The Shochu Cocktail Competition 2025 Rules
THE SHOCHU COCKTAIL COMPETITION 2025 RULES
NO ALCOHOL (OR OTHER) PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE CONTIGUOUS (48) UNITED STATES AND WASHINGTON, DC, WHO ARE 21 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AT THE TIME OF ENTRY. VOID IN ALASKA, HAWAII AND WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW.
1. Contest Schedule & Theme
The Shochu Cocktail Competition (the “Contest”) will be conducted according to the following schedule:
**Shochu Seminar**
Participants must attend the virtual Shochu Seminar registration Jan 8, 2025 (Tue) 11:00 a.m. ET or Jan 13 2025 (Mon) 2:00 p.m.
**Entry Period **
January 8, 2025 (Tue) @ 12:01 am Eastern Time (“ET”) – February 11(Tue), 2025 @ 11:59:59 p.m. ET
**Judging Period**
February 12 (Wed), 2025 @ 12:01 am Eastern Time (“ET”) – February 16 (Sun), 2024 @ 11:59:59 p.m. ET
**Semi-Finalists Announced**
Best 30 Finalists Announced: February 17, 2025 (Mon) – February 19, 2025 (Wed)
Best 15 Final Announced: February 25, 2025 (Tue)– February 27, 2025 (Thu)
**Finalist Announcement**
March 3, 2025 (Fri)
**Grand Finale Competition (for Verified Finalist Prize Winners) **
March 10, 2025 in Angel Share, New York
Submit a cocktail recipe containing Honkaku Shochu or Awamori from Japan. The recipe must be served at the participant’s bar during the competition period: January 8, 2025 - March 10, 2025.
Internet access and a valid e-mail address are required to participate in the Contest.
If accessing the Contest via mobile device, wireless Internet access and/or other fees may apply. Entrants should consult their wireless service provider regarding their pricing plan. Not all cellular phone providers carry necessary service to enter via mobile website. Wireless Internet access is not available in all areas.
Sponsor’s time clock is the official clock for the Contest.
2. Eligibility:
This Contest is open only to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and Washington, DC, who are 21 years of age or older at the date of entry. Void in Alaska, Hawaii, and where prohibited or restricted by law. Employees of the following entities and members of their families (spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, and/or “step”) or households (those persons, whether related or not, who live in the same residence) are not eligible for participation under any circumstances: Sponsor, Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association c/o Azix Inc., and their respective affiliates, printers, advertising and promotion agencies, alcohol beverage suppliers, importers, wholesalers, distributors or retailers, and any other entities involved in the administration, development, and execution of the Contest. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations.
3. How To Enter
(a) Entry Procedure.
First, go to https://www.shochu.guide/cocktailcompetition (“Website”) and verify your age.
Next, provide your name, complete street address (no P.O. Boxes), e-mail address, phone number, date of birth, and Instagram handle (if any).
Then, provide the following information regarding your cocktail:
Name of cocktail (up to 140 characters)
Entry Name, Age (verify over 18) Home Address, Telephone Number, and Email Address
Bar Name, Title/Position, Bar Address, Bar phone number, Bar Manager/Owner Name, Bar Owner Email address
A brief biography (up to 500 characters)
Explaining Cocktail Inspiration relating to the 2025 Competition theme “Japanese Art” - must be inspired by art that is produced in Japan by a Japanese artist.
Type of Shochu Used
Short Essay Explaining why this Shochu was selected for the cocktail
Cocktail Recipe (up to 500 characters)
Sub Recipes
One photo of the cocktail
The photo of the cocktail must conform to the technical specifications on the Website as to size and file format and must not depict the entrant or any other persons. USE OF PHOTO-EDITING SOFTWARE OR ANY OTHER DEVICE/ARTIFICE TO EMBELLISH OR ENHANCE (OR OTHERWISE MISREPRESENT) THE APPEARANCE OF THE COCKTAIL AS A FINISHED PRODUCT IS PROHIBITED AND WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION.
Sign the entry form in the designated area to indicate that you have read, understand and agree to these Official Rules. IF YOU DO NOT SIGN THE ENTRY FORM, YOUR ENTRY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Finally, click “Submit” to enter the Contest.
All entries must be received by 11:59:59 p.m. ET on February 10, 2025.
