Spirits competitions between makers of alcoholic beverages have been a tradition since the earliest days of distilling. Master distillers, brewmasters and vintners alike are driven to compete as a way to substantiate the quality and craftsmanship that has been instilled in their products.
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Competitions
There are several Liquor, Spirits, Beer, Beverage and Wine competitions throughout the world. One of the largest competition is the World Beverage Competition (www.BeverageCompetition.com), based in Geneva, Switzerland and established in 1991 celebrating the creation of the World Trade Organization. The World Beverage Council founded the World Spirits Competition (www.SpiritsCompetition.com), alongside the World Wine Competition (www.WinesCompetition.com), World Beer Competition (www.BeerCompetition.com) and the World Beverage Competition (www.BeverageCompetition.com), cumulatively the World's Largest Beverage Competition, an ongoing annual event.
Every year the American Distilling Institute holds their annual Judging of Craft Spirits. ADI's judging was established in 2006 and it is the largest spirit competition dedicated to craft producers of spirits, cocktail bitters, and aperitif/fortified wines. ADI only accepts entries from producers who are small-scale (less than 100,000 proof in annual sales) independently owned. In 2016, ADI opened their judging to also accept international spirits making it the only global spirit competition dedicated to craft distillers.
Awards
SIP Awards largest consumer-judged competition in the world. Unlike other competitions, instead of using industry experts or experienced judges, this spirit & mixer competition allows a panel of consumers to choose the top winners. The competition is open to any commercial beverage professionally produced that comply with the classification codes listed on their website. Only the highest rated spirits receive SIP Award medals and back to back winners are recognized with a Consumer Choice Award.
The International Beverage Competitions Group began over 8 years ago with the New York International Spirits Competition then the New York International Wine Competition followed by the New York International Beer Competition. Over 4 years ago it expanded globally with the launch of the Berlin International Spirits Competition, Berlin International Wine Competition and Berlin International Beer Competition. The expansion continued with the Melbourne International Spirits Competition, Melbourne International Wine Competition and Melbourne International Beer Competition. It is excited for its future launch of the Asia International Spirits Competition, Asia International Wine Competition and Asia International Beer Competition to be held September 2017.
What separates the International Beverage Competitions from other competitions is that all of its judges are real trade buyers judging the liquid by its category and actual price. The International Beverage Competitions with competitions in New York, Berlin, Melbourne and Hong Kong issue Bronze, Silver, Gold and Double Gold Medals. If a specific winner separates themselves from the other producers they may qualify for a individual medal awarded by the Head Judge and Founder Adam Levy the Alcohol Professor.
Each year more than 20,000 beverage brands from around the globe compete in the World Beverage Competition, the only worldwide competitive beverage event in hopes of receiving one of only four coveted awards bestowed within each brand classification. The World Beverage Competition was founded on the premise that beverage products should be judged not by the strength of their marketing or the budget of their sales force, but rather on the quality and innovation of the product itself. These Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze awards are often imprinted directly on the labels of the products that have earned them as a "medal of honor" for the brand.