Kawesqar Vodka conquers the world's palates with double honor at the prestigious SIP Awards 2025
The Patagonian vodka Kawesqar, supported by IncubatecUFRO and Corfo Aysén, won a silver medal and the Innovation Award at the SIP Awards 2025, standing out among 1,300 brands from 47 countries for its authenticity and sustainability.
In an unprecedented milestone for the national liquor industry, Kawesqar Vodka, a handcrafted and 100% Patagonian distillate, won two awards at the competition held in Irvine, California. The contest, which received more than 1,300 applications, featured blind evaluations from 297 judges under a rigorous hybrid process between in-person tastings and tasting kits sent home.
Medals were awarded in various categoriesu2014whiskey, tequila, rum, gin, mezcal, cognac, liqueurs, and ready-to-drink beverages (RTD)u2014in addition to special distinctions such as the Innovation Award, reserved for disruptive and cutting-edge proposals.
The silver medal recognition positions this product from Coyhaique in the top tier of its category, validating its purity, smoothness, and character against world-class competitors. Meanwhile, the Innovation distinction consecrates the brand as a benchmark in creativity and sustainability, proposing a beverage with its own identity that merges the European knowledge of its creator with the untamed nature of Patagonia.
"This double recognition at the SIP Awards confirms that Kawesqar Vodka is not only a world-class distillate, but also an ambassador for Chilean Patagonia, bringing flavor and innovation to the global stage," affirmed Yuliyan Popov, its creator.
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The driving force behind the proposal is a Bulgarian residing in Patagonia who arrived in Chile more than 25 years ago and who, in 2019, decided with his family to settle in Coyhaique to bring to life a project inspired by his adopted land. The beverage is made with Patagonian potatoes and spring water sourced from the melting snow of Cerro Castillo, creating a unique recipe that combines premium tubers and crystal clear waters.
INNOVATION WITH CHILEAN SEAL.
To achieve the international positioning it showcases today, the venture has relied on the support of Corfo and the sponsorship of IncubatecUFRO, through programs like Semilla Inicia 2023-2024, Semilla Expande Stage I 2024-2025 and, recently, the awarding of Semilla Expande Stage II 2025-2026. This backing has allowed the team to strengthen quality and innovation standards, as well as consolidating a business model that is now looking to expand commercially on a global scale.
"Vodka Kawesqar is an example of the comprehensive support we seek to provide to startups, establishing medium and long term relationships. On the one hand, through Corfo programs such as Semilla Inicia and Semilla Expande; and on the other, through incubation services that support the definition of growth strategies and identify linkage opportunities. We are very proud of their achievements, which have allowed them to enhance their innovative proposal, scale in the spirits industry and project the Chilean Patagonia into international markets," said Valeria Mardones, Operations Manager at IncubatecUFRO.
The firm also integrates sustainable practices and circular economy into its production process: potato waste is transformed into organic fertilizer for local farmers, closing a virtuous cycle that reflects commitment to the land and the community.
The regional director of Corfo Aysén, Humberto Marín, highlighted that this international recognition reflects the innovative potential of the region and the relevance of strategic alliances driven by the State. "For us at Corfo Aysén, it is a real pride to accompany Vodka Kawesqar on this path of growth. Their double recognition at the SIP Awards demonstrates that the innovation that arises in our region has the ability to compete and stand out globally," he stated. The executive emphasized that this achievement is the result of the effort of the creative team, along with the support of IncubatecUFRO and the Corfo Semilla Inicia and Semilla Expande programs, which have allowed a local idea to be transformed into a sustainable business with international projection.
CHILE ON THE GLOBAL MAP OF DISTILLATES.
With this double victory, the company becomes the first Latin American vodka to simultaneously achieve a silver medal and Innovation Award at the SIP Awards, a competition that since 2009 has established itself as the most reliable international platform by eliminating industry biases and placing the consumer as the sole judge. This achievement marks a before and after for Chile and Latin America, paving the way for new local brands in the global arena.
Kawesqar Vodka is not just a distilled spirit, it is also an ambassador of Patagonia and a tribute to the native Kawésqar people. "We will continue to expand our international presence and seek to consolidate new partnerships that allow our brand to be positioned both in Chile and abroad, strengthening our vodka as a reference in the premium distilled industry," Popov added.