Take a look at any back bar in any on-premise outlet in America and you will be confronted with 10s of sprit bottles and brands all vying for your attention. So how you do decide which gin, bourbon, vodka or tequila is for you?

The Bartender Spirits Awards have been set up to help make that decision for you. Whether you are bar manager or restaurant owner wanting to know which spirits brands to list, or a confused consumer being asked what to order.

If you pick a brand with a Bartender Spirits Awards sticker on it then you know it has been personally selected, judged and assessed by the best spirits buyers in the US on-premise sector.

To take part in judging this competition you have to be at the top of your buying game and have the respect of your peers that you have the skills to pick out a winning spirit from a similar line up.

“We really wanted a way to recognize those spirits that would be a great addition to any bar and that are completely on-trend in terms of packaging and price,” said Sid Patel, founder and chief executive of the Beverage Trade Network which created and launched the Bartender Spirits Awards in 2019.

“Whether bartenders are looking to plug a very specific gap in their existing spirits inventory, or construct an entirely new cocktail menu from scratch, what better advice could they get than from fellow bartenders?” he added.

The awards are particularly powerful for those spirits brands outside the US looking to get recognition and listings in the fiercely competitive American on-premise sector. For as well as deciding on the awards for individual spirits, the Bartender Spirits Awards judges will also pick out the top producers within each category.

How they are judged

The Bartender Spirits Awards are also unique in that they are judged in the same way a professional drinks buyer or an average drinker might decide which spirit to have.

Each product is blind tasted and assessed for the quality of the drink, but they are also then judged on their:
* Mixability

* Balance and versatility

* Taste, mouthfeel and finish

* What they look in terms of packaging, design and standout-ability on shelf

*  Price and what value for money they offer at their price point.

Winning scores

Each of the judging criteria carries a different score, with a winning tally deciding which brands pick up what colour of medal.

* Double Gold: 96 points and above

* Gold: 90-95 points

* Silver: 80-89 points

* Bronze: 70-79 points

Special Pricing

If you want to enter the 2020 awards you can take advantage of special pricing up to June 30 of $135 versus the standard fee of $165. Further discounts are available for multiple entries. Click here to enter. 

The final date for entries is April 30, 2020 with the judging taking place on May 19 in San Francisco. 

All the winners in the Bartender Spirits Awards will be announced on August 31, 2020.