London Spirits Competition releases judges lineup for 2025

This diverse panel ensures a comprehensive and insightful evaluation process (Picture: London Spirits Competition judging)
The London Spirits Competition is now accepting entries for its 2025 edition.
Producers and distillers are encouraged to submit their spirits to gain recognition and valuable feedback from leading industry professionals.
The competition assesses each spirit based on quality, value, and packaging, providing a holistic evaluation that resonates with both trade buyers and consumers
The 2025 London Spirits Competition judges line up is the best in class and this year’s lineup features a distinguished group of industry experts including importers, press, master distillers along with the top bar managers and hospitality professionals.
Here are the judges for 2025:
- Andrew de Lavis-Trafford: Head of Buying Spirits, Beers & Softs at Enotria Winecellars Ltd, UK
- Andy Loudon: Director of Bars at Scarfes Bar, Rosewood London
- Giannis Apostolopoulos: Head of Bars for Amazónico Restaurants, UK
- Romeo Bucciarelli: Bar Supervisor at Scarfes Bar, Rosewood Hotel
- Stevie Burton: Senior Bartender at Nine Lives Bar
- Claudia Carrozzi: Head of Beverage at Cunard and UKBG President
- Oscar Angeloni: Bar Manager at The Connaught
- Marcello Cauda: Bars Manager at The Berkeley Hotel, Maybourne Group, London
- Marco Grisa: Head of Bars at Dover Yard, London
- Minas Kotoulas: Group Head of Bars, The Wolseley Hospitality Group
- Nick Larsson-Bell: Senior Spirits and Beer Buyer at Harvey Nichols
- Michele Lombardi: Head Mixologist at Four Seasons Park Lane
- Cristiana Pirinu: Assistant Director of Mixology at The Donovan Bar
- Diana Aladzic: Duty Manager at Inception Group
- Ali Ali: Bar Manager at Speakeasy
- Allan Anderson: Master Distiller and Whisky Expert
- Matteo Aristei: Assistant Bar Manager at 14 Hills
- Michele Becatti: Bar Manager at Novikov Doha
- Tom Byrne: Bar Manager at The Hoxton, Holborn
- Giusy Castaldo: Global Red Hand Campari at Campari Group
- Enrico Chiappini: Senior Bartender at Dukes Hotel
- Luca Cicalese: Head Mixologist at Velvet By Salvatore Calabrese
- Sam Cooklin-Smith: Founder & Director of Kore Drinks
- Floriano Cubeddu: Bars Manager at 1 Warwick
- Giuseppe Destefano: Assistant Bar Manager at 1920 Dubai
- Bruno Fidone: Mixologist at The Ritz
- Michał Fink: Assistant Bar Manager at Oblix Restaurant
- Bruno Gattino: Head Bartender at Mi Lounge Bar
- Lorenzo Gavelli: General Manager at Disrepute
- Colin Hampden-White: Presenter on The Three Drinkers on Amazon Prime
- Kim Hutchinson: Category Ambassador for Gin at London Competitions
- Roberto Iannelli: Beverage Consultant and Co-Founder of Mixing Dreams Ltd
- Claudio Iucolino: Bar Manager at Nikita
- Lorenzo Manconi: Head Mixologist at Florattica at Canopy by Hilton London City Hotel
- Salvatore Megna: Director of Mixology Presso at The Stafford London
- Marco Meloni: Assistant Bar Manager at The NoMad Hotel
- Ruchira Neotia: Drinks Consultant & Founder of Ruchira’s Table
- Lorenzo Piscitello: Bartender at Scarfes Bar, Rosewood Hotel
- Luca Ponte: Assistant Restaurant Manager at Claridge’s
- Giuseppe Quartararo: Senior Bartender at Nightjar and Global Brand Ambassador of World of Mixologists
- Nelson Reis: Retail Duty Manager at Speciality Drinks Group
- Dennis Sadovyak: Bar Manager at The Wolseley Hospitality Group
- Barbara SC: Spirits Advisor at The Whisky Exchange
- Sebastian Soh: Luum Manager at Sunset Hospitality Group
- Fabio Spinetti: Bar Operations Manager at Donovan’s Bar
- Marco Stella: Bars Manager at Maona Monte Carlo
- Filip Stribrny: Assistant Bar Manager at Sexy Fish, London
- Cosmin Tigroso: Head Bartender at Sun Street Hotel
- Matteo Torresin: Bartender at The Dorchester
- Giovanni Turano: Restaurant Manager at Meliá Hotels International
- Jason Vaswani: Head Buyer of Old & Rare Spirits at Speciality Drinks Group
- Arnaud Volte: Head Bartender at Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel
- Emma Walker: Master Blender at Johnnie Walker
- Craig Wallace: Whisky Creation Leader and Master Blender at Diageo
- Laura Willoughby MBE: Low and No Alcoholic Drinks Buyer, Founder of Club Soda, The Mindful Drinking Movement
- Emilia Wrelton: Bar Manager at Sloane
This diverse panel brings together top bartenders, mixologists, bar managers, buyers, and industry experts, ensuring a comprehensive and insightful evaluation process.
Key dates
- Registration deadline: 28 February, 2025
- Warehouse closes: 7 March, 2025
- Judging dates: 26 & 27 March, 2025
- Winners announcement: 22 April, 2025