23rd State Wins Silver in the Midwest & Bronze Nationally at the 2025 America’s Best THC Beverage Awards
Big news from us here at 23rd State: we’re honored and excited to announce that our flagship THC-infused beverage line has earned significant accolades at the 2025 edition of the America’s Best Hemp THC Beverage Awards. We secured Silver in the Midwest region and Bronze nationally — a tremendous validation of our commitment to craft, taste, and quality in the fast-moving world of hemp-derived THC beverages.
You can view the full list of winners on the competition website here.
Why this award matters
The America’s Best Hemp THC Beverage Awards are one of the most respected benchmarks in the hemp beverage space. Hosted by America’s Best Beverages, the competition evaluates entries at three levels — state, region, and national — all from a single submission. According to their official overview:
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One entry competes at the state level, then the regional (e.g., Midwest) and finally the national level. (americasbestbeverages.com)
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The judging process is blind and rigorous, meaning flavor, quality, and innovation are assessed without bias. (americasbestbeverages.com)
For a home-state brand like 23rd State (Minnesota-based), getting a regional Silver means we stood out among all Midwest competitors. And the national Bronze means we were among the top-tier brands across the entire U.S.
What the wins mean for 23rd State
These awards are more than plaques — they reinforce what we’ve been building toward:
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Quality affirmation: Winning at regional and national levels confirms that our production, flavor profiles, and THC-infused beverage design aren’t just local; they meet or exceed broader industry standards.
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Brand credibility: In a growing but still emerging category (hemp-derived THC drinks), credibility matters. Awards like these help consumers, retailers and partners trust the 23rd State brand.
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Differentiation in market: With more cannabinoid-beverage brands entering the space, being recognized gives us a clear points of difference.
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Momentum for growth: As we expand our product line and retail footprint, this kind of award is a conversation-starter — for retailers, distributors and consumers alike.
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Reinforcement of Minnesota roots: Being a Minnesota-based company and winning regionally reinforces our local heritage while showing we’re competing nationally.
Our journey to this moment
At 23rd State, our mission has always been to create THC-infused enhancer beverages that combine premium ingredients, great taste and consistent dosing. Here’s a look back at what got us here:
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Founding philosophy: We started with the idea that hemp-derived THC beverages shouldn’t compromise on flavor or craft. They should feel elevated, enjoyable, social.
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Product development: Months of R&D went into selecting the right THC dose (in line with regulations), the right flavor profiles, and ensuring shelf-stability, taste retention and lab-verified potency.
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Local launch and feedback: Launching in Minnesota, we gathered feedback from users, refined formulations, and built relationships with local retailers.
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Scaling up: As we prepared for broader distribution, we focused on quality controls, branding, packaging, supply chain integrity and compliance.
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Competition entry: We submitted our product(s) into the America’s Best program. Because one entry covers state → regional → national levels, we had the opportunity to shine across multiple levels. And now — the results.
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Recognition: The Silver in the Midwest region and Bronze nationally affirm that our beverage is now award-winning, not just locally appreciated.
Why the Midwest Silver is especially meaningful
The Midwest has become a dynamic hub for hemp-derived cannabinoids and beverages. Competing in this region means going up against brands from states like Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and more. A Silver regional finish signals that among all these Midwestern brands, 23rd State ranked extremely well.
For us, this means:
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Affirmation of home-market strength: Being a Minnesota company gives us roots here. Winning regionally reinforces that we’re delivering excellence at home.
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A stepping stone: Regional awards build toward national recognition. Our regional Silver helped catapult us into the national conversation.
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Retail and consumer impact: Retailers in the Midwest can confidently stock our product knowing it’s won in their region. Consumers likewise see we’re proven locally.
Why the National Bronze matters
Getting Bronze at the national level means 23rd State stood out among all competing hemp THC beverages across the country. That’s a big deal because:
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It shows we’re not just good for our region — we’re good on a national scale.
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It gives us a marketing advantage: “National-level medal winner” resonates with consumers and trade alike.
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It validates our R&D, product strategy and brand positioning at a large-scale level.
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It opens doors for expansion: National recognition helps with distribution conversations, retailer onboarding and brand partnerships.
How we’ll build on this momentum
Now that we have the accolades, here are some of the ways we plan to use them:
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Marketing amplification – We’ll announce the wins across our website, social media, packaging copy and retailer communications. Consumers appreciate award-winning credentials.
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Retailer outreach – Highlighting the award wins when pitching to new stores or distributors gives us an edge. It signals that our product is benchmarked and recognized.
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New product development – Recognition encourages us to continue innovating. We’ll invest further in new flavors, formats and consumer experiences — leveraging the feedback and credibility we’ve earned.
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Consumer education – We’ll develop content explaining what this award means, how it sets us apart, and why customers should care. Educated consumers make better choices.
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Feedback loop – We’ll analyze judging feedback (where available) from the competition to understand fine-points of improvement: taste profiles, packaging, messaging.
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Leveraging local pride – As a Minnesota-based company, we’ll lean into that regional story — and celebrate our origin while reaching nationally.
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Brand culture reinforcement – Internally, this award is a morale boost for our team. It reinforces that the hard work in formulation, operations, compliance and branding is paying off.
What this means for consumers
If you’ve enjoyed 23rd State beverages (or are new to them), here’s what the award wins mean for you:
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Confidence in quality: You’re choosing a product that has been judged and recognized — not just marketed.
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Taste matters: The judging panel focuses heavily on flavor, so you can trust our beverage delivers taste as well as effect.
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Consistency and credibility: Our production standards, lab testing and beverage formulation have been validated via a third-party competition.
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Proud to be local, ready to be national: You’re supporting a Minnesota-based brand that can compete with the best in the U.S.
Looking ahead: What’s next for 23rd State
With these wins behind us, we’re gearing up for the next phase:
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Expanding distribution: We’ll be entering new states and retail channels, leveraging our award-winning status in conversations.
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Flavor and format innovation: Expect to see new flavor drops, limited editions and potentially new beverage formats in the near future.
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Enhanced packaging and brand experience: We’ll use the award wins to refresh our consumer touchpoints — from can design to in-store displays.
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Further competition and benchmarking: We’ll continue entering best-in-class competitions and tracking where we stand relative to evolving consumer trends in hemp THC beverages.
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Community and culture building: We remain committed to our place in the Midwest and the broader hemp community — aligning with local events, collaborations and education around responsible consumption.
Final thoughts
Winning Silver in the Midwest region and Bronze nationally at the 2025 America’s Best Hemp THC Beverage Awards is a landmark moment for 23rd State. It’s the recognition of the dedication, craft and passion our team puts into every beverage. It’s proof that the taste, the quality, and the experience we promised — we delivered. And it sets us up for the next stage of growth and innovation.
For our consumers, retail partners and brand ambassadors: thank you. This recognition is made possible by you believing in the brand, enjoying the product and spreading the word.
We invite you to check out the full list of winners and see for yourself the competitive landscape at the America’s Best website.
Here’s to raising the bar — in the Midwest, across the nation, and together. Cheers (elevated style).
— The 23rd State Team
