The 27th Annual NB Spirits Festival
Guest Bios
Guest Bios

The current schedule, program, etc. are from the 2023 show, and will be replaced with up-to-date information as the event plan is solidified.

Here are some of our industry guests for 2023. We'll update this on a regular basis as our list of events gets nailed down.

Amanda Beckwith
Amanda Beckwith
Lead Blender and Education Manager - Virginia Distillery Company

Amanda Beckwith is the Lead Blender and Education Manager at Virginia Distillery Company. She started with the company in 2015, after spending time in the non-profit and education fields. After launching the tour and tasting program for the distillery's Visitors Center, Amanda moved into sensory and blending activities to support the growing product portfolio.

She has been fortunate to train with titans in the spirits industry, including nosing expert Nancy Fraley, Scottish consultants Harry Cockburn, and the late Dr. Jim Swan.

Amanda helped to develop and now leads the company's sensory program and product development. Most days she can be found dividing her time between the cask houses where she performs whisky analysis and cask selection, and the vatting house, where she works on various blends in the Virginia Distillery Company line up.

Stuart Brown
Stuart Brown
Diageo Brand Ambassador

Stuart Brown was trained in Scotland nearly 20 years ago by Master Distillers and Master Blenders at the famed Cardhu Distillery, in Speyside, for Johnnie Walker and the Classic Malts.

He has toured the country from coast to coast mentoring private functions as well as countless consumer events for thousands of Scotch and Whisky enthusiasts.

Stuart has also been part of the Master Class Program at Whisky Live and The Spirit of Toronto.

Stuart is considered to be amongst the most engaging Whisky presenters in the country delivering his events with a passion for the spirit unequalled by others.

Emma Coady
Emma Coady
Single Malt Specialist for Canada - Whyte & Mackay

Emma started her career in the hospitality industry when she was only 15, working in various restaurants, wineries and eventually moving into a Sales Representative. She had the opportunity to travel to Scotland last fall and visit many of the Whyte & Mackay distilleries. Feeling inspired by the craft of whisky making, the extensive history and beautiful stories from these distilleries, Emma knew she wanted to pursuit a career in whisky.

In 2023, she became the Single Malt Specialist for Whyte & Mackay in Canada, representing incredible Scotch brands such as The Dalmore, Jura, Fettercairn and Tamnavulin.

Ray Daniel
Ray Daniel
Beam Suntory Bourbon Ambassador

Ray Daniel brings with him nearly two decades of experience behind the bar, from Europe to North American where he is currently the Beam Suntory Bourbon Ambassador to Canada.

Hailing from Ireland, he has a huge and broad range of knowledge of whiskey, and the bourbon category in particular. With a long background in competitive bartending, Ray's escapades have landed him in competitions and as a guest speaker and lecturer throughout Canada, Mexico and the USA and appearing in publications such as Whisky Magazine and The New York Times.

Jam packed with passion, humour and a massive respect for the history of Whiskey, Rays presentations have become a much sought-after affair.

Taylore Darnel
Taylore Darnel
The Spirited Chef

Taylore is a Red Seal Certified Chef, graduated with honours from the Professional Culinary Arts program at the Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver and the Hotel and Restaurant Management Program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. She also studied as a CGA and spent much time combining the "Corporate Gig" and her food knowledge, but ultimately changed her life to focus on what she loves: creating food that transcends language and feeds people's souls as well as their bellies.

As part of her work, she has written curriculum and recipes and taught unique classes on local food and beverages and food-related history. Teaching is her passion, passing on knowledge of herbs and edible flowers, methods of preserving, using indigenous foods, celebration foods and creating food as medicine.

Then there is the "other" kind of fermentation, the kind that makes beautiful wines and deliciously creative craft brews, and what has intrigued her the most... the world of spirits, particularly Scotch and other whiskies, but also craft gin, tequila, rum and the resurgence of special spirits such as absinthe and aquavit. Applying a chef's palate to tasting, pairing, and creating food with these liquid treasures is her specialty.

