Our judges

Founder of Tuleehoo

Founder - Research & Developement Senior Manager at Compagnia dei Caraibi

Schlimmerdurst.net blog owner, one of the biggest spirits blogs in Germany - Spirits writer with special focus on how to use good spirits to make even greater cocktails.

Founder/Owner of The Kokoro World (Importer & Distributor of Japanese Alcohol)

Expert Cachaça - Owner of Fazenda Soledade - Director of IBRAC (Brazilian Institute for cachaças) Executive Board

Craft Distilling Services Ltd. owner - 35 years experience in fond and drink industry - "Godfather of UK Craft Distilling" after having built 30 distilleries around the UK - Gin recipe developer with more than 80 sold commercially - Pioneer in the development of distilleries as immersive customer experiences

Director at Rhum Expert & Manager Héritiers Crassous de Médeuil – Rhum JM Martinique

20 years experience in Spirits Sales & Marketing - International Business specialist - Coganc lover & Rhum Collector

Distillery Manager Van Ryn - Heineken Beverages

Bartender, spirits advocate and drink setter for Mavolo distribuzione

Sommelier y periodista gastronómico. Spanish Wine Specialist, por el ICEX Spain Trade and Investment - Director del México Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles - Consultor para México en la 8ª Edición de The World Atlas of Wine - Contributor en la 5ª Edición de The Oxford Companion to Wine

International Sales Manager at Tonnellerie Quintessence - ISC

Master Distiller & Founder of The Owl Distillery and whisky "The Belgian Owl"

Spirits and sake writer & columnist, certified sake sommelier. collaborator on book “Whisky” by Cyrille Mald, regular judge in European competitions.

Independant Master distiller & Master blender - 35 years of experience in spirits distillation, specialized in rums

Owner of Tudor House Ltd, chain of specialist stores and importer and distributor of luxury alcohol brands in Poland - Whisky educator in Poland - Organizer of Whisky Live Warsaw - Colaborators of International Wine & Spirits Research ISWR and Scotch Whiskey Association SWA - Writer and Publicist on whisky

Trade Marketing Manager at Velier SPA

CEO of Laboratoire Gensac- Oenologie. Spirits - Consultant. COGNAC Producer

Wine/Spirit/Food Journalist, Writer and Educator - Chairman of British Sake Association - Council Member, Association of Wine Educators - Circle of Wine Writers - Guild of Food Writers - WSET certified and Sake School of America Educator - 20 years experience in competitive judging in UK, Europe, USA and Japan - Asian Spirits specialist

Sommelier Journalist - Owner and Managing Director at Epulae Accademia Enogastronomica Internazionale - Editor in Chief at Epulae News Food & Wine Magazine

Spirits Consultant - Educator - Writer - Events Co-ordinator and Brand Representative

Founder & Director of Armagnac house L'Encantada - Administrator at Bureau Interprofessionnel de l'Armagnac BNIA

Ex-Chairman of the “Bureau National des producteurs d’Armagnac” - Owner of the “Armagnac Darroze” house

Drinks Industry Consultant at Inside the Cask Ltd with 20 years experience across the on trade, off trade, prestige and duty free channels. Also a writer/ blogger at Inside the Cask website, sharing my insights, knowledge, and passion for the drinks industry.

Editor of www.barricas.com since 1999. Author of the yearly wine guide El Anuario del Vino. Columnist in Diario El Comercio

Wines & spirits business consultant & independant Rum bottler @Les Rhums du Sud - Previsouly worked as a Sommelier in various Michelin Star restaurants

Sales & Marketing Director for Brave New Spirits, the Glasgow-based independent bottler / blender of Whisky & Rum, and owners of the new Witchburn Distillery in Campbeltown - Two-time Whisky Magazine “Icons of Whisky” nominee

Responsible for spirits sector export department at Crafted Wines & Spirits Portugal, Vinalda S.A. - Over 25 years experience in the wine and spirits sector, 15 years working on international markets

Employed at BASF as Bachelor of Chemical Technology and Operations

Christian Drouin is a representative member of IDAC (Institut des appellations cidricoles – Normandie – France) and he spent most of his life to turn the stock of Calvados. He has published a number of books on Calvados

