Hemp-derived THC beverage brand Highlandia, manufactured by Lifted Made — a subsidiary of LFTD Partners Inc. (OTCQB: LIFD) — claimed Best in Show and a four-medal haul at the 2026 Summer PR%F Awards, a buyer-judged competition that blind-scores spirits, wine and beverages on a 100-point scale. The recognition arrives alongside the launch of two new elixir SKUs triggered by faster-than-anticipated sell-through of the brand's original Free Spirit flavor.

The Scorecard

The PR%F competition evaluates products across two separate tracks — a tasting competition and a packaging design competition — with buyers from across the country conducting blind assessments. Highlandia's Rocket Peak flavor led the sweep, earning a Double Gold in tasting with a score of 98, Best in Show across all entrants, and a Century medal plus Best Infused Can Design in the design track. Cottondew Clouds followed with a Double Gold in tasting (97 points) and Gold in design. Free Spirit Bottle posted 91 points for a Gold in tasting and a Double Gold in design. Tangilime Grove earned Silver in both tracks with an 87 tasting score.

Best in Show — the competition's top distinction, awarded across all categories including traditional spirits and wine — is a credentialing milestone for any hemp-derived beverage brand seeking mainstream retail and on-premise placement.

"Buyers rated Rocket Peak a 98 and named it Best in Show. That's the kind of score that gets a beverage taken seriously, hemp-derived or not," said Nick Warrender, CEO of Lifted Made.

New SKUs and Distribution Push

The award news coincides with the expansion of Highlandia's elixir lineup. The original Free Spirit flavor sold out its initial production run shortly after launch, prompting the introduction of Goldentea Trails — an iced-tea-inspired pour — and Limoncello Coast, built around lemon. Both are available now at $28.95 per 750mL bottle, delivering 10mg THC and 2mg CBD per 1.5-ounce serving (170mg THC and 34mg CBD per bottle). The products are formulated to be consumed straight, over ice, or as a cocktail or mocktail mixer, and are third-party lab tested batch by batch to confirm less than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight.

Adam Borson, Director of Marketing of Lifted Made, described the new flavors as demand-driven rather than a simple line extension. "Goldentea Trails and Limoncello Coast give people more ways to bring Highlandia into their everyday moments, not just a replacement for what sold out," he said.

Highlandia's retail and distribution footprint has expanded to 11 states — Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas — within six months of its Wisconsin home-market launch. Additional states are expected in the coming months, according to the company. The full portfolio, including both new elixirs, is available through retail partners and directly at highlandia.com.

The hemp-derived THC beverage segment has attracted growing attention from both specialty retailers and conventional grocery buyers as regulatory clarity around hemp cannabinoids has improved, though the category still faces a scheduled November 12, 2026 change to the federal definition of hemp that could affect product formulation and distribution requirements. For trade buyers evaluating the cannabinoid beverage shelf, third-party competition scores and published Certificates of Analysis have become standard diligence checkpoints — areas where Highlandia is now positioned to compete on documented merit.

Coverage of the broader better-for-you and functional beverage market is available in our functional beverage sector analysis and alternative alcohol trends coverage.

Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.