John Allison, National BJCP Judge

With over 11 years of judging experience, John Allison is a National BJCP judge with specialized certifications in both mead and cider. He brings a comprehensive understanding of sensory evaluation to the judging table, cultivated through extensive participation in both national and international competitions. This includes evaluating a wide range of commercial and non-commercial entries, demonstrating a keen eye for quality across diverse styles. His expertise is further highlighted by Best of Show judging experience at prestigious events such as the Mazer Cup International 2023 and the Mead Madness Cup 2023. Beyond individual judging, he actively contributes to the judging community as the co-judge coordinator for both the Indiana Brewer’s Cup and the first round of the National Homebrew Competition. He has also served as the World Beer Cup 2025 Volunteer Coordinator, playing a pivotal role in organizing and facilitating one of the world’s most prominent brewing competitions.

Kyle Alvey, Chief Operations Officer, Midwest Barrel Company

As the Chief Operations Officer at Midwest Barrel Company, Kyle Alvey is responsible for sourcing, purchasing, and managing thousands of barrels annually from various distilleries and wineries. He also oversees the daily operations of the company, including logistics, inventory, quality control, customer service, and safety. Kyle has over 11 years of experience in the beverage industry, working with leading brands such as Campari Group and Sazerac Company. He has a proven track record of improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing customer satisfaction. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of the Cumberlands. 

Josh Baker, National Sales Manager, MGP Ingredients

Josh Baker is the National Sales Manager at MGP Ingredients, a leading supplier of premium distilled spirits. With extensive experience in the wine and spirits industry over the past 12 years, Josh specializes in bulk sales and distilling solutions, driving growth and innovation in the sector.

Will Breeden, Co-owner, Indiana Small Batch

Will Breeden’s passion for whiskey knows no bounds. As a co-owner of Indiana Small Batch, a spirits distributor specializing in craft whiskeys and spirits across the state, he is dedicated to procuring new and exciting offerings for their portfolio while nurturing relationships with current producers and customers. As a Master of Bourbon through the Council of Whiskey Masters (currently one of 11 in the world), a Certified Bourbon Professional, a Certified Whiskey Specialist, and an Executive Bourbon Steward, Will’s expertise extends far beyond mere appreciation. Will currently serves as a judge for The American Council of Sprits Tasters. He is also a co-host of the popular Final Third Whiskey and Cigar podcast, a board member of the Indiana Bourbon Club, and a founding member of Fred Minnick’s Club Marzipan. With an unparalleled passion for whiskey and cigars, Will is poised to make his mark on the industry. When he’s not immersed in the world of fine spirits, Will applies his skills as a diagnostic and nuclear medicine physicist, certified through the American Board of Radiology, for hospitals and medical imaging facilities across the country.

Andy Cartin, Founding Partner, BCB3

Andy Cartin is a founding partner of BCB3 and a native of Hartford, Connecticut. In 2005, he joined BiNA Family Hospitality to spearhead the opening of Bin 26 enoteca. As a partner since 2008, Andy has been instrumental in launching new ventures, including jm Curley, Bogie’s Place and The Wig Shop. With a career spanning over two decades, he has honed his expertise in wine, food, and hotel management. 

Andy’s diverse background in hospitality includes roles at esteemed establishments such as The Atlantic Hotel & Spa in Florida and the Lenox Hotel in Boston, where he served as the Food & Beverage Manager overseeing four outlets. He has also excelled as a wine merchant at West Side Wines in Connecticut before transitioning to restaurant operations in Boston as a General Manager for The Aquitaine Group. 

Andy’s talent for curating exceptional wine lists has garnered national acclaim, with recognition from renowned publications like Food & Wine and Boston Magazine. Beyond his professional pursuits, Andy’s passion for art was cultivated by his father and the Cartin Collection.

Andy and his cats live in Boston.

Sandy Cockerham, Grand Master Beer Judge

A native of Indiana, Sandy Cockerham has been judging alcoholic beverages since 2007, starting with beer, adding mead and cider within a few years, and she started judging spirits about five years ago. Trained in sensory evaluation through the Beer Judge Certification Program, she judges in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. She is currently a Grand Master Beer Judge with endorsements in Mead and Cider and judges more than 24 competitions per year. Her international travels allow her to explore different distilled spirits in Mexico and South America.

David Dafoe, Founder & CEO of Flavorman and Moonshine University

David Dafoe is the Founder & CEO of Flavorman and Moonshine University, which includes The Stave & Thief Society. He graduated with a degree in Zoology from Miami University of Ohio, where he continues to serve on the Miami University Foundation and other advisory boards. He has an MBA degree from Bellarmine University. David started his career as a Lab Assistant at Fries & Fries (now Givauden) after discovering in the interview that he had an acute tasting ability. Using his skills to create the Original California Cooler brand, he was quickly recruited by Brown-Forman where he created iconic products like Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails and Lynchburg Lemonade. In 1992, David started his own custom beverage development company called Pro-Liquitech (now known as Flavorman) with Chiquita Brands as his first client. Flavorman has grown this Beverage Campus into an $80+ million-dollar enterprise. In 2010, David recognized that there was no single location where someone could receive formalized training in distilling, so he launched Moonshine University in 2012 to provide hands-on, standardized education for the industry. In 2014, Moonshine University founded the Stave & Thief Society upon request of the Mayor of Louisville, where the promotion and preservation of bourbon knowledge and culture remains a key initiative. The program is the first Bourbon Certification to be recognized by the industry and only to be named “The Kentucky Distillers’ Association’s Official Bourbon Education Course.” Moonshine University has had over 14,000 attendees from all 50 U.S. states, three U.S. territories and 54 countries.