Mark Gillespie
Mark Gillespie
Founder & Host - Whiskycast

Host of WhiskyCast. Journalist, podcaster, photographer, & writer.

WhiskyCast began in 2005, and has become one of podcasting's longest-running shows, along with a global online whisky community. In addition to the weekly podcast, Mark also hosts the monthly WhiskyCast Tasting Panel podcast and WhiskyCast HD video segments.

Mark was previously a contributing editor to Whisky Magazone and is also a veteran broadcast and electronic journalist, having worked directly or as a freelancer for Bloomberg News, The Wall Street Journal Radio Network, The Gallup Organization, MSNBC, and several television and radio stations.

Tish Harcus
Tish Harcus
Brand Ambassador - Canadian Club

Tish is responsible for managing the Canadian Club Brand Center in Walkerville, Ontario, and attends whisky shows in Canada and the US to share her love of the portfolio. With over 27 years of experience representing the brand, she is a key member of the Global CC marketing team.

In March 2014 she accepted two awards in London, England for 2013/14 Whisky Center Manager of the Year from the prestigious Icons of Whisky Association.

In 2013 Tish developed the CC Women & Whisky program for women who are interested in knowing more or discovering whisky for the first time. Since its inception, she has traveled the world sharing her knowledge with women.

Tish takes great pride in sharing Canadian Club's historical facts with key sales people, distributors and the general public.

Emmett Hossack
Emmett Hossack
Whisky Ambassador - The Scottish Society of Ottawa

Emmett Hossack's whisky journey started when he made his first trip to Scotland in 1966. It wasn't until 2002 that he began to seriously taste whisky. He is currently a member of whisky clubs in Ottawa, Cornwall, Montreal, Vancouver and Scotland.

His enthusiasm for whisky led him to start taking notes and assigning scores in 2011. He has tasted and scored over 4,000 different whiskies since then.

He has also organized and led a number of Master Classes in person and virtually across Canada. Since the pandemic, he has served on the Ottawa Whisky Guild Planning Committee which has organized and delivered over 50 virtual Master Classes, with half of them featuring renowned presenters from Scotland, Canada, and the US. Emmett is passionate about whisky and the friendships it nourishes.

David Hudyma
David Hudyma
Reserve Sales Manager - PMA Canada

David Hudyma is the Reserve Sales Manager at PMA Canada and lover of all things Scotch!

David spent a decade working in the Toronto cocktail scene before ultimately deciding to make the jump into the distillation world; David has a Diploma in Artisan Distilling from Niagara College and has worked as a Distiller for multiple Toronto based distilleries. David has designed and created Rye Whisky, Vodka, various Gins, Amari, Barley Whisky, Corn Whisky, Aquavit, Apple Brandy, Applejack, Absinthe, and many many liquors.

Prior to Distilling full time David ran virtual and in-person Whisky tasting through his own company Dave & Whisky.

David also has a BFA in Acting from the University of Windsor

Now David has the pleasure of sharing his love for the Distell line of Scotches through PMA Canada and can't wait to walk through the wonderful world of barley whisky with everyone

Jamie Johnson
Jamie Johnson
Glenfiddich National Brand Ambassador, Canada

Toronto-based Jamie Johnson, is a highly-respected whisky champion and conversationalist. She is widely known for hosting tasting events and masterclasses across Canada, as well as co-hosting the popular whisky podcast, The Whisky Topic. She has also written extensively about whisky, and whisky culture for publications like Relish & Whisky Magazine and whisky.buzz to name a few.

Jamie's in-depth knowledge of whisky began with a personal passion project when she invited (i.e. forced, in her words) friends to her Toronto home to share different bourbon drams and have spirited conversations about flavour, taste, production, and so on. This informal gathering grew, as interest in whisky spread , and soon Bourbon Thing became a real thing, with events in bars and restaurants, a fully-fledged website and partnerships with some of the city's most well-respected bartenders.

