Ready-To-Drink Week: RTD Awards
May 12, 2021
The Best of the RTDs!
With all of the new Ready-to-Drink options that have recently become available it is difficult to know where to start. The RTD Awards are here to help. Our panel of judges and bartenders, along with Seattle Cocktail Club Members will be tasting, rating, and scoring their favorite RTDs in a variety of categories.
The winners of each RTD category will be announced live on the Carla Marie & Anthony show on May 12th at 5:30pm PST! Join along to see the best of the best Ready-To-Drink Cocktails!
Joining Carla Marie & Anthony to announce each of the Ready-To-Drink Award Winners will be Ricki & Jake from 20-Somethings Doing Nothing as well as Erica & Jon from Almost On Air! The show will be a lot of fun, you can RSVP below so that you won’t miss out!
RSVP To Get Reminders About The Show!
Meet The Judges
Shelley Buchanan
Shelley Buchanan is a fearless adventurer with an affection for vodka. Author of 3 bloody mary city guides, Founder of The Drunken Tomato, and celebrity judge at many bloody mary festivals, Shelley travels the world brunching, writing, and boozing with fellow bloody mary enthusiasts.
Kurt Maitland
Born in Brooklyn, with stints in PA, Boston, and DC before returning to his beloved New York, Kurt Maitland started his whisk(e)y journey with drams of Jameson, the beloved drink of a college friend. From there he has been exploring the world of whiskey ever since. He is currently the Deputy Editor of the Whiskey Reviewer website, has released a book on cocktails called Drink, and is in the process of wrapping his second book on Cocktails.
Carla Marie & Anthony
Carla Marie and Anthony are two best friends who have worked in radio and podcasting for 10 years! From the Elvis Duran Show in NYC to their own show in Seattle they've experienced a lot...but now they're on their own to learn even more!
Tom Johnson
Tom Johnson is a beverage alcohol professional and spirits personality who believes in the power of hospitality and human kindness. Tom learned how to bartend in the burgeoning cocktail scene in Brooklyn, NY when the identity of the 'fancy cocktail bar' had evolved past the point of arm-garters and bowties exclusive to wealthy neighborhoods - and the most important lesson of his bartending career remains: cocktails are supposed to be fun. Tom spent the last four years as the National brand ambassador for Noble Oak Whiskey and now serves as the Digital Communications specialist for Edrington, helping to bring their portfolio of exceptional spirits to life on the internet.
Syd Suntha
Around 2010, Syd began working at a food truck and one day his friend Gavin came to Syd and asked if he liked hot sauces. Syd was all for hot sauces and gave a taste of a sample Gavin had brought him. Syd fell in love with the sample and said, “we should bottle this someday.” Soon after, the sample became what is today's Habanero Citrus. Fast forward to 2016: backstage at a “Run the Jewels” show, Gavin and Syd made it official, and decided to launch Ballyhoo Hot Sauce Co. After months of recipe testing, they launched with the original 4 sauces in 2017. Syd and Gavin are currently working on some collaborations as well as some new sauces.
Abigail Gullo
Known for her incredible drinks and endless mixology knowledge, Abigail Gullo’s career is too glutted with accolades to list them all. Gullo began her career in the arts, as a New York–based theater teacher and off-Broadway actress. In her free time, Gullo discovered her love for mixology, whether it was learning the histories of spirits or experimenting with cocktails at home. New to Seattle, Gullo is excited to share her passion for mixology with the city!
Seattle Cocktail Club
A small group of our Seattle Cocktail Club Members have been chosen through a lottery to participate in the judging of these Ready To Drink Cocktails. Our Seattle Cocktail Club is an exclusive group of cocktail enthusiasts that have an enormous amount of excitement for new cocktails.
Ready-To-Drink Award Categories
BEST IN SHOW
Overall gold star, blue ribbon, tallest on the podium. Brag about it, you deserve it.
VODKA
The best vodka inspired cocktail.
WHISKEY
The best whiskey inspired cocktail.
TEQUILA
The best tequila inspired cocktail.
GIN
The best gin inspired cocktail.
SELTZER
The best hard seltzer.
SPRITZ
The best spritz cocktail.
SWEETEST SIP
This award goes to the most delightfully sugared sipper that will satisfy your sweet tooth.
SAVORY SIP
This one packs a flavorful punch, hits the herbaceous notes. In a blur of sour and sweet focused drinks, this one is sure to stand out and amps up the aromatics. For the people that reach for the chips instead of the candy.
BEST FOR BRUNCH
This winner is guaranteed to give you the best start to your day. Easy sipping, a bright, light staple at the brunch table and the breakfast VIP.
POOLSIDE PICK
Sunny days spent relaxing by the pool wouldn’t be the same without this bright and easy drinking cocktail companion. Best served chilled and would probably look great with a cocktail umbrella tucked into it. Belongs in a resort.
MOST REFRESHING
This one encompasses a satisfactory sip on a hot day. This guy will revitalize you even on the hottest weekend. A libatious zinger that has a mouth watering edge.
HAPPY CAMPER
The best camping companion. Easy to pack, easy to open, easy to drink next to a campfire or basically anywhere else at your campsite.
THE ALCHEMY AWARD
Call this guy an onion because this one has layers. Unique palate, interesting beginning, middle and end of a sipper. We have some intricate imagery when we are tasting this one. Einstein of the flavor game.
GAME PIECE
This guy is the MVP of game night. The most magical for Magic: the Gathering, the coolest for Clue, the star of Scrabble, the most popular for Poker.
BOOKWORM
This cocktail was built for a cozy nook. It will be the loveliest when accompanying you on your literary journey. Bookmark this cocktail to help you relax without putting you to sleep.
BBQ BUDDY
This one belongs next to you at the grill or on a picnic table. It’s laid back notes make it friendly before and during dinner and is the most important guest other than napkins. Its homebase is in an ice bucket or a cooler.
WINTER WARM UP
A sip of this one will put some warmth in your chest all the way down to your toes. Comforting drink that will combat the chill. All around toasty.
NIGHTCAP
This PM Popular choice might be perfect to decompress, comfort and calm while still prolonging conversation and ending the evening on a high note. Whether it’s been a long day or a lazy one, a nightcap will gracefully cruise you to bed time without slamming the brakes on a great night.
THE BERRY BEST
A token of appreciation for berries. Whether they be straw, blue, black or huckle, this is our berry best fruity drink.
BEST PACKAGING
It’s what’s on the inside that counts but man, she pretty.
RSVP To Get Reminders About The Show!