The International Beverage Competitions are the first major international beverage competitions that feature trade-only judges who decide by category and actual price.

They consist of people who are buyers from top retail stores, restaurant and bar owners, distributors, and importers.  Unlike other competitions, these judges have purchasing power and the ability to make a direct impact on brand sales.

The second major difference in these competitions is that each submission will not only be placed in its product category — but also its pricing category. Therefore, a spirit will be judged in its category along with other spirits in its same price range by its retail price. Each category will have its own pricing levels and is listed on the submission form. So for example a Whiskey that retails for $50 will be judged with other Whiskeys in that price range and not with Whiskies that retail for $100. Judges will then know if they are judging a $54 bottle vs a $68 bottle of Irish Whiskey.

At the start of each segment of the judging program, all the judges will be presented with an overview of the category along with the nuances particular to each subset.  They will be informed on what price range they will be judging. The judges this year will also be given the retail price of each spirit they are judging. As buyers they consistently make purchasing decisions not only on the spirit itself but by its price.

Brands will be rated on a set of criteria including appearance, aroma, taste, mouthfeel and finish.   Upon completion of the tastings, panelists will confer and decide which samples are award-worthy. Award levels are Double Gold, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. All Double Gold award winners will be re-tasted by the panelists to establish which brands may be eligible to receive a ‘Best of Category’ endorsement in its pricing category.

The International Beverage Competitions Group was founded by Adam Levy, the "Alcohol Professor". Mr. Levy was inspired to start the competitions after reading an article by Lew Bryson in Malt Advocate Magazine — now called Whisky Advocate — asking why their ratings differ from many of the international competitions out there.  In the article, Mr. Bryson stated that over 80% of those who submit to many of these competitions including those on the West Coat of the USA and in the UK win a medal. That inspired Mr. Levy, a New York native, to open up shop in New York, and we're proud to state that his competitions are not "Medal Factories," and in fact less than 50% of those who submit win a medal. That's why they've become one of the most respected competition series in the world.