The Palates To Trust
The reputation of a spirits competition is often defined by the quality of its judges. At the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, our judging panels consist of the most respected, experienced experts in the spirits industry.
Meet our judges
Robert Gonzales
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Robert Gonzales
Nationally known spirits educator, trainer, consultant, and spirits judge, Robert Gonzales is the San Francisco based Spirits professional and expert. Initially a bartender, Robert learned the production and distribution side of the industry while working alongside the top individuals in tequila, whiskey, rum, and other spirits sectors. Early in his career, Robert furthered his education by spending 5 years traveling North America and the Caribbean fulfilling demands for spirits education and craft mixology. Robert has consulted on hundreds of bars and restaurants, trained thousands of bartenders, and led thousands of consumers in a variety of symposiums, workshops, and seminars on behalf of both Diageo and Beam Suntory.
Executive Director
Anthony Dias Blue
Anthony Dias Blue is the Executive Director and founder of the San Francisco World Spirits
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Executive Director
Anthony Dias Blue
President, Blue Lifestyle
Anthony Dias Blue is the Executive Director and founder of the San Francisco World Spirits Competition as well as the San Francisco International Wine Competition. Mr. Blue is recognized worldwide as a leading food, wine, and lifestyle authority. His work in all media is circulated to more than 30 million consumers each month. His James Beard Award–winning food and wine critiques, The Blue Lifestyle Minute, are broadcast daily on KNX in Los Angeles and on WCBS radio in New York, reaching an audience of more than 200,000 listeners daily. In 2011, he launched a nationally syndicated talk show called "Blue Lifestyle" that currently airs in more than 150 markets across the country. Formerly Wine & Spirits Editor of Bon Appétit, Mr. Blue was the owner and Editor-in-Chief of the beverage trade publication, The Tasting Panel Magazine, the highest-circulating beverage trade publication in the country. He was also the Editor-in-Chief of The SOMM Journal. In addition, he is a frequent contributor to numerous other publications. Mr. Blue is the author of nine books, including The Complete Book of Mixed Drinks and The Complete Book of Spirits. More about Anthony Dias Blue can be found on his company website www.bluelifestyle.com.
Eric Grenier
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Eric Grenier
Jack Daniel's Brand Ambassador, Greenhouse Agency Inc.
A thirty-year veteran in hospitality, Eric brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. Eric is a certified sommelier, as well as a certified specialist of spirits. He is a longstanding member of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the United States Bartenders' Guild and is currently the sitting Board Chair. Eric's current job title is Jack Daniel's Brand Ambassador where he spends the majority of his time advocating for and educating the bartending community. He resides in Oakland, CA.
Joe Micallef
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Joe Micallef
Forbes Contributor, Educator and Judge
Joseph V. Micallef is a judge and commentator on food, wines, spirits and travel. He is also a historian, best-selling author, 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 the 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, and the Irish Whiskey Awards. Along with judging, he spends his spare time making wine in Oregon.
He holds the Diploma in Wines and Spirits from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (London). He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Council of Whiskey Masters. The Advisory Board’s two dozen members are widely considered the leading experts on whisky in the world.
He has spoken at a variety of professional venues, including the Institute of Strategic Studies (London), the NATO Defense College (Rome), the World Future Society and a large number of universities, military and other organizations on a variety of topics dealing with military and current affairs. He has also appeared as a commentator on a variety of cable news networks.
His recent books include, Scotch Whisky: It’s History, Production and Appreciation, World War I: A Concise History (part of a 12 episode made for television documentary), and Islamic State: Its History, Ideology and Challenge. Additional books on Tequila and on Italian Wines are forthcoming.
He has written, directed, and produced dozens of documentaries on military history and current affairs.
Joe is also an opinion columnist for The Epoch Times where he writes about national security and international affairs, and a contributor to Forbes where he writes about wines, spirits and travel to the dusty corners of the world. In addition to writing, he is also the International Editor for the Irish Whiskey Magazine.
He has spent more than 20 years judging wines and spirits and lecturing and writing about them, and looks forward to many more.
