2021 Judges
2021 Judges

2024 Judges

We are currently building our judging team.
For 2024, we plan to judge this competition near Denver, CO.
Competition dates: July 13 & 14, 2024

 

2024 Competition Chairs

Christopher J. Davies
C0-Founder, Chairman
Wine Country Network, Inc

Darcy R. Davies
CO-Founder, President
Wine Country Network, Inc

Larry Wilcox
Master Panelist
Certified Spirit Sommelier & Spirits Judge
Topshelf Liquor Consulting, LLC

Past Judges:

Lenny Gotter, Portland, OR
Founder and Former CEO (2008 to 2014) of Eastside Distilling, Portland, Oregon, when the company became the first craft distillery to go public on NASDAQ symbol EAST. Spirits industry consultant and national spirits judge.

Ted (Charles) Palmer, Longmont, CO
Brewmaster, Distiller, and Founder of Multi-Award Winning, Roundhouse Spirits and Vapor Distilling, Boulder, CO. Ted is currently an International Consultant, certified Beer Judge, and Spirits Judge.

Tony Menechella, Frankfort, KY
Certified Specialist of Spirits, President, Central KY Spirits Society, National Spirits Judge, and Speaker.

Larry Wilcox, Arvada, CO
Certified Specialist of Spirits, Sommelier, President of Top Shelf Spirits, Beverage Industry Consultant. Head Judge for the Denver International Spirits Competition.

Jonny Odde, Broomfield, CO
Seasoned Food & Beverage Professional, Founder of the Burns Pub & Restaurant, one of America’s authentic British style pubs, featuring more than 250 whiskeys.
Jonny is a respected spirits expert and judge.

Matthew Wyant, Winter Park, CO
Former distiller at Bouck Brothers Distillery, consulting Brewmaster, and distiller, seasoned spirits judge with past experience judging the Denver International Spirits Competition and the North American Bourbon and Whiskey

John Haven, Colorado Springs, CO
Independent Beverage Professional, Certified Beverage Professional, Connoisseur, Collector, and Consumer of Fine Spirits. Certified Beer Judge and Beer Competition Organizer. John has numerous years of past experience judging the Denver International Spirits Competition and the North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition.

Adam Douglas, Arvada, CO
Partner, President of Catering Division at Peak Beverage, an upscale liquor store and the largest beverage catering company in Colorado. He has worked in the industry for 16 years, holding management positions in restaurants/ bars, spirit and wine distribution, and retail sales. He has served as a lead judge in the Denver International Spirits Competition for 5 years, and as a judge for the North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition.

Special Guest International Judge:
Blair Bowman, Edinburgh, Scotland
Whiskey Columnist for Scottish Field Magazine Whiskey Expert for Scotland Now (Mirror Group) and Unfiltered Magazine (Scotch Malt Whisky Society Magazine)

William Davis, CWE, CSS
Advanced Sommelier, Court of Master Sommeliers
Food & Beverage Industry Professional

Dave Elger
The host of the HotMixology TV Show
Spirits Industry Brand Developer and professional

Kimberly Naslund
Assistant Distiller at Dancing Pines Distillery
Cocktail Judge, Columnist for Microshinner and Distiller Magazines

Jim Burrus
Professional Beverage Judge
Food and Beverage Columnist for YellowScene

Jim Denier
Professional Beverage Judge
Littleton, Colorado

John Allison
Professional Beverage Judge
Boulder, CO

Justin Gillman, CSW, CSS
Manager & National Wine Buyer
Lucky’s Market, Niwot, Colorado

Andrew Burton
Liquor Buyer
Argonaut Wine & Liquor, Denver, Colorado
Seasoned wine and spirits judge

Chris Kirk
Professional brewer and distiller with extensive domestic and international experience.
Past companies included Great Divide, Odyssey Beerwerks, Moffat Station, and
Nils Oscar in Sweden. Currently Assistant Distiller at Mile High Spirits, Denver.

Bryan Dayton
Certified Sommelier, Master Mixologist & Proprietor
OAK at Fourteenth, Boulder, CO & Acorn, Denver, CO

Sam Medley
8th Generation Distiller
Charles Medley Distillery
Owensboro, KY

Allison Anderson
Director Of Distillates
Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder, CO

Nicolas Post
Senior Instructor International Wine and Spirits Guild

Michael Cerretani
General Manager / Beverage Director
Blackbelly Market & Restaurant, Boulder, CO

We are currently seeking judges for the 2024 competition.

For additional details call Christopher Davies at (720) 302-3666 or email: cdavies@winecountrynetwork.com