Bartender Spirits Awards Aims To Deliver The Best Spirits For On-Premise Sector In USA. Using the tagline “Judged By Bartenders, Bar Managers and Buyers For The On-Premise Industry,” the Bartender Spirits Awards will recognize, encourage, promote and celebrate excellence in the U.S. drinks industry.
The aim of the spirits competition is to provide independent and honest reviews for brands targeting the U.S. bar trade. The judging panel consists of some of the most renowned names in the U.S. bar industry, all of them with extensive expertise within the on-premise industry. The result will be a relevant and practical source of reference for bartenders, bar managers, bar owners and other industry professionals when making purchasing decisions for their establishments.
This competition recognizes that bartenders are the true influencers – their passions and tastes provide direction for the consumer, especially via their guidance with wine, beer or spirit recommendations. The creation of new drinks is often driven by bartender tastes and perceptions of current trends.
“We really wanted a way to recognize those spirits that would be a great addition to any bar and that are completely on-trend in terms of packaging and price,” said Sid Patel, Founder and CEO of Beverage Trade Network. “Whether bartenders are looking to plug a very specific gap in their existing spirits inventory, or construct an entirely new cocktail menu from scratch, what better advice could they get than from fellow bartenders?”
Medals will be awarded to those spirits that meet very specific judging criteria, with a goal of identifying spirits that should become additions to bar inventories. Double Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze medals are awarded to the best-performing spirits based on the following metrics: taste; packaging; and price. Medal winners will be showcased in the Bartenders Spirits TOP 100 SPIRITS Guide, which will be distributed to thousands of bartenders in the U.S.
List of Bartender Spirits Awards
Double Gold (96 Points and Above)
Gold (90 Points - 95 Points)
Silver (80 Points - 89 Points)
Bronze (70 Points - 79 Points)
Spirit of the Year
Distillery of the Year
Best Value of the Year
Best Package of the Year
Liqueur of the Year
Bitter of the Year
Gin of the Year
Vodka of the Year
Tequila of the Year
Scotch Whisky of the Year
World Whisky of the Year
Brandy/ Cognac of the Year
Rum of the Year
About Beverage Trade Network
Beverage Trade Network (BTN) hosts and organizes competitions, events, trade show, expos and tastings for the alcohol beverage trade around the world. Popular competitions include the London Wine Competition, the USA Trade Tasting in Chicago, and the International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show in San Francisco, and London.
About Bartender Spirits Awards
The Bartender Spirits Awards will take place in Chicago on May 18, 2025. Using the tagline “Judged By Bartenders, Bar Managers and Buyers For The On-Premise Industry,” the Bartender Spirits Awards will recognize, encourage, promote and celebrate excellence in the U.S. drinks industry.