Thomas “Mac” Gregory III
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Thomas “Mac” Gregory III
Corporate Senior Director of Food & Beverage, Pacifica Hotel Company
Mac Gregory is the Corporate Senior Director of Food & Beverage for Pacifica Hotel Company and is a Certified Advanced Sommelier and Master Mixologist as well as a 7-time judge of the SFWSC and 8-year Advisory Council member of the annual VIBE Beverage Conference. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, but raised on the West Coast, Mac earned a degree in business from Arizona State University. He began his career in the hospitality industry with Club Med Hotels & Resorts International and has most recently joined the Southern California based Pacifica Hotels after serving as CEO for Saint Marc Holdings in Okayama, Japan. Prior to that, he held executive food and beverage roles with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, The 5-Star Phoenician Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts Global and numerous luxury, and lifestyle properties around the world. Known as an executive senior leader, speaker, educator, columnist, consultant, competition judge and top executive in the international food and beverage community, Gregory enjoys collecting wine and spirits in his personal time and has been the moderator of more than 350 winemaker specialty dinners and the host for numerous food and beverage events.
Zach Johnston
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Zach Johnston
Writer, UPROXX
Before getting into a writing career online, Zach spent years working around the globe as both a chef and a high-end bartender. Highlights include living with chefs in Thailand, cutting his teeth as a pizzaiolo in a Neapolitan pizzeria in Washington, DC, popping up with Indigenous American food tasting menus in Berlin, and opening oysters from the Pacific to the streets of Europe. He's also worked in organic wine bars in Prague, tended bar on Rhodes, and refined his cocktail skills at award-winning and iconic bars in Berlin. Zach parlayed those skills into writing for UPROXX where his burger recipes get hundreds of thousands of views and his whiskey tasting notes are some of the most read in the industry. Oh, and he still knows how to make a mean cocktail.
Chris Adams
While Chris Adams can currently be found jetting around the world creating acclaimed bar programs
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Chris Adams
Managing Partner, Ellis Adams Group
While Chris Adams can currently be found jetting around the world creating acclaimed bar programs for everyone from Steve Wynn to Marriott, he did not always know his career would flourish in the hospitality industry. Born in Florida but splitting time in California, Adams grew up in the entertainment industry. It was a summer job, when he found a part-time position at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes as a pool attendant and was introduced to the hospitality industry for the first time. Chris was able to climb the ladder in a short amount of time and walked away from the entertainment industry all together to pursue this new found passion.
After leaving The Ritz-Carlton, he went on to open concepts in downtown Orlando, including assisting with the development of the revitalization of Church Street Station. From there, Chris was asked to support the opening of the Italian steakhouse Davio's in Atlanta before being tapped to open the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. After six months in Vegas, he moved back to Los Angeles and founded Ellis Adams Group.
EAG is now an international consulting firm that works in the areas of luxury branding for the hospitality, entertainment, and fashion/art industries. The group focuses on all aspects of business, including building brands, concept and design development, training and management, revenue generation and profit margin increase, and social media and digital presence. EAG's current project list is dynamic and constantly growing. With over 100 active projects underway, some standouts include the partnership with ArcCardinal and its launch of Arcoroc by Chris Adams, Mixology by Forbes Industries with Chris Adams, YNK, an intimate beverage experience tucked inside the Irvine Marriott, and Flora, a new rooftop concept in El Segundo, CA. Additionally, Chris plays a key role in the continued evolution of Marriott's beverage program, by assisting in developing, teaching the trainings, opening of new hotels, and renovation projects.
Colin Asare-Appiah
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Colin Asare-Appiah
Senior Portfolio Ambassador, Bacardi
Stephen Beal
Steve Beal of San Francisco is a globally recognized distilled spirits consultant who works in
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Stephen Beal
Spirits Educator & Consultant, Keeper of the Quaich
Steve Beal of San Francisco is a globally recognized distilled spirits consultant who works in the United Kingdom, South Africa, India, Australia and Asia as well as North America. Prior to that he was the senior brand educator for the whisky portfolio of Diageo North America where his work for a prominent Bourbon brand as Senior Master of Whisk(e)y earned him a place in the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame. He was inducted along with Bill Samuels, Jr., of Makers Mark and Al Young of Four Roses in 2015.