Co-founder, Co-owner and CEO of the french spirit distribution company “La Maison de l’Hédonisme”, dedicated to craft and terroir oriented spirits distribution - 10 years of experience in commercial and brand image construction

Founder and CEO of Enosis Ltd Co. - Italian ambassador at Concours Mondial de Bruxelles - Italian ambassador at Spirits Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles

Winemaker of Karabunar winery - Distillation manager

Oenologist with 10 years’ experience in liqueur production and cellar master in Cognac for 15 years: distillation and cutting of cognac, brandy, vodka and gin

Engineer in Food Science and Technology. PhD in agri-food science and technology. CEO of Bodegas Campotoro. Co-founder of the Mujeres del Mezcal y el Maguey association and President of the Mujeres del Mezcal y el Maguey association Guanajuato.

Agronomist from the University of La Serena and Oenologist from the University of Bordeaux – ISVV. Official Ambassador of the Pisco Producers Association, Pisco Chile A.G. Consultant for ProChile in international trade and for the National Institute of Agricultural Research, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture of Chile, for industry sustainability projects, traceability, recognition, education and culture.

Liquor buyer at Lagardere Travel Retail

Sales Manager Spirits Division

Spirits & Cocktails development manager at Murgier group - Distributor - Previously bartender and head bartender in different types of establishments

Managing Director and Founder of FFL -Rum Brands- since 2011 Import & Distribution – Rum speaker at several events – Previously International Travel Retail Business in Europe, South Africa, Mauritius and Military Bases for perfume industry – Currently launching her own brand for On and Off trade

Renhuai Maotai Baijiu Research Institute 仁怀酱香白酒科研所

Communicator of Bolivian Wine, author of the first and only Bolivian Wine Guide (description of 25 wineries and 150 wine products from Bolivia). Organizing the most important wine festival in Bolivia. Wine distribution company among other activities

Sales & Brand manager - Decadent Drinks Ltd., Director - Glasgow's Whisky Festival

Designer of Baijiu Design Center of Luzhou Laojiao Xinjiuye Co., Ltd. 泸州老窖新酒业有限公司高级酒体设计

Blender and brand ambassador for Gray’s distillery in Mauritius.

Head of Sales and Marketing at Karas Wines

Wine and spirits columnist for Shanghai Daily Newspaper, China People's Publications Z Mag, Money Journal China and others - China wine and spirits communications and business development consultant

Export Sales Manager at High Coast Whisky

Wine and Spirit Consultant with key focus on communication, education, sensory and sales support - Advisor for the Hungarian Ministry of Agrictulture on geographic indications for wine and pálinka - Certified winemaker - WSET Diploma holder in wines and spirits - WSET certified Saké expert - Master Roaster

Editor-in-chief of the leading wine media in Bulgaria – DiVino. Founder of the competition « The Best Bulgarian Wine of the Year »

Head of spirits development department at Monte Bianco ltd. - 20 years+ of progressive marketing, sales, and brand management experience, with last 13 years in premium FMCG/wines & spirits in local and international settings - Founder & Chair of Open Whisky Club of Almaty - Advanced knowledge of Kazakhstan/Central Asian spirits market context, trends and competitors

President of the association of producers and distillers of the Istrian region (Croatia) - Member of ANAG (Associazione nazionale assagiatori grappa e acquaviti) - Owner and distiller of the Krulcic family distillery

Co-founder and director of the website flaginlife.gr, a site dedicated to spirits, bars and restaurant. Director of Bar Awards.

Director of Liquor-body Design Center of Kweichow Moutai Co., Ltd. 贵州茅台集团酒体设计中心主任

Cellar Master @ Distillerie Longueteau

Marketing manager at Whiskies du Monde – 15 years experience in the spirits industry

CEO & Master Distiller at Sydney Rum Distillery - Asia Pacific region sugarcane and rum industry history expert - Previously Group Distiller at Beenleigh Rum and Twenty Third Street operational site

Cachaça specialist - Sommelier - Chef - Level 2 degree in spirits WSET - Columnist "O Cachacier" at Paladar on the newspaper “O Estado de São Paulo” - President of “Cúpula da Cachaça” - One of the most requested speakers about cachaça in the world

