RTD Rating Awards Criteria
When brands submit their ready-to-drink cocktails to RTD Magazine for our on-demand testing and rating, our panel takes the utmost care and effort to sample each and every RTD together at the same time, in the same location, and served in the same conditions to ensure the most accurate and unbiased assessments.
Many qualities are considered by our panel during the testing process and before arriving at a final rating for each RTD cocktail. Some of these attributes include authenticity and accuracy of flavor, appeal of aroma, balance of taste, appearance of liquid, and sessionability, among others.
Once our testing panel has sampled the product, discussed their findings, and arrive at a final assessment upon reviewing and averaging their individual scores, one of four rating medals is awarded: Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze.
Our annual Editor's Choice Awards are bestowed upon products which have been rated at the very highest levels. At the end of each year, our editor-in-chief reviews the many RTD cocktails that have been tested by our panel over the previous 12 months, recognizing the best of the best. Products are broken in to various categories and awarded one of two designations: Best Overall and Top Pick. All products with a published rating on RTD Magazine are eligible to receive this award.
Our end-of-year RTD Royalty Awards go one step further than our Editor's Choice Awards. Transcending any product categories, we crown a limited number of brands who submitted multiple products for testing and recognize them for producing the most impressive lineup of ready-to-drink cocktails that we evaluated throughout the entire year. All hail the king!