The Bartender Spirits Awards has introduced importer awards—Importer of the Year and Distributor of the Year medals by Category—to recognize the exceptional efforts of spirits importers and distributors in the USA. 

The overall concept of the medal is that importers and distributors who enter their portfolio spirits as an importer or a distributor will all go into qualification for the medals, and here is how it all works:

What does the Distributor or Importer of the Year medal mean?

USA-based Distributor or Importer with the highest average on the spirits entered, along with the highest gold and double gold medals. It is important to note that we are not reviewing you as an import business, the medal means the spirits you import or distribute won the top score and are a great fit for the on-premise channels of the USA. This will position you as the top on-premise supplier for your spirits range.

Why Importers and Distributors Should Enter?

Winning awards such as Importer / Distributor of the Year or Importer / Distributor of the Year by Category establishes your business as a leader in the industry. It solidifies your reputation and builds trust with producers, distributors, and consumers alike. Being recognized by a panel of esteemed on-premise buyers who are the judges carries significant weight in the global spirits community.

One of the best benefits you will have is positioning yourself as the leading supplier of your spirits to the on-premise accounts.

An award from the Bartender Spirits Awards isn't just a one-time achievement—it’s a badge of honor you can use in your marketing efforts for years to come. It’s a powerful tool for securing new clients, opening up new markets, and enhancing your overall brand value.

How It Works:

Eligibility:

All importers and distributors that enter at least 10 products into the Bartender Spirits Awards and select ‘Importer’ or ‘distributor’ as their company type will automatically be eligible for the medal criteria.

Judging Process:

• Companies will be evaluated based on the total number of medals (Double Gold, Gold, Silver, Bronze) won across their entries.
• The average scores across all submitted products will be considered to ensure consistent quality. 
• Companies must have entered a minimum of 4 products per category will also be in the qualify for category medals.
• From the qualified companies, the company with the highest average among all entries will win the importer of the year award or the distributor of the year award.
• Process to qualify for country importer of the year or distributor of the year by category will require to enter 4 products per category to qualify and must have won a minimum of 2 double gold and gold. Then the highest average score will win the medal by category for that category.

Top Bartenders of USA judge at the Bartenders Spirits Awards.

Medals and Prize Benefits

• Importers and distributors will be able to display and use the winning medals in their marketing
• Physical certificates and a medal trophy will be shipped to the distributors' and importers' addresses.
• 5000 medal stickers are complimentary to the winners and will be shipped to the importer’s and distributor’s address.
• Complimentary trade show exhibitor stand at BTN’s USA trade show - USA Trade Tasting, which is focused on helping you meet distributors and key trade buyers. Valued at $1600.
• Selected importers and distributors’ spirits experts and buyers may be invited to participate as judges in BTN events.
• The importer of the year and distributor of the year will be invited to join the winner's press call, where press and leading buyers will attend.
• The importer of the year and distributor of the year will also get USD 2000 prize money to be spent on BTN media assets advertising.

ABOUT THE BARTENDER SPIRITS AWARDS

The Bartender Spirits Awards aim to provide independent and honest reviews for brands seeking to enter the U.S. on-premise industry. The judging panel includes some of the most renowned figures in the U.S. bar industry. It offers a valuable reference for bartenders, bar managers, bar owners, and other industry professionals making purchasing decisions for their establishments.

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