Nos juges

Founder of Tuleehoo

Freelance journalist specialising in spirits. Regular contributor to the German magazines Fizzz and Schlimmerdurst.net. Long-standing jury member for numerous national and international competitions, including the Spirits Selection by CMB.

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

Oenologist from the School of Vine and Wine in Madrid. Award in Spirits, by WSET in London. Author of the guide: spirits, the 150 best distillates (GeoPlaneta) and director of the online magazine Planeta Hedonista, specializing in wines and spirits.

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

Bartender, spirits advocate and drink setter for Mavolo distribuzione

Freelance writer at James Halliday Wine Companion, Wine Companion Magazine and Selector Magazine.

Global Ambassador of the Rum Category

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

Oenologist - Winemaker - Journalist at Gourmet World, Joker Wine Lover, Decanter (Chinese version/Taiwan) - Wine and Spirits Educator - Professor at National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism - Professor at HK University of Hospitaliy and Tourism

Wine/Spirit/Food Journalist, Writer and Educator - Chairman of British Sake Association - Rectifier of Gin Guild, mousquetaire D’Amagnac, 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

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

Maestra Raicillero and Certified Taster of Mexican Distillates with Designation of Origin. Authorized Taster by CMPR. Master distiller for MCP Spirits.

Marketing department at Madeira Wine Institute. Member of the tasting panel: Madeira Wines, Madeira Rum and other spirits produced in Madeira.

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 barricas.com since 1999. Author El Anuario del Vino and El Anuario del Pisco.

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 Whisky Independent Bottler (Spirits Business Magazine's & Spirits Bottler Of The Year, 2024") , and owners of the new Witchburn Distillery in Campbeltown. Holder of WSET Spirits L3 Qualifiction, 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

Maestro Técnico Tequilero. Miembro fundador de la Academia Mexicana de Tequila y Mezcal A.C. Primera mujer en recibir el título de “Conocedora de Tequila”, otorgado por la Cámara Nacional de la Industria Tequilera CNIT.

Vicepresident at Mexican Sommelier Association. Certified Court of Master Sommeliers and spokeswoman for LOUIS XIII.

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.

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

Founder of Shanghai Premier Spirits Co. Ltd, BNIC Cognac Educator

CMB Ambassador in Bolivia - 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

Editor in Chief VinArena, Wine and Spirits Magazine.

Spirits Distributor - Founder of Angel's Share Tasting -Area sales manager at The Nectar - Founder of The Spirits Tasting Club

Head of Sales and Marketing at Karas Wines

- Contributor to Harpers, Drinks Business, Spirits Business and the Buyer - Consultant to distributors, retailers and hospitality groups including Compass Group (Levy's), Waitrose, Nordic Monopolies, C&C group. - Presenter, panel host and keynote speaker on drinks sustainability (eg to Glass Half Full with Sapling vodka, Two Drifters Rum, NcNean etc) - Consultant to the LWF including spirits section - Founder and consult to the Sustainability in Drinks Conference and Exhibition - Government advisor on drinks production sustainability (DEFRA and carbon removals methodologies in agriculture for drinks production) - Spirits judge at International Spirits Challenge (gin), IWSC and Spirits Masters - Host of International Spirits Challenge awards dinner

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. - 25 years+ of progressive marketing, sales, and brand management experience, with last 15 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

Managing Director of Liquid Concept, 23 years of experience in the Food & Beverages and tourism industry.

Certified sommelier. Columnist and writer for Mural Newspaper, in Guadalajara. Tequila expert and wine judge. Contributor for W Radio Guadalajara.

LEE WOONGHO Distillery Technician, Blender & Brand Director – JL, Co., Ltd. (Korea) Secretary to the Chairman, Korea Spirits Association Lee Woongho is a certified distillation expert and seasoned spirits professional with deep knowledge across the entire value chain—from production to branding. Holding the IBD Diploma in Distilling and WSET Level 3 in Spirits, he has led projects in whisky innovation and distillery operations at leading Korean beverage companies. Currently serving as Blender and Brand Director at JL, Co., Ltd., he combines technical mastery with strategic brand development. His cross-disciplinary background in chemical engineering, agricultural sciences, and sensory evaluation allows him to judge spirits with precision, insight, and commercial perspective.

Principal Partner at Entwine Asia – Malaysia first Certified Sommelier(CMS,UK) – Master of Sake (SSI,Japan) – Certified Specialist of Spirits & Wine (SWE,USA) - Certified Whisky Educator (WA, Scotland) - WSET Educator - Japan Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador (Ministry of Agriculture, Japan - MAFF) - Consultant

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

Journalist for Il Sole 24 Ore, Mixer, Spirito Autoctono - Editor in Chief of Il Barman

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.

