San Francisco World Spirits Competition - the Nation's Largest - Adds Twelve New Judges

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The San Francisco World Spirits Competition announced today that twelve new judges will join returning judges to create the most prestigious and authoritative spirits jury ever assembled. The newly constituted panel, made up entirely of spirits industry leaders, is directly responsible for purchasing over $100,000,000 worth of spirits each year. The journalist members of the panel reach about 1,000,000 trade and consumers monthly.

Joining the judging panel are Kent Bearden, the MGM Grand's Master Mixologist; Joseph Brooke, America's Top Bartender 2009; as well as influential mixologists Misty Kalkofen, Boston; Derek Brown, Washington DC; H. Joseph Ehrmann, San Francisco; Jim Romdall, Seattle and Patricia Richards, Las Vegas. Also new are Trudy Thomas, JW Marriot Beverage Director, Scottsdale; tequila expert David Grapshi; Las Vegas wholesaler Drew Levinson and renowned journalists Nick Passmore and Geoff Kleinman, editor of DrinkSpirits.com.

"We are excited by the new direction the SFWSC has taken," says Anthony Dias Blue, Executive Director, "this is a major step for our competition which is now 11 years old. By bringing on an energetic group of young, influential industry trendsetters we are reaffirming that the San Francisco World Spirits Competition will remain the clear leader in the field for years to come."

SFWSC's Director of Judging is famed Master Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim. Managing Director is Chandler Moore. Companies interested in entering the 2011 competition, which takes place in mid-March, should go to www.SFSpiritsComp.com beginning in January 2011.

SOURCE San Francisco World Spirits Competition