In 2018 Jamie enhanced her whisky knowledge by completing the renowned General Certificate in Distilling, building on her home-grown knowledge "with all that unromantic but crucial stuff". This gives her a qualification with international recognition underpinned by scientific knowledge and principles of distilling operations.

Woody Kane
Woody Kane
Global Brand Ambassador - Royal Oak Distillery

In 1999, Woody Kane officially entered the professional spirits world when he began assisting The Hot Irishman company with Irish Coffee & Irish Cream in R&D. From 2006, he took a greater role with The Irishman & Writers Tears brands by setting up trade show experiences and training bar staff around Ireland and worked to rebrand the whiskey/liqueur, assisting with design and the brand story.

He joined Royal Oak as ambassador in 2014 with the goal of creating a world class distillery in County Carlow. As the educator and storyteller, he began the Visitor Experience which landed him the prestigious Icon Of Whisky award. He created and managed Masterclasses for trade groups both national and international, and has been involved in the Ambassador Gloves are Off with the Irish Whiskey Society where ambassadors are asked to blind taste as well as being a judge for The World Whiskies Awards.

He's proud to be part of Royal Oak where they source the highest ingredients, from barley to water. Highly trained distillers watch carefully over the process from barley to barrel.

Davin Kergommeaux
Davin de Kergommeaux

Davin de Kergommeaux has been writing about, talking about, and teaching about whisky for two decades. In 2016 The Globe and Mail named him one of the most influential Canadians in Food and Drink.

His new book, Canadian Whisky: The New Portable Edition, second edition, was published on October 3, 2017, on the Appetite by Random House imprint.

Davin is the founder and chairperson of the Canadian Whisky Awards, and publishes comprehensive notes about Canadian whiskies on canadianwhisky.org. He lives in Canada and writes full time.

Find him on social media @Davindek.

Guillaume Lamy
Guillaume Lamy
Whisk(e)y Ambassador - Beam Inc.

Guillaume Lamy is the Vice President The Americas for Cognac Ferrand, the father of artisanal spirits based in Ars, France. He has been with the company for over 15 year and is responsible for sales, marketing and consumer education for the Cognac Ferrand brands in North and South America including: Pierre Ferrand Cognac, Citadelle Gin, Mathilde Liqueurs, Plantation Rums, Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao, Cerbois Armagnac and Daron Calvados. He was born and raised in France and did his higher studies in both France and the U.S. Mr. Lamy began working for Cognac Ferrand in France and then transferred to the U.S.

He travels to Cognac every year to work with the Alexandre Gabriel, proprietor of Cognac Ferrand, and the distillery's Cellar Master to develop new blends and decide when to release new products and vintages in the Americas. Mr. Lamy has extensive knowledge of spirits and has conducted seminars on Cognac and other French regional spirits as a guest lecturer at Boston University and Fairleigh Dickenson University. He has spread his spirits knowledge as a speaker on industry panel discussions around the country and has served as a spirits judge for many organizations, including the American Distilling Institute (ADI).

John Leroux
John Leroux
Manager of Collections and Exhibitions - Beaverbrook Art Gallery

John Leroux has practiced in the fields of art history, architecture, visual art, curation, and education, and is currently the Manager of Collections and Exhibitions at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in his hometown of Fredericton. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from McGill University, a Master of Arts in Art History from Concordia University, and a PhD in History from the University of New Brunswick.

He has worked at several award-winning architecture firms in Toronto, Atlanta, and Fredericton, and has taught at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, the University of New Brunswick, and St. Thomas University. He has won many awards for architectural and public art projects throughout Canada, and he was a team member of Canada's entry at the 2012 Venice Biennale in Architecture. A passionate advocate for the arts and for architectural conservancy, John has authored 16 books on architecture and visual culture. He is also a proud member of the Fredericton Whisky Tasting Society.

