 | Less than 15 |
Blind tasting is conducted by category; beverages are served in coded glasses with no visible bottles.
Judges' decisions are final, no post-judging changes to awards.
Ashley Epperson
Water Sommelier & Co-founder Salacious Waters
Preston Boyer
Founder and CEO at Liquid Life Wellness Water
Laura Silverman
Founder of Zero Proof Nation
Estelle Bossy
Beverage Director & Experienced Mixologist
Tawny Lara
Beverage Founder & Author
Doran
The Bearded Sommelier
All winners will be featured on the The Daily Pour website, in the main newsletter and on social channels - where relevant.
Double gold and gold winners will receive a trophy.
Winners can purchase digital medals and stickers for printed promotional purposes. For digital use it is free. For print purchase cost $75 for a year to license and $200 for perpetuity.
Founded in 2024 by media personality and entrepreneur Dan Abrams, The Daily Pour is the ultimate drinking guide for the modern consumer, covering spirits, non-alcoholic, and hemp beverages. With its unique combination of cross-category coverage and its signature rating system, The Daily Pour sets the standard as the leading authority in helping consumers discover, compare, and enjoy the best of today's evolving drinks landscape.
Disclaimer: Please drink water responsibly and stay hydrated.
