The International New York Beverage Competition is pleased to announce that the 2011 Season Games are about to begin. Founded in 2010 by beverage journalist Adam Levy (AKA the “Alcohol Professor”), the competition fills a niche within the industry as an annual event with unparalleled credibility based on its unique system of categorizing, trade only judging and in the way it honors its entrants. The competition will start with the New York International Spirits Competition—solely devoted to uncovering the world’s best distilled spirits. The competition will take place on October 16, 2011 at 3 West Club, and will be followed by the organization’s 2nd annual wine competition later in 2012 as well as the first ever beer competition in early 2012.
“As a craft brand, winning silver medals in the New York International Spirits Competition was so exciting,” says Scott Harris from Catoctin Creek. “New York is the center of the modern cocktail culture, so winning a medal at NYISC really put us on the map nationally. For us, NYISC has led to new distribution contracts and new customers.”
A panel of hand-picked judges and key trade only judges—buyers, retail storeowners, restaurant/bar proprietors, distributors and importers serve on a panel to judge each entrant. Unlike other competitions, these expert judges and their opinions have the unique ability to make a direct impact on sales since they are the purchasers themselves—ultimately increasing a winning brand’s bottom line. Jjudges include Marloon Paltoo of Park Avenue Liquors, Patrick McCarthly of Bayway Liquors, Michael Neff of Ward III, and Dushan Zaric of Employees Only and Macao Trading Co.
Submissions will be judged by product category as well as price category. Brands of the same cost caliber will be rated on a set of criteria including appearance, aroma, taste, mouthfeel and finish.
“As a journalist and a consumer I wanted to assemble a more evenhanded and honest competition—not a “medal factory” where cost of entry ensures high odds of winning,” says Adam Levy, Founder of the New York International Beverage Competitions. “As a native New Yorker, I was compelled to develop an unbiased New York-based competition where real trade buyers serve as the voice to pronounce the winners by category and by price range.
Applications can be submitted via www.thedatastill.com. For more information about the competitions, visit www.nyibeveragecompetition.com.
