Council of Whiskey Masters adds 16 members
Education body The Council of Whiskey Masters has welcomed 16 new members following its annual exam, held last month in Texas, US.
Held between 22-25 April at the Garrison Brothers Distillery in Texas Hill Country, the four-day event was attended by more than 40 council members and candidates.
The annual Master’s examinations confirmed Masters in Scotch and Bourbon, as well as a new generation of Masters of Whiskey and Whisky named by the council for their global whisky knowledge.
The April 2025 examinations featured blind tastings, comprehensive oral theory exams, and essays covering a variety of topics. The international judging panel comprised current Masters as well as members of the council