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
Executive Director
Anthony Dias Blue
Anthony Dias Blue is the Executive Director and founder of the San Francisco World Spirits
Read More
Executive Director
Anthony Dias Blue
President, Blue Lifestyle Editor-in-Chief, The Tasting Panel Magazine
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 is owner and Editor-in-Chief of the beverage trade publication, The Tasting Panel Magazine, the highest-circulating beverage trade publication in the country. He is also 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.
Chris Adams
While Chris Adams can currently be found jetting around the world creating acclaimed bar programs
Read More
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.
Stephen Beal
Steve Beal of San Francisco is a globally recognized distilled spirits consultant who works in
Read More
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
Read More
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
Read More
Martin Cate
Owner, Smuggler's Cove San Francisco Co-Owner, Whitechapel San Francisco Co-Owner, Hale Pele Portland Co-Owner, False Idol San Diego Partner, Lost Lake Chicago 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 a partner in Lost Lake in Chicago. 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
Read More
Jerry Cooper
Owner, SmartDrink Consulting
Originally from Los Angeles, Jerry has worked the last 30 years in San Francisco as a mixologist, restaurant wine director, retail sales manager, and wine and spirits specialist. Spending 15 years behind the bar set the stage for what became a broad and successful career. He currently works as a consultant with the Kimpton Group, and several independent restaurants, bars and clubs in the Bay Area. As owner/operator of Swirl on Castro, Jerry created one of San Francisco’s premier wine and spirits destinations, and the staff continues the tradition of artisan spirits, bitters, elixirs, and mixology accessories. Cooper continues his involvement 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 local and global wine and spirit companies.
Tony Devencenzi
Tony Devencenzi is a bartender at Bourbon & Branch and the Educational Coordinator for Future
Read More
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
Read More
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
Read More
Scott Ellis
U.S. Western Regional Manager, Compass Box
Scott has been in the hospitality industry for over 20 years in a wide variety of roles, starting out in London as an Assistant Bar Manager after quitting a 3-week career in finance. Since then, Scott has mostly worked in the U.S.A. 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 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
Read More
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
Read More
Jeff Feist
Category Lead Spirits & More, BevMo
Josh Gelfand
Read More
Josh Gelfand
Whisk(e)y Warden & Spirit Guide, Wingtip
Robert Gonzales
Robert Gonzales is the San Francisco Spirits Specialist for Wine Warehouse. He has participated in
Read More
Robert Gonzales
Northern California Market Manager, PKGD Group
Nationally known spirits educator, trainer, consultant, and spirits judge, Robert Gonzales is the San Francisco-based Northern California Market Manager for PKGD Group. Initially a bartender, Robert learned the production and distribution side of the industry while working alongside the top individuals in tequila, whiskey, 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 Diageo, Beam Suntory, and Wine Warehouse.
Virginia Miller
Since founding The Perfect Spot in 2007, Virginia Miller is the West North America Chair
Read More
Virginia Miller
Food & Drinker Writer/Editor
Since founding The Perfect Spot in 2007, Virginia Miller is the West North America Chair for The World's 50 Best, has been Zagat SF editor, SF Guardian restaurant critic and Table8 National Editor/VP of Content. Published in over 60 international publications, she regularly covers dining, restaurants, travel, spirits, cocktails and bars globally at Liquor.com, Bob Cut, American Whiskey Magazine, The Bold Italic, Time Out, Distiller Magazine, Gin Magazine, Where Traveler, Haute Living, Google’s Touringbird, Food Republic, Whisky Magazine, Thrillist, Alaska Airlines, to name a few. She’s visited over 11,000 restaurants and 20,000 bars around the world. She leads drink classes, has judged for many cocktail competitions and is on many international awards panels in dining, spirits, cocktails and bars, including The World’s 50 Best, IWSC (spirits), a lead spirits judge at American Distilling Institute (ADI), Good Food Awards, Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards and more.
Chief Judge
Jeffrey Morgenthaler
Jeffrey Morgenthaler has been an award-winning bartender since 1996. He currently manages the James Beard
Read More
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.
Andrew Pollard
Award Winning Mixologist, Andrew Pollard, is currently the Assistant Director of Beverage Development for Wynn
Read More
Andrew Pollard
Assistant Director Of Beverage Development, Wynn Las Vegas
Award Winning Mixologist, Andrew Pollard, is currently the Assistant Director of Beverage Development for Wynn Resorts, overseeing the cocktail menu and beverage programming for all 27 outlets, including bars, lounges, pools and restaurants.
