GLINTCAP 2025 Rules & Guidelines

Entry Fees and Requirements

ENTRY DATES & FEES FOR 2025

Sample Requirements

Commercial Division: Submit three (3) cans or bottles size 330ml (11.1 ounces) or larger for each entry. 

*Note that two (2) 750ml bottles are not sufficient to meet the above requirements. Entries that advance to Best in Class Finals are judged at three different sessions, so three (3) 750ml bottles are required.

Exceptions

• For Ice Cider and Fortified Cider entries in bottles that are 375ml or larger, please submit two (2) of each bottle.
• For Ice Cider and Fortified Cider entries in bottles that are at least 187ml but less than 375ml, please submit three (3) of each bottle.
• For Spirits entries, the total volume submitted must be at least 375ml. One (1) bottle is sufficient if it is at least 375ml.

Noncommercial Division: Submit two (2) cans or bottles size 330ml (11.1 ounces) or larger for each entry. 

Exceptions

• Ice Cider entries may be submitted in bottles as small as 187ml. Two (2) bottles per entry are required, regardless of volume.

Judging Protocol

All judging will be conducted using “blind” panels. Each entry will be identified by a randomly assigned registration number. Judges will see only that number and important information needed to properly evaluate the entry, such as style, level of carbonation, level of sweetness, and any special ingredients or processes used in production. 

Judges will be a combination of cider industry professionals, Certified Pommeliers, apple experts, sensory analysis experts, experienced BJCP judges, and select members of the media.

Entries will be poured out of sight of judges and identified only by a randomly assigned registration number. 

Sweetness Levels

• Dry: Below 0.9% RS (Below 1.004 SG)
• Semi-Dry: 0.9%-1.8% RS (1.004-1.007 SG)
• Semi-Sweet: 1.8-4.5% RS (1.007-1.017 SG)
• Sweet: Above 4.5% RS (Above 1.017 SG)

Carbonation Levels

• Low: <0.75 volumes of CO₂ (Still / Perlant)
• Medium: 0.75 to 2 volumes of CO₂ (Petillant)
• High: >2 volumes of CO₂ (Sparkling)

Best in Class Awards

Producer of the Year Awards

Entrants may submit as many entries as they’d like but will be judged on their TOP TEN (highest scoring) entries.

There is no minimum number of entries an entrant must submit to be considered. 

Scoring is as follows: Best-in-Class/Gold = 10 points, Silver = 4 points, Bronze = 2 points.

These are the Producer of the Year award classes for 2025:

• Micro Cidermaker of the Year – 5,000 Gallons or Less
• Small Cidermaker of the Year – 5,001 to 25,000 Gallons
• Midsize Cidermaker of the Year – 25,001 to 500,000 Gallons
• Large Cidermaker of the Year – 500,001 Gallons or More
• NEW! Canadian Cidermaker of the Year
• International Cidermaker of the Year
• Non-Commercial Cidermaker of the Year

Use of Competition Awards in Marketing

Use of any award in a misleading way may result in the award being rescinded and the offending producer being barred from future competitions. Producers are responsible for ensuring that distributors, retailers, and restaurants use awards in advertising and marketing per competition rules.

Feedback is supplied to aid producers in understanding how ciders were perceived by judges, and what the relative strengths and weaknesses were perceived to be. Feedback from judges may not be quoted for marketing purposes without the express prior approval of GLINTCAP/MCA. 

The Competition wishes to encourage experimentation and help producers discover their strengths. Consequently, entries from trial batches are permitted. However, awards given to entries from trial batches may not be referenced by the producer or its distributors and retailers for marketing purposes without the express prior approval of GLINTCAP/MCA. Trial batches are defined as those that represent less than 100 gallons (US) or less than 1% of total production—whichever represents the greater volume—or batches that are not available for sale to the public.