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WHO WE ARE
We seek to improve the quality of distilled spirits worldwide by promoting distillers making of the finest quality to the bartending community, and by giving participants valuable, unbiased, third-party feedback on the quality and process of their spirits.
ANDREW FAULKNER
Managing Partner
In 14 years with the American Distilling Institute, Drew wore many hats, from curriculum coordinator, managing editor of Distiller magazine to Vice President. As judging director, Drew oversaw growth of entries from 58 spirits in 2009, to more than 1,000 spirits in 2017 while assembling a program of the highest integrity. He is the recipient of ADI's Lifetime Achievement Award for Service to the Distilling Community.
WAYNE CURTIS
Head Judge
Wayne Curtis has written about spirits and cocktails for nearly 20 years, and is a two-time winner of the Spirited Award for best cocktail and spirits writer. He’s the author of And A Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in 10 Cocktails and has written about spirits for The Atlantic, Wall Street Journal, Imbibe, Daily Beast, and Garden & Gun. He’s presented nearly two dozen talks at Tales of the Cocktail since 2005, and has been a judge with ADI, ACSA, and the Barleycorn awards, among others.
MATTHEW SHARPE
Director of Operations
In 2014, the fledgling American Craft Distillers Association (now American Craft Spirits Association) tapped Matt to found their spirits competition and oversee their awards ceremony. Matt is a retail beverage consultant and cellar master in Portland, OR, and serves as senior whiskey steward at ADI.
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Presenter
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is a non-profit organization that educates, advances and supports the global hospitality industry and creates lasting impact in our host communities. Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is the global leader in spirits education and a platform to tackle issues facing the industry. The pillars of the Foundation are to Educate, Advance and Support the hospitality industry through programs that benefit individuals and organizations in the community and to make a lasting impact in communities that host our events.