The journey of USA Spirits Ratings and how its becoming America’s most relevant spirits competition

The journey of USA Spirits Ratings and how it's becoming America’s most relevant spirits competition

The journey of USA Spirits Ratings (USR) is a testament to the evolution of the spirits industry and its approach to evaluating and recognizing quality beverages. Established to provide a comprehensive and impartial assessment of spirits, USR has played a pivotal role in shaping the way spirits are evaluated, marketed, and perceived in the industry.

If you are at a store looking to buy a spirit, beer, or wine for a dinner with the family, a group night in, or just a fun solo binge — how do you make your pick your bottle? Do you first look at what drink looks great, then find your eyes going to the MRP, followed by quick mental math to find what drink provides the most value for your money and for the occasion?

USA Ratings was created to reward brands that win on quality, value, and package. USA Ratings wanted to award a brand that makes great products in price and is relevant to today’s consumer. USA ratings want to align with the ‘market’. The market decides what is good and what is bad and the market buys mainly with these 3 criteria: Quality, Value, and Package.

“I come from a background of drinks supplier, distributor, and retailer. My private label brands were in more than 2000 accounts in the US, and I have submitted myself to awards for the business reasons I wanted at each stage of my brand. I know what I was looking for from a wine competition” says Sid Patel, CEO of Beverage Trade Network and USA Spirits Ratings.

It is that experience that helped Sid along with technical advice that he took from many trade professionals including Tim Hanni MW to write the rules of judging.

The competition is now in its 7th year and comes with the philosophy of being America’s most relevant wine, beer and spirits competition as it aims to raward products that win by quality, value and package.

USR emerged in response to the need for a modern, consumer-driven approach to spirits evaluation. It was founded to create a platform that not only assessed the quality of spirits but also considered their market appeal and overall value to the end consumer.

Evaluation Criteria:

USR introduced a novel judging format that differed from traditional spirits competitions. It focused not only on the intrinsic quality and taste of the spirits but also on factors such as packaging, value for money, and overall marketability. This comprehensive approach aimed to reflect how consumers perceive and purchase spirits.

Ankita Okate , CTO and Events Head at Beverage Trade Network and USA Ratings

Judging Process:

The judging process at USR is rigorous and involves a panel of industry experts, including bartenders, spirits buyers, and other key stakeholders. The blind tasting sessions are complemented by a robust scoring system that evaluates various aspects, providing a holistic view of the spirits' quality and market potential.

The judges are real trade buyers who are involved in day-to-day buying decisions. Entrants also get access to all the interviews by judges that can help them grow the sales and distribution of their brand.

Impact on the Industry:

The recognition and accolades received from USA Spirits Ratings have significantly impacted brands' market positioning. Winning a USR award signifies not just exceptional quality but also consumer appeal, boosting brand credibility and market visibility.

Dwayne Johnson posting on his Instagram. The Rock’s Teremana Reposado won Tequila of the Year when judges who are the real trade buyers blind tasted the product for quality and value.

Consumer-Centric Approach:

USR's emphasis on consumer preferences and marketability has encouraged spirits producers to focus not only on crafting superior products but also on understanding and meeting consumer demands. It has inspired innovation and creativity in product development and marketing strategies.

Advancing Brand Visibility:

For spirits brands, achieving accolades at USR has proven instrumental in expanding market reach and visibility. The recognition gained from winning awards helps brands stand out in a crowded market, attracting consumers and garnering attention from distributors and retailers.

Future Prospects:

As the spirits industry continues to evolve, USA Spirits Ratings remains committed to recognizing and rewarding excellence in spirits production. The platform's forward-thinking approach ensures that it stays relevant and influential in guiding consumer choices and shaping industry trends.

USA Spirits Ratings' journey exemplifies the shift towards a more consumer-focused and market-driven evaluation of spirits, emphasizing not just quality but also market appeal and value—a paradigm that continues to shape the spirits industry in the United States and beyond.

For 2024, some of the new features the competition is launching are company pages and product pages. These pages will have detailed information about suppliers including where to buy links and trade information.

If you are a spirit brand looking to grow in the US market, USA Spirits Ratings offers you an amazing opportunity to get your brand reviewed by real trade buyers. Get product feedback and professional tasting notes.

Take advantage of the super early bird offer that is on till November 30, 2023. Enter now and save.