Meet the Judges

UNBIASED EVALUATION LED BY A DIVERSE PANEL OF EXPERT JUDGES

We’ve assembled a panel of leading experts across the hemp beverage industry, including bartenders, retailers, founders, and beverage innovators, to ensure a well-rounded and credible evaluation process. All entries are judged through a fully blind tasting, with no identifying information, so each product is evaluated fairly on its own merits. Top-scoring Double Gold entries advance for Best in Show, awarded only to those achieving a perfect 100-point score.

Bartender

Retailer

Restauranteur

Writer

Influencer

Past Judges

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.