Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/948966
march 2018 / the tasting panel / 91 Last year's Masters of Moonshine finalists in New Orleans: Vance McCarty, Bar Manager at Maple Hall in Knoxville, TN; Makenzie Oliver, Bar Manager at Parthenon Grille in Murfreesboro, TN; Ian Brooks, Bar Manager at Brick and Bones in Dallas, TX; Karen Puttmann, Bartender at Smoke Justis in Cincinnati, OH; Laura Howard, Bartender at Flight 747 Lounge in Jacksonville, FL; and Jamie Passmore, Bartender at Varnish on King in Perth, Australia. PHOTO: CHRIS GRANGER Starting in mid-March, entrants will be able to submit an application for the brand ambas- sador position. The United States Bartenders' Guild—perhaps the group most qualified to narrow down the applicants—will then pick two semi-finalists each from five regions: the West Coast, the Northeast, the South, the Midwest and the "motherland" of Ole Smoky Moonshine, Tennessee. According to Sheila Rosario, Director of Sponsorship Sales for the USBG, the judges will adhere to impartiality throughout the process. "As a nonprofit, the USBG follows strict nondiscrimination rules while selecting participants for programs in an effort to avoid or mitigate conflict of interest. To make oppor- tunities fair to all members, we implement an anonymous selection process," Rosario says. "We will be looking for characteristics that best match Ole Smoky's values and mission. Family values, tradition, and perseverance are key components that have helped to shape Ole Smoky into the brand it is today. The best candidates for the Master of Moonshine program will be able to show they also embody these characteristics and would be an asset to the Ole Smoky team." After Ole Smoky narrows the field down to five, the new brand ambassadors will embark on a trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, which serves as the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the home of the Ole Smoky Distillery, the most visited facility of its kind in America. "Call it moonshine boot camp meets [Kentucky bartender camp] Camp Runamok—we're throwing them into the trenches," Bruno says with a laugh. "They'll get to make moonshine, hang out with the locals, and learn about the history of Ole Smoky. We're also going to have fun extracurricular activities like fishing, hiking, and four-wheeling." Although the boot camp sounds like a lively introduction to a moonshine enthusiast's dream job, Ole Smoky expects the ambassadors to take their roles seriously. "As brand ambas- sadors, the five finalists have carte blanche with the help of Ole Smoky to create a program that fits their region, whether it's going to parties to represent the brand, training staff, or working with us for development of digital content," Bruno explains. Ole Smoky will continue with this format for future Masters of Moonshine programs, and Bruno hints there might even be an opportunity in the future to expand the search internationally. "Ole Smoky is distributed in 45 countries, and last year we had an Australian semi-finalist participate, so we'd love to work with people around the world," she says. Interested in entering this year's Masters of Moonshine program? Visit olesmoky.com for more details on how to apply.