(b) Requirements for Cocktail
Shochu is the traditional distilled spirit of Japan, and we want to challenge you to create a new cocktail inspired by the ‘home’ of Shochu, Kyushu island. Your original cocktail must use 60ml (2oz) of Shochu and up to 7 ingredients (including the garnish). Up to two of those ingredients can be custom-made syrups, infusions, etc., but you will be judged on how consistently and easily they can be produced at volume as a drink on the menu at a bar. Your recipe and essay will be read by our panel of judges, and _6_ finalists will be invited to compete in person. You will be evaluated on the following criteria:
Creativity and Interpretation of the theme
Shochu Knowledge
Understanding of Cocktail Balance (not only flavor but also proof)
Presentation/Style
Timing/Preparation
All ingredients must be lawful and readily accessible to individuals living in the contiguous United States (48) and Washington, DC. Without limiting the foregoing, such ingredients CANNOT include any controlled substances or prescription or over-the-counter drugs (whether lawful or not). In addition, the shochu cannot be diluted (or “cut”) with another product prior to use as an ingredient in the cocktail recipe.
The cocktail recipe must clearly indicate the steps necessary to create the cocktail, as follows: specific measurements/quantities of each ingredient; any required preparation of ingredients (for example, refrigeration or crushing/mixing ingredients); any equipment required to create the cocktail (for example, blender) and total estimated preparation time. FOLLOWING THE RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS MUST RESULT IN THE CREATION OF A PORTABLE BEVERAGE.
If a cocktail recipe includes products manufactured by third parties, such third-party brand names MUST NOT be identified in the cocktail recipe. All references to products MUST be generic in nature.
**SELECTED SHOCHU LISTS**
Shochu must be labeled Product of Japan, made from sweet potato, barley, rice, brown sugar, sesame, buckwheat, ginger, or Thai rice with the selected region specified by the entrant, and available for purchase in the United States.
Products are available through the following sites:
(c) Additional Entry Requirements
There is a limit of one (1) entry per person. Multiple entries will automatically result in disqualification, as will any use or suspected use of artifice, bots, robotic, repetitive, automatic, programmed, or similar entry methods or agents (including, but not limited to, contest or sweepstakes entry services/clubs). Proof of entry submission is not proof of receipt or eligibility for the Contest.
Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries submitted. Receipt of entry may be acknowledged by Sponsor (as defined below), including by posting one or more submissions on the official social media channels for the Shochu Cocktail Competition, but any such acknowledgment is not binding other than to indicate that the applicable entry has been received.
No alterations or forged entries are permitted.
Release: Sponsor, its subsidiaries, affiliates, and its their agents, licensees, and other representatives are not responsible or liable for any events occurring during or as a result of a winner’s acceptance of a prize. Neither Sponsor nor its subsidiaries, affiliates, agents, licensees, or other representatives are responsible for technical difficulties, telephone or cell phone service disruptions, nor other equipment or service issues which might affect the ability of an individual to enter online or the ability of the Sponsor to notify finalists. Sponsor assumes no responsibility for lost, late, damaged, misdirected, illegible/garbled, corrupted, jumbled, inaccessible, incomplete, incorrect entries or other Contest materials, all of which are void. Facsimiles or mechanical reproductions will not be accepted. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned.
4. Finalist Determination:
A preliminary review of all eligible entries by an independent panel of judges comprised of representatives of the selected shochu brands and other third parties will result in the selection of Thirty (30) entries, and will announce in the 2nd selection of 15 entries. ENTRANTS SELECTED FOR THIS PRELIMINARY REVIEW WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED OF THEIR SELECTION. These entries will be advanced for review by a third, all-star expert judging panel, from which seven (7) finalists will be selected to participate in the Grand Finale Competition. All judging will be based on the following equally weighted criteria:
Persuasiveness and clarity of connection between the cocktail and the theme identified by entrant;
Effectiveness of showcasing/highlighting the use of shochu;
Originality and creativity
In the event of a tie, the winner shall be the entrant who had the higher/highest score in the criterion of “Persuasiveness and clarity of connection between the cocktail and theme identified by entrant.”
The seven (7) finalists will be notified by e-mail and/or phone using the information provided as part of their entries (method[s] of notification being of Sponsor’s sole choosing) on or about March 10, 2025.
5. Finalist Prizes:
Each of the seven (7) finalists will be flown to New York, NY, from their city of residence to compete against the other Finalists in the Grand Finale Competition on March 10, 2025 to determine the Grand Prize winner.
