FROM THE EXECUTIVE Dear Readers,

It’s beautiful to reflect on the past five years and to toast to our amazing readers, PR%F Awards entrants and winners, our partners, and our sponsors.

This year will mark the fifth Annual PR%F Awards spirits, wine, and beverage competition. I dedicate this moment to the talented team of staff and advisors with the vision to make it happen. Year after year, they give new and emerging brands a chance to make it in the marketplace by kickstarting their marketing endeavors. This is the opportunity to get their brands tasted by those who can buy their bottles and cans and decorate those recognized as the best with our medals and accolades.

Special thanks to Food and Beverage Magazine, Delta Sky Club®, Palms Resort Casino, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (The William F. Harrah College of Hospitality), The NEAT Glass, and Bootleggers Distributing.

The private judges-only PR%F Awards Spirits, Wine & Beverage competition is set to be held in Las Vegas on November 7 and 8 at Palms Resort Casino in Las Vegas.

We are the definitive buyer’s competition, where beverage buyers can taste more than 1,000 new brands with new trends, new varietals, and crowning existing favorites.

We will once again work alongside William F. Harrah College of Hospitality at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas students to provide an education about spirits and wine awards.

More than 40 students will participate behind the scene learning how to create, manage and operate the world’s largest spirits competition. In addition, a group of senior students will provide a best-of-show tasting evaluation for tequila, whiskey, vodka, and wine.

We have expanded our entries to more than 300—adding more varietals of wines, extending tequilas, Ready-to-Drink (RTD), whiskey, and bourbon, along with a dedicated list of categories to the alcohol-free arena with a panel of buyers that specialize in alcohol-free purchasing.

Enter PR%F Awards, and each SKU will be automatically placed into both competitions— Masked (double-blind) an Unmasked-The Total Package (buyers/judges can see the bottle/ can, read the label, see the price point, and see your logo and brand) Enter your spirit or wine today at www.proofawards.com.

Cheers & Namaste!

Michele D. Tell Executive Director, PR%F the Magazine Founder, PR%F Awards