He has served for over 20 years as an international spirits judge and at every San Francisco World Spirits Competition since its beginning. He has been a broadcast presenter, spirits journalist and examiner for the Master Mixologist Masters Program with the United States Bartenders Guild, a program which he helped found and which earned him the lifetime achievement award from the United StatesBG and a United StatesBG Master Mixologist pin. In 2010, the Scotch Whisky industry inducted him as a life member of the Keepers of the Quaich. He is also a trained chef and has lectured at prominent culinary schools. He has degrees from the University of Arizona and Oxford. He is an ordained Episcopal priest and volunteers at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill.
SrWhiskyMaster.com
Mark Bowery
In addition to designing and maintaining award-winning beverage programs for fine restaurants, Mark Bowery is
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Mark Bowery
Wine & Spirits Consultant, Mark Bowery Consulting
In addition to designing and maintaining award-winning beverage programs for fine restaurants, Mark Bowery is a freelance writer, acquires rare spirits for collectors, appraises private cellars, and anchors a four-person panel that makes selections for three of the country's most respected wine clubs. Armed with 35 years of tasting experience, he is also a judge at several international wine and spirits competitions, and considered an authority on single malt whisky (although his true love is tequila). He served as wine and spirits editor for Millionaire Magazine and as a faculty member at the Brown-Forman Center for Global Wine Education. While stationed in California’s coastal village of Mendocino, Bowery works with clients in the San Francisco Bay Area each week and tirelessly travels the world in search of the finest alcoholic beverages.
Martin Cate
Martin Cate is a rum and exotic cocktail expert and the owner and creator of
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Martin Cate
Owner, Smuggler's Cove San Francisco Author, "Smuggler’s Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of Tiki"
Martin Cate is a rum and exotic cocktail expert and the owner and creator of Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco. Smuggler’s Cove features the largest rum selection in the United States and features cocktails from over three centuries of rum history. The Sunday Times of London called Smuggler’s Cove one of the 50 Greatest Bars on Earth. In a global industry survey for Drinks International Magazine, Smuggler’s Cove has been featured as one of the Top 50 Bars in the World for six consecutive years. Smuggler's Cove was named Best American Cocktail Bar 2016 at the 10th Annual Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, one of the Top Ten Food & Beverage concepts of the last 25 years by Cheers Magazine, and one of the 13 Most Influential Bars of the 21st Century by Liquor.com. Smuggler’s Cove was declared one of America’s Best Bars by Playboy Magazine and was named to Esquire’s Best Bars in America Hall of Fame. Martin is a passionate rum collector who conducts educational seminars and officiates rum & cocktail competitions across the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. He is also the co-owner of Whitechapel in San Francisco, Hale Pele in Portland, False Idol in San Diego, and Max’s in Grand Rapids, MI. Martin and Rebecca Cate's book “Smuggler’s Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of Tiki” was published by Ten Speed Press in June of 2016 and won the 2017 James Beard Award for Best Beverage Book and the 2017 Spirited Award for Best Cocktail Book.
Jerry Cooper
Originally from Los Angeles, Jerry has worked the last 30 years in San Francisco as
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Jerry Cooper
President, JCooper Consulting
Originally from Los Angeles, Jerry has worked the last 35 years in San Francisco as a mixologist, restaurant wine director, retail sales manager, and wine and spirits specialist. He currently works as a consultant with the Kimpton Group, several independent restaurants and bars and clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area. As owner / operator of Swirl on Castro, Jerry created one of San Francisco’s premier wine and spirits destinations, and his staff continues the tradition of artisan spirits, bitters, elixirs, and mixology accessories. Spending 15 years behind the bar set the stage for what became a broad and successful career.