Wine writer - Hospitality trainer - Blogger

Owner Honey Spirits Co

Joseph V. Micallef is a judge and commentator on food, wines, spirits, and travel. He is also a historian, best-selling author, diplomat, keynote speaker, and syndicated columnist. As a journalist and former war correspondent, he has written on an eclectic mix of topics from wines, spirits, and travel to military history and world affairs. For 30+ years, he was CEO and Senior Producer of a media company. Joe has also been a judge for a variety of international wines and spirits competitions, including the International Wines and Spirits Competition, World Drinks Awards, World Whisky Awards, San Francisco International Wine Competition, American Distilling Institute Craft Spirits Awards, Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards, New York World Wine and Spirits Competition, San Francisco International Spirits Competition. and the Irish Whiskey Awards. Along with judging, he spends his spare time mak

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

Maestra Tequilera, sommelier and WSET Level 3 in Spirits. Member of the Mexican Academy of Tequila, Wine and Mezcal Tasters A.C., and of Tequila Culture and Training. Master distiller for Casa Zea and MI Mezcal. Teacher at Domecq Academy. Baijiu Ambassador for Mexico.

Tequila Ambassador to France for the National Chamber of the Tequila Industry (CNIT) and also for Tequila Culture and Training AC. Mezcal Ambassador to France for the Mexican Council for Mezcal Quality Regulation (COMERCAM). CEO of Bleu Agave and Viva Agave, the first agave spirits festival in France.

Craft spirits importer and educator - Spirit vlogger - Founder and CEO of Example hospitality services and coaching business

Lecturer and Researcher Food Culture at the Hotel Management School Maastricht, Certified Educator WSET Spirits and Trainer CIDS (in FR-ENG-NL). Academic background: Cultural 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

Corporate Sommelier Casa Pedro Domecq in Mexico, WSET 3.

Key Account Manager Belux at Henkell-Freixenet - 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.

Founder at Honkaku Spirits

Materials Engineer with a specialization in Polymers, graduated from Simón Bolívar University, 1993, Caracas, Venezuela; - Master of Science in Hydrocarbon Economics and Administration, Central University of Venezuela, 2001. - Professional Sommelier, graduate of the Venezuelan Sommelier Academy and member of the Venezuelan Sommelier Association, December 2009; Associate Sommelier of Vinarte, Trasnocho Cultural, Paseo Las Mercedes, from March 2010 to the present. - Ambassador of the DOC Ron de Venezuela from 2012 to the present, certification granted by the Venezuelan Rum Promotion Fund (FONPRONVEN); - Creator of the term Ronmelier in October 2016 and certifier of the term through various university diplomas in Venezuela since 2017. - Ronmelier, Andrés Bello Catholic University, 2017, Caracas, Venezuela; - Founder, Professor, Academic Coordinator of the DIPLOMA IN RUM AND SPIRITS CIAP- UN

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

CEO German Beer Academy Chair of Bavarian Spirit Sommeliers International Beer, Spirits and Cheese Judge Beer, Cheese and Spirits Sommelier Author of 60+ Books Host of Podcast BierTalk

Chemical engineer specialized in agave spirits and master distiller. Developer and blender of raicilla brands. Certified in Sustainable Agave Management and graduate of the Diploma in Mexican Spirits by SEDECO. General Manager at Raicilla 3 Gallos.

Figaro

Brand Ambassador BeLux and Switzerland for Maison Ferrand

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.

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

Chief Editor at Wine & Degustation Magazine - WSET Educator

Sommelier from the Spanish School of Tasting. WSET Diploma in Wines and Spirits. Sherry Master. Member of the Union of Tasters of Spain and the Association of Professional Sommeliers of Madrid. Rhum sommelier. Advisor for Distribuidora Istmania, in Honduras.

Director and Master Distiller at Gervin Distillery in Belgium, deeply involved in the world of spirits since 2002. Starting out as a sales representative, I assumed leadership of the company in 2008. My commitment: blending tradition and innovation to craft authentic spirits that reflect the unique character of our Belgian terroir.

Owner at Left Hand Spirits

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

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

Rojita Tiwari is a leading drink professional, Founder & Director of one of India’s prominent drinks consulting firms -Drinks & Destinations. She is an award-winning writer, educator & consultant with 19+ years in the industry! A certified juror at prestigious global wine & spirits competitions, she has won multiple industry awards for her influence and contributions. From launching new brands to curating luxury drinks experiences, Rojita is passionate about storytelling, education & innovation in the world of drinks. She works with top international & Indian publications and collaborates with leading spirits brands on marketing & strategy. Follow her journey @drinksanddestinations

director of the Tok distillery and runs six significant distilleries in Serbia / Leading Serbian consultant in the production of Rakija/ co President of National Association Rakija producer of Serbia.

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

Communication & Promotion Manager at Armagnac and BNIA

Sommelier certified by the Mexican Sommeliers Association. WSET Level 2 in Spirits. Mezcal maker with 20 years of experience in management and commercial strategy of wines and spirits. Creator of new products for Rompope Coronado.

Secretary General of the Korea Spirits Association Whisky Writer & Journalist Author of Singlemalt whisky bible General Manager of Korea Brewing & Distillation Academy. Member of Whisky Live in Seoul - Judge at Korean Wine & Spirits Awards General Certificate in Distilling- Institute of Brewing & Distilling

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