Kawésqar Vodka conquers palates around the world with a double award at the prestigious 2025 SIP Awards.

The Patagonian spirit supported by the UFRO Business Enhancer made history by winning the silver medal and the Innovation Award at the SIP Awards 2025, the only international spirits competition judged by consumers. Among more than 1,300 entries from 47 countries, the Chilean brand stood out for its quality, authenticity, and sustainable offering, consolidating itself as a Latin American benchmark on the global spirits scene.

In an unprecedented feat for the national liquor industry, Kawésqar Vodka, a 100% Patagonian artisanal spirit, won the silver medal and the Innovation Award at the 2025 SIP Awards, the only international liquor competition in which the jury is comprised exclusively of consumers.

The competition, held in Irvine, California, received more than 1,300 applications from 47 countries this year, with blind evaluations conducted by 297 consumer judges under a rigorous hybrid process involving live tastings and tasting kits. Medals were awarded in various categories—including whiskey, tequila, rum, gin, mezcal, cognac, liqueurs, RTD (ready-to-drink ) mixed spirits, and, of course, vodka—in addition to special distinctions such as the Innovation Award, reserved for brands that stand out for their disruptive and avant-garde offerings, such as Kawésqar Vodka.

The silver medal recognition places the Coyhaique distillate at the top of its category, validating its purity, smoothness, and character against world-class competitors. The Innovation Award, meanwhile, establishes the brand as a benchmark in creativity and sustainability, offering a beverage with its own identity that blends its creator's European expertise with the untamed nature of Patagonia.

The soul behind this creation is Yuliyan Popov, a Bulgarian resident of Patagonia who arrived in Chile more than 25 years ago. In 2019, he and his family decided to settle in Coyhaique to launch a project inspired by his adopted homeland. Kawésqar is made with Patagonian potatoes and spring water from the melting snow of Cerro Castillo; a perfect combination of premium tubers and crystal-clear waters.

Innovation with a Chilean seal

But for Kawésqar to achieve a better profile at the high international level it boasts today, this project has had support through Corfo and the sponsorship of IncubatecUFRO with the programs Semilla Inicia 2023-2024, Semilla Expande Etapa I 2024-2025 and, recently, the award of Semilla Expande Etapa II 2025-2026. With this support, Popov and his team have paved the way to position the brand and have increased their standards of quality and innovation, and established a business model that is now seeking commercial expansion internationally.

Furthermore, Kawésqar integrates sustainable and circular economy practices into its production, as potato waste is transformed into organic fertilizer for local farmers, completing a virtuous cycle that reflects its commitment to the land and the community.

Chile on the global spirits map

With this double triumph, Kawésqar Vodka becomes the first Latin American vodka to simultaneously win a silver medal and the Innovation Award at the SIP Awards, a competition that since 2009 has established itself as the most trusted international platform by eliminating industry biases and placing the consumer as the sole judge.

This achievement marks a turning point for Chile and Latin America, paving the way for new local brands in the global arena. Kawésqar Vodka is not just a spirit; it's an ambassador for Patagonia and a tribute to the Kawésqar indigenous peoples.

For more information about Kawésqar vodka, visit https://www.kawesqarspirit.cl . For the full results of the 2025 SIP Awards and upcoming international events, visit www.sipawards.com