Meet the Judges

Johnston Carmichael are Scotland’s largest firm of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers, advising over 500 food and drink businesses. They have a wealth of food and drink industry expertise and use this knowledge to help business owners make better business decisions. 

Adam leads Johnston Carmichael’s food and drink team, regularly advises clients on strategic growth and funding options.  Adam is very well connected across, spirits, brewing, the wider industry and regularly makes introductions across his network of business leaders, investors and intermediaries to help clients grow. 

Adam is Chairman of The Scottish Gin Awards and a judge with The Scottish Beer Awards and In Drinks Catalyst, the drinks accelerator.

Marc Crothall is 61 years young, and started his working life in tourism, leisure, and hospitality industry at the age of 17. He has held a variety of front- line senior management and executive positions across different sectors of the tourism, hospitality, and leisure industry in various parts of the globe.

In May 2012 Marc was appointed as the first CEO of The Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) acknowledged as the overarching trade body for the tourism and hospitality sector.                

In November 2022 he was appointed to co-chair the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group (THILG) which act as the strategic guardian, think tank Scotland’s national tourism strategy, Scotland Outlook2030. He co-chairs the THILG together Scotland’s Minister for Business Richard Lochhead MSP. He is a very well-respected influencer spending much of his time engaging directly with senior ministers in both Scottish & UK governments making representation on behalf of the industry.

He previously co-chaired the National Food Tourism Leadership Board  and was Scotland’s representative on the UK Tourism Industry Council . He is currently a board member of Apprenticeship in Hospitality Scotland Interface and an advisory board member to Springboard .

In 2020 Marc was awarded the “Fellowship” by the Scottish Hotel industry for his outstanding contribution to the industry and in June 2022 was awarded an MBE in the Queens Platinum Jubilee Birthday Honours for services to the Tourism Industry in Scotland. More recently in October 2023 he also received the Industry Contribution award.

Rosalind is a Glasgow-based magazine editor turned digital editor, content creator and broadcaster who is currently working at the Scotsman. After stints in London and Dubai she returned home where she has focussed on the fantastic produce available on her doorstep. Alongside her work as food and drink editor at The Scotsman, Rosalind hosts gin tastings, has been on tasting and judging panels for whisky and was the drinks expert on the inaugural series of BBC Scotland’s The Great Food Guys. As the host of Scran, The Scotsman’s award-nominated food and drinks podcast, she has championed all that Scotland’s larder has to offer, sharing stories with some of Scotland’s best loved producers, distillers and stars. When not working, she loves nothing more than visiting bars and restaurants in Glasgow, and travelling further afield for the many food and drink festivals that the country has to offer.

Ally has over 15 years experience working in digital marketing & ecommerce for a number of SMEs across a variety of sectors. In October 2017 he followed his passion for Scottish products and launched Craft56°, the first online shop and gin subscription club dedicated to Scottish small batch drinks. 

Craft56° now stocks over 120 different gins as well as a range of other spirits, gift sets and mixers & soft drinks. In 2021, Craft56° won Scottish Gin Retailer of the year at the Scottish Gin Awards.

After exiting Craft56° in 2023, Ally is now a Digital Market & Ecommerce Consultant and supports a number of businesses, including several the drinks industry.

Annie Hill is a Professor and Programme Director for the MSc/Postgraduate Diploma in Brewing and Distilling by Distance Learning at the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. She has a range of research interests including new product development and process optimisation working in collaboration with distilleries of all sizes and has been involved in the Scottish Gin Awards since 2017.

Driven by a passion for all things drinks-related, Sean writes for the Daily Record and the Live sites and has recently published his first book. Dubbed Gin Galore, it explores Scotland's best gins and the stories behind those that make them. 

He can also sometimes be found behind the bar at the world famous Potstill bar in Glasgow where he continues to enhance his drinks knowledge.

Tom Nichol has been in the distilling industry for over 50 years and has an unrivalled knowledge in spirit making. His unique and specialised experience in whisky, vodka, neutral spirit and gin distillation gives him an expertise that is unparalleled in the industry . 