Steven Lewis
Steven Lewis

Steven has served on the organizing committee of the New Brunswick Spirits Festival and is a member of the Whisky Tasting Society of New Brunswick. Along with his wife Stacy, he has toured numerous wineries, breweries and distilleries in Canada, USA and UK.

Steven has a degree in Philosophy from Saint Thomas University and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of New Brunswick.

Bernie Lubbers
Bernie Lubbers
Global Whiskey Ambassador - Heaven Hill

Known as "The Whiskey Professor", Bernie has been a part of the renaissance and revival of Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey since 2005.In 2012, he joined the family owned and operated Heaven Hill Distillery alongside the Legendary Parker Beam, where to this day he is Heaven Hill Distillery's Whiskey Ambassador.

Bernie represents iconic brands such as Elijah Craig, Larceny, Evan Williams, Rittenhouse Rye, and Old Fitzgerald. Traveling millions of miles across the country and the world, he shares his knowledge and passion of the history, heritage, production, and maturation of America's Native Spirit.

Bernie is the author of the Best Selling Book entitled, "Bourbon Whiskey, Our Native Spirit". He has been recognized by writer/author Fred Minnick as "The person that single handedly brought Bottled-in-Bond whiskey back to the forefront." In both 2009, & 2016, Bernie was named the top Bourbon Ambassador of the United States and went on to be named the top Bourbon Ambassador of the WORLD in Whisky Magazine's highest honor of their Icons Of Whisky Awards.

Karina Mair
Karina Mair
National Brand Ambassador - Michter's American Whiskeys

Karina joined Michter's in 2022 as Eastern Canada Regional Advisor. Today, Karina's role has expanded to managing Michter's business development across the entire country as Lead Advisor for Canada.

As a native of Canada, Karina's passion for whiskey runs deep. Prior to joining Michter's, Karina spent 20+ years in the beverage industry. Starting in 2016, Karina's passion for Michter's began as she was working as a top sales representative for the importer in Toronto.

Colin MacDougall
Colin MacDougall
National Brand Education Specialist - Corby's/Pernod-Ricard

While he's a dyed-in-the-wool "Bluenoser"" who originally hails from Nova Scotia, Colin MacDougall travelled the corners of the earth before settling back into Canada on its Pacific Coast. Here he continued his passion for the spirit and wine industry becoming a specialist for an already well-respected and dedicated team at Corby's / Pernod-Ricard.

Colin knows that everything in life tells a story and he has been telling the story of the beverage industry since the early 2000's. He is an expert on the multitude of diverse stories and nuances world spirits have to offer, is a seasoned beverage program consultant, an award winning cocktail menu architect, and was a familiar face behind the bar as manager at a number of prestigious restaurants including Melbas on the Park, West, Pourhouse, and Blue Water Café.

For Colin, spirit education is more than simply an occupation - it's a golden opportunity to educate loyal fans and new acolytes alike championing the very best that the worlds distilleries and have to offer.

Johanne McInnis
Johanne McInnis

Freelance spirits writer, whisky panelist and judge with over 25 years experience as a public speaker.

Armed with an educational background in distillation she regularly travels the world and presents master classes in the UK well as North America.

Passionate, enthusiastic and entertaining; Johanne loves to share her stories, knowledge base and help others on their own spirits discovery journey.

Mike McLean
Mike McLean - Program Coordinator and Lead Trainer for Mixxit Canada by Beam Suntory

Mike McLean is the Program Coordinator and Lead Trainer for Mixxit Canada by Beam Suntory.

In this role, he is responsible for training bartenders and engaging guests across the country as a representative for the full range of Beam Suntory brands. With almost thirty years experience in the hospitality industry,

Mike is known as an entertaining and educational presenter at trade shows, media appearances, industry events and bartending competitions.

