The entry process for the Bartenders Spirits Awards 2021 is soon coming to a close and brands looking to get traction in the on-premise channels of the US drinks market are encouraged to enter by April 20.

A bar is a place where time stops, where people escape from the constant humdrum of their busy lives. It is somewhere we go to switch off for a while and have a laugh and a good time with friends. 

The Bartender Spirits Awards aims to deliver the best spirits for the on-premise sector in the USA. The competition stands by the maxim, “Judged by Bartenders, Bar Managers and Off-Premise Managers for the On-Premise Industry,” the Bartender Spirits Awards recognizes, encourages, promotes and celebrates excellence in the U.S. drinks industry.

It is this connection between award-winning spirits and the bar community that the Bartenders Spirits Awards looks to cultivate.

The spirits competition will provide independent and honest reviews for brands targeting the U.S. bar trade. The judging panel consists of some of the most renowned names in the U.S. bar industry, each with extensive expertise within the on-premise industry. They are celebrated names crossing barriers in the bartending world every day. 

The result is a relevant and practical source of reference for bartenders, bar managers, bar owners and other industry professionals when making purchasing decisions for their establishments.

Drouet VSOP Cognac, Source: 2020 Bartender Spirits Awards winner. View previous winners.

This competition recognizes that bartenders are true influencers – their passions and tastes provide direction for the consumer, especially via their guidance with wine, beer or spirit recommendations. The creation of new drinks is often driven by bartender tastes, talents and perceptions of current trends.

“We 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 quality, packaging and price,” said Sid Patel, Founder and CEO of Beverage Trade Network. “Whether bartenders are looking to plug a 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?”

Judging Panel

2021 Bartender Spirits Award Judging Panel Source: Bartender Spirits Awards

The judging panel of the Bartender Spirits Awards will consist entirely of top bartenders from U.S. restaurants, bars, pubs, and clubs. In order to be part of the judging panel, bartenders need to demonstrate expertise within the on-premise industry. In some cases, these bartenders may also be cocktail consultants for on-premise enterprises or play an important buying role for their on-premise establishment.

The rigorous judging process means that the brands and spirits that pick up medals and top awards are ideally placed to do well on the back bars they are stocked in.

As well as being blind tasted to assess their quality, their style and their typicity of the spirits category they are in, all products entered are also then assessed for how much they cost, what value for money they offer at that price point, and, particularly for any spirit, what they look like standing proudly on the back bar, or on a retail shelf, vying for the attention of the consumer looking for something new and different.

The Consumer Connection: San Francisco Drinks Guide, New York Drinks Guide and Los Angeles Drinks Guides.

To help winning brands gain the eye of consumers, the organizers and founders of the competition, the Beverage Trade Network, have this year floated the San Francisco Drinks Guide, Los Angeles Drinks Guide, and the New York Drinks Guide. These consumer platforms are dedicated to promoting brands and producers of the products that win awards at the Bartender Spirits Awards and their other competitions, and, crucially the people and the places that sell them.

In this most difficult year for all restaurants, bars, pubs, and hotels, when they have been forced to halt operations in a bout of national and regional lockdowns, BTN’s Drinks Guides have been launched to connect drinks, lovers, with the best, the coolest, the most interesting and newest bars, pubs, restaurants, and hotels to visit and discover once lockdowns are lifted.

Enter your spirits in the 2021 Bartender Spirits Awards (Special Pricing Offer ends on March 31, 2021).

Key Dates

Registration Ends: April 20, 2021

Warehouse Closes: April 23, 2021

Judging: May 17, 2021

Winners Announced: June 07, 2021

Fee Schedule (Per Spirits Entry)

Regular Pricing - $165 per spirit (April 01, 2021, to April 20, 2021)

Entry information can be found here.