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 Dutch Courage 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: Dawn Davies, Selfridges drinks buyer; Isabel Graham- Yooll, spirits buyer for Milroy’s of Soho London & Jeroboams; Peter Hallgarten, writer and consultant; Micaela Pallini, director, ILAR; Piet van Leijrnhorst, master distiller, Lucas Bols.

Carsten E. Vlierboom - Rum, Cane Spirits and Cachaça

Carsten has been working within the drinks industry for the last 17 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: Will Lowe, distiller Cambridge distillery, Patrick van Zuidam, Master Distiller; Zuidam distillers; Peter Martin, Europe, Middle East and Africa manager J Wray & Nephew; Dr Kirstie McCallum, global brands ambassador, Burn Stewart: Steve Hoyles, Chivas Brothers’ technical lab and sensory manager.

Neil Mathieson - Brandy, Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados, Grappa and Pisco

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; Simon Palmer. Independent spirits consultant; Olivier Paultes, directeur des distilleries, Hennessy; Patrice Piveteau, deputy managing director, cellarmaster, Cognac Frapin/ Domaine Château de Fontpinot; Pieter de Bod, manager, spirits, KWV, Caroline Snyman, business director spirits, Distell.

Desmond Payne - Gin and Genever

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, Charles Maxwell, Thames Distillers; Lucy Britner, Bars Editor, Drinks International; Bernard Fillers; Filliers Graanstokerij’s; Lesley Gracie new liquid development leader, William Grant & Sons. Patience Gould, gin expert.

Carlos Londono - Tequila & Mezcal

Carlos is the Assistant General Manager/Bar and Events Manager at Café Pacifico,London. He has helped launch numerous tequila brands in the UK during the past 14 years and helped set up the Tequila Embassy at numerous bar shows in London.

Previously Carlos has worked as a Brand Ambassador for Emporia Brands UK,helping with the education of their tequila portfolio. Currently he is one of Muestra Número Ocho Ambassadors and a shareholder of the company.

Last year's judges included: Tim Homewood, Cuervo tequila brand ambassador; Leslie Gracie distiller, William Grant & Sons; Matthias Lataille, Olmeca Altos brand ambassador; Jon Anders Fjelstrud,manager El Camino in Soho, London; Rodrigo Alvarez, Navajo Joe ambassador of tequila.

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; Tadashi Sakuma, chief blender Nikka Whisky; Billy Leighton chief blender Irish Distilers; Gordon Motion master blender, Edrington Group; Angela d’ Orazio, master blender, Mackmyra Svensk Whisky: Caroline Martin master blender, Diageo; Richard Paterson, master blender, Whyte & Mackay; Seiichi Koshimizu, chief blender, Suntory Whisky. Chris Morris, master distiller, Brown – Forman.

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 Alcoholic Distillery Tasting Committee of Kazakhstan; Joanne Moore, master distiller, G&J Greenhall; Halvor Heuch vice president of Spirits, Arcus; France Despert, Spirits Market; Markku Raittinen, Finlandia; Bex Almquist, Absolut Vodka; Lesley Gracie new liquid developmenet leader, William Grant & Sons.

Paul Foulkes-Arellano - Design & Packaging

Paul Foulkes-Arellano has been working in design and innovation for 23 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; Russell Dodd, Publisher of Drinks International.

Nicky Forest - Marketing Awards

Nicky has been in the drinks industry for over 15 years and has been involved in various marketing and PR campaigns for both spirits and wine brands throughout that time. Key campaigns in her career include working with The Famous Grouse, Highland Park and Finlandia Vodka. Her view has always been that the wine industry has a lot to learn from spirits marketing and that some of the strongest brand marketing activity in any sector comes from the spirits sector.

Last year's judges included: Nicky Forrest managing director Phipps PR; Russell Dodd, Publisher of Drinks International. Paul Foulkes-Arellano, Client Services Director at Seymour Powell.