The trip is for two (2) days, one (1) night, and consists of: roundtrip economy air travel (on an airline selected by Sponsor) from the major commercial airport nearest the applicable finalist’s residence to the New York City area; and standard, double occupancy hotel accommodations (in a hotel selected by Sponsor) for each finalist. Each finalist will also receive materials required for participation in the Grand Finale Competition, as described in Section 6 below. Tickets are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable airline; certain restrictions may apply.
Each finalist must be available to travel to New York, NY, to participate in the Grand Finale Competition on March 10, 2025. If a finalist is unavailable to travel at such time for any reason, the trip to New York and the opportunity to participate in the Grand Finale will be forfeited without compensation, and the Sponsor shall not have any liability under any legal theory to such finalist.
6. Grand Finale Competition:
The Grand Finale Competition will take place at a location designated by Sponsor in New York, NY, on March 10, 2025. It is each finalist’s sole responsibility to arrive at the designated location to participate in the Grand Finale Competition at the appointed time, as directed by Sponsor. If a finalist arrives after the appointed time, Sponsor will endeavor to accommodate such finalist but such late arrival may adversely affect such finalist’s ability to participate in the Grand Finale Competition.
In the Grand Finale Competition, each finalist will receive the ingredients identified in his/her/their Contest entry as well as access to the equipment necessary to create his/her/their cocktail recipe as set forth in his/her Contest entry. It is the finalist’s sole responsibility to request a specific brands/types/models for ingredients and equipment to be used in preparing the cocktail recipe; if a finalist fails to timely to do so, Sponsor will use commercially reasonable efforts to provide ingredients/equipment based on the cocktail recipe as communicated in such finalist’s Contest entry, with Sponsor disclaiming any and all liability in conjunction therewith. Recipe must be created in a quantity appropriate so that each of the six (6) members of the all-star expert judging panel will be able to taste the cocktail. A FINALIST CANNOT SUPPLEMENT OR OTHERWISE DEVIATE FROM THE COCKTAIL RECIPE AS SET FORTH IN HIS/HER/THEIR CONTEST ENTRY WHEN PARTICIPATING IN THE GRAND FINALE COMPETITION. ANY ATTEMPT TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION.
Each finalist must create his/her/their cocktail recipe entirely “on the spot” at his/her/their assigned space at the designated location hosting the Grand Finale Competition using only the provided ingredients and equipment and without third party assistance of any kind. All finalists will be allotted the same amount of time in which to create their cocktail recipes.
Without limiting anything in Section 8 below, when participating in the Grand Finale Competition, each finalist agrees to abide by all safety protocols established by any governmental body (for example, the City and State of New York), by Sponsor and its representatives and/or by the venue hosting the Grand Final Competition so as to prevent the spread of COVID- 19/Coronavirus.
Each finalist must respond to any and all questions posed by judges, Sponsor and its representatives in a truthful and respectful manner, to the best of such finalist’s knowledge and belief.
The all-star expert judging panel will determine the Grand Prize winner based on the judging criteria set forth above and actual taste of the finished cocktail (which will be weighted equally with the other judging criteria set forth above). The Grand Prize winner will be notified in-person following the conclusion of the Grand Finale Competition.
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Sponsor reserves the right - but is in no way obligated – to record the Grand Finale Competition (including the all-star expert judging panel members’ interactions with finalists and the judging panel’s deliberations) for possible use in connection with advertising, promotional and public relations as well as for internal/archival purposes (the “Recording”). To the extent applicable, in consideration of participating in the Contest and the Grand Finale Competition, each finalist hereby grants to Sponsor the right to use such finalist’s name, likeness, image, voice and performance, as depicted in the Recording, worldwide in any manner and media now known or hereafter developed, including but not limited to the world wide web, at any time or times in connection with advertising, promotion and public relations purposes (as well as for internal/archival purposes) without further notice or additional compensation. Finalists are PROHIBITED from making their own recordings of the Grand Finale Competition without the prior written consent of Sponsor in each instance (and such consent may be granted or withheld without liability of any kind.).