Tom views his extensive experience to date as an extended apprenticeship for making spirits. By working with other spirits and mastering each trade, he has the unique understanding to take on the complexity of distilling gin. 

Tom said: “Everything I had learnt throughout my career had helped me reach the ultimate pinnacle of becoming Master Distiller of Tanqueray. 

Tom is now distilling gin for various other distillers since retiring from Tanqueray in July 2015.

Jim Rankin is Commercial Director and 6th generation owner of Rankin Brothers & Sons, supplier of corks and closures to the Beers, Wines, Spirits and Foods Packaging industries. 

Having been born with a cork in his mouth, he spat it out, albeit temporarily, to make wine with Penfolds in Australia during the late 80’s. While down under, he honed his commercial skills selling encyclopaedia Britannica door to door and later, developed a fine eye for detail working in design with ad agency McCann. 

A call to help resuscitate T Top Stopper supply to the Spirits industry, lead to a return to the UK in 1992 and to his appointment as Sales Director to the family business. 
As custodian of 4,500 acres of cork forest in Portugal, Jim’s expertise in stopper design and function extends from `acorn to bottle’. 

Jim remains fascinated by the myriad brands the company supports; his credo being that the commercial offer remains as relevant today, as is was when the business was founded in 1774. 

A keen advocate of work life balance and exponent of the virtue of sedentary sports, Jim has swapped a rowing boat for a bicycle, which he has used to cross America twice.

Ciarán is the Liquid Innovations Manager at Sipsmith, where he leads on new product development and quality control across the full product portfolio. Following several years working in some of Scotland’s best bars, Ciarán completed his MSc in Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt University with a focus on new product development in gin, and flavour analysis of liquids. He began his career at Sipsmith as Assistant Distiller where he was part of the team conducting the day to day production of all distillates. Ciarán now works across several departments within the distillery to ensure that products are befitting of the company ethos and are being produced to the highest possible standard.

Pete has worked in the drinks trade since he was 18, having started in Oddbins. He then moved into the on trade part of the business to experience it from the other side and moved back to off trade after securing a position with a local independent beer shop in Edinburgh.

He opened The Beerhive in 2011 and over the following years built up a wide range of Gin, constantly rotates this at around 40 gins to keep up with the increase in new openings of Scottish Gin distilleries and the rise in demand for quality gin. It has become a huge focus in the shop and Pete always endeavours to buy direct from the distillery so he can meet the producers and get to know the gin first hand. 

The Beerhive also stocks over 700 Beers and 500 wines. In 2015 and 2016 The Beerhive was awarded Best beer shop in Scotland by Off Licence News. 

Karen is a highly experienced, accomplished and well-respected marketeer with global exposure, gained from roles within the spirits industry throughout her whole career.

Now a marketing consultant, specialising in the marketing of spirits, utilising 29 years’ experience, she is focussed on adding value to fledgling, growing or established businesses.

Karen has recently worked on a number of gin brands, some international, some UK based, working on projects to maximise the distribution potential in the UK market, and beyond.

Alan is an Honorary Professor of Heriot Watt University’s International Centre of Brewing and Distilling, Master Distiller Examiner for The Institute of Brewing and Distilling and one of the longest serving Keepers of the Quaich.

Alan is Founder and Managing Director of Caledonian Solutions Limited and is a consultant to the Scotch Whisky, International Whiskey, and similar process industries. He works with clients in the USA, Ireland and the Far East as well as the UK.

Alan entered the spirits industry, after leaving University, with Distillers Company Ltd. (now Diageo) and gained experience in a variety of technical and production management roles across Scotland.

He is the former Distilleries Director for Wm. Grant and Sons operating both a large Grain Whisky (Girvan) and several Malt Whisky distilleries (Glenfiddich, Balvenie and Kininvie) with responsibility for sourcing all raw materials and processing them into distilled products (Malt and Grain Whisky, Grain Neutral Spirit and Gin), and also cooperage, maturation and blending.

