Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) crowned Edmond's Honor Vanilla Madagascar Bourbon the winner of the 2026 Brand Battle Tournament at Access LIVE, WSWA's convention.

Presented on the Main Stage to a packed audience and a panel of top-tier judges, Brand Battle gives emerging brands the opportunity to pitch their stories, products and market strategies. The 2026 edition was the competition's tenth year, and the competition was fiercer (and more flavorful) than ever.

Tracie Franklin, Edmond's Honor's Liquid Curator, introduced the audience to Edmond Albius, the 12-year-old enslaved boy who discovered how to hand-pollinate vanilla orchids. Despite vanilla being the most popular flavor globally, Albius's name has largely been forgotten.

"What's incredible about this win is that it's in honor of Edmond Albius," Franklin said after the contest. "His name is forgotten to history, yet vanilla is the number one flavor in the world. This win (is) going to empower us to share this story and this legacy with the world."

Co-presenter Steven Brown, Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales & Finance at Pronghorn, praised the team effort supporting the presentation. "Tracie did an amazing job of putting this liquid in a bottle," he said. "This is not just for me and Tracie — we were just the ones on stage."