While stocking their bar inventories, the bartenders look for some specific characteristics in the spirits brands that they wish to stock up their bar shelves with. Knowing what the bartenders desire in their inventory portfolio is a definite hack to growing your on-premise spirits distribution.

There are so many spirits brands competing with each other for the front row seats on a bar shelf, where they are the first one visible to the customers. In such a scenario, winning a medal can act as one of your most powerful marketing tool as well as a selling point. 

And that is where we come in. This competition is judged by a panel of leading bartenders, bar directors, and on-premise beverage buyers from across the USA.

The goal of the Bartender Spirits Awards is simple: to provide independent and honest reviews for brands targeting the U.S. bar trade. Using the tagline “Judged By Bartenders, Bar Managers and Off-Premise Managers For The On-Premise Industry,” the Bartender Spirits Awards will recognize, encourage, promote and celebrate excellence in the U.S. drinks industry.

Judged by bartenders, bar managers and off-premise managers for the on-premise industry, Bartender Spirits Awards aims to deliver the best spirits for on-premise sector in USA.

The top two questions that bartenders will be attempting to answer as they review spirits are:

1. “Would we stock this?” and

2. "Will the consumer buy the 2nd glass".

Judged By Bartenders, Bar Managers and Off-Premise Managers For The On-Premise Industry, the Bartender Spirits Awards will recognize, encourage, promote and celebrate excellence in the U.S. drinks industry. 

Each spirit brand will be scored based on:

1. Mixability

How well the product is blended or combined for your cocktails.

2. Balance and Versatility

Balance of the spirit refers to the flavour and aroma. A well-rounded, full-flavored, and balanced spirit is a much more desirable stocking option for the back-bar.

3. Taste, Mouthfeel and Finish

Physical sensation drink creates in the mouth, including the tongue and the roof of the mouth. The sensory impact of the spirit after it has been swallowed (or spat).

4. Package

Creative design, label quality, label details, back-bar appeal, and functionality (including shape, size, weight, and ease of pouring) should be considered.

5. Price

The objective is to understand how well a particular spirit is priced and what value it offers, Greater the quality offered for the price, greater the price score should be.

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.

Top 100 winners will be showcased in the Bartenders Spirits TOP 100 On-Premise Spirits Guide, which will be distributed to thousands of bartenders in the U.S. in 2022.