Greg Mefford
Greg Mefford
International Sales Director - Luxco

Greg Mefford is the International Sales Director for Luxco, Inc., the Branded Division of MGP, Ingredients Inc. In this role Greg develops Luxco' s Bourbon and Whiskey brands around the world. Before his work at Luxco, Greg spent 14 years with Ernest & Julio Gallo Winery including 10 years based in Europe. At Gallo, Greg was instrumental in opening new markets, building distribution, creating consumer outreach and marketing programs to support the California winery's sales efforts in Europe.

Greg brought his broad international beverage experience and personal passion for Bourbon and Whiskey to Luxco more than 8 years ago and has since overseen the development and expansion of the international distribution of Luxco's award-winning Bourbons and Whiskeys, including Blood Oath, Yellowstone, Rebel, Ezra Brooks, Remus and Rossville Union Rye among many others.

Greg possesses a degree in Political Science with a minor in International Business from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He resides in St. Louis, Missouri where Luxco's headquarters is based.

Pierre Mullin
Pierre Mullin

Pierre has served on the organizing committee of the New Brunswick Spirits Festival for over ten years. He is also a member and past president of the Whisky Tasting Society of New Brunswick.

In addition to hosting past NBSF master classes over the years, he has worked with Frank Scott on many local whisky tasting events, most of them being fundraisers for charities and non-profit organizations.

Along with his wife Donna, he has attended the Spirit of Speyside festival several times and made a point of touring distilleries and wineries in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Germany, Italy, France and the United States.

He has a degree in computer science from the University of New Brunswick, and in his day job, he manages several global software development teams that are focused on developing and delivering utility energy management solutions that enable the clean energy systems of the future. He has also served on the boards of various technology industry organizations.

James Neil
James Neil
Luxury Brand Ambassador - Beam Suntory

James Neil joined the Beam Suntory family in 2017. Prior to joining the organization he had spent 10+ years running his own hospitality consulting business along with his restaurant in the Vancouver market. His business took him across the nation, focusing on quality cocktails, wine and whisky programs. Upon his arrival in the Hamilton region he created groups such as the Hamilton Cocktail Showcase - a platform for bartenders to showcase their craft while giving back to community - which has donated over $5000 to local charities.

Since taking on in his current role, James has been featured on many podcasts and in publications: Gentolagie Magazine, The National Post, Cool Hunting Magazine as well as our dear friends at Ciders, Sodas, and Cocktails on Sportsnet 650AM with Darryl Lamb and Joe Leary to name a few.

Spending the recent years absolutely immersed in the World of Whisky, he has focused on Single Malts and Irish Whiskey. Visiting and working with the teams at each distillery, he has been able to bring life to brands such as Auchentoshan, Bowmore, Laphroaig Kilbeggan, and Tyrconnell as he shares their stories and liquid across the nation.

Eric Ryan
Eric Ryan
Powers Distiller - Irish Distillers' Midleton Distillery,

Eric Ryan is the Powers Distiller at Irish Distillers' Midleton Distillery, overseeing the quality of distillate and whiskeys within the Powers Irish Whiskey portfolio. Working closely with the distilling, blending, and marketing teams, he has a special interest in cask maturation and whiskey innovation.

Eric joined Irish Distillers in 2010 as a distilling operative and since then has graduated with an MSc in Brewing and Distilling with distinction from Heriot Watt University, receiving the 2013 University Prize for outstanding merit in independent learning. Eric was a previous winner of the Institute of Brewing & Distilling's Scotch Whisky Association Award for highest scoring candidate in the Certificate in Distilling.

Frank Scott
Frank Scott
Founder & Chairman, New Brunswick Spirits Festival

Whenever Frank Scott pours a single malt into a glass, a look of satisfaction and contentment crosses his face. No wonder. As one of Canada's most respected Scotch connoisseurs, he's passionate about whisky.

