Christopher J. Davies
Co-Founder, Chairman
Wine Country Network, Inc

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
Wine Country International® Magazine
The World Book of Whisky Magazine
Beverage Competitions Director

Darcy R. Davies
Co-Founder, President
Wine Country Network, Inc

Wine Editor and Art Director
Competition Operations Director

Lead Judge & Panel Chair-USA

Larry Wilcox
Executive Sommelier of Spirits
Master of Wine Candidate and Executive Sommelier of Wine
President of TopShelf Liquor Consulting, LLC​

Larry started TopShelf Liquor Consulting in 2013 to consult with importers, distributors, retail liquor stores, and restaurants on spirit and wine information. The kind of information TopShelf can provide encompasses evaluations, recommendations, training, and event planning.

Larry is a retired US military veteran, wine and spirits expert, and judge. For more than eleven years, he has been a senior judge and table captain at the Denver International Spirits Competition, The Denver International Wine Competition, The North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition, and the Tequila Mezcal Challenge.

Senior Judges

Daniel Rodríguez- Senior Judge- Mexico
Director of Education
Agave Spirits Institute

CMS – Certified Sommelier
IWSG – Fine Spirits Sommelier
IWSG – Certified Executive Wine Sommelier
IWSG – Certified Senior Wine & Spirits Instructor

Nicolas Post – Senior Judge – USA & Table Captain
Master of Wine, Wine and Spirits Educator,

Hops Grower, and Professional Wine & Spirit’s Judge

Multi-year judge: Denver International Spirits Competition, Tequila Mezcal Challenge, North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition, and
The Global Whisky Challenge.

Oscar A. Montes Iga- Senior Judge-USA
Master of Agave Spirits
ASI Director of Alumni Relations, Agave Spirits Institute Guild

Certified Senior Wine & Spirits Instructor
Guild Certified Executive Wine & Spirits Sommelier
Certified Spirits Judge | WSET Advanced
Guild Certified Spirits Professional | Certified Specialist of Spirits

Charles (Ted) Palmer – Senior Judge – USA & Table Captain
Former Founder, President & Head Distiller of Vapor Distillery

and Round House Spirits, Boulder, Colorado.

Multi-year judge: Denver International Spirits Competition, Tequila Mezcal Challenge, North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition, and The Global Whisky Challenge.

John Haven – Senior Judge – USA
Mr. Haven is an independent Beverage Professional, Certified Beverage Professional, Connoisseur, and Collector of Fine Spirits.

Multi-year judge: Denver International Spirits Competition, Tequila Mezcal Challenge, North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition, and The Global Whisky Challenge.

Pro Judges

Eric Anderson – Pro Judge USA
Food & Beverage Purchasing Director, and Professional Spirits Judge

Colorado Area Procurement Director for Hyatt Hotels since 2021.

Multi-year judge: Denver International Spirits Competition, Tequila Mezcal Challenge, North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition, and The Global Whisky Challenge.

Jay Scoggins – Pro Judge USA
Founder of Whiskey Colorado, the state’s preeminent source for information on Colorado Distilleries, Whiskey Festivals, and Whiskey Tourism in Colorado. Former Assistant Distiller for Stranahan’s Distillery, Denver.

Multi-year judge: Denver International Spirits Competition, Tequila Mezcal Challenge, North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition, and The Global Whisky Challenge.

 Alexandra (Allie) Geppert- Pro Judge USA
Food & Beverage Professional, Mixologist
Owner of Mandala Strategies

Multi-year judge: Denver International Spirits Competition, Tequila Mezcal Challenge, North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition, and The Global Whisky Challenge.

Jakim J. Noske, CSS- Pro Judge USA
Food & Beverage Professional
Certified Specialist of Spirits, Certified Cicerone

Sales Representative for Classic Beverage