USA Spirits Ratings: Spirits judged by Quality, Value, and Packaging.

Entries are now open for domestic and international spirits producers. Registration ends Sep 15, 2020. For domestic and international distilleries looking to gain wider recognition within the U.S. marketplace, the USA Spirits rating event is a fantastic opportunity to get in front of the industry’s most influential tastemakers.

Key Dates

Judging Dates: October 23, 2020

Winners Announced: November 16, 2020

A Competition that will judge spirits in three key areas:

► Their quality

► Their value for money

► What they look like

To be an award winner you will need to have top-quality spirits, that offer both the trade and the consumer great value for money, and you will need to look good and truly stand out on the shelf and on the back bar.

Competition organizer, Sid Patel and Ankita Okate explaining the judging process.

Quality

The USA Spirits Ratings is not about recognizing spirits that achieve the best quality scores, but you would struggle to drink more than a glass of. We want to celebrate spirits that are both enjoyable and easy to drink. spirits that are well balanced, where their acidity, tannins and alcohol levels all work seamlessly together. That’s the quality factor.

Value for money

You don't need to be the cheapest spirits on the shelf to offer the best value for money. Far from it. Spirits may have a high price tag, but can still offer great value providing it delivers the right quality and taste for spirits at that price point. The USA Spirits Ratings will assess spirits for how much value they offer to customers.

Package and Design

This is arguably the most important part of a spirits brand to get right. For, after all, what a spirits brand looks like is how every consumer chooses the spirits they want to drink with their eyes first. Up to 65% of consumers will try new spirits just because they look good and if you can match that with a price and quality of spirits that offer great value for money, then you are more than halfway home. The USA Spirits Ratings will reward those brands that show they understand their customers, and the price category they are operating in, and have produced a design and package with the right personality to attract and keep their attention. 

Judges evaluating package of spirits

Commercially relevant

Crucially all the winners in the USA Spirits Ratings will give future trade spirits buyers, be they for a supermarket, specialist spirits retailer, casual dining or upmarket restaurant, the re-assurance that these are spirits that their customers want to buy.

Cross-industry recognition

The USA Spirits Ratings also recognizes the huge talent and skills that now exist right through the spirits supply chain. From the spirits makers, growers, and producers that are making the spirits; through to the specialist importers and wholesalers that help bring them to market; along with the designers, packaging experts and brand development teams that ensure there are a market and customer base to sell to. See the winning benefits here

Consumer awareness

Winners in the USA Spirits Ratings will receive either a Gold, Silver or Bronze award and be supported by a strong consumer awareness campaign, particularly through social media channels and spirits comparison apps, to promote this new global ratings.

Ratings organizers

The USA Spirits Ratings has been created exclusively by the Beverage Trade Network, the US drinks events, services, business, and publishing group dedicated to helping drinks producers and brand owners get closer to the buyers, distributors, and retailers that can bring their products to market.

It is part of a new wider USA drinks awards initiative that also includes The USA Wine Ratings and the USA Beer Ratings that look to reward and highlight market driven spirits and beer brands.

Here’s How to enter your spirits in USA Spirits Ratings