Frank co-owns and manages the Lunar Rogue, an award-winning pub in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. With more than 500 whiskies on the gantry - one of the best selections in North America - the "Rogue" is a favourite destination for whisky lovers. Whisky Magazine calls it one of the "great whisky bars of the world".

Born in Fredericton, Frank's 39-year career as a publican began in 1976 when he opened his first pub. Ten years later, he developed an interest in Scotch whisky, and, ever since, has devoted himself to expanding and sharing his knowledge about how it's produced. Since 1992, he's hosted many whisky seminars and tastings for corporate groups and charitable events.

Frank is a member and past president of the Whisky Tasting Society of New Brunswick. He has toured more than 70 distilleries and each year attends the Spirit of Speyside Festival, which named him International Ambassador during the 2014. In 2016, he was inducted as a Keeper of the Quaich.

Bryan Simpson
Bryan Simpson
National Brand Ambassador for Ardbeg & Glenmorangie

Bryan Simpson has been a part of the Scotch Whisky community for over a decade, both in his native Scotland and his new home of Canada. Born in Glasgow, but now living in Toronto, he has ignited thousands of Canadians' passion for Single Malt before being appointed Canadian Brand Ambassador for Ardbeg and Glenmorangie.

Back in Scotland, Bryan combined his love for the Highlands with his whisky tasting zeal and formed a whisky club that experienced Scotch in the heart of Scotland's wilds. His well-honed palate was developed pairing whisky drinkers with their perfect dram where he gained a reputation of hosting engaging presentations to both those new to Scotch and experienced malt enthusiasts.

Bryan's obsession with Ardbeg and Glenmorangie is not just what's in the glass, but the history of both brands and how it ties to Scotch Whisky as a whole. His interest in the scientific aspects of Scotch making is clear, but just as important to him is the social world that exists around his favourite drink and how it brings people together.

Bill Somerville
Bill Somerville
Canadian Brand Ambassador for Benromach and Gordon & MacPhail

Born in Scotland, Bill Somerville is the Canadian Brand Ambassador for Benromach and Gordon & MacPhail. Bill has an extremely varied background which has taken him all around the world and armed him many stories to tell. He is, for all intents and purposes the penultimate "international man of mystery"". Bill recently retired from SNC-Lavalin and now represents G&M and Benromach throughout Canada, this is all on top of many other professional and leisurely duties.

Gordon & Macphail is located in the North East of Scotland and are known for their unique process of purchasing spirit from distilleries throughout Scotland and maturing in their own casks. Today Gordon & MacPhail boast an impressive portfolio which include the world's oldest bottled single malts.

Benromach is a small distillery in Speyside focussed on tradition and quality above everything else. The distillery operates manually and relies heavily on the skill of their stillman. Producing a classic style of Speyside single malt and ensuring only the best quality 1st fill casks are used for maturation are of utmost importance.

Andrew Stein
Andrew Stein
Director, Emerging Markets - Uncle Nearest Inc.

Andrew Stein is the Director of Emerging Markets for Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, overseeing sales, marketing and distribution ventures for the brand across the U.S. Military andthe Caribbean channels. His efforts have helped the brand expand into numerous new countries and territories, as well as every branch of the U.S. Military.

Andrew joined the Uncle Nearest Team in 2017 with a robust sales background, bringing his personable touch and passion for people and storytelling to the forefront. He embarked on career in the spirits industry as a Brand Ambassador, and quickly proved to be a natural, playing an integral role in the brand's expansion across the Midwest. In 2019, he became the Indiana State Manager. In 2022, he transitioned to Market Manager, focusing his expertise on emerging markets for the brand. In 2023, he became the Director of Emerging Markets.

Born in Los Angeles, Andrew later moved to and grew up in Indianapolis, IN - sewing his Hoosier roots. He attended the University of Pittsburgh. After college, he followed his love for music and entrepreneurial spirit, starting a boutique consulting firm with a specialization in music management. Today, his #1 pride and joy is being a new Dad. He lives in Fishers, IN with his family.