To remain eligible to participate in the Grand Finale Competition, each finalist must:
at all times abide by the Grand Finale Competition regulations (and these Official Rules) in full;
follow the instructions of Sponsor and its representatives at the Grand Finale Competition;
refrain from anti-social, belligerent, aggressive or abusive behavior toward Sponsor, its representatives and/or the all-star expert judging panel members at the Grand Finale Competition, other finalists participating in the Grand Finale Competition and/or any other persons;
refrain from engaging in any conduct which involves an attempt to cheat, defraud or deceive Sponsor, its representatives and/or the all-star expert judging panel members in any manner in conjunction with participation in the Grand Finale Competition including but not limited to preparation of their cocktail.
ANY SUCH ACTIONS WILL RESULT IN AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATION FROM THE GRAND FINALE COMPETITION (PERHAPS WITHOUT WARNING OR PRIOR NOTICE OF ANY KIND FROM SPONSOR OR ITS REPRESENTATIVES). IF DEEMED SUFFICIENTLY EGREGIOUS BY SPONSOR OR ITS REPRESENTATIVES, SUCH CONDUCT MAY ALSO RESULT IN SUCH FINALIST BEING REQUIRED TO REIMBURSE SPONSOR FOR THE ARV OF SUCH FINALIST’S FLIGHT AND HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS. SPONSOR FURTHER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM A FINALIST ENGAGED IN SUCH BEHAVIOR TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
7. Grand Prize:
Grand Prize (1) – a trip to Tokyo and Kyushu Island, Japan for the Grand Prize Winner (who must be 21 years of age or older at the time of travel).
Trip is for 8 days, 7 nights, and consists of: roundtrip coach air travel (on an airline selected by Sponsor) from the international airport nearest the winner’s residence to Tokyo; standard, occupancy hotel accommodations (at a hotel selected by Sponsor) for 7 nights; rail transportation between Tokyo and Kyushu Island; and a tour of the Shochu distilleries on Kyushu Island. Tickets are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable airline; certain restrictions may apply. Grand Prize Winner will be responsible for all costs and expenses associated with such travel other than those expressly set out above.
Trip is subject to availability, advance notice requirements, COVID-related travel limitations, holiday/blackout dates and other restrictions. Dates of Grand Prize travel are subject to approval of Sponsor in its sole discretion and must be completed no later than December 30, 2023, unless extended by Sponsor in its sole discretion.
Winner must have a valid U.S. passport (valid for six (6) months after the commencement of travel) in order to travel to Japan; timely obtaining same is the sole responsibility of winner.
2nd Place Prize - Educational Scholarship program-$1000 value Educational Shochu Advisor Class plus book and materials for the second place winner.
3rd Place Prize - a Japanese knife.
8. Additional Prize Restrictions: COVID-19
Finalists, the Grand Prize Winner understand and agree that travel is inherently dangerous due to the COVID-19/Coronavirus epidemic/pandemic which is a highly contagious and communicable disease, notwithstanding the availability of a vaccine to provide immunization against the same. To the fullest extent permitted by law, finalists, the Grand Prize Winner assumes any and all risk of illness or injury which may arise directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from prize travel. Without limitation, finalists, the Grand Prize Winner expressly acknowledge that, even with safety precautions being taken by the airline, hotel property/properties and other providers of travel-related services (and, for the finalists , those parties administering the Grand Finale Competition), it is possible that winner may still contract COVID-19/Coronavirus. (Grand Prize Winner further understand and agree that the preceding risk may be exacerbated by traveling internationally.) The finalists, Grand Prize Winner further agree that Sponsor has NOT obtained travel, health, life or other insurance for them relative to their acceptance/use of the prize trip(s) and, should such insurance be desired, finalist/winner must secure the same at their sole expense.
The Grand Prize Winner further agrees to abide by all safety protocols established by any governmental body and/or any supplier of travel-related services so as to prevent the spread of COVID-19/Coronavirus. Such protocols may include mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing as well as conditioning participation in certain activities (for finalists, including but not limited to, participation in the Grand Finale Competition) upon (a) a negative COVID-19/Coronavirus test or (b) satisfactory proof of full vaccination against COVID-19/Coronavirus.
