Ready-to-drink cocktail producers are invited to enter their portfolios for recognition by leading U.S. bartenders and on-premise buyers. A minimum of four distinct RTDs is required to qualify for the new award.

Chicago, USA — The Bartender Spirits Awards is introducing a new RTD Producer of the Year award for its 2027 competition, recognizing producers that demonstrate quality, value and consistency across their ready-to-drink cocktail portfolios.

The new award will sit alongside the existing RTD of the Year award, giving entrants the opportunity to earn recognition for both an outstanding individual product and the strength of their wider range.

Producers offering spirit-based cocktails in cans, bottles and other ready-to-drink formats are encouraged to enter.

Recognizing Quality Across an RTD Portfolio

A standout cocktail can introduce buyers to a brand. A consistently strong portfolio gives them more reasons to work with that producer.

The RTD Producer of the Year award will recognize performance across multiple entered products, highlighting producers with compelling options for different tastes, drinking occasions, and hospitality settings.

For businesses investing in multiple cocktail styles, flavors, and formats, the award creates an opportunity to showcase the depth of their offering—from classic Margaritas and Espresso Martinis to spirit-and-mixer combinations and original cocktail recipes.

How the RTD Producer of the Year Award Works

To qualify, a producer must enter a minimum of four distinct RTD products in the 2027 Bartender Spirits Awards.

Each RTD will be evaluated individually through the competition’s standard judging process. The producer’s portfolio score will be calculated using the average of the final scores across all its entered RTD products.

The qualifying producer with the highest average portfolio score will receive the RTD Producer of the Year award.

This approach recognizes consistent performance across a range. Every entered RTD will also remain eligible for its own medals and applicable individual awards.

Why RTDs Matter to Hospitality Buyers

Ready-to-drink cocktails can help hospitality operators deliver consistent drinks with straightforward preparation and faster service.

They can be particularly useful in hotel minibars, poolside bars, stadiums, entertainment venues, catering and locations with limited cocktail-making facilities. A well-developed RTD range can give operators options for different guest preferences while simplifying service.

However, convenience alone does not make a product worth stocking. Buyers also consider taste, balance, price, packaging, and the experience their guests will receive.

The Bartender Spirits Awards give RTD producers an opportunity to put their products before professionals who understand these purchasing decisions.

Two Opportunities for RTD Recognition

How the RTD of the Year Award Works

The RTD of the Year award recognizes the individual RTD product with the highest overall score among all RTD entries in the Bartender Spirits Awards.

Each entry is evaluated on Mixability; Balance and Versatility; Taste, Mouthfeel and Finish; Packaging; and Value. Producers can qualify with a single RTD entry; there is no minimum portfolio requirement for this award.

How the RTD Producer of the Year Award Works

To qualify, a producer must enter a minimum of four distinct RTD products, with at least two entries earning Gold medals or higher and an average score above 85 points across all its entered RTD products.

Among qualifying producers, RTD Producer of the Year will be awarded to the company with the highest average portfolio score, recognizing consistent performance across its range.

Judged by the Professionals Behind the Bar

RTD entries will be evaluated through the Bartender Spirits Awards judging process, with attention to taste, mouthfeel, and finish; balance and versatility; mixability; packaging; and value.

The judging panel brings together bartenders, bar managers, beverage directors and on-premise buyers, connecting product evaluation with the needs of the U.S. hospitality market.

For RTD producers, this provides an opportunity to demonstrate how their products perform against the expectations of professionals responsible for selecting and serving drinks.

Enter Your RTD Range

Whether your portfolio focuses on familiar cocktail classics or original recipes, the 2027 Bartender Spirits Awards offers an opportunity to showcase the products that define your business.

Entering four or more distinct RTDs puts your portfolio in contention for RTD Producer of the Year, while giving every entered product its own opportunity to earn medals and individual recognition.

One standout cocktail can earn RTD of the Year. A consistently strong portfolio can earn RTD Producer of the Year.

Put your RTD range in front of America’s bartenders and hospitality buyers. Enter the 2027 Bartender Spirits Awards.

Upcoming Webinar: How RTDs Can Win in the Bar

Alongside the award announcement, Bartender Spirits Awards and London Spirits Competition will host “How RTDs Can Win in the Bar” on November 27, 2026, at 12 p.m. EST.

The webinar will explore how ready-to-drink cocktails can earn bar listings, improve service efficiency, and create profitable new drinking occasions. The discussion will focus on what makes an RTD attractive to hospitality buyers and how producers can position their products for on-premise use.

RTD producers, bartenders, bar managers, and beverage buyers are invited to attend. Speaker details and registration information will be announced shortly. RSVP for the webinar here.

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