Cooper is deeply involved in the craft spirit community, both as a retailer and as a consultant on craft product launches, and he continues his work as a respected judge on wine and spirits panels in the industry. Having recently launched his consulting business, Jerry continues his work with global wine and spirit companies.
Jcooperwine.com
Tony Devencenzi
Tony Devencenzi is a bartender at Bourbon & Branch and the Educational Coordinator for Future
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Tony Devencenzi
Northern California Steward, WhistlePig Rye Whiskey
Tony Devencenzi is a bartender at Bourbon & Branch and the Educational Coordinator for Future Bars in San Francisco. Through them he runs the Beverage Academy program, which provides cocktail and spirits–focused seminars for the public and industry professionals. He has designed and taught their Cocktails 101-103 courses; and their Scotch, American Whiskey, Gin, and Agave Spirits seminars. As the Education Coordinator, he organizes training courses for staff at their multiple bars, and has created a knowledge database for their spirits education. In January of 2013, Tony became the chapter President of the Northern California Chapter of the United StatesBG which currently has over 300 active members. He has professionally bartended in the San Francisco Bay Area for over nine years, and before coming to Bourbon and Branch you may have seen him behind the stick at Enrico's Sidewalk Cafe, Levende East, Jones, or Michael Mina's Clockbar. Expect to see him soon featured in an upcoming episode of the TV show, "Bar Rescue." www.bourbonandbranch.com www.beverageacademy.com
H. Joseph Ehrmann
H. has cooked, served, managed, and bartended in over 20 bars and restaurants around the
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H. Joseph Ehrmann
Proprietor, Elixir, Cocktail Ambassadors LLC
H. has cooked, served, managed, and bartended in over 20 bars and restaurants around the country over the last 27 years. Since 2003, he has owned and operated one of the oldest saloons in San Francisco, Elixir, which has won numerous accolades including multiple "Best Bars in America" listings in national media outlets. His personal accolades include 2009 Rising Star and 2010 Bartender of the Year Awards. H’s consultancy business, Cocktail Ambassadors, serves clients in product and brand development, event execution and both trade and consumer education. Some other roles include Brand Ambassador for Square One Organic Spirits, National Ambassador of The United States Bartenders Guild, and Co-Founder of San Francisco Cocktail Week, The Boothby Center for the Beverage Arts, and The Bartender Relief Fund. www.ElixirSF.com / www.CocktailAmbassadors.com
Scott Ellis
Scott has been in the hospitality industry for over 20 years in a wide variety
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Scott Ellis
Western Regional Manager, Compass Box Whiskey Co.
Scott has been in the hospitality industry for over 20 years in a wide variety of roles, starting out in London as an Asst. Bar Manager after quitting a 3-week career in Finance. Since then, Scott has mostly worked in the U.S gaining extensive experience in bars and restaurants before moving to the distribution side of the industry in 2010 after moving to San Francisco. Soon after, Scott was promoted to be the face of the distributor’s spirits portfolio with a focus on category and brand education. In 2016 Scott proudly joined Compass Box Whisky Co. as their Western Regional Manager and now spends his time educating consumers and trade about the joys of a well-made Scotch whisky. Scott holds the Level 3 certification from WSET, has been a judge at San Francisco World Spirits Competition since 2016 and maintains a lifelong passion for the joys and history of a well-made drink.
