Trade-Only Judging: The Unique Approach of the New York International Spirits Competition

The New York International Spirits Competition is founded by Adam Levy, a spirits industry veteran, the NYISC is unique on two fronts:  it is the first major international spirits competition with trade-only judges from top to bottom that consist of people who are buyers from the 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 this competition is that each submission will be not only 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.  Each category will have its own pricing levels and are 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 retails for $100.

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 further informed on what price range they will be 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.  Double Gold award winners will be re-tasted by all panelists to establish which brands may be eligible to receive a ‘Best of Category’ endorsement in its pricing category as well as which might be eligible to receive the competition’s highest honor, the FDR/Best of Show Award. The FDR award honors one of our greatest presidents, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who actively supported and endorsed the repeal of Prohibition.