Andrew Gordon - Founder at The Spirits Reviewer Blog

With a significant passion for the spirits industry and supporting distillers, Andrew founded his blog in early 2018 and has spent the last seven years writing about, photographing brand content, and visiting distillers across the UK. In additional Andrew hosts live and virtual tasting events with a particular of focus on the Scottish Spirits Industry. In that time, he has grown his personal collection of spirits to over 750 bottles from around the world, which includes a significant presence of Scottish Gins, Whiskies and Rums.

This year Andrew's Scottish Distillery visits will cover Speyside, Edinburgh, and the Hebrides.

Andrew is WSET Spirits Qualified, has over 30 years' experience within the retail, hospitality and event sectors and can be found on Social Media @the_spirits_reviewer

James is the founder and distiller of the Electric Spirit Company, producing spirits in Leith, Edinburgh.

As a graduate of the Glasgow School of Art, James previously consulted on brand experience for numerous multi-national businesses, before returning to Scotland and enrolling on the Brewing & Distilling MSc at Heriot Watt. He graduated with distinction, receiving the Brewers’ Company Prize as the course’s top student, as well as the Watt Club Medal as dux litterarum in the School of Life Sciences.

He founded Electric in late 2014, beginning production on a 20 litre still in a tiny industrial unit. The company has since increased capacity and expanded distribution around the world, winning at the Scottish Gin Awards and being named as the coolest spirit brand in Scotland by The Herald, with Ian Buxton placing Electric “at the cutting edge of the vibrant Scottish craft distilling scene” in 101 Gins to Try Before You Die.

Kayleigh has been in the industry for over 17 years. She currently works in New Liquid Development for Wm Grant & Sons Ltd, and has developed a wide range of products including gin, rum, whisky, tequila, vodka and low/no products during her career.

She is a qualified Master Brewer and has vast experience working across both technical and production functions.

Kayleigh’s job is all about flavour and quality - blending science and art to create a seamless taste experience.

With more than 20 years’ experience in delivering NPD, creative campaigns and activations for Contagious, Jason is responsible for the delivery of business and brand strategic approaches. In partnership with the brand owners, investors, stakeholders and marketing teams of start-up, emerging and established brands, Jason develops drinks brands that challenge the status quo, have purpose and meaning and inspire better choices.

A specialist in the drinks sector, Jason has delivered brand and product strategy and brand activations in the U.K, Europe, Asia, Australia, Mexico, and the U.S. He has worked with some of the sector’s most recognised global companies including Pernod Ricard, Proximo, Diageo, Maison Ferrand and LVMH, alongside developing and launching new and maturing brands and products in the UK for Lind & Lime Gin, Ninefold Rum, Drop Works Rum, Burnt Faith English Brandy and One Point Six Whisky from The Spirit of Manchester Distillery.

Jason also lectures at Heriot Watt University on Brand and Consumer Experience and Marketing and Brand Strategy, he is also a member of the faculty at the Moonshine University in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition, Jason holds advisory board positions for the Scottish American Business Council and The Golden Moon Distillery in Golden, Colorado.

Mark Billington DL embarked on his entrepreneurial journey at Harrods, after 8 years leaving his buying position, he moved to Glasgow in 1996 to take on role of Managing Director of an Italian Restaurant Chain, before founding Billington's Deli in 2012 with his wife Sue.

Specialising in artisan and locally sourced products. His commitment to quality earned recognition, leading to accolades such as Glasgow's Best Deli and Single Outlet Retailer of the Year, at Icon of Gin Awards. Simultaneously, Mark serves as Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire, showcasing his dedication to public service. Mark teaches his knowledge as an approved programme provider for WSET for wines and spirits.

In 2018, he expanded his ventures with the launch of Lenzie Gin, marking another milestone in his illustrious career. Mark's multifaceted achievements culminated in Lenzie Gin winning Gold for London Dry Scottish Gin of the Year and Gin of the Year in 2019 and Lenzie Gin Liqueur receiving Gold for Best Liqueur in 2022.

Neil is the victor of over seven hundred gin and spirits classes, and has helped design over two hundred gins. A fifteen year veteran of the Edinburgh bar scene, he loves little more than a dry martini, a wee still, and a rack of botanicals to play with.

Neil also hates it when people talk about themselves in the third person.

