High Spirits Awards recognize top THC drinks of 2025
- The High Spirits Awards honor the best THC-infused beverages, reflecting the significant growth of the cannabis drink industry.
- The award process includes a tasting panel of industry professionals who evaluate and nominate beverages for various medals.
- These awards guide consumers in navigating the emerging THC beverage market, illustrating their rising influence in the adult beverage space.
In 2025, the High Spirits Awards celebrated the top THC-infused beverages through a rigorous judging process. The event, organized by the L.A. Spirits Awards, highlights the expanding cannabis-infused beverage industry. It started in 2023 in recognition of the industry's growth following the 2018 farm bill, which legalized hemp products with minimal THC content. The market for hemp-derived THC beverages grew significantly, escalating from $400,000 in 2020 to an expected $571 million in 2025. The recognition of these beverages indicates their growing influence in the adult beverage market. The awards ceremony began with a first-round tasting panel composed of industry professionals who evaluated numerous beverages. They had the option to nominate drinks for bronze, silver, or gold medals, and those unanimously awarded gold were granted platinum status. This thorough evaluation process ensured only the best drinks advanced to the second judging round featuring Best in Show awards, judged by both High Spirits Awards and select L.A. Spirits Awards judges. In total, several categories were recognized, including infused coffees, seltzers, sodas, juices, and alcoholic beverages. The winners demonstrated a wide variety of flavors and types of THC drinks available in the market, providing consumers with options ranging from infused coffee to cocktails. The winners included notable products such as the Fuel and Elevate Vanilla Latte and the Goodland Extracts Cherry Pie High Soda. By highlighting these products, the awards aim to guide consumers in navigating the rapidly evolving market of THC-infused beverages. Overall, the High Spirits Awards represent a significant step in legitimizing THC drinks within the competitive beverage industry. As the legalization of cannabis beverages continues to gain momentum, industry stakeholders see awards as essential for promoting quality and attracting consumers. The success of these awards and the increase in popularity emphasize the importance of THC beverages in shaping future drinking trends and consumer choices.