Spirit Buyer & R&D manager for spirits and drinks at "Les Grands Chais de France"

Columnist for la Revue du Vin de France & Le Figaro - Author of "Rhum" (Hachette 2022), “Whisky (EPA 2021)” & "Iconic Whisky, world top five most distributed book on spirits - Ambassador of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

Commercial Manager at Diageo for Europe Partner Markets

Global Sales Manager @OrigenXGroup

Founder of Everleaf Drinks - Bar-owner and drinks consultant - Previously China and SE Asia-based drinks writer and educator

Owner and managing partner at RakiaSHOP - Spirits and wine blender, importer, distributor, exporter and consultant - Rakia specialist and producer

Diploma in enology and viticulture - Consultant in the development of wine and spirits products

Master Distiller and Managing Owner of XKK JSC-Isperih Distillery. Specializes in fruit distillation and ambitious to help turning rakia into the next big thing in the spirits industry.

Partner and sommelier of Micaela Mar y Leña, Instructor of the Mexican Academy of Sommeliers, mezcal specialist.

Lecturer at the Hotel Management School Maastricht , Certified Educator WSET and Trainer CIDS (in FR-ENG-NL). Academic background: Corporate Anthropologist, VU University Amsterdam. OIV MSc. in Wine Management, SupAgro University Montpellier

Creator of new products for the spirits industry, blending white or aged spirits - Based in Burgundy

Joint managing director at Cognac Pasquet

Luxembourg Market Manager at Rémy Cointreau Benelux - Co-Founder of The Spirit Tasting Club

Member of ADAR (Authorised taster association of Romania) - Wine and spirtis journalist - Diploma WSET in wine and spirits - Judge in local competitions in Romania for fruit spirits.

Journalist (Le Figaro, La Revue du vin de France, V&S News...) - Sommelier - Wine & Spirits Consultant

SalesDirectorPoland/HighclereCastleSpirits,LLC/ EssexUSA-Warszawa January 2022 - present, Ambassador of luxury product Highclere Castle Gin in Poland.. Building the brand's position on the Polish market. Driving consulting projects for distribution and sales companies, such as offering, negotiating and finalising the sales process. I implement strategic and development programs for premium products and support consulting projects in the area of hospitality, HORECA and MICE.. Organise and run tasting events in cooperation with clubs, HORECA and special event venues. Leveraging on and searching for new business opportunities. Developing and motivating our Distributors and Field Sales, incl. managing performance, ensuring development plans are in place, rewarding progress Director of Sales & Business Development / Business Centre Club / Warsaw January 2019 - July 2022, Leadership of all

Founder at Honkaku Spirits

General Manager @ Independent Intercontinental trading Company CWS&BF (Bulk-bottled wines & spirits, distillation - Chalvignac - & ageing materials - Seguin Moreau -) since 2005 - General Manager of French importing/distributing company of authentic selected high end spirits - APOTHEKA - www.apotheka-spirit.com since 2018

Grappa Consultant - Head of Distillery Bruno Pilzer - Fondazione E.Mach Instituto Agrario San Michele all’ Adige TN

Production Manager at The Owl Distillery (Belgian Owl Whisky) - Qualified Zythologist

Cointreau Master distiller since 2016 - Member of the Syndicat National Français des Liqueurs (SNFL) - Spirits R&D & innovation manager

Figaro

Independent Spirits Sales and Consulting

Oenologue. Wine Consultant / Wine educator. Winemaker. Asst. Professor in Oenology at CIU. Expert on Wine Law, Management & Economy. Wine / Spirits Judge

Author of "Baijiu: The Essential Guide of Chinese Spirits" and “Drunk in China: Baijiu and the World's Oldest Drinking Culture" - Co-founder of a Sichuan Baijiu distillery.

heinkel representative

Photographer, writer, judge & speaker in the field of spirits and gastronomy - Master of World Spirits - Master’s degree in Gastrosophy - Working for the magazines Gault&Millau, effillee, falstaff and Kalk & Kegel, a web-publication for sommeliers.

