2007 Tasting Competition Judges

Judging was held July 18 and 19, 2007 at Arnaud's Restaurant in New Orleans.

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Judges were 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.

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.
Brad Bentley - Anniston Alabama - As a gourmet cook and connoisseur of fine spirits, Brad has visited numerous distilleries in his travels to the Caribbean and considers himself a quality consumer!
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.
Tad Carducci - Bedminister New Jersey - Tad is a certified sommelier, bartender and consultant whose 'simple' philosophy has won him numerous awards and cocktail contests.
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.
Martin Doudoroff - New York - cocktail and spirits writer and author of the Cocktail DB website. Cocktail DB
Jim Ducharme - Vieques Philippines - After more than 10 years as a wine judge, sommelier and wine and spirits buyer, Jim is relaxing on the island of Vieques where he is sampling the rums of the islands.
H. Ehrmann - San Francisco California - H. is the proprietor of Elixir, which operates on the site of San Francisco's 2nd oldest saloon and the 1st Certified Green Bar. ELIXIR
Mark Gruber - Chicago Illinois - Mark is the author of numerous fine spirits articles, most recently "Whiskey" entry, The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink in America, A. Smith, editor, 2005; instructor, Spirits Appreciation and Mixology, Northwestern University
Mike "Elvis" Karnowski - New Orleans Louisiana - with 20 years in the beverage alcohol industry, Elvis is the head distiller at Celebration Distillation and a Certified Beer Judge (BJCP).
Katie Loeb - Philadelphia Pennsylvania - Katie is a wine and spirits writer and beverage consultant. Her cocktail recipes have been published in Bon Appetit, the Los Angeles Times and brand literature including Bluecoat Gin and Modern Spirits vodka.
Ryan Magarian - Portland Oregon - Ryan's work as a top mixologist has been featured on the Food Network and Women's Entertainment Channel. He also contributes to the development of Aviation Gin. Liquid Relations
Mark Markowitz - New York City New York - Mark has been a rum enthusiast for many years and graduated from the Beverage Alcohol Resource and is presently the press secretary and special correspondent for the Museum of the American cocktail.
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
Darcy S. O'Neil - Toronto Canada - Darcy began his career as a chemical engineer a discipline he has applied to food and drink. Currently he spends his time writing about mixology and bartending and consulting to the industry. The Art of Drink
Roger Patteson - Oregon - sailor and co-founder of RnD Rum Reviews.
Jonathan Pogash - New York City New York - -based bartender and cocktail consultant. Director of Cocktail Development for Hospitality Holdings in NY. Jonathan Pogash Consulting
Todd A. Price - New Orleans Louisiana - Todd is a food and travel writer in New Orleans who writes for OffBeat, a monthly magazine of Louisiana music, food and culture, and recently completed Night+Day New Orleans(Pulse Guides), a post-Katrina guidebook.
Philip Prichard - Tennessee - President and distiller of Prichard's Fine Rum.
Dave Russell - California - sailor and co-founder of RnD Rum Reviews.
Liza Zimmerman - San Francisco California - Liza is a writer and wine and spirits consultant and holds the prestigious Diploma Wine & Spirits (D.W.S.). Her articles have appeared in numerous magazines including Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Wine & Spirits and Wine Business Monthly.