Ziggy Eschliman
Ziggy Eschliman is among America’s most enthusiastic, authoritative, and entertaining libation experts. For over 20
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Ziggy Eschliman
The Wine Gal & Countess of Cocktails, Wine Country Radio
Ziggy Eschliman is among America's most enthusiastic, authoritative, and entertaining libation experts. For over 20 years, Ziggy has set and reported trends in all things to imbibe. Her award-winning radio shows are broadcast throughout wine country and stream live on the Internet. She is a dynamic guest speaker and presenter and her credits include American Women in Radio and Television, Gourmet Magazine's “Gourmet Wine Cellar," MusExpo, New Orleans Wine and Food Experience, YWCA, Cinema Epicuria Film Festival, and Santa Rosa Junior College. She also leads seminars on vodka, tequila, rum, and a variety of spirits. As a wine and spirits educator, Ziggy has developed programs for a diverse range of organizations including Gourmet magazine, Benziger Family, Legrande Hospitality, Relish Culinary School, Beverage Builders, IBM, PepsiCo, KFC Inc., Meritage Alliance, So Co Farm Bureau, Showcase of Wine & Food, and Sinclair Communications. www.ziggythewinegal.com
Jeff Feist
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Jeff Feist
Category Lead Spirits & More, BevMo
Josh Gelfand
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Josh Gelfand
Whisk(e)y Warden & Spirit Guide, Wingtip
Kyle McHugh
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Kyle McHugh
Director of Advocacy, Samson & Surrey / President, USBG National Charity Foundation
Kyle McHugh started his career bartending in Washington, DC in 1998. Over the next decade, he worked nearly every position possible in bars and restaurants across the country, including Washington, Los Angeles, and Chicago. In 2007, Kyle formed his beverage consulting, education & events company The Boozehound, and from 2008 - 2010, he opened & operated the retail drink boutique Drinks Over Dearborn. During this time, he also served as a professor of wine & beverage at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Chicago, an instructor for Master Mixologist Bridget Albert’s Academy of Spirits & Fine Service, as well as for the Advanced Mixology & Culinary Academy.
Today, Kyle is the Director of Brand Advocacy for the craft spirits collective Samson & Surrey, where he oversees all aspects of education and ambassadorship for FEW Spirits, Bluecoat Gin, Brenne Single Malt, Widow Jane, Mezcal Vago, and Tequila Ocho. From 2011-2016, Kyle worked as a Diageo Master of Whisky. In 2015, Kyle earned his General Certificate in Distillation from the Institute of Brewing & Distilling based in London, England.
Kyle is a Certified Spirits Professional with the U.S. Bartender's Guild (USBG), where he also served as National President (2018-2020) and Chairman of the Board. He is a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Cicerone Certified Beer Seller, a trained BJCP beer judge, and an Executive Bourbon Steward, to name a handful of his certifications. Kyle is also a graduate of the IBA Bartender Training Center Europe (Tallinn, Estonia 2016) and the BAR 5-Day program (New York, NY 2017). In 2021, Kyle joined the Board of Directors of the USBG National Charity Foundation, and was elected President in 2022.
Virginia Miller
Since founding The Perfect Spot in 2007, Virginia Miller is the West North America Chair
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Virginia Miller
Food & Drinker Writer/Editor
Founding The Perfect Spot in 2007 sharing top recommends and places globally in food and drink, Virginia Miller is also the W. North America Academy Chair for World's 50 Best Restaurants, U.S. Editor at The Local Tongue,columnist and critic at The Bold Italic, columnist at Distiller Magazine, and has been full time Zagat SF editor, SF Guardian restaurant critic and Table8 National Editor/VP of Content.
Published in over 60 international publications, she covers global dining, travel, spirits, cocktails and bars in columns and articles, currently and historically, at Gin Magazine, Liquor.com, Time Out, Distiller Magazine, Where Traveler, Google’s Touringbird, Food Republic, Thrillist and Alaska Airlines, to name a few. She judges in many dining, food, spirits, cocktails, drink and bars competitions and international awards panels in (including The World’s 50 Best, SF World Spirits, ADI Craft Distilling, Tales of the Cocktail, Good Food Awards, IWSC in London, Whiskies of the World, etc.) and has visited over 12,000 restaurants and even more bars around the world.
Fred Minnick
With appearances on Top Chef and the Amazon Prime host of Bourbon Up, Wall Street
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Fred Minnick
Wall Street Journal-Bestselling Author and World’s Foremost Bourbon Authority
Upon returning home from the Iraq War in 2005, Fred Minnick has lived one of the most extraordinary lives, becoming the world’s leading whiskey critic and an iconic storyteller who practices the lost art of no bullshit interviewing with flares of dry wit and sardonic humor. Billionaires, politicians, celebrities and regular folk fly into Louisville, KY., Fred’s home, just to have drinks with the man who is considered the “Face of Bourbon.” Drinking with Fred, even on streaming media, is an experience you never forget.
