Editorial standards

Reviews describe an individual experience. They are not a promise of the same results for every reader.

How a review takes shape

Each review separates personal context, objective formula or composition analysis, firsthand experience, and the final judgment. The author should explain testing duration and conditions in the article, distinguish brand claims from observations, and describe limitations or reasons another reader might have a different experience.

Reviews identify the author and publication date. Material updates should include a modification date. Ratings express the publication’s own editorial assessment, never an aggregate customer score.

Five stars, five verdicts

Top Shelf is our five-star verdict. Shelf Staple is four stars; On the Fence is three; Bottom Shelf is two; Off the Shelf is one. Top Shelf archives automatically contain every five-star review in that category.

Editorial independence

Acquisition and commercial relationships should be visible near the article’s opening. A purchase, including a wholesale purchase, is described according to the actual circumstances. A gifted or sponsored product requires a clear explanation of that relationship; no favorable judgment should be implied by the way a product was obtained.