Jack Robertiello — Competition host

Jack Robertiello has worked with or written about beverages, food and restaurants for most of his adult life. Editor of Drinks Inc, he was Editor of Cheers magazine for eight years and the On-Line Editor of Adams Beverage Group website.

A frequent speaker at conferences and meetings and spirits judge, he also is the author of “Mangia: The Best Italian Food In NYC.”  He’s written for the TV Food Network, Metropolitan Home, New York, the New York Daily News, the Washington Post, Caribbean Travel and Life, Nightclub & Bar Magazine, Simply Seafood, Delicious, and Americas magazine, where he has been food columnist and contributing editor for more than 10 years.

Robertiello is a member of the Museum of the American Cocktail, the International Association of Culinary Professionals and Slow Food. He has co-hosted the Polished Palate International Rum Competition and Spirits of Mexico Competition since 2007.

Delon Cunningham, Owner / Spirits Buyer • Carrolwood Wine & Spirits

Delon Cunningham is the owner of Carrollwood Fine Wine & Spirits, which is a retail fine wine & spirit store located in Tampa, FL, in the Carrollwood area. He has been and is currently involved in the liquor industry for almost 15 years. It all began with the Anheuiser-Busch Family and then proceeded with Premier Beverage Co., which happens to be the one of the largest distributing companies in Florida. After that, he decided it was time to become an entrepreneur and open his own fine wine & spirit store.

Ethan Kelley, Head Spirit Sommelier • Brandy Library

Ethan Kelley is the Head Spirit Sommelier and the beverage director for New York’s Brandy Library.  Brandy Library is a lounge in the tony neighborhood of TriBeCa in downtown Manhattan.  Brandy Library is a lounge that specializes in aged spirits,  namely whiskies and brandies.  Since 2007, Ethan Kelley has had a complete devotion to the growth of the collection that lines the walls of this illustrious bar, and has spent countless hours studying and tasting, which can hardly be considered laborious.  He has met with dozens of the worlds top distillers, and soaked up every drop of knowledge he could get from life long lessons in the spirits industry.

Pat McCarthy, Spirits Buyer • Bayway Liquors

Pat McCarthy has spent 30+ years working and supporting liquor & wine companies.  As a whiskey consultant his job includes sampling and selecting numerous barrels each year to be bottled for the Bayway World of Liquor Whisky Peddler label.

Junior Merino, Owner • The Liquid Chef

Junior Merino has won a "Rising Star" award from Star Chefs and a special recognition from Mexico's government for his knowledge of Mexican ingredients. He was also named Imbiber.com's Bartender of the Month, and was one of five winners in the international Sherry Cocktail Competition. Junior also holds advanced certifications in cognac and tequila expertise, and continues to study the various types of spirits for his upcoming book, to be released by early 2009. Always eager to share his extensive knowledge of spirits and ingredients, Junior has been featured in Gourmet, Marie Claire, Time Out, Latina, the New York Times, Women's Wear Daily, and New York Magazine, among many others, and has appeared on BBC Radio and Televisa. He's currently working on a new show called "The Liquid Chef," and a book.

Stephanie Moreno, Spirits Buyer • Astor Wines

Stephanie has been a long veteran in the wine and spirits industry.  She is currently the Spirits Buyer for the Greenwich Village fixture the Astor Wine & Spirits.  She takes great pride in the large selection of spirits from around the world that is available in store and online.

Kerry Shine, Spirits Buyer • Wittys Liquors

Kerry Shine is the spirits buyer for Witty’s Liquors.  One of the largest liquor stores in NJ.  Discovering new spirits for her store is one of her passions.  She utilizes her graphic design degree in managing and maintaining their website. 

Scott Talon, Director of Spirits • Winebow

A Food and Beverage Industry lifer. Began his career working in the bar and club scene in New Jersey before moving to Hotel Food and Beverage Management with the Hilton corporation. When the craft beer craze emerged in the 1980’s Scott moved on to sales and marketing various American Craft Breweries from Montana, Colorado, Washington State and other locations. The natural progression was to take on Craft Distilling and artisan produced spirits. Scott has since been working with Winebow, Inc. as Director of Spirits managing both the wholesale spirits and the Winebow Import spirit brands. Scott is a graduate from Fairleigh Dickinson University, majoring in Lacrosse, and a graduate from the Bruichladdich Distilling Academy under the tutelage of Jim McEwan.

