Patrick van Zuidam - Liqueurs and Specialities

Patrick van Zuidam is Managing director and master distiller at his family owned distillery Zuidam Distillers. He started distilling when he was 12 years old in his father's distillery that he now runs together with his brother. As such he has a broad experience in the distilling and producing of award-winning, ultra-premium spirits and liqueurs for both the European and US markets. Well known brands include Millstone Dutch Single Malt Whisky, Dutch Rye, 100% potstill rye whisky, Zuidam Dry Gin, Zuidam Genever range, Zuidam Liqueur range. He is a judge at numerous international spirits competitions.

His involvement with the ISC started as a judge of liqueurs in 1999 and he has been Chairman of liqueur judges since 2000.

Last year's judges included: Peter Hallgarten specialist blending consultant; Adeline Loizeau cognac quality manager Grand Marnier; Matthijs Jansen senior r&d and qc adviser De Kuyper Royal Distilleries; Gerard Chaussee general manager Pages Vedrenne, Nuits Saint Georges.

Carsten E. Vlierboom - Rum and Other Cane Spirits

Carsten has been working within the drinks industry for the last16 years and is currently Managing Director of E&A Scheer BV in the Netherlands, a dedicated and specialist company dealing wth bulk rum. Carsten is an experienced master rum blender for various applications and holds extensive experience working with Jamaica and other Caribbean Islands. He has recently been appointed Honorary Consul for Jamaica in the Netherlands.

Last year's judges included: Peter Martin, european manager J Wray & Nephew; Carsten Vlierboom managing director E&A Scheer; Kirstie McCallum blender Burn Stewart Distillers; Paul McFadyen brands manager Bibendum Spirits; Patrick Zuidam master distiller Zuidam Distillers.

Neil Mathieson - Brandy, Cognac and Armagnac

Having joined the wine trade at 20, Neil Mathieson has been Managing Director of Eaux de Vie and latterly Marussia Beverages, the Dutch based specialist spirit producer and distributor. His role encompasses distillation, blending and buying for the group's international spirits division with a focus on brandies from France and the rest of the world.

Last year's judges included: Sylvian Delord cellar master Armagnac Delord; Brink Liebenberg group general manager Distell; Simon Palmer cellar master Cognac ABK6; Kobus Gelderblom chief brandy master KWV; Louis Nomdedeu EDV Consultants; Olivier Paultes cellar master Cognac Frapin; Jordi Montserrat Wine & Spirits marketing consultant.

Desmond Payne - Gin

Desmond's gin career began when he joined Seager Evans & Co, the wine merchants and gin distillers, in 1967. In 1969 Desmond moved on to the Plymouth Gin distillery where he worked his way up to distillery manager. After a brief stint in the scotch whisky industry, Desmond joined Beefeater as master distiller in 1995. With a passion for continuing the tradition of excellence that was started by Beefeater founder James Burrough in 1820, Desmond is involved in every aspect of the production process from selecting the juniper berries to discussing the latest cocktails with the new generation of bartenders.

Recent highlights include the creation and introduction of Beefeater super premium gin, Beefeater 24, followed by the limited edition, Summer, Winter and London Market variants.

Last year's judges included: Joanne Moore master distiller G&J Greenall; Desmond Payne master distiller Beefeater Gin; Lesley Gracie new liquid developmenet leader, William Grant & Sons; France Despert senior sales manager spirits market Cargill Starches and Sweetners Europe.

Henry Besant - Tequila

Henry is one of the leading authorities on the subject of agave spirits around the world. He was a co-founder of the award-winning Jaliscan restaurant Green & Red, and is now responsible for the tequila selection at Wahaca restaurants. He has worked in an official capacity for the Camera Nacional de la Industria Tequilera, educating about the tequila category across the UK and overseas.

Over the last decade, Henry has visited over one hundred different tequila & mezcal producers and developed a deep understanding of the art of tequila production. In 2008, Henry was asked to participate in the creation of Altos Tequila working alongside the highly respected distiller Jesus Hernandez in the highlands of Jalisco. He is also the co-author of 'Margarita Rocks', a tequila cocktail book.

Last year's judges included: Jesse Estes Callooh Callay, London; Carlos Londono Roldan bar manager Cafe Pacifico; Neil Lowrey co-founder Barwizards; Lesley Gracie new liquid developmenet leader, William Grant & Sons; Halvor Heuch vice president of spirits, Arcus; Aizhamal Kayupova chairman of the Alchoholic Distillery Tasting Committee of Kazakhstan.

John Ramsay - Whiskies

John was born in 1949 and has worked in the whisky industry from 1966 – 2009. Initially he was a chemist then he trained as a whisky blender, becoming Master Blender for William Lawson Distillers in 1981. He joined Edrington Distillers as Master Blender in 1991 and retired as Master Blender Emeritus in July 2009. He was responsible for Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark blended whisky and blended malt ranges and single malts from Glenrothes, Highland Park and Macallan.

John is currently a judge at the International Wine & Spirit Competition and Chairman of Whisky Judges at The International Spirits Challenge, the two most prestigious whisky judging competitions in the world today. He has been awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards from Whisky Magazine, International Spirits Challenge and Malt Advocate.

Last year's judges included: : David Stewart the balvenie malt master William Grant & Sons; Robert Hicks, scotch whisky consultant; Tetsuji Hisamitsu chief blender Nikka Whisky; Billy Leighton master blender Irish Distilers; Gordon Motion master blender The Edrington Group; Jimmy Russell, master distiller Wild Turkey Bourbon: Caroline Martin master blender Diageo; Richard Paterson master blender Whyte & Mackay; Seiichi Koshimizu chief blender Suntory Whisky.

Ian Wisniewski - Vodka and White Spirits

Ian Wisniewski is a freelance writer and broadcaster specialising in spirits. He has written for various publications and is the author of seven books on spirits, including Classic Vodka, Classic Tequila and Classic Malt Whisky. He is particularly interested in the production process, and visits distilleries on a regular basis. He has been involved in the International Spirits Challenge since 1997 and has been chairman of the white spirits judges for several years.

Last year's judges included: : Aizhamal Kayupova chairman of the Alchoholic Distillery Tasting Committee of Kazakhstan; Alexander Zaytsev chairman International Tasting Contest Prodexpo, Moscow; Alexey Zaytsev director International Tasting Contest, Prodexpo Moscow; Halvor Heuch vice president of Spirits, Arcus; Neil Lowrey co-founder Barwizards; Lesley Gracie new liquid developmenet leader, William Grant & Sons.

Paul Foulkes-Arellano - Design & Packaging / Marketing Awards

Paul Foulkes-Arellano has been working in design and innovation for 22 years, specialising in alcoholic beverages. He is Client Services Director at Seymour Powell, one of the world's leading design and innovation companies.

Last year's judges included: Simon Weston director Bamboo London; Tim Croxson operations director Croxsons UK; Neil Vestrini creative director Cartils.