If you know a spirit that can outshine in quality, value, versatility, and packaging, it is time the world learns more about it. Blenders and Mixologists spend years perfecting the spirits they create. They try to achieve the perfect alchemy that can suit all occasions. Due to the volume of spirits made by a vast number of blenders over the year, many of them remain unnoticed. All spirits deserve to be tasted and tested on an equal platform. The Bartenders Spirits Awards are one such platform for you!

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Four medals are awarded at the Bartender Spirit Awards. On a scale of 70 to 100, spirits, distilleries, or individuals with a score of 96 points and above win a Double Gold Medal, 90-95 points win a Gold Medal, 80-89 points win a Silver Medal, and 70-79 points win a Bronze Medal. These scores are awarded to all the spirits on the grounds of mixability, balance and versatility, taste, mouthfeel and finish, package, and price. The judging metrics for the Bartender Spirits Awards are:

M (Mixability Score) + B (Balance and Versatility) + T ((Taste, Mouthfeel and Finish) Score) + Package Score (P) + Value Score (V) = Bartenders Spirits Awards Final Score.

This metric is applied in three steps where Step 1 entails Blind Tasting, Step 2 involves Price Score Evaluation, and Step 3 focuses on Packaging Evaluation.

The award criteria one can submit their spirits under are Spirit Of The Year, Distillery Of The Year, Best Value Of The Year, Best Package Of The Year, Liqueur Of The Year, Liqueurs Producer Of The Year, Gin Of The Year, Gin Producer Of The Year, Vodka Of The Year, Vodka Producer Of The Year, Tequila Of The Year, Tequila Producer Of The Year, World Whisky Of The Year, World Whisky Producer Of The Year, Brandy Cognac Of The Year, Brandy Cognac Producer Of The Year, Rum Of The Year, and Rum Producer Of The Year.

The variety of rum championed by Lost Ark Distilling Company. Source: Howard County, Maryland

Distilleries can definitely benefit from the award as well as early bird pricing. Lost Ark Distilling Company made multiple submissions to the 2021 Bartender Spirits Awards. Terra Mariae Spiced Rum won gold with 93 points and was also crowned Rum Of The Year, Boardwalk Coconut Rum won gold with 90 points, Verrazano Toasted Hazelnut & Coffee Rum won gold with 90 points, Shipley's Vanilla Rum won silver with 89 points, Caramel Creams Liqueur won silver with 89 points, Lady Anne White Rum won silver with 87 points, TrailBlazer Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey won silver with 84 points, and Lost Ark Distilling Company was crowned Rum Producer of the year.

Lost Ark Distilling Company’s Terra Mariae Spiced Rum won gold with 93 points and was also crowned Rum Of The Year. Source: Lost Ark Distilling

Winners from the Bartender Spirits Awards are celebrated and loved even beyond the US on-premise industry. All the medal winners also go on to become a part of the Bartenders Spirits TOP 100 Spirits Guide that is accessed by Buyers, Bar Managers, Bartenders, and Brands and is distributed to over 50000+ trade professionals across the United States. The winning medal received alongside the Digital Certificate can be used across different Brand Support Tools as well as Point of Sale processes. All the entrants also receive tasting notes and shelf talkers for their brands, written by the judges themselves.

To enter your spirits into the competition, register your brand here!