Meet the Judges
UNBIASED EVALUATION LED BY A DIVERSE PANEL OF EXPERT JUDGES
Our judging panel includes beverage industry experts, retailers, bartenders, hospitality professionals, creators, and media voices who specialize in the rapidly growing world of modern beverages. Every entry is evaluated blind, without branding or packaging influence, to ensure an unbiased and experience-focused assessment.
Products are judged on taste, innovation, branding, functionality, overall drinkability, and consumer appeal across their respective categories. Top-scoring beverages are recognized with category awards, specialty honors, and one coveted Overall Best Beverage Award.
Bartender
Retailer
Restauranteur
Writer
Influencer
Past Judges
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Emily Heintz | Séchey
Emily is the founder & CEO of Séchey, the leading non-alcoholic and functional beverage retailer serving the growing community of mindful drinkers. Based in Charleston, SC, Emily is also a Competition Co-Chairman and Host!
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Travis Hartong | Bottles
Travis is the Spirits Consultant and Liquor Buyer Wholesale Manager at @shopbottles! His primary focus is selling to bars and restaurants throughout the state of South Carolina. Bottles has four retail locations throughout the state and has been a leading retail advocate for the hemp beverage category.
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Melissa Bruno Johnston | Tryon Distributing
Melissa has over 20 years of experience across the alcohol industry, starting as a bartender at 18 before moving into bar management, mixology, and consulting. After earning her master’s in marketing, she built her career in craft beer—helping grow the Charlotte Chapter of Pink Boots Society, co-editing Brewing Ambition, and serving on the planning board for the Biere de Femme Festival.
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Ryan Ridolfo | Southern Crown Partners
With more than 15 years of experience in beverage and alcohol distribution, Ryan has built a career in sales and brand management across Craft, Wine, Spirits, and now the Delta 9 portfolio—one of the largest in the Southeast. He’s also a Certified Cicerone and holds his WSET Level 2.
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Mike van Beyrer | Bottles
Mike is the Owner of Mount Pleasant’s Bottles Beverage Superstore. A cross between a superstore that boasts unbeatable price points and a neighborhood wine shop that offers boutique bottles and personalized services, his 15,000 sq. ft. establishment boasts a wide variety of wine, beer, bourbon and more. From working at wineries in California to a distributor in Atlanta, he’s been in the alcohol and beverage business for 18 years.
Help us identify America’s best beverages. 🏆
We're always looking for qualified industry professionals, retailers, hospitality experts, content creators, buyers, media members, and beverage enthusiasts to join our judging panel.
Judges help evaluate products across a wide range of categories, including hemp beverages, social tonics, functional beverages, non-alcoholic beer, wine, spirits, and more.
Fill out the contact form below to express your interest in participating in the 2026 competition.