Minnick has assessed contestant drinks on Bravo's "Top Chef," and appeared on Discovery's "Moonshiners," CNBC, CBS This Morning, NPR and more. He is the host of PodcastOne’s Hermes Creative Awards Platinum winning podcast The Fred Minnick Show, as well as the Bourbon Pursuit Podcast and DASH Radio's "Minnick Minute.” Minnick is also the author of Wall Street Journal best-seller Bourbon Curious, ForeWord INDIES' Gold Medal winner Whiskey Women, which was options by Paramour Films, and Spirited Awards' World's Best Spirits Book winner Bourbon.
www.fredminnick.com
Ivy Mix
Ivy Mix is Co-Owner and Head Bartender of Leyenda, her pan-Latin cocktail bar in Carroll
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Ivy Mix
Head Bartender & Co-Owner, Leyenda, Founder, Speed Rack
Ivy Mix is Co-Owner and Head Bartender of Leyenda, her pan-Latin cocktail bar in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, backed by her long-time mentor, Julie Reiner. Leyenda pays tribute to her years of living and bartending in Guatemala, as well as extensive travels throughout all of Latin America. Leyenda has won many awards and has been recognized as being one of the best bars in America by Eater, GQ, Thrillist and others.
With a long history of working in bars throughout the Americas, Ivy has been recognized by many within the culinary and cocktail industry as being one of the best bartenders in the country and in 2015 was named American Bartender of the Year at Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards and in 2016 was named Mixologist of the Year by Wine Enthusiast.
Ivy first served a drink when she traveled to Guatemala at 19 years old when studying at Bennington College. She lived and worked there for years, mixing in travels to Mexico to smuggle special mezcales and tequilas over the border. Giving her a unique and extensive knowledge base into the agave spirits field. In 2009, she started cocktail waitressing at Mayahuel and it was here where with craft cocktails that she saw how she could bring together her love for bartending and spirits with her artistic background. It was within a year that she joined cocktail historian and bar owner St. John Frizell at Fort Defiance. From there, she worked and helped open several bars throughout Brooklyn. In 2010, Ivy caught Julie Reiner’s eye and was hired to be on the opening staff of Lani Kai in Manhattan. It was not long until she was brought back to her borough of choice to work at Reiner’s flagship world-renown bar the Clover Club. Four years later, she and Reiner opened up Leyenda across the street in May of 2015.
Additionally, Ivy has inspired the nation to rethink women’s role behind the bar. She conceptualized and later, with Lynnette Marrero, co-founded Speed Rack - a national cocktail competition that creates a platform for female bartenders while simultaneously raising money for breast cancer related charities. Speed Rack started in 2011 and has taken the world by storm, changing the way people view women’s role in cocktails. So far they have raised over $800,000 for charity.
Chief Judge
Jeffrey Morgenthaler
Jeffrey Morgenthaler has been an award-winning bartender since 1996. He currently manages the James Beard
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Chief Judge
Jeffrey Morgenthaler
Bar Manager, Clyde Common, Founder, RepealDay.org
Jeffrey Morgenthaler has been an award-winning bartender since 1996. He currently manages the James Beard Award–nominated bar program at Clyde Common in Portland, Oregon. His recipes and wisdom have appeared in such newspapers as the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal, as well as in Wine Enthusiast, Playboy, Wired, and Imbibe magazines. Forbes Traveler called him one of the "Cocktail Movers and Shakers" of 2007. Playboy named him one of the top ten mixologists in the United States in 2009, and The Tasting Panel acclaimed him as a "New Leader" the same year. In 2011, he was named a "Rising Star Mixologist" by StarChefs. Jeffrey writes about bartending and mixology for several publications and on his website, www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com.