LIMITATION ON LIABILITY: TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, FINALISTS, WINNERS INDEMNIFY AND AGREE TO RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS SPONSOR, FACEBOOK, INC./INSTAGRAM AND ITS AND THEIR SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION AGENCIES, PARTNERS, REPRESENTATIVES, AGENTS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, AND EACH OF ITS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY, ILLNESS, INJURY, DEATH, LOSS, LITIGATION, CLAIM OR DAMAGE THAT MAY OCCUR, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, WHETHER CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE OR NOT, FROM (I) SUCH ENTRANT'S PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST AND/OR HIS/HER ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE, OR MISUSE OF ANY TRAVEL, PRIZE OR ANY PORTION THEREOF, (II) TECHNICAL FAILURES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE MALFUNCTIONING OF ANY COMPUTER, CABLE, NETWORK, HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE; (III) THE UNAVAILABILITY OR INACCESSIBILITY OF ANY TRANSMISSIONS OR TELEPHONE OR INTERNET SERVICE; (IV) UNAUTHORIZED HUMAN INTERVENTION IN ANY PART OF THE ENTRY PROCESS OR THE CONTEST; (V) ELECTRONIC OR HUMAN ERROR WHICH MAY OCCUR IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CONTEST OR THE PROCESSING OF ENTRIES. IN NO EVENT WILL SPONSOR AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION AGENCIES, PARTNERS, REPRESENTATIVES, AGENTS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES OR ATTORNEYS’ FEES) ARISING OUT OF PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST OR THE ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE OR MISUSE OF, OR ANY HARM RESULTING FROM THE ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE OR MISUSE OF PRIZES, AND ENTRANT WAIVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK SUCH DAMAGES. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO A PARTICULAR ENTRANT(S).
Finalists, the Grand Prize Winner further understand and agree that, due to governmental mandates regarding COVID-19/Coronavirus and/or in response to the economic and/or social conditions engendered by COVID-19/Coronavirus, Sponsor may be compelled to modify, postpone or even cancel the finalist trip to New York, NY for the Grand Finale Competition and/or the Grand Prize trip to Japan with little or no advance notice. In such case, Sponsor’s liability will not exceed the value of the applicable prize as set forth above and Sponsor shall have no liability whatsoever to Grand Prize Winner under any legal theory. Should the Grand Finale Competition be postponed to a later date, each finalist must be able to travel at such time so as to participate in the Grand Finale Competition for the Grand Prize; and, if a finalist is not available at such time, the trip to New York and opportunity to participate in the Grand Finale Competition will be forfeited without compensation of any kind and Sponsor shall have no liability whatsoever under any legal theory. Should the Grand Finale Competition be canceled altogether, Sponsor shall award a prize of comparable value to the New York, NY trip to each finalist and will determine the Grand Prize winner based on an additional judging panel’s review of the finalists’ entries as per the judging criteria set forth above.
9. Additional Prize Restrictions:
With the sole exception of provision of selected Shochu in quantities necessary for finalists to prepare their cocktail recipe and participate in the Grand Finale Competition, alcohol will not be provided.
With the sole exception of provision of selected shochu in quantities necessary for finalists to prepare their cocktail recipe and participate in the Grand Finale Competition, alcohol will not be provided.
Trip itinerary will be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. The Grand Prize Winner must travel on the itinerary as set by Sponsor.
The Grand Prize Winner will be awarded in increments appropriate for a single traveler (i.e., the Grand Prize Winner) and no substitute or alternate prize will be awarded, resulting in the value of the corresponding prize being less than the amount indicated above.
All unspecified expenses involved in prize acceptance and use are each finalist and the Grand Prize Winner’s sole responsibility. By way of example only, such expenses include meals, travel costs between airport(s) of departure and traveler’s residence, souvenirs and other incidentals.
The Grand Prize Winner must at all times act in an appropriate, well-behaved and respectful manner toward Sponsor, its representatives and third party prize suppliers. Failure to do so may result in immediate termination of the trip. If Sponsor deems the conduct of the Grand Prize Winner to be particularly egregious, Sponsor may seek reimbursement of the actual value of the Grand Prize from the Grand Prize Winner and seek damages to the fullest extent permitted by law.
10. Winner Verification
Finalists and all winners will be required to sign and return within two (2) business days (or such shorter time period as may be indicated thereon), an Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Release, a Publicity Release (where allowed by law), IRS Form 1099 and a W – 9 taxpayer request for identification (collectively, “Prize Claim Documents”). If a finalist or other winner cannot be located or does not respond to the notification attempt within two (2) business days (or such shorter time period as may be indicated thereon), the trip to New York and opportunity to participate in the Grand Finale Competition, or other prize may be automatically forfeited, and an alternate finalist or winner selected at Sponsor's sole discretion.