Michael Waterhouse, President of Drink Tank Ltd.

Michael Waterhouse serves as managing partner/President of Drink Tank, Ltd., the New York-based restaurant group and consulting firm, which owns and operates Dylan Prime and Devin Tavern restaurants, both located in TriBeCa.  He is also the beverage director of both venues and trains the staff of in-house mixologists in the creation of seasonal cocktail creations as well as signature cocktails.  In November, Michael was recognized as the Spirits Professional of the Year at the 2006 Santé Restaurant Awards -- a peer-judged restaurant and hospitality program in North America.

Jerri Banks

Jerri Banks has translated her considerable experience in restaurant operations and the beverage industry offering expertise in all areas of opening and running bar/restaurant venues developing creative beverage programs.  Her innovative uses of fresh herbs and flowers, exotic flavorings and teas have become a well-known signature employed in a variety of libations, both with and without alcohol.  Ms. Banks has been featured in multiple publications including the New York Times, Crain’s NY Business, New York Mag., ‘O’ magazine, Essence, Time Out NY, Modern Bride, Market Watch, British Elle & More Magazine. 

John Henry • Pipeline Brands

John Henry has worked grass roots, street-based brandbuilding for Maker’s Mark, Partida, Johnny Walker, Laphroaig, Rhum Clement, Charbay, St Germain, Coole Swan, Q Tonic, POM Wonderful and  a host of other finest artisanal beverages for over a dozen years now.  The handsell is his secret weapon and art form.  The bicycle his medium and message.  Together with partners Jim Pickett and John Badalati, he works “The PipeLine”  in Metro New York daily, 24-7, to bring great beverage brands directly to the consumers who yearn for them--organically from the ground up.  John describes his work as part Johnny Appleseed and part Johnny Carson, with a whole lot of heart thrown into the relationship.  John is a proud member of the bar community and looks forward to elevating the industry bar in the inaugural NY Spirit Awards.

Katherine Ramos, Spirits Buyer • DrinkUpNY.com

As Spirits Buyer and Creative Manager for DrinkUpNY.com, Katherine Ramos spends most of her time contemplating, studying, and tasting just about any libation she can find. While she loves a good story behind any spirit, be it a colorful past or compelling present, she ultimately admires the simple satisfaction of a well-made drink. When not on the job, Katherine can often be found drawing, silkscreening, or writing utterly unpublishable short stories.

Will Eagle, Chief Buyer • Morrell & Company

Will has been a long time veteran of the liquor industry on both sides of the country.  Will is the Chief Buyer for Morrell & Company which is one of the prestigious wine and spirits stores in New York and currently located in world famous Rockefeller Center. 

Brian Van Flandern, Head Mixologist • PER SE

Brian has been a professional bartender in NY for over 18 years.  In 2004 he opened Chef Thomas Keller’s Michelin three star (NY TIMES four star) restaurant  PER SE as the head mixologist. Applying Chef Keller’s philosophy of flavor profiling to cocktails Brian Van Flandern created dozens of well-balanced food friendly cocktails.  His recent awards include being Ranked #1 in the United States Bartenders Guild (USBG) Iron Bar Chef Competition 2007 and Ranked #2 in the World – Bols 200 International Master Mixology Competition 2006

Bobby Gleason

Bobby “G” Gleason has been bartending since 1984 in South Florida and Las Vegas. He is World renown and has been published in many magazines along with TV appearances. His cocktails have won many competitions including the New York International competition, the United States Bartenders Guild Championships, The World’s Most Sensuous Cocktail, and was named the US Mixologist of the year in 2005. Bobby G is also the current Guinness Book of World Record holder for the most cocktails in one hour. He is now the Master Mixologist for Beam Global Spirits & Wine.