CocoCoast has been awarded a Bronze medal at the World Alcohol-Free Awards 2026, following blind tasting by international judging panels across 13 countries and four continents.
Each entry is assessed multiple times before final results are confirmed. For CocoCoast, the outcome is less about the medal — and more about what sits behind it.
“We’ve always believed coconut water should be enjoyed, not endured,” says Damian Russell, Founding Director of CocoCoast.
“Recognition like this matters because it reflects the one thing we focus on above everything else — taste.”
A Shift in What People Expect From Drinks
Something is changing in how people choose what to drink.
It’s not just about cutting back. It’s about being more selective. If someone is having one drink instead of three, it needs to hold up.
That shift is playing out across the alcohol-free category, but it’s also influencing adjacent spaces — from functional beverages to everyday hydration.
“People are thinking about it differently,” Russell says.
“If you’re only having one or two, they need to be worth it. That’s where we see CocoCoast fitting in.”
The Part That Matters Most
Medals carry weight, but the tasting note tells the real story.
For CocoCoast, judges described the product as:
A classic coconut water with good clarity and intense coconut flavours with a toasty, biscuit edge. A refreshing drink for the beach or after exercise.
It’s a small block of text, but it’s the part the team goes straight to.
“That’s the bit we look at first,” says Russell.
“It tells you if you’ve actually delivered.”
Built Around Flavour
CocoCoast has taken a different approach from the start.
Rather than leading with function, the brand has focused on flavour — treating taste as the main event, not a secondary benefit. The result is a range designed to be something people genuinely want to drink, not something they feel they should.
“There’s always been this idea that coconut water is something you tolerate because it’s good for you,” Russell says.
“We’ve never really agreed with that.”
What Comes Next
The lines between alcohol-free, functional and everyday drinks are getting blurred — quickly.
For brands, that creates pressure. If consumers are drinking less often, the expectation on every product goes up.
For CocoCoast, the direction stays the same.
“We’re not trying to overcomplicate it,” Russell says.
“We just want to make something people actually enjoy drinking.”
World Alcohol-Free Awards 2026
