The world’s best spirits will once again be battling it out and vying for attention in the USA Spirits Ratings, which goes into its fourth year on the back of record entries for the 2020 event, increased recognition around the world and a new consumer website’s, The Los Angeles Drinks Guide, New York Drinks Guide, Chicago Drinks Guide and London Drinks Guide, that has been launched by its organisers to help promote the brands, distillers and their importers who pick up medals and trophies in the event.

When it comes to competing on the shelf space of the most prestigious outlets in the USA then knowing you are amongst the best in class in USA Spirits Ratings stands for a lot. That’s what is up for grabs in the 2021 USA Spirits Ratings.

Influential judges, decision-makers and real trade buyers.

Orcun Turkay, Corporate Director of Food and Beverage for Shaner Hotel Group, 2021 USA Spirits Judge

Judges are made up of some of the most influential spirits buyers, bartenders, mixologists, bar managers and owners in the USA.

 

Devin Walden, Spirits Buyer, Total Wine & More, 2021 USA Spirits Judge.

 

Jeff Feist, Category Lead - Spirits & More at BevMo, 2021 USA Spirits Judge.

By tasting, sipping and assessing your products the judges are also the ones that will potentially then go on to then pour and serve them in their outlets.

Other new initiatives

USA Spirits Ratings winners will also be integrated with BTN’s new direct to consumer platform Get Drinks Delivered for producers and brands looking to grow their direct to consumer sales.

Entrants will now get tasting notes, shelf talker templates with tasting notes and scores when the 2021 results are announced.

The shelf talkers will be available in the entrant’s zone free of cost.

Judging process

Drinks are judged on how they taste, their quality, their price, their packaging and design. All those factors are taken into consideration before awarding a medal. That is the way the consumer buys. They buy with their eyes, their wallet and their taste, says Patel.

The judging is broken down like this: Q (Quality Score) + Value Score (V) + Package Score (P) = USA Spirits Ratings Score.

A separate weighted score is given for each of the three parts of the judging process (Quality gets twice the weight.

• Quality score: marked out of 100.
• Value score: marked out of 100
• Packaging score: marked out of 100.