Julie Reiner
Julie Reiner has been elevating the cocktail scene in NYC for over 15 years, most
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Julie Reiner
Co Founder: Clover Club, Leyenda & Mixtress Consulting
Julie Reiner is the co-founder of world-renowned cocktail bars, Clover Club and Leyenda in
Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn and the author of The Craft Cocktail Party: Delicious Drinks for Every
Occasion. Julie has been elevating the cocktail scene in NYC for 25 years starting with her first
bar Flatiron Lounge (2003) followed by The Pegu Club (2005), which she opened with Audrey
Saunders.
Reiner drew much of her inspiration from her upbringing in Hawaii by utilizing the freshest
fruits and premier quality spices & spirits available in her original cocktails. Julie’s award
winning beverage program at Clover Club is highly focused on classics, and furthers her
signature style of superior quality and green market ingredients. In 2015, Julie opened
Leyenda, a pan Latin bar and restaurant with Ivy Mix, a long-time bartender at Clover Club.
Leyenda celebrates the spirits and imbibing traditions from across the Spanish-speaking world
and beyond.
In 2017, Julie and her Clover Club partner, Tom Macy set out to bring to life their dream of
creating bar quality cocktails in a can. From recipe formulation to branding and package design,
they were determined to bring their unique style of cocktail making to the masses. Social Hour
launched in August of 2020 in New York, and has since expanded to New Jersey and Florida.
Their goal is to grow Social Hour into an RTD brand that will redefine how exceptional a premixed
cocktail can be.
Julie’s recipes have been featured in The New York Times, New York Magazine, Food & Wine,
Imbibe, The Wall Street Journal, Esquire, Playboy, Gourmet Magazine, Food Arts, Bon Appetit,
GQ, Fortune, Wine Enthusiast, O Magazine, Crains, Time Out NY and Time Out London, The
London Times & Wine & Spirits. Julie has also been featured on The Today Show, The Food
Network, the Cooking Channel, Martha Stewart Radio, CNBC, LXTV, and the Fine Living network.
In 2011, Julie was honored with a James Beard nomination for spirits professional of the year.
Enrique Sanchez
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Enrique Sanchez
Beverage Director, School Night
Craig Schoettler
As Executive Director of Beverage and Corporate Mixologist at MGM Resorts International, Craig Schoettler uses
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Craig Schoettler
Vice President of Beverage, Tao Group
Toshio Ueno
Certified Master of Sake, Master Sake Sommelier, and Shochu Sommelier. Toshio is the only one
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Toshio Ueno
Vice President & Co-Founder, Sake School of America
Certified Master of Sake and Master Sake Sommelier. Toshio is the creator of Sake School of America and English Shochu Adviser Certificate program, and only one in the world to hold Master of Sake (酒匠), Master Sake Sommelier (日本酒学講師), and WSET Sake Educator diploma.
Born in Japan where his family has grown Japanese wine grape, Koshu, for generations, Toshio grew up helping the business from a young age. Following his college education in the US and employment at an international trading company in Tokyo, Toshio joined Chateraise, a pastry and wine company as Director of Sales. There, he was put in charge of overseeing the personal wine collection of the company’s president, which intrigued him to enter the world of wine stewardship and research. Toshio joined Mutual Trading Company in 2002, where he is Director of Sake Specialist Department in marketing Japanese foods, Sake, and Shochu to the mainstream American trade. With his passion and expertise in Sake, Shochu, and Wine, Toshio aims to further promote Japanese food and Sake cultures to new, international audiences. Since 2010, he has been Vice President & Executive Instructor at Sake School of America. In 2016 he was awarded the industry’s most prestigious title Sake Samurai from Japan Sake & Shochu Makers Association.
