Bark & Bitter Wins Three Great Taste Awards Ahead of UK Launch
NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO (August 13, 2026). Canadian non-alcoholic beverage producer Bark & Bitter has received three awards at Great Taste 2026, the world’s most respected food and drink competition, in the brand’s first year entering. Curious Cardamom Bitters, the newest addition to the Bark & Bitter range, earned a 2-star award, a distinction judges reserve for products deemed “outstanding,” with Overtly Orange Bitters and New Orleans Bywater Bitters each receiving a 1-star award. This year’s competition attracted a record number of entries, with over 15,000 products submitted from 3,919 companies across 116 countries; just one in ten entries earned a 2-star award. Bark & Bitter’s three wins represent three of the 26 awards presented to Canadian products in 2026.
“Great Taste is judged completely blind, by hundreds of the most discerning palates in food and drink, so there’s nowhere to hide,” says Nick Nemeth, founder of Bark & Bitter. “To watch our newest product come away with the highest award of the lineup is a proud moment for us. And with our full brand launching in the UK later this year, it means the world to arrive with the country’s most recognized food and drink accreditation behind us.”
The judges’ notes praised the Curious Cardamom Bitters for “a sophisticated combination of citrus, spices and quassia bark that is long-lasting and complex,” describing them as bitters that “would complement any non or alcoholic cocktail recipe and be very versatile.” Overtly Orange Bitters were commended for “bright, clean flavours of bitter Seville orange and marmalade,” while judges called New Orleans Bywater Bitters “delightful with extensive versatility,” noting “a punchy complexity when tasted neat.” All Bark & Bitter products are 0% ABV and made from whole botanicals, with no artificial flavours, extracts, or essences.
The awards arrive ahead of Bark & Bitter’s launch into the United Kingdom this fall, when the brand’s complete lineup will become available through Freed Distribution®, a ‘Freed From’ Group company. On September 7th, Freed From will host a launch day in Holland Park, London: a trade preview at The Belvedere, where UK buyers and media can taste the full Bark & Bitter range, and a public tasting at the neighbouring Orangery, with free tickets available in limited numbers. Register for either at freedfrom.com.
Now in its 33rd year, Great Taste is organized and run by the Guild of Fine Food. Over 105 days of judging, more than 800 industry experts, including chefs, critics, buyers, retailers, and writers, assessed each product blind, stripped of all branding and packaging. The competition’s black and gold logo is recognized by 58% of the UK adult population, with 73% considering it a trustworthy recommendation (YouGov, December 2025).
Downloads
