Ultimate Beverage Challenge — Meet the Judges

F. Paul Pacult judge for spirits judge for cocktails judge for wine

Chairman of Judging. Author, Journalist and Educator.

As America’s Spirits Guru, Paul is publisher/editor of F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal; contributing editor for Beverage Dynamics; and...

Sean Ludford judge for spirits judge for cocktails judge for wine

Co-Chairman of Judging. Journalist and Consultant.

Sean Ludford has been involved in the beverage industry for more than two decades. He has an eclectic resume including stints at restaurants...

Eric Alperin judge for cocktails

Buyer and Bartender.

Eric hails from New York City. Having relocated just three years ago to Los Angeles, he feels...

Michael Apstein judge for wine

Journalist.

Michael Apstein is a columnist and wine reviewer for WineReviewOnLine.com and contributes to the wine section of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Jacques Bezuidenhout judge for spirits judge for cocktails

Consultant and Buyer.

Jacques began his career as a bartender 16 years ago, working in bars and restaurants in South Africa.

Christy Canterbury judge for wine

Master of Wine and Buyer.

Christy Canterbury is a wine writer, buyer and educator who lives between Manhattan and the vineyards of the world, particularly those of Europe...

Tad Carducci judge for spirits judge for cocktails

Buyer and Consultant.

Tad Carducci is a lifelong bartender, award-winning mixologist and general bon vivant, with over twenty-five years experience in the hospitality industry.

Curtis Cheney judge for cocktails

Buyer and Bartender.

Buyer for Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House in Ft. Worth as well as in charge of beverage development for Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group(Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak Housee and Sullivan’s Steakhouse).

James Conley judge for spirits judge for wine

Buyer, Sommelier.

Brooklyn native James Conley is proud to call Keens Steakhouse his professional home.

Dale Degroff judge for spirits judge for cocktails

Author, Educator, Journalist.

Master Mixologist Dale DeGroff, aka King Cocktail, developed his extraordinary techniques and talent tending bar at great establishments...

Fred Dexheimer judge for wine

Master Sommelier and Buyer.

Master Sommelier Fred Dexheimer is the founder of Juiceman Consulting, a company that specializes in wine and cocktail entertainment, beverage list creation, writing and marketing.

Mary Ewing-Mulligan judge for wine

Master of Wine and Educator.

Mary Ewing-Mulligan is a leading wine educator, columnist, author and wine authority. In 1993, she was the first woman in America to become a Master of Wine, a title that represents...

Doug Frost judge for spirits judge for wine

Master Sommelier, Master of Wine, Educator.

Doug Frost is a Kansas City author who writes and lectures about wine, beer and spirits.

Mary Gorman-McAdams judge for wine

Master of Wine.

Passionate about wine, Mary holds the DWS – Diploma in Wine and Spirits from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust in London – a rigorous program...

Ed McCarthy judge for wine

Journalist and Author.

Ed McCarthy is a wine writer, Certified Wine Educator, and wine consultant. He is co-author (with Mary Ewing-Mulligan) of Wine For Dummies, White Wine For Dummies...

John McClement judge for wine

Buyer.

John McClement is Wine and Spirits Director of All Weather Management, a New York based restaurant group that includes Keens Steakhouse, Noho Star, Temple Bar and Elephant and Castle.

Jim Meehan judge for spirits judge for cocktails

Buyer, Bar Owner, Bartender.

Jim Meehan’s career behind the bar spans fifteen years, from Madison, Wisconsin to New York City.

Steven Olson judge for spirits judge for cocktails judge for wine

Educator, Consultant, Journalist.

Steven Olson is dedicated to the education and consultation of degustation for appreciation and celebration.

Julie Reiner judge for spirits

Buyer, Bar Owner, Bartender.

Julie Reiner has been elevating the cocktail scene in NYC for the last decade, most notably with the opening of the Flatiron Lounge (2003)...

Jack Robertiello judge for spirits

Journalist.

Jack Robertiello has worked with or written about beverages and restaurants for most of his adult life.

Patricia Savoie judge for wine

Journalist.

Pat Savoie is a wine and culinary travel writer living in New York City.

She is a frequent contributor to Sommelier Journal magazine, and a regular contributor to Wine Enthusiast magazine since 2003...

Andy Seymour judge for spirits judge for cocktails

Educator, Buyer and Bar Owner.

An accomplished mixologist and educator, Andy is the owner of Liquids Productions, a consulting firm...

Willy Shine judge for spirits judge for cocktails

Consultant, Buyer.

A leading mixologist recognized for his skill and creativity, Willy Shine has been polishing his craft for close to eighteen years.

Joaquín Simó judge for cocktails

Buyer and Bartender.

Joaquín Simó, 34, has traveled a long way from his native Ecuador in his search for the perfect daiquiri...

Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan judge for wine

Master of Wine and Educator.

Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan is the fourth woman in the US to ever achieve the MW title, Master of Wine, the most difficult wine title to achieve in the world.

Marcos Tello judge for spirits

Buyer, Bartender, Consultant.

Marcos Tello is an accomplished bartender who is passionately committed to launching and sustaining a classic "cocktail culture" in Los Angeles.

Tara Q. Thomas judge for wine

Journalist.

Tara Q. Thomas has been a writer and editor for Wine & Spirits for over a decade, where she specializes in wines of the Mediterranean.

David Wondrich, PhD judge for spirits judge for cocktails

Author, Journalist, Educator.

“A living iPod of drink lore and recipes” (the New York Times), or, if you prefer, a “crazy, bearded Civil War general” (Conan O’Brien)...