Liquor & Cocktail Judges | Ultimate Spirits Challenge

F. Paul Pacult

Chairman of Judging. Author, Journalist and Educator

Called “America’s foremost spirits authority” by Forbes.com...

Jacques Bezuidenhout

Consultant, Buyer and Educator

Jacques began his career as a bartender 16 years ago, working…

Tad Carducci

Educator, Author and Consultant

Tad Carducci is a lifelong bartender, award-winning mixologist and…

James Conley

Buyer, Sommelier

Brooklyn native James Conley is proud to call Keens Steakhouse his professional home. Since 1999, as Service Director…

Tim Cooper

Consultant & Beverage Director

Tim is a New York City hospitality and spirits industry professional...

Dale Degroff

Author, Educator, Journalist

Master Mixologist Dale DeGroff, aka King Cocktail, developed his…

Meaghan Dorman

Bar Director

Meaghan Dorman is currently the Bar Director of New York City’s...

Chelsea DeMark

Bartender and Bar Manager

Chelsea DeMark’s career in spirits and libations started…

Elayne Duff

Consultant and Educator

Elayne Duff is an accomplished professional with more than…

Tyler Hudgens

Spirits Consultant

Before joining Liquid Productions, Tyler ran a variety of beverage...

Justin Lavenue

Bar Owner, Bartender, Consultant, Buyer

Justin Lavenue got his start in the restaurant business in 2009…

Don Lee

Buyer, Consultant.

Don Lee is a Southern California expatriate now residing in New…

Ms Franky Marshall

Franky is a hospitality industry veteran...

Clay Risen

Spirits Writer and Editor

Clay Risen is an editor at The New York Times, where he writes…

Tess Rose

Educator, journalist

Tess has been a lover of food and drink ever since she was a child…

Francis Schott

Restaurateur, Bar Owner, Buyer, Consultant, Radio Presenter

In 2006, Francis opened Catherine Lombardi, an Italian-American restaurant based on the cooking of business…

Joaquín Simó

Consultant, Buyer, Bartender.

Joaquín Simó has traveled a long way from his native Ecuador in…

USC Judges