The Cooperative Guide Ranking System

Overview

The Cooperative Guide is a Michelin-style ranking system focused on beverage programs, celebrating excellence across wine, beer, spirits, sake, cocktails, and more. Restaurants are evaluated with a beverage-first lens, with food as a complementary factor.

Ranking System

🥂🥂🥂 Three Glasses – A transformative beverage experience worth a journey

🥂🥂 Two Glasses – An exceptional program worth a detour

🥂 One Glass – A standout beverage program in its category

🫱 The Cooperative Pour – Outstanding value in drinks and dining

Table Harmony Badge (Sub-Ranking)

🔗 Exceptional Harmony – Deep integration between kitchen and beverage team

🎯 Strong Harmony – Well-thought-out pairings that enhance the experience

🥂 Light Harmony – Quality food and drink with informal pairing

Specialty Tags

🍷 Wine-Led

🍺 Beer-Focused

🍸 Cocktail-Driven

🍶 Sake Specialist

🧉 Spirits-Led

🍇 Terroir-First

♻️ Sustainable Cellar

🔬 Technique-Driven

🧠 Education-Centric

💎 Rare & Iconic Bottles

🌍 Global Range

🏠 Locally Rooted

Inspector Criteria & Scoring

Each venue is scored across 6 categories on a 1–10 scale, total out of 60:

Program Identity – 20%
Depth & Quality – 20%
Service & Knowledge – 15%
Pairing & Integration – 15%
Accessibility & Experience – 15%
Innovation & Influence – 15%

Glass-Level Thresholds:

1 Glass – 40–49
2 Glasses – 50–57
3 Glasses – 58–60
Cooperative Pour – Qualitative, not numerically scored

Our Ambition

Mission: Elevate beverage programs as cultural and culinary pillars

What We Look For: Identity, depth, service, innovation, value

Inspector Guidelines: Stay anonymous, pay full price, be objective