Martin C. Duffy, Brand Representative/Whisk(e)y Educator, Glencairn Crystal

Martin C. Duffy—Glencairn Crystal Brand Representative/Whisk(e)y Educator—is an internationally known spirits educator and enthusiast. His appreciation of adult libations started during his early years as a bartender and continues on to this very day. A stellar presenter on the finer qualities of spirits (ham always goes well with a good whiskey), he has studied the finer art of distilling with some of  the most accomplished distillers, blenders and craftsmen in Scotland, Ireland, France, Holland, Canada, and the United States. For over 20 years, he has preached the gospel according to spiritus frumenti to well over 100,000 people throughout the world.

Tom Fischer, Founder of BourbonBlog.com

Jason Griffin, Trade Development Manager, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits

Chase Henry, Master of Bourbon and Master of Whiskey

Maggie Kimberl, American Whiskey Magazine

Maggie Kimberl is the Content Editor of American Whiskey Magazine and the Co-Chair of the World Whiskies Awards. She is a freelance spirits journalist focusing on whiskey culture in the United States, though she considers herself to be “geographically blessed” to live in the epicenter of the bourbon world, Louisville, Kentucky. When she’s not covering the bourbon beat you can find her browsing through vintage vinyl with her kids or tending to her homegrown tomatoes.

Amy Lewis Koch, Distiller, George Washington’s Distillery and Gristmill

Amy is an experienced whiskey judge with palate expertise in rye, bourbon, single malts, and unaged spirits. As a key member of the distilling team at George Washington’s Distillery and Gristmill, she plays a vital role in crafting spirits, overseeing fermentation for their American whiskeys, including rye and other spirits. She also assists in the monitoring and selection of their aged whiskies through meticulous organoleptic analysis. With a deep appreciation for tradition, deep scientific knowledge, and a nose for quality, Amy brings both technical and sensory expertise to the judging panel.

Robert R. Mohr, Wine and Spirits Educator

Robert R. Mohr is a distinguished figure in the realms of finance and the world of wines and spirits. With roots in St. Louis and a rich cultural heritage from South Africa, Robert has made Louisville, Kentucky, his home. His journey is marked by a deep passion for the intricate layers of aroma and flavor in spirits and wines, coupled with a robust career in financial leadership. He is the founder and leader of CFO Express International, the managing director and dean of students for the School of Wine and Spirits, and an instructor for Moonshine University.

Wendy Peveich, Founder, 51 & Proof Consulting

Wendy Peveich is the founder of 51 & Proof Consulting. As the former National Brand Ambassador of Penelope Bourbon, Wendy’s journey and lens into the spirits industry was shaped through grit, authenticity, lots of faith, and a newfound love affair for the craft distilling world. Through building and scaling a brand unconventionally, her extensive palate and blending traits have rounded out her appreciation and commitment to the American craft spirits arena.

Robin Robinson, Author, Educator, and Spirits Consultant

Robin Robinson is a veteran of the whiskey and spirits industry and occupies various roles within it. He is a sales and marketing consultant to nascent brands looking to navigate the three-tier system. He conducts sales training for all three tiers, from suppliers to retailers, on how to best sell their products in a challenging marketplace. He also constructs the brand narrative with a methodology that ties in the brand’s ethos with its endurance in the marketplace. The author of two books on whiskey, he lectures frequently at industry conferences and is a judge on multiple tasting panels.  His NYC-based class, “Whiskey Smackdown,” is the longest running whiskey class in the U.S., now in its 16th year.

Jeff Schwartz, Whiskeyfellow, Whiskey Reviewer, and Educator

Known throughout the distilling universe as Whiskeyfellow, Jeff Schwartz is passionate about whiskey and writing. As a Kentucky Colonel, a Certified Bourbon Steward, a member of the charity-focused Bourbon Mafia, and occasional co-host of the nationally-awarded Sips, Suds, & Smokes podcast, Jeff loves spreading the whiskey gospel by penning reviews and educational articles as well as hosting whiskey workshops. He and his wife, Michelle, live in Marshall, Wisconsin.

Margarita Scouten, Executive Bourbon Steward

Margarita Scouten is an experienced whiskey enthusiast and Executive Bourbon Steward with a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship behind fine whiskies. With over a decade of tasting experience, she is known for her refined palate and thoughtful evaluations. Margarita was recently named an alternate judge for the prestigious ASCOT Awards and is a member of several key whiskey communities, including Fred Minnick’s Club Marzipan, the Bourbon Women Association, and the BIG Bourbon Club. As part of her involvement with BIG Bourbon, she co-hosts a virtual bourbon call focused on the club’s barrel picks and tasting discussions. When she’s not focused on tasting notes, Margarita enjoys capturing the beauty of West Texas wildlife and landscapes through photography on a 60,000-acre cattle ranch—often with a glass of bourbon in hand.

Bethne Stewart, Bartender and Master of Bourbon

Bethne Stewart is a bartender, Master of Bourbon and Tequila Sommelier from Brooklyn, New York. With a deep passion for spirits and cocktails, she has studied sake, tequila, and wine while working alongside some of the industry’s most accomplished professionals. Beth enjoys documenting her travels through her writing and social media.

Heather Wibbels, Mixologist and Whiskey Educator

Heather Wibbels is an award-winning mixologist, whiskey educator, and Executive Bourbon Steward based in Louisville. She’s judged many competitions, including the ASCOT Awards, and is the author of “Bourbon Is My Comfort Food.” A former Board Chair of Bourbon Women, Heather focuses on making whiskey more approachable through cocktails and sensory education. Her work has appeared in Forbes, Bourbon+, Drinkhacker and more. Find her at cocktailcontessa.com and @cocktail_contessa on Instagram.