2008 Tasting Competition Judges

Judging will held July 15 and 16, 2007 at Arnaud's Restaurant in New Orleans.

Judges are chosen for their experience in the culinary and beverage industries as well as media contributors with an interest in finer spirits who have shown expertise in appreciating rums.

Importers and distributors of sugar cane spirits were also encouraged to apply to be on the panels.

Erik Adkins - San Francisco, California - Beverage manager at Slanted Door on the pier in San Francisco

Debra Argen - Greenwich, Connecticut - Luxury Experience Company Debra loves to experience exceptional spirits, especially rum. She creates cocktail and food recipes with spirits and features them in the Liquor Cabinet section of her online magazine. Luxury Experience

Steve Armstrong - New Orleans, Louisiana - Steve has worked in the alcoholic beverage industry with Dixie Brewing Company and Don Lorenzo rums and imports Rum Jumbie and Ron Abuelo rums.

Paul Artrip - Virginia - rum connisseur and collector, food & beverage writer for regional Parrot Head clubs the rum daddy.

Robert Burr - Florida - Writer, publisher and world traveler, Robert Burr has been collecting and evaluating rums from many countries for decades. Robert has compiled a list of outstanding rums and information about Gifted Rums tasting events in South Florida at Gifted Rums.

Robert V Burr "Jr" - Coconut Grove, Florida - Rum enthusiast and spirit guide for the younger generation, Rob has a passion for sharing his knowledge of rums and related cane spirits. He and his father work together on the Gifted Rums Guide in South Florida.

Christopher Carlsson - New York - connoisseur of fine spirits and editor of Spirits Reviews.

Martin Cate - Alameda, California - Proprietor of the Forbidden Island Tiki Bar in Alameda, CA where rum lovers will find one of the best selections of rums and rum drinks in the US.

Wayne Curtis - New Orleans, Louisiana - writer Wayne's whose work has appeared in New York Times, Atlantic Monthly, Preservation, American Scholar, American Heritage and others. His latest book "And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in 10 Cocktails," will be available at Tales of the Cocktail.

Jacob Edge - Little Rock, Arkansas - Spirits portfolio manager at Lee Edwards Distributing. Jacob studied in France and was awarded an Advance sommelier certificate through Gastronomicom/Vatel Institute, a cellar tech diploma and advanced certification with the Wine and Spirits Education Trust.

Jonathan M. Forester - Winterport, Maine - Jonathan studied at the French Culinary Institute and culinary schools on several continents. He is a partner at Winterport Winery and the Penobscot Bay Distillery & Brewery where he makes eau de vie, aged fruit brandies, gin, aged rum, and specialty ales. He is a food and beverage consultant and also writes for Slashfood.com and other online publications.

Robert Galloway - New Orleans, Louisiana - Local entrepreneur and owner of Live Bait Bar and Grill, New Orleans' first and only rum bar with over 100 rums from around the world.

Edward Nesta - Greenwich, Connecticut - Luxury Experience Company Ed and his partner Debra Argen travel the world in search of the best food, wine, and spirits; they create cocktails and write about their experiences in their online magazine Luxury Experience

Stephen Remsberg - New Orleans, Louisiana - rum collector whose collection of pre-prohibition rums is second to none in the US.

Matt Robold - Orange County, California - Matt is a frequent contributor to the Ministry of Rum Forums who has demonstrated a good understanding of this varied spirit through his writing at RumDood.com: A Dood In The Life.

Dave Russell - California - sailor and co-founder of RnD Rum Reviews.

Eric Seed - Edina, Minnesota - Haus Alpenz, specialty spirits and wine importer. Haus Alpenz imports a line of distinctive line of classic cocktail and alpine spirits including Creme de Violette, Batavia Arrack and Velvet Falernum.

Rick Stutz - Pennsylvania - author of Kaiser Penguin, where he combines his passion for photography and his joy of crafting fine cocktails on his blog. His work has been published in Imbibe magazine, and his tiki creations can be enjoyed at Forbidden Island.

Thad Vogler - San Francisco, California - A Yale University graduate in Literature, Thad has worked in the beverage industry around the world for almost 20 years. He has opened seven restaurants, most recently he designed and opened the bar at Beretta Restaurant - a nominee at Tales for best new cocktail bar in the country. He teaches a rum course at the Bourbon and Branch Beverage Academy.

Steve Zucker - Mobile, Alabama - Certified sommelier since 1997, presently corporate chef for Mobile based Aloha Hospitality. Chef Zucker received his Bachelor degree in the Culinary Arts from Johnson & Wales in Providence. He was named one of the "Ten Chefs to Watch" by Esquire among other accolades from numerous magazines.