Los Angeles International
Spirits Competition Judges

Andrew Roddy is a hospitality and beverage professional and co-owner of Ash & Vine in Palm Springs. His experience spans restaurants and hotels across Southern California, Chicago, and Nashville, and includes travel to more than 17 countries studying food and beverage traditions by observing and learning from leading hospitality programs around the world.

Jamie is a seasoned spirits industry executive with over 23 years at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, where in his final role he oversaw all Southern California on-premise business. He brings deep expertise in distributor operations, brand development, and on-premise execution across major U.S. markets. Jamie is a Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) and a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW), and is currently a partner at Black Market Spirits, based in San Luis Obispo, California.

Matthew Harrison is the founder and owner of Roadrunner Spirits, a vibrant and community-focused bottle shop that has become a must-visit destination for cocktail lovers and spirits aficionados across Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Before launching Roadrunner Spirits, Matthew cut his teeth behind the stick, working as a bartender in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, where he developed a deep passion for spirits, hospitality, and the art of cocktail creation. His work in the industry earned him recognition as a Bar Star by the San Francisco Chronicle in 2016, highlighting his impact on bar culture. His years in the service industry taught him not just how to mix drinks, but how to connect with people, spark curiosity, and introduce guests to new tastes and experiences.

Maurice DiMarino is the Beverage Director for The Cohn Restaurant Group. He oversees the beverage program for 24 restaurants in San Diego, Long Beach and Maui. Maurice is a certified sommelier, certified cicerone® and CRT certified in Tequila. He taught for 10 years of several of the wine intensive courses at the Business of Wine of the World Campus of San Diego State University. He is also the chief spirit judge for the San Diego International Wine & Spirits Competition and judges the Sommelier Challenge, LA International Spirits Competition, The Toast of the Coast, and Concourse du Spirits. He sits on the advisory board of several national beverage conferences and has consulted for multiple restaurant and beverage companies.

Chris Braun was born and raised in California. After playing professional volleyball for three years, he received an MS in Wine and Spirits from ESC in Dijon. Chris then started working in Bordeaux and later moved to the Languedoc region in southern France where he was Managing Director of Ciatti Europe in Montpellier. He received the Chevalier de l’Ordre de Merite Agricole medal for his service to the French wine industry. Chris now runs Advinture, a wine and spirits import consultancy, and is based in Southern California.

Lisa is the Lead Mixologist for Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, CA. She has also been a Spirit Judge for the Los Angeles Spirits Competition at Fairplex for 12 years. Her cocktails have been featured at the Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar After Party, The SAG Awards, The Japanese Food & Restaurant Expo, LA Food Fest, Cheers at the Farm Fairplex, and has led numerous cocktail and spirit workshops for The LA County Fair. For 25 years she was the Queen Bartender for her home restaurant Tutti Mangia Italian Chop House in Claremont, CA. She was the first bartender to successfully curate a martini course dinner featuring Chopin Vodka. Her most successful signature cocktail to date, is the Basil Lemon Drop, Est. 1999. Be sure to ask her how this cocktail came to fruition.

Pepe Martinez is a Técnico Tequilero, spirits judge, and co-founder of Don Pepe Agave Experiences and Los Angeles Tequila Club, dedicated to elevating the appreciation of agave spirits through immersive tastings, education, and storytelling. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Pepe’s passion for tequila and mezcal is deeply rooted in both tradition and technical expertise. With formal training in tequila production from the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara and multiple industry certifications, he brings a rigorous analytical approach to spirits evaluation while honoring the rich cultural heritage of Mexico’s most iconic distillates. Through Don Pepe Agave Experiences and Los Angeles Tequila Club, he fosters a community of enthusiasts and connoisseurs, curating experiences that highlight the craftsmanship and diversity of agave spirits.

Ana bartended for 10 years at Mastro’s Beverly Hills. Creating cocktails for our core program for our concept and developing the wine lists.

She is the Director of Learning & Development |Wine & Spirits for the last 13 years. Integral in developing, creating, maintaining and managing the Wine & Spirits program at 22 Mastro’s Restaurants across the nation.

Clifford Coglietti is the owner/operator of two local restaurants, with over 25 years of ownership experience. Having spent years opening more than 20 restaurants across the U.S., he’s now a 10-year Spirit Judge with a passion for blending spirits, crafting most liqueurs in-house.

Ernesto E. Aguirre, founder and owner of Aguirre Tequila Imports, established the company in 2001. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he moved to Mexico in 1990 to manage his family’s nightclub business, gaining deep industry knowledge. Frequent visits to Jalisco fueled his passion for high-end spirits, leading to extensive training in ancestral, artisanal, and modern distillation methods.

Tim McDonald, CSW CSS CS

Chief Everything Officer Wine & Spirits Spoken Here Communications

Partner & Chief Storyteller GRIFFO Distillery, Petaluma

Director of Judging California Craft Spirits and Central Coast Wine Competitions

Judge SF International Wine Competition

Judge American Distilling Institute Craft Competition

Judge LA International Wine & Spirits Competitions

Judge Spirits & Wine San Diego Wine & Spirits Challenge

Judge Toast of the Coast Wine Competition

Judge California State Fair Wine Show

Judge The Great Northwest Invitational Wine Show

former head judge at SF International and Las Vegas Global Awards

[reputation engineer, wine négociant, vigneron, restaurant manager, bartender, buyer, sommelier, wholesaler, supplier, marketer, and wedding officiant].