Success!
Thank you for registering your entries in the 17th Annual Great Lakes International Cider & Perry Competition (GLINTCAP). The next step is to prepare your entries for shipment.
Shipping Addresses
Samples must arrive at a designated collection point no later than the close of business on Friday, May 5th.
Please note that the collection points are not able to confirm receipt of each shipment. We will notify you by email if your package is visibly damaged upon arrival, but otherwise you must rely on the courier’s tracking information to confirm that your shipment has been delivered successfully.
US and Overseas entrants should use the following shipping address:
GLINTCAP Competition
Vander Mill
505 Ball Avenue NE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
UNITED STATES
Vander Mill will accept drop-off entries on Thursday May 4th and Friday May 5th from 3-5pm.
If those times are not convenient, Vander Mill has placed a pallet outside their employee entrance (see map below) where entrants can drop off their samples. As employees are leaving for the day, they will check the pallet and bring any GLINTCAP samples inside.
If you are dropping off samples outside the times listed above, please do not ring the doorbell, call the publicly listed phone number, or otherwise disturb employees. The taproom at Vander Mill has not reopened for the season.
Canadian entrants should use the following shipping address:
GLINTCAP Competition
Twin Pines Orchard
8169 Kennedy Line
Thedford, Ontario N0M 2N0
Phone: 519-296-5556
Canadian entrants can contact Mark Vansteenkiste at [email protected] for more information if needed.
Sample Requirements
Commercial Division
Please submit three (3) cans or bottles for each entry. Cans or bottles less than 330ml (11.1 ounces) can only be accepted with prior approval of the Competition Director.
Note that two (2) 750ml bottles are not sufficient to meet the above requirements. Entries that advance to Best in Class Finals are judged at three different sessions, so three (3) 750ml bottles are required.
Exceptions
For Ice Cider and Fortified Cider entries in bottles that are 375ml or larger, please submit two (2) of each bottle.
For Ice Cider and Fortified Cider entries in bottles that are at least 187ml but less than 375ml, please submit three (3) of each bottle.
For Spirits entries, the total volume submitted must be at least 375ml. One (1) bottle is sufficient if it is at least 375ml.
Noncommercial Division
Please submit two (2) cans or bottles for each entry. Cans or bottles less than 330ml (11.1 ounces) can only be accepted with prior approval of the Competition Director.
Exceptions
Ice Cider entries may be submitted in bottles as small as 187ml. Two (2) bottles per entry are required, regardless of volume.
Entry Form and Bottle Labels
All entrants should print the GLINTCAP 2023 Entry Form PDF file attached to your confirmation email and include it with your shipment. If more than one box of entries is being shipped, include a copy of the Entry Form PDF in each box. To avoid handling errors on the part of our volunteer cellar crew, do not split bottles/cans of the same entry into multiple boxes. Keep a record of which entries were shipped in each box, in case a box is damaged or lost in transit and it is necessary to ship replacement samples.
Our cellar crew has found that bubble wrap is far more effective than packing peanuts or other loose fill packing materials in preventing breakage. If you must use packing peanuts, please enclose them in plastic bags.
If you decide not to ship one or more of your entries, please notify us immediately. Entries not shipped are a common cause of handling errors for your other entries.
Commercial Division Labels
Commercial entrants do not need a GLINTCAP-specific label for their bottles or cans. Do not remove or obscure labels already on the bottle or can, unless the existing labels are inaccurate or misleading. The labels need not be approved by the FDA, TTB, or other government entity. Make sure the name of the producer and the name of the product are clear and obvious to our volunteer cellar crew.
If the product lacks a proper label, attach a handwritten label to the bottle or can with strong, clear adhesive tape. (Do not use a rubber band, glue, or other adhesives.) Samples that arrive without labels will not be judged.
Noncommercial Division Labels
Noncommercial entrants should use the BJCP Bottle Identification Form. Print as many copies as needed so that each bottle has its own form. Attach the form to the bottle with a strong rubber band. (Do not use tape, glue, or other adhesives.)
Special Note
It has been illegal to ship alcoholic beverages via the US Postal Service since 1909, even samples for analytical purposes. Despite recent attempts by Congress to modernize this law, such as the USPS Shipping Equity Act, it is unlikely that this ban will be lifted anytime soon. Do not attempt to send samples via USPS.
You may ship samples for analytical purposes via a privately-owned shipping company. The best practice is to schedule a pickup from your home or business, because staff members at The UPS Store, FedEx Office, and similar stores are often unaware of the analytical purposes exemption and may refuse to ship your package.
Questions?
If you have questions or need to make changes to your entry registration, please email Competition Director Eric West at [email protected] as soon as possible to explain the situation.
Best of luck in this year’s judging!