Paul is the Sales & Marketing Director for Brave New Spirits, the Glasgow-based Independent Bottler currently constructing Witchburn Distillery in Campbeltown.  Starting his career in drinks over 25 years ago with a US Winemaker, he began working with whisky & premium spirits producers in 2002,  with the the last 11 years dedicated to international sales & marketing roles. 

He is part of the team at BNS that selects casks for their own releases and as an enthusiast for all things wine & spirits, has  visited distilleries & wineries in over 20 countries.  Paul has served on / chaired judging panels for organisations & publications in Europe, Asia & Latin/South America  such as Concours Mondial Des Bruxelles, Meininger ISW, Whisky Magazine, and the Frankfurt International Trophy.  He holds the WSET Level 3 Spirits qualification &  is a two-time Whisky Magazine “Icons of Whisky” nominee.

Founder and master distiller of the Esenlid distillery in Santiago, Chile, and partner and master distiller of Goodwinds Gin in Llifén, Lago Ranco, Chile. With a deep passion for the craft of distilling, he has dedicated his career to the science of spirit production. In 2017, he obtained an MSc degree in Brewing and Distilling from Heriot-Watt University in Scotland. Additionally, he holds the WSET Award in Spirits levels 2 and 3, both with the highest distinction.

He has had the honour of serving as a judge in prestigious competitions both nationally and internationally, including Copa Argentina de Gin, Argentinean Spirits Awards, and Catad'or Spirits Awards, where he also contributes as a member of the technical committee.

Beyond his distillery roles, he actively participates in cutting-edge R&D projects in the whisky industry at the Millennium Institute for Regenerative Biology (iBio) in Santiago, Chile. These projects involve pioneering research on using wild yeast strains and fermentation processes to enhance flavour profiles and production efficiency. His work also includes exploring sustainable practices in whisky production, such as the utilization of alternative energy sources and waste reduction techniques. This research not only contributes to the advancement of the industry but also promotes environmental responsibility within the field.

He also serves as a member of the organizational committee at the International Diploma in Craft Distilling at the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso, where he also teaches, sharing his knowledge and passion with the next generation of distillers. Through his teaching, he aims to inspire and equip students with the skills and understanding needed to excel in the distilling industry.

Karen has worked in the Scottish drinks industry for over 20 years, working primarily in Marketing roles across a number of spirit, beer and cider brands such as Edinburgh Gin, Langs Rum, Aperol, Campari, Skyy Vodka. She has extensive innovation experience, developing new to world brands as well as line extensions for well known brands. Now a business and marketing consultant, Karen provides expertise to companies, across strategic development and marketing remits.

Stuart has been involved in the gin industry for over 10 years from starting out as one of the founders of Glasgow Gin Club showcasing new gin brands at their highly successful nights and facilitating brand activations around Glasgow
Stuart then joined the team at Crossbill Distilling in 2019 where he has found himself taking on numerous roles from sales, brand home manger, and most recently, head distiller.
He has a WSET Level 2 and is always on the hunt for new and exciting flavours.

With a Master’s in Brewing and Distilling and my current role as a Gin Distiller and Laboratory Technician at Angus Dundee Distillers, I’ve been fortunate to work hands-on with the entire production process—from raw ingredients to the final spirit. My deep interest in aroma and sensory profiling, strengthened by my WSET Level 2 in Wines, drives my passion for exploring the endless possibilities of botanicals in gin.  After having the honour of judging at the same competition last year, I’m excited to once again assess and celebrate the creativity, balance, and craftsmanship behind each gin.

With more than 30 years of experience in the drinks industry Julia is a reliable partner for quite a number of distilleries around the globe when it comes to product development, barrel management and contract blending.
She has already created 80+ gin recipes which all became very successful and received important awards.

Amelie Tassin is the Founder and Director of Tipple Marketing, a beer specialist marketing and strategy agency based in Edinburgh, Scotland. With over 15 years’ experience, Amelie has worked across several European sectors from retail banking and property development to cosmetics and food and drink. Her agency's work is truly 'the Swiss Army knife of marketing' and offers tailored services for all needs.