Each finalist and winner agrees that an electronic signature/affirmation or facsimile version of Affidavit/Release shall have the same legal force and effect as if hand-signed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, should Sponsor determine in its sole discretion that the electronic signature is unreliable or inadequate, Sponsor reserves the right to condition prize award upon such finalist’s or winner’s return of the actual, hand-signed document.
The Grand Prize Winner must complete, sign and return a Liability Release and a Publicity Release (where legal), prior to prize travel. Should the Grand Prize Winner fail to do so, the Grand Prize will be modified so that it is awarded in increments appropriate for a single traveler (that is, the winner alone) and no compensation or alternate prize will be awarded.
Except where prohibited by law, acceptance of prize(s) constitutes a finalist’s and/or winner’s consent to use of his/her/their name, likeness and biographical data for advertising and promotional purposes by Sponsor and its designees without additional compensation. Such use may include but is not limited to any recordation of a finalist’s participation in the Grand Finale Competition, as per Section 6 above (if applicable).
Sponsor shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to abbreviate, modify, suspend, cancel or terminate the Contest without notice or further obligation.
Prize information will be provided to finalists’ and winners’ upon proof of eligibility. A finalist or winner must furnish valid proof of age (for example, a driver’s license, birth certificate or passport) and an Affidavit/Release must be provided before prize can be received.
11. Content of Entries:
All materials, documents, information, and data submitted by an entrant in connection with participation in the Contest, including the Contest entry (i.e., the cocktail recipe, cocktail name, accompanying statements regarding cocktail recipe and photo of cocktail) as well as the cocktail as prepared by finalists in the Grand Finale Competition (if applicable) (hereafter, “Cocktail Recipe and Accompanying Material”) are the property of Sponsor and will not be returned. By participating in the Contest, entrants represent and warrant that the Cocktail Recipe and Accompanying Material is their sole, original work and that it does not infringe upon the rights of any other party, including but not limited to, any intellectual property, trade secret or other proprietary rights of any other party. By submitting a Cocktail Recipe and Accompanying Material (including participation of a finalist in the Grand Finale Competition, as applicable), each entrant further represents and warrants that any person(s) referenced therein has given his or her express written consent to the reference and use as contemplated by these Official Rules and that entrant has obtained written permission for such use from any such person. Submission of a Cocktail Recipe and Accompanying Material (including participation of a finalist in the Grand Finale Competition, as applicable) grants Sponsor the right to use, publish, adapt, edit and/or modify such entry in any way, in whole or in part, and to use the entry, and any ideas or concepts contained therein, in commerce and in any and all media now known or hereafter discovered, worldwide, including but not limited to the Website (and/or the mobile version of Website), Sponsor’s official pages on social media platforms and/or on Sponsor’s other website(s), without limitation or compensation to the entrant and without right of notice, review or approval of any such use of the entry (with regard to a participation in the Grand Finale Competition, the preceding excludes compensation in the form of the trip to New York ). Submission of a Cocktail Recipe and Accompanying Material as an entry further constitutes the entrant's consent to irrevocably assign and transfer to the Sponsor any and all rights, title and interest in and to the Cocktail Recipe and Accompanying Material, including but not limited to all intellectual property rights and proprietary rights worldwide. Any content, material or information included in the Cocktail Recipe and Accompanying Material shall not be confidential, proprietary or a trade secret of the applicable entrant. By submitting a Cocktail Recipe and Accompanying Material entrant consents to Sponsor’s use, reproduction and disclosure of the entry, and ideas, concepts or other materials contained therein, for any purpose, including any commercial purpose. ANY COCKTAIL RECIPE AND ACCOMPANYING MATERIAL SUBMITTED THAT CONTAINS THIRD PARTY WORKS, COPYRIGHTS, TRADEMARKS, TRADE NAMES, LOGOS OR SIMILAR BRAND IDENTIFYING MARKS, TRADE SECRETS OR OTHER PROPRIETARY RIGHTS WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID ENTRY FOR THE CONTEST. The Cocktail Recipe and Accompanying Material shall NOT (a) reference persons consuming alcoholic beverages (b) reference persons conducting themselves in an inappropriate manner (c) contain material that would imply that the consumption of alcoholic beverages is acceptable before or while operating machinery, driving a vehicle or undertaking any other activity that requires a high degree of alertness or physical coordination, (d) contain any material that would degrade or demean the human form, image or status of women, men or the members of any group based on race, religion, ethnic background, sexual orientation or any other minority status, or (e) include a reference to any person that appears to be under 21 years of age. Obscene, provocative or otherwise objectionable content or those which reflect poorly on the selected shochu brand and/or Sponsor will not be considered and the determination of the appropriateness of any Cocktail Recipe and Accompanying Material is at the sole discretion of the Sponsor and/or the applicable judging panel.
