Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/26650
Judges of the 2011 San Francisco World Spirits Competition A Anthony Dias Blue President, Blue Lifestyle; Editor-in-Chief, The Tasting Panel Magazine, Los Angeles Executive Director, San Francisco World Spirits Competition and San Francisco International Wine Competition Welcome Message I am thrilled, as usual, to have the honor of being one of the judges at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the largest and most prestigious spirits judging in North America. I’m especially elated this year, because in addition to our returning veteran judges, our panel includes several important new experts who have distinguished themselves in the spirits industry—some at a sur- prisingly young age—as mixologists, on-premise owners, beverage directors, sales people, writers and editors. I look forward to working alongside these esteemed colleagues in sampling the many fi ne spirits that will be entered. As the Publisher and Executive Editor of THE TASTING PANEL, the offi cial magazine of the Competition, I look forward to publishing the results of this year’s judging in our May issue. I warmly encourage winners—who will receive notice of their medals shortly after the results are tabulated—to contact me personally to explore the many ways in which THE TASTING PANEL can help leverage the prestige that the San Francisco World Spirits Competition confers on your brand. Best of luck to all entrants! We look forward to a long relationship. Tony Abou-Ganim Master Mixologist, The Modern Mixologist, Las Vegas Director of Judging, San Francisco World Spirits Competition Bridget Albert • Mixologist, Southern Wine & Spirits, Chicago Stephen Beal • Master of Whisky, Consultant & Educator, San Francisco Kent Bearden* • Master Mixologist, MGM Grand, Las Vegas Julio Bermejo • Tequila Master/Spirits Buyer, Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant, San Francisco Mark Bowery • Wine & Spirits Consultant, Mark Bowery Consulting, Mendocino Joseph Brooke* • Mixologist, Director of Spirits, The Edison, Los Angeles Derek Brown* • Co-owner/Mixologist, The Passenger and Columbia Room, Washington, D.C. Jerry Cooper • Proprietor, Swirl on Castro, San Francisco Aidan Demarest • Beverage Manager, Spare Room, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Los Angeles H. Joseph Ehrmann* • Proprietor, Elixir, San Francisco Ziggy Eschliman • The Wine Gal and Countess of Cocktails, Wine Country Radio, Santa Rosa Michael Feil • GM/Wine & Spirits Buyer, Westchester Country Club, Rye David Grapshi* • Tequila National Sales Manager, Sazerac/Gemini, Walnut Creek Thomas “Mac” Gregory • Food & Beverage Director, The Phoenician Hotel, Scottsdale Kim Haasarud • Founder, Liquid Architecture, Phoenix Richard Carleton Hacker • Spirits Journalist, Robb Report; The Tasting Panel Magazine, Los Angeles Steven Izzo • Beverage Director, Waterbar, San Francisco Misty Kalkofen* • Mixologist, Drink, Boston Geo≠ Kleinman* • Editor, DrinkSpirits.com, Portland Francesco Lafranconi • Southern Wine & Spirits Natl. Dir. of Mixology and Spirits Education, Las Vegas Drew Levinson* • Beverage Development, Wirtz Beverage Nevada, Las Vegas Jordan Mackay • Wine & Spirits Editor, 7x7 Magazine, San Francisco David Mahoney • Wine & Spirits Writer, Minneapolis Meridith May • Publisher & Executive Editor, The Tasting Panel Magazine, Los Angeles Tim McDonald • President, Wine Spoken Here, Napa Je≠ rery Morgenthaler • Bar Manager/Founder, Clyde Common/ RepealDay.org, Portland Nick Passmore* • Artisanal Editor, Four Seasons Magazine; Wine Columnist, Bloomberg Businessweek, New York City Jim Romdall* • Manager and Mixologist, Vessel, Seattle Meridith May mmay@tastingpanelmag.com 818-990-0350 58 / the tasting panel / march 201 1 Trudy Thomas* • Director of Beverage, JW Marriott Camelback Inn, Scottsdale Kevin M. Vogt, MS • Wine & Spirits Director, Emeril’s Restaurants, Las Vegas *new judge for 2011