With over 16 years in the beverage industry, Andrew’s extensive experience has ranged from bartending in Las Vegas’ top nightclubs, consultant, restaurant, bar and hotel openings, brand ambassador, liquor distribution, and held terms as both President and Vice President of the local United StatesBG Chapter.
An educator himself, Pollard is always in the pursuit of learning, a certified specialist in Sherry, Sake, Beer, and Spirits, as a B.A.R. Ready Graduate.
Much of his work has been featured throughout several trade publications, magazines and television, having also been recognized for his efforts to include Best Mixologist In Las Vegas, Best Cocktail Program in Las Vegas, the first recipient of the Tony Abou - Ganim Paragon Award and a multi award winner of several local and national cocktail competitions.
Enrique Sanchez
Read More
Enrique Sanchez
Beverage Director, School Night
Pedro Shanahan
Read More
Pedro Shanahan
Spirit Guide, 213 Hospitality
Max Solano
Max Solano is a primary mixologist for Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada, as well
Read More
Max Solano
Beverage Program Specialist & Spirits Educator, Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada
Max Solano is a primary mixologist for Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada, as well as Head of Whisky Education. Solano began his career in the food and beverage industry at the age of 12. Since then, the industry veteran has become one of Las Vegas’s most exciting, respected, and creative mixologists, as well as a student and teacher of the history and development of spirits and cocktails. Before recently joining Southern Wine & Spirits, Solano was the Head Mixologist for Chef Emeril Lagasse restaurants and Beverage Manager for Lagasse’s Delmonico Steakhouse restaurant in the Venetian® Resort, Hotel & Casino. He began his career with Emeril’s restaurants in March 2006 as a bartender at Emeril’s Tchoup Chop in Orlando. In December 2007, Solano moved to Las Vegas as a beverage manager to help open Lagasse’s Table 10 restaurant in the Shoppes at the Palazzo as the very first mixology-based beverage program in the company. Under his reign, Delmonico Steakhouse has also been named in the Top 10 craft cocktail bars in the U.S. by Gayot three consecutive years. Solano and his creations have been featured in numerous media outlets, including Forbes, United States Today, Whisky Advocate, Shanken News Daily, the New York Times, Saveur, GQ, The Tasting Panel, LA Weekly, Imbibe, Cheers, Vegas Seven Magazine, Today in Las Vegas, Style Magazine, Las Vegas Food & Beverage, Fox News, ABC’s “The Morning Blend,” “The Valley View,” and many more.
Toshio Ueno
Certified Master of Sake, Master Sake Sommelier, and Shochu Sommelier. Toshio is the only one
Read More
Toshio Ueno
Certified Master of Sake, Master Sake Sommelier, and Shochu Sommelier, Mutual Trading Co., Inc.
Certified Master of Sake, Master Sake Sommelier, and Shochu Sommelier. Toshio is the 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 United States 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 Manger of the Business Development Department in marketing Japanese foods, Jizake, and Shochu to the mainstream American trade. With his passion and expertise in Jizake, 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.
Dominic Venegas
Read More
Dominic Venegas
Whisk(e)y Specialist, Pernod Ricard
Nat Harry
Read More
Nat Harry
Spirits Specialist and Agave Club Manager, Cask
Nate Ganapathi
Read More
Nate Ganapathi
Founder, CMO at @SingleMaltDaily
Nora Furst
Read More
Nora Furst
Operating Partner West Beverage Consulting
Gary Gruver
Read More
Gary Gruver
Senior Beverage Manager, Global Operations, Marriott International
As Senior Beverage Buyer, Global Operations, Gary Gruver provides leadership of beverage program development activities for all 30 brands within Marriott International, hands-on engagement in market beverage training program development, focus on beverage innovation/new beverage technologies to enrich brand differentiation and elevate business value, and support for MI HQ and continent-based executive forums, meetings, and events. Gary continues to grow his passion for the beverage industry by utilizing his expertise in creating new and innovative beverage programs. He is an award-winning mixologist who spent over 17 years in the restaurant and beverage alcohol industry. Featured in publications such as Gentlemen’s Quarterly (GQ), Hotels Magazine, and The Tasting Panel. He is a founding member of the United States Bartender’s Guild (United StatesBG) of Kentucky. Before joining Marriott, he was Director of Mixology and Spirits Education at Southern Wine & Spirits. Gary also owns a bar in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.