Judges

David Wondrich

“A living iPod of drink lore and recipes” (the New York Times), or, if you prefer, a “crazy, bearded Civil War general” (Conan O’Brien), David Wondrich is the world’s foremost expert on the history of the American cocktail. Plus, Stephen Colbert thinks he’s cute. As Esquire magazine’s long-time Drinks Correspondent, Wondrich has ranged far and wide through the world of booze, covering everything from Kentucky bourbon to Chinese cocktails. He also writes for Saveur (where he is the Wine and Spirits Editor) and The Malt Advocate (where he is the cocktail columnist), and has contributed to a host of other publications, from Gourmet, Bon Appetit and Wine & Spirits to Oprah, Real Simple, Martha Stewart’s Blueprint, Marie Claire and too many others to count. In 2009, his drink writing earned him the Tales of the Cocktail Spirit Award for best drinks writing. Oh, and Stephen Colbert thinks he’s cute… Click for Full Bio

Doug Frost

Doug Frost is a Kansas City author who writes and lectures about wine, beer and spirits. In 1991 he passed the rigorous Master Sommelier examination and two years later became America’s eighth Master of Wine. He was the second person in history to complete both exams and sixteen years later he is still one of only three people in the world to have achieved both these remarkable distinctions. According to USA Today, “Frost likely knows as much as anyone in the world about how to make, market, serve and identify wines.”

Mr. Frost’s love of wine began in the late 1970’s as a waiter and wine steward, although he dates his first interest to a glass of Louis Martini 1968 Special Select Pinot Noir when he was fifteen years old. Frost was a fine wine wholesaler in the Kansas City area for fourteen years and, in that capacity, represented most of the best wineries and estates from America and the world. … Click for Full Bio

Ryan Maybee

Ryan Maybee is a self-described restaurateur and expert in the fields of wine, spirits and mixology. To Maybee, the craft of bartending is more than just making a drink. Rather, he believes bartending is a true skill akin to the professionalism of chefs and their culinary educations. This belief in bartending as an art form has been the basis for his career and educational pursuits in the beverage industry.

Maybee’s background in beverages is as varied the cocktails he designs. He began his career in the industry as a bartender at a Kansas City icon, Pierpont’s at Union Station. He graduated to hold the position of sommelier at Pierpont’s and created the restaurant’s signature cocktail called, “The Library Ladder.”… Click for Full Bio

Jenny Vergara

Jenny Vergara is a full time Foodie and a woman on quest to develop her palate and herself through cooking, eating, drinking, traveling and writing. She’s a devout supporter of the culinary arts in Kansas City and beyond. As a food writer, she pens the Table Hopping column for Tastebud Magazine and is the author of a popular food blog called Making a Foodie found at http://www.makingafoodie.com. Finally, she is the force and Founder behind the Test Kitchen, Kansas City’s Underground Supperclub. Test Kitchen is a secret dining society where local chefs and members come together for one-night only culinary events. To learn more go to: http://www.testkitchenkc.com.

Katie Van Luchene

Katie Van Luchene says one of her first sensory memories involves spirits. “I remember the sound of adult laughter around my Aunt Dorothy’s downstairs bar, Christmas tunes on the stereo, the aroma of turkey and rolls, the taste of a whiskey-macerated cherry from my dad’s Manhattan and the pale green color of Mom’s Grasshopper. I’ll always equate a good cocktail with those times.”

Now, as executive editor of KC Magazine, Katie imbibes in well-crafted drinks at local establishments and calls it her journalistic duty. The magazine features articles on wine and spirits written by guest columnists, including Ryan Maybee, and one of its most hotly contested “Annual City’s Best” awards is for top bartender… Click for Full Bio