IWSC Alternative Drinks Judging 2024: Judges’ deliberations on RTDs (ready to drink)

The Ready to Drink (RTD) category continues to grow at IWSC, with so many varied flavors, cocktails and spirit mixers entered that our judges were thrilled to sample the hundreds of entries over two days of judging.

Our expert RTD panels were overseen by judging committee member Shannon Tebay. Shannon was encouraged by the year-on-year growth in number of entries and quality, “The RTD category was largely built from Covid, but it continues to go from strength to strength. It’s a category that’s not going anywhere, and we’re still seeing development and innovation.

The innovation mentioned above was everywhere during this year’s RTD judging. With so many exciting flavors entered each year, our expert judges look for the key flavor, that a producer designates their RTD as the obvious flavor, that the taste is not artificial and that they can still identify and taste. the dominant alcohol in the pre-mixed cocktail. “It is very important that the RTD evokes the basic cocktail that it claims to represent” » Shannon pointed out.

Negroni

Negroni continues to be a consumer favorite, and the IWSC RTD Awards entries reflect this popularity. Our judges were pleasantly surprised by the RTD Negronis they tasted, there were a few “curve balls” which kept our judges on their toes, with different base spirits and flavors layered on top of the classic Negroni. A standout Negroni, which our judges awarded a Gold Medal, was a Coffee Flavored Negroni. Our judges praised the “roasted coffee aromas that stand out, complementing the other spirits, with a pleasant creaminess and a touch of sweetness on the finish. A nice mix of flavors. »

Espresso Martini

Espresso Martinis are still a very popular cocktail, and our judges commented that “Tasting Espresso Martinis side by side is a great opportunity to see what a wide range of products are available to consumers.” Two gold medals were awarded to our Espresso Martinis flights, the judges said of one of the gold medalists, “there was a nice head of cream to the pour, with notes of chocolate and coffee and a long finish.” The other gold medalist was congratulated for his “rum on the nose with dark, sweet caramel and butterscotch that complement the coffee and vanilla.”

Another standout Espresso Martini was a salted caramel starter, our judges enjoyed the “restrained coffee aromas with a hint of caramel that ends with salt. Beautiful texture, silky and smooth on the palate with caramel that lingers on the finish.”

Piña Colada

Piña Colada is always a fun category to judge by our experts. We had a wide range of entries this year, and our judges said this wide variety meant “There’s something for everyone, even if you don’t like coconut! “. This year, there was even an effervescent entrance, featuring a “an exciting new take on the classic cocktail”. This sparkling Piña Colada really stood out to our judges and received a gold medal for its “Advanced nose of roasted pineapple and rum, offering a nice rum spiciness on the palate.” Shannon agreed with the judges’ score, noting that the addition of sparkling made the cocktail “pleasant and which also contrasts with the richness of the creamy cocktail”.

Daiquiri

The lucky jury who was able to taste through the flight of flavored Daiquiris exclaimed that it was the “best flight of the day!” ». Often a cocktail that many think doesn’t translate well to an RTD has surprised our judges, and when executed well, that cocktail really stands out. A remarkable Strawberry Daiquiri really impressed our judges and received a gold medal for its, “Bright and juicy strawberry jam nose, with fresh strawberries on the palate accompanied by a lovely tangy, sweet and sour finish.”

Gin and tonic

Gin & Tonic entries are always present in large numbers at the IWSC. This year, our judges were delighted to see the category present a more “bespoke citrus/floral element”. A gold winner was congratulated for his “Nose of pine forest and herbs, with lovely sharp bubbles and balanced sweetness, a round mouthfeel with botanical depth. A good consumer experience.” Pink Gin & Tonics were also praised this year for their “well-integrated fruity notes”.

margarita

Margarita Flights were another interesting category for our judges, with entries ranging from Classic Margarita to Flavored Margaritas. The classic version of the cocktail performed very well, with 3 gold medals awarded. One of the gold winners was congratulated for his “Nose of citrus, savory agave and a hint of orange aromas. The tangy palate has a touch of salinity and spice.

Many more exciting RTD categories were tasted by our judges, so stay tuned for the full results announcement on May 29.