12. General Conditions:
Entry in the Contest constitutes an entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to abide by and accept the terms and conditions of these Official Rules as well as to the decisions of the preliminary and/or all-star expert judging panel(s), as applicable. No substitution of prize or cash equivalent except at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Prize(s) is/are non-transferable except at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. All federal, state and local taxes on prize(s) are a winner’s sole responsibility. By accepting a trip or other prize(s), finalists and winners each hereby waives the right to assert as a cost of winning said prize(s), any and all costs of redemption or travel to redeem said prize(s) and any and all liability that might arise from redeeming or seeking to redeem said prize(s). Sponsor reserves the right to conduct a background check of finalists, prize winners. To the extent necessary and permitted by law, finalists, prize winners shall authorize this background check. Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify finalists, prize winners based on the background check.
Without limiting anything set out elsewhere in these Official Rules, entrants hereby agree to indemnify and hold Sponsor, its representatives, Facebook, Inc./Instagram, harmless from and against any third party claims, actions or proceedings of any kind and from any and all damages, liabilities, costs and expenses, including attorney fees and court costs, arising out of any breach or alleged breach of any of the warranties and representations set forth above and/or participation in this Contest (regardless of the cause of such injury, damage or loss) and/or the delivery and/or subsequent use or misuse of awarded prize[s] (including any travel or activity related thereto). Sponsor makes no representation, warranty or guarantee of any kind (including the warranty of merchantability or fitness for intended purpose) regarding any prize(s) under any legal theory; the only warranties – if any – are those of the corresponding prize supplier(s).
The value of travel and other prize(s) awarded to a participant under the Contest may be taxable as income Participants will be issued an IRS Form W – 9 with the Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Release and a Publicity Release (where lawful) and a subsequent IRS Form 1099. (The Grand Prize Winner will receive an IRS Form 1099 reflecting the total value of the Grand Prize and the travel awarded to such winner as a finalist.)
13. Electronic Entries:
In the event of a dispute, online entries (including entries made on a mobile website) will be deemed made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at time of entry. The authorized account holder is the natural person who is assigned to the e-mail address by an internet access provider, online service, or other organization that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, damaged, illegible, misdirected, incomplete entries, or for online entries (including entries made on mobile version of the Website) not received due to lost, failed, delayed or interrupted connections or miscommunications, or for other electronic malfunctions, delays, or errors of any kind in the transmission or receipt of online entries. Sponsor is not responsible for incorrect or inaccurate entry information, whether caused by website visitors or by any human or technological error that may occur in the processing of online entries (including entries made on a mobile website) in this Contest. Without limiting anything set out elsewhere in these Official Rules, Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel or suspend all or a portion of the Contest, should viruses, bugs or other causes beyond control of the Sponsor corrupt the administration, security or proper operation of the Contest. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY A PERSON TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE (INCLUDING ANY MOBILE WEBSITE) OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS; AND, SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
14. Governing Law and Disputes:
The rights and obligations of entrants, Sponsor and its representatives, in connection with the Contest and these Official Rules, including all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability thereof, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law doctrine of any jurisdiction which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York. As a condition of participating in this Contest, participant agrees that, except where prohibited, any and all disputes which cannot be resolved between the parties, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, exclusively by the state and federal courts located in New York County, New York, and entrants hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts for any such dispute. Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances will participant be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, including reasonable attorneys' fees, other than participant's actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e. costs associated with entering this Contest), and participant further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.
15. Winners’ List:
For names of prize winners, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to 41 Madison Ave, Fl 31, New York, NY 10010. All requests for the winners’ list must be postmarked by February 27, 2025, and received by March 2, 2025.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook or Instagram.
Sponsor: Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association c/o Azix, Inc., New York, NY.
Please Drink Responsibly.