Cody Turner
Cody Turner, MBA
Partner/COO - Casey Jones Distillery

Cody Turner is an up-and-coming figure in the spirits industry making his impact on the bourgeoning bourbon market in his role as Partner/COO at Casey Jones Distillery. With a wide range of experience across multiple domains, he has developed the exact toolkit to fast-track Casey Jones Distillery for tremendous growth.

Cody possesses a wealth of experience, with a diverse history spanning over 25 years in Information Technology, Marketing, Higher Education, Event Management, and Entrepreneurship. He is a self-taught, full stack web developer, an awarded adjunct professor of digital marketing, and a successful business consultant.

His first foray into the spirits industry was as one of the founders of a bourbon and beer tasting event. In 2019, Cody took on Casey Jones Distillery as a client in his marketing firm, with the relationship cementing the distillery as one of nation's top hand sanitizer manufacturers in 2021. In 2022, Cody joined the distillery as a partner, resolved to make Casey Jones Distillery the leading craft distillery in Western Kentucky.

Aaron Trafton
Aaron Trafton
Ptresident - Trafton Agencies

Aaron Trafton is the president of Trafton Agencies Inc., one of the oldest, and still independent agencies in Atlantic Canada. The company was established in 1972 by Aaron's father, and Aaron took over as president in 1982.

Over the years, Aaron has been at the forefront of new trends and brands in the beverage alcohol industry. His was the first agency in Canada to bring in Argentinian wines; the first to re-introduce South African wines after apartheid, and the first agency to obtain a general listing for El Dorado Rum products - over 25 years ago.

Over the 40 plus years of being in the industry, Aaron has developed a substantive knowledge of all aspects of the industry. He has travelled the globe visiting distilleries and wineries, obtaining first hand knowledge of the products, processes and methods used to create these incredibly diverse beverages. In Atlantic Canada, Aaron has established El Dorado rums as the bench mark for all premier rums, with the largest listing base for El Dorado rums in Canada. He has had the pleasure of visiting Guyana and has worked closely with El Dorado's Master blenders on acquiring detailed knowledge of what, and how El Dorado rums have become so unique and revered in the world rum category.

Chris Thompson
Chris Thompson
Brand Ambassador - Forty Creek Whisky

Falling in love with whisky at first sip, Chris Thompson aspires to share the Forty Creek story with whisky fans everywhere. With an extensive background in relationship building and creating brand experiences, his current role allows him to develop partnerships with key influencers and consumers, all the while sharing his love for the Grimsby, Ontario-based brand known for its range of complex, yet approachable whiskies.

Thompson has been an active member of the Forty Creek team, and played a key role in creating the distillery's on-site experience. Starting as a retail manager, he gained a rich understanding of the brand's offerings and was eager to share his passion for the Forty Creek portfolio with colleagues and customers.

Prior to joining Forty Creek, Thompson began his career in the entertainment industry, working on the road with Canadian and international artists, producing award shows, music festivals and corporate events. Living in Niagara, the heart of Ontario's wine country, he landed in the tourism and wine industry, helping build award-winning attractions and wineries from the ground up. When he's not working, an ideal day for Thompson entails putting on a record (yes, vinyl one!), spending time with family and enjoying a glass of Forty Creek.

Lindsay Wood
Lindsay Wood
Maker's Mark Diplomat - Eastern Canada

Lindsay has a background of over 15 years of hospitality background having managed at bars and restaurants in Toronto including Parts and Labour, Bar Raval and Dailo. She has worked in the world of craft beer, spirits sales leading to an exciting landing at Global Bourbon Brand Makers Mark.

Lindsay travels between Canada and Loretto, Kentucky hosting Canadian Leaders in beverage alcohol to the distillery, often leading them in a blending experience that is unique to Maker's Mark. Hospitality is the driver for everything Lindsay does.