The Beverage Testing Institute’s International Review of Spirits is the largest and most prestigious annual spirits competition in the United States. Throughout the year, the tasting experts at the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) will invite select members of the trade to join them as panelists in blind tastings of specific categories of spirits. Major and boutique spirits producers and importers from around the world and across the country will participate in our competition because they know that BTI conducts the most objective, consistent, and widely regarded spirits reviews in America. Millions of consumers look to BTI’s spirits reviews on Tastings.com and elsewhere when making their spirits buying decisions. Retailers and distributors across the US closely watch our reviews when looking for products to carry.

Spirits producers and marketers obtain valuable marketing tools by participating in our reviews:

100-point ratings and consumer-oriented tasting notes for P.O.S, materials
Three-year publication in Tastings.com
Features in national TV, radio, and print media
Nationwide multimedia press releases for top scoring products
Ability to feature product labels next to reviews on Tastings.com
Ability to order shelf-talkers and logos for POS and ad campaigns
Platinum, gold, silver, or bronze medal certificates suitable for framing
Links to reviews on Tastings.com
Top Spirits, Distillery of the Year, and Spirit of the Year awards

All products will be tasted blind by a panel consisting of trained BTI staff and talented guest panelists from the spirits world. BTI uses a proprietary tasting methodology that assures accurate, repeatable results. Each product will receive a score based on a 100-point scale and a tasting note. Based on the scores from the current session, platinum, gold, silver, and bronze medalists will be declared for each category.We look forward to another year of discovering the best tasting spirits available and invite you to participate in this major spirits event.

Please note that this competition is only for commercial spirits from commercial distilleries. All spirits entered MUST be available for purchase, either in the US or country of origin, at the time of entry. Entries that do not meet these criteria will be disqualified from the competition.

Download a Spirits Entry Form: 2010 Spirits Competition Form

Shipping Instructions

2010 International Review of Spirits Registration Deadlines:

(Forms and samples are due on the 1st of each month. Results released two months after deadline)

January 15: North American Whiskey

February 1: Cognac & Armagnac

March 1: Brandy & Calvados

April 1: Scotch Whisky, Irish Whiskey, and World Whiskies

May 1: All Rum

June 1: Gin & Genever

July 1: Tequila & Mezcal

August 1: Liqueurs & Aperitifs

September 1: All Vodka

October 1: Eau-de-Vie, Fruit Brandies, Pisco, Cachaça, Soju, Shochu and other Specialty Spirits

November 1: Mixers, RTDs & Best Buy Bar

December 17: Packaging (Download the Spirits Packaging Entry Form)