And in February 2021, he was appointed as The Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador by Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Dominic Venegas
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Dominic Venegas
Whisk(e)y Specialist, Pernod Ricard
Nat Harry
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Nat Harry
Spirits Specialist and Agave Club Manager, Cask
Nate Ganapathi
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Nate Ganapathi
Founder, CMO at @SingleMaltDaily
Nora Furst
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Nora Furst
Operating Partner West Beverage Consulting
Gary Gruver
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Gary Gruver
Director | Beverage | Global, US and Canada, Marriott International
Gary Gruver is an award-winning mixologist who spent over 20 years in the restaurant and beverage alcohol industry. He is currently serving as the Director of Beverage for Marriott Internationals Global Operations and Americas team, leading beverage programing initiatives for Marriott Internationals 30 brands.
He started his career on the competition circuit, earning titles such as “Most Popular Bartender in the Nation” and “America’s Choice Award” by Gentlemen’s Quarterly (GQ). He is a founding member of the United States Bartender’s Guild (USBG) of Kentucky. Before joining Marriott, he was the Director of Mixology and Spirits Education at Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits of Kentucky, as well as the founder of the Academy of Spirits & Fine Service of Kentucky. Gary also owns a bar in his hometown of Louisville and currently serves as a Spirits Judge for the San Francisco World Spirits Awards.
Eduardo A. Dingler
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Eduardo A. Dingler
Vice President of Wine, Wine Access
Eduardo Dingler was born in Torreón, Mexico he moved to Napa, California in 1999 following his passion for wine where he has worked at some of Napa Valley’s most celebrated restaurants. In 2010 he joined the Morimoto Restaurant Group with the opening of Morimoto Napa. He eventually became the Corporate Beverage Director. During his tenure with Morimoto he built and developed the beverage programs for several Morimoto locations including Mexico City, Maui, Disney Springs and Bangkok. It was then when his love for sake took off and led him on multiple trips to Japan where he became involved with the Japanese Government as Shochu, Sake, Whisky and Craft Beer ambassador.
After his time at Morimoto he started writing for several publications which include an ongoing weekly column at the Napa Valley Register, a stint at Decanter Magazine and others.
He is currently VP of Wine at Wine Access, an online wine platform retailer as well as a continued supporter of Sake and Shochu.
Kim Haasarud
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Kim Haasarud
Founder, Liquid Architecture™
From her humble beginnings as a bartender in the 90’s in New York City to becoming
James-Beard honored mixologist and author, Kim Haasarud has embraced innovation and
hospitality throughout her work on hundreds of projects with clients ranging from hotel
groups, restaurant chains, mixology bars, liquor brands, distributors and other beverage
brands both domestically and internationally.
Kim’s enthusiasm, professionalism, and easy-to-approach style have won her long-lasting
client relationships with groups from drink development to on-site presentations, and
opening bars. This year, she opened Garden Bar PHX and The Cocktail Collaborative (a
hospitality workspace) in downtown Phoenix in addition to developing virtual tasting
experiences for corporate groups.
While her volunteer service started years ago, during the pandemic Kim helped raised
and distribute over $US 10 Million to bartenders in the US in need through her Board of
Directors role with the USBG National Charity Foundation and has performed weekly IG
Live updates on behalf of the charity for over year. Her work continues as a Foundation
Board member and President of the United States Bartenders Guild.
Kim is the author of the best-selling “101... “ cocktail series with Houghton Mifflin
Harcourt (101 Margaritas, 101 Martinis, 101 Sangrias & Pitcher Drinks, 101 Champagne
Cocktails, 101 Blended Drinks, 101 Mojitos and other Muddled Drinks 101 Tropical Drinks
and 101 Shots).
Kim has been a featured presenter at Epcot’s “Food & Wine,” a judge on Iron Chef
America, USBG World Class (Diageo), Bombay Sapphire’s Most Imaginative Bartender,
San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and LA Spirits Competition. She has done guest
appearances on the “The Today Show,” CBS’ “Early Morning Show,” “Fox & Friends Live”,
“Sonoran Living” and “Your Life A to Z”. She has been featured on various radio programs
including “Good Food” with Evan Kleiman, Martha Stewart’s “Everyday Food”, “Cosmo
Radio” and ABC & CNN Radio syndicate. Her work has also been seen in dozens of print
and social media outlets including the NY Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Imbibe, Saveur
to name a few.
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