Website: https://www.tastings.com/International_Review_of_Spirits.html
Overview: Conducted by the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) and the affiliated website tastings.com
Background: The Beverage Testing Institute’s International Review of Spirits is one of the older annual spirits competitions in the United States.
Procedure: BTI uses a proprietary tasting methodology that is supposed to assure accurate, repeatable results. Each product will receive a score based on a 100-point scale and a tasting note. All products will be tasted blind by a panel consisting of trained BTI staff and talented guest panelists from the spirits world
Categories: Scores are broken down into 4 categories: Superlative, Exceptional, Highly Recommended & Recommended. Along with awards from Bronze to Platinum.
PR Impact: Three-year publication of reviews on Tastings.com. Annual press releases for top scoring products. Ability to feature product labels next to reviews on Tastings.com.
Participants/Example winners: Spirit Brands of larger and smaller players. Past winners include brands like Don Celso Tequila, Vox Vodka & Radeberger
Requirements: Must be available for purchase, in US or country of origin, at time of entry
Entry Deadline: Depends on Spirit Type
Entry Fee: $200 per spirit entry or $400 per spirit with opt. label display
Samples: 2 (750ml) bottles
Marketing Material / Artwork: Medal certificates suitable for framing. Ability to order shelf-talkers and logos for POS and ad campaigns.
Open to Public: No