In 2018 she founded Women In Beer, a 'women who beer' group in Edinburgh -  the following year she launched the successful Women In Beer Festival (WIB Fest), a celebration of women in the industry with an impressive roster of events including tap takeovers, talks, and tastings.

In 2023 she launched the Women in Beer Mentorship Programme. Aimed at women who work in the beer and brewing sector, the programme allows them to be paired with experienced women of the industry who will share advice, skills, and access to a wider network.

Amelie has been a judge for many beer competitions in Scotland and the UK and is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers.

Dawn Maskell is Professor of Brewing & Distilling Science at Heriot-Watt University where she is Director of the International Centre for Brewing & Distilling. In this role she teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students on topics including yeast and fermentation, product quality, sustainability and aspects of packaging. Her research interests include co-fermentation for whisky, the valorisation of co-products, process improvement and sustainability and has multiple publications on distilling topics. Dawn is a member of the Chartered Institute of Brewers and Distillers and sits on the Scottish Section Committee. She a Liveryman by Presentation of the Worshipful Company of Distillers and has been on the organising committees of the Worldwide Distilled Spirits Conference and the Young Scientists Symposium in Malting, Brewing and Distilling. 

Tobias Gorn is a  Co-Founder & Senior Partner at the award winning International Drinks Specialists. Editor-in-Chief at World Whisky & More. Senior Drinks Judge, Consultant and Critic. Cigar Writer - Gin Guild, CWW & Council of Whiskey Masters Member. Creator of a selection of world class, award winning spirits and other drinks and one of the busiest drinks judges globally with over 22 years of experience. 

Christie backs Scottish brands aiding data analysis, branding, marketing and landing listings.  Christie moved into food & drink consultancy last year following a 10 year tenure with Aldi Scotland.  As a Buying Director with Aldi, Christie gave Scottish distilleries a platform to grow market reach both locally and nationally whilst elevating the retailers Spirits range.  Christie is now on the other side, working freelance with Scottish food and drink producers.

Steve has worked in the food and drink industry for over 35 years, ten years in the retail sector, twenty years as a buyer and the last five years as a consultant to the industry. He has been a national UK buyer at Waitrose & Sainsburys, responsible for categories such as Beer & Cider, Core Grocery and many more.

Steve also headed up the Sainsburys regional buying team managing all regionally sourced products and suppliers in Scotland, Northern Ireland & Yorkshire as well as Head of Food at Dobbies and Commercial Director at a specialist food and drink wholesaler.

In this time, Steve has built up huge experience and a proven track record with products, brands, suppliers, wholesalers and retailers and now uses this to help and support suppliers and retailers grow their businesses.

Steve is an experienced Food & Drink Awards judge having been a judge on awards such as Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards, Champion Beer of Britain, IWSC Spirits Awards, North East Scotland Food & Drink Awards. Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards & more.

Growing up visiting Whisky distilleries regularly with his father, Martin has been in hospitality since he was a teenager and now 3 decades on runs One Canon in Edinburgh. An award winning bartender and drinks tasting host, and the creator of Scotland’s first Gin festival, the Juniper Festival. He has worked in all manner of venues and has trained countless bartenders along the way.

Debargha is a 2017 graduate of Brewing & Distilling from Heriot Watt University specialising in sensory analysis. His MSc. thesis was in collaboration with SWRI focusing on sensory profiling of bourbon and rye spirts based on their grist composition and maturation in toasted and untoasted cask.

He joined Cara Technology in 2018 as sensory scientist and then stayed as sensory manager till mid-2021. He has been part of an expert taster panel at Cara evaluating whisky, beer, gin, neutral spirits, tea, coffee, water and Aroxa flavour standards. He has also been associated with Scottish gin and whisky awards since its inception in 2018 and 2019. He is a certified Cicerone. He enjoys aroma of  β-Farnesene and α-Humulene in his beer and Guaiacol and 4-Methyl Phenol in his spirits.

Presently he is Business Development Manager (Europe) at MMR Research focusing on innovations in FMCG. He is also pursuing his masters in Strategic Marketing from Imperial Business School.