Pisco Expert - President of the Cofradía Nacional de Catadores del Perú - Founder Academia Peruana del Pisco - Master Distiller - Key Club Restaurant owner - President Pisco Committee ADEX - Author

ONAV Puglia Ambassador - PR & Marketing Consultant in Wine and Spirits fields - Teacher

Co-founder of TasteSpirits - Wine & Spirits Educator and Speaker - Contributor at Jancisrobinson.com

Premium Taster of Kweichow Moutai Co., Ltd. 贵州茅台集团特级评酒师

Cellar master @ Rhum Bologne

Manager at Gervin Distillery - Previously worked in sales and accounting for various drinks and hotel brands

Owner of WhiskyNet Hungary, premium spirits importer and distributor - Founder of Whisky Show, Rum Show and Bar Show Hungary

Buyer at Maison Les Vins Brunin-Guillier

Marketing Manager @ Reimonenq Distillery & the "Musée du Rhum" in Sainte Rose, Guadeloupe - Co-founder of Titonoart (Piece of Art from Barrel) - Mixology, Spirit and Art lover

Writer and Blogger - Co-Founder Distillerie.it - Craftdistilling.it - Whiskyclub - Rum club and Spirit Club Italia

Journalist - Director of the Spirits Committee of the Association of Wine and Spirits Journalists of Spain - CEO at Efecto Directo Marketing & Communication Agency

Founder & Director @ Drinks & Destinations LLP, India – Award-winning drinks writer – Educator – Consultant – Global Wines, Spirits & Cigars Committee by Della Leaders Club

Wine, spirits, turism journalist at Spirito Autoctono, Corriere della Sera, Cucinamare, Vinonews24

Executive Instructor & Vice President, Sake School of America, Director of Sake Specialist at MTC, 2016 Sake Samurai, member of The Circle of Wine Writers, Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador

director of the Tok distillery and runs six significant distilleries in Serbia / Leading Serbian consultant in the production of Rakija.

Lead Spirits Excellence at Heineken Beverages, responsible for the intrinsic quality and operational excellence of the company’s spirits portfolio - 27 years of Spirits production experience at Distell Ltd - Technical advisor within the South African Brandy Foundation

Author and consultant in agave spirits - Expert in regulatory affairs and sensorial analysis

Communication & Promotion Manager at Armagnac and BNIA

Europe Business Manager @ Oak Solution Group - evOAK

Experienced Gourmet Food Creator with over 500 Australian Fine Foods awarded to over 300 products. Qualified Distiller with a focus on Gin Botanicals.

The Liquid Concept (PVT) LTD - 20 years experience in Alco-Bev industry based out of Maldives working with the world’s top hotel chains such as Hilton, Four Seasons, Marriotts, IGH and also in Sri Lanka.

Spirits Sommelier and Spirits Consultant. Managing Director and Founder of Idea Distillers, a company dedicated to consulting in spirits for on and off-trade with focus on marketing. Trainer and Eductator for Fruit Spirits Sommeliers. Member of International Drinks Specialists, Guild of Beverage Professionals and Sommelier Union.

Wine & spirits speaker and consultant for wineries, distilleries and importers in the EU - 30 years experience in the hospitality, wine & spirits industry

Owner and master distiller of the Distillery of Montreal

Owner of Kobe Distillery

Expert in Maotai Aroma Baijius - President of Mingde College of Guizhou University - Professor of Winemaking and Baijiu making 贵州食品工程职业学院院长

German Master distiller - Founder of Märkische Spezialitätenbrennerei KG in Hagen - Distilling expert in whisky, gin, rum vodka, fruit brandies and liqueurs, with many internationally awarded products

Deputy Director of Baijiu Expert Committee of China Food Industry Association 中国食品工业协会白酒专家委员会副主任

Deputy Chief Engineer of Guizhou Yelanggu Liquor Industry Co., Ltd. 贵州夜郎古酒业有限公司副总工程师

Whisky Writer & Journalist - Author of Singlemalt whisky bible Committee - General Manager of Korea Brewing & Distillation Academy - Member of Whisky Live in Seoul - Judge at Korean Wine & Spirits Awards

Owner and master distiller of Zaric Distillery in Serbia

Teacher & Wine specialist at the Agricultural University of Athens Spirits - Previously teaching distillation technologies at University of Western Attica - Consultant in production for a number of spirits brand