THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS Names New MASTERS OF BOURBON and MASTERS AND SCOTCH

Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky

The COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS, a U.S. education body dedicated to whisk(e)y, has met on the campus of Buffalo Trace Distillery to conduct annual Master examinations and name the first MASTERS OF BOURBON titleholders in history. New MASTERS OF SCOTCH were also announced.

Judges and candidates underwent 3 intensive days of training, tasting and examination that led to the identification of an inaugural class of new MASTERS, on both the Bourbon as well as Scotch track.

The examination included an intense blind tasting exam, a detailed oral theory exam, as well as a wideranging 6-question essay exam. Candidates were reviewed on all aspects of the world of Bourbon (or Scotch, respectively); covering history, production, all major distilleries, trade, tasting, laws and more.

The international judging panel consisted of Council board members, featuring only globally acclaimed whiskey authorities.

This year’s senior judges in residence were Steve Beal, Lew Bryson, Marty Duffy, Sebastien Gavillet, Tobias Gorn, Monique Huston, Arthur Nägele, and Bernhard Schäfer.

New Council members serving for the first time as full judges included MASTERS OF SCOTCH Dan Crowell, Jerad Justesen, Guy Sporbert, John Wabeck and Sam Wright.

Judges evaluated all candidates independently and elected new Masters based on agreed-upon standards developed and upheld by the Council. To become a candidate in the MASTER program, individuals must first pass the CERTIFIED BOURBON (or SCOTCH) PROFESSIONAL exam, and in a second step pass the CERTIFIED WHISKEY SPECIALIST exam to demonstrate global knowledge. The study program is open to all individuals, from around the world, through enrollment at www.WhiskeyMasters.org.

THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS congratulates the following professionals to their monumental achievement in whisk(e)y:

CHASE HENRY, MASTER OF BOURBON

MARK RUCKER, MASTER OF BOURBON

TOM MCCORMICK, MASTER OF BOURBON

JAY JORDAN, MASTER OF BOURBON

JUSTIN STRUMPFER, MASTER OF BOURBON

JUSTIN BOYER, MASTER OF SCOTCH

ADAM EDMONSOND, MASTER OF SCOTCH

SIDDHARTH SAWKAR, MASTER OF SCOTCH

On April 27th, 2023, the above individuals have joined the COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS as members for life, subject to the Council’s code of ethics. Those candidates who did not pass all parts of the exam will be supported and mentored by the Council towards success in later examinations.

The COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS currently consists of 48 members. Since 2019, the Council has developed and supported thousands of certification candidates, from 50 countries.

The next on-site MASTER exams (both Scotch and Bourbon) are expected to take place in the West Highlands of Scotland in spring of 2024.

All program information can be found at www.WhiskeyMasters.org

The full list of Masters and board members is published at www.whiskeymasters.org/whiskey-masters

Contact information: Office@WhiskeyMasters.org