Louisville, KY- August 10, 2026 – Bluegrass Bitters™ has a big win to celebrate. The Louisville-based craft cocktail company’s 5-Spice Orange Bitters was just awarded Mixer of the Year at the 2026 New Orleans Spirits Competition. The award winners were announced Monday, July 20, during Tales of the Cocktail — one of the beverage industry’s most prestigous annual events.
Recognized as one of the most respected competitions in the cocktail industry, the New Orleans Spirits Competition draws entries from innovative producers and earns attention from leading bartenders, spirits professionals, and industry tastemakers worldwide. Earning this recognition in less than a year of the brand being on the market, this marks a rare national spotlight for Bluegrass Bitters™, positioning a Kentucky-made company as an impactful and pioneering player in the rapidly growing craft cocktail movement.
The award-winning, Kentucky Proud certified 5-Spice Orange Bitters is designed to target professional mixologists as well as at-home bartenders and is comprised of a unique combination of orange citrus and a blend of spices fit for a variety of classic cocktails including an old fashioned and Manhattan.
About Bluegrass Bitters™
Founded by husband-and-wife duo Shawn and Kathy Herbig, Bluegrass Bitters™ is the culmination of passion, experimentation and exceptional quality. Together, the team’s shared passion to elevate the at-home cocktail experience became the driving force behind this Kentucky Proud cocktail bitters and syrup brand. Officially launched in 2025, the Bluegrass Bitters™ product line includes three uniquely curated bitters: Black Walnut, 5-Spice Orange and Dark Cherry; and a Smoky Simple Syrup. All Bluegrass Bitters™ offerings are gluten-free and produced and bottled in Kentucky with no artificial flavoring or colorings. For more information, product updates and recipes, visit bluegrassbitters.net.
