These events generally use expert panels and blind tastings within specific categories to provide opinions and ratings.
Most of these events follow a similar format:[2] Experts typically begin by assessing a given spirit based upon its "appearance" and "nose", its aroma.
It will often be held up to light in clear glass to examine its color and "legs" while sniffing for other flavor "notes".
Second, experts will taste the spirit and let it wash over the palate (tongue) searching for more "notes" or flavors and often comment about different foods or scents that it evokes.
Third, experts will swallow (or, more often, spit) and examine the taste sensations for a "second life" or aftertaste, again searching for more flavor notes.
The SIP Awards, based in Irvine, California, was founded by Pouya Hashemi in 2009 and is the largest blind spirits tasting competition that has an all consumer judging panel.
[5] The Beverage Testing Institute is based in Chicago, US, and founded in 1981 with its initial focus on wine but later branching into spirits and beer.
They use a dedicated tasting laboratory in order to create consistent results and minimize external distractions.
The panelists are selected from the professional world of restaurants and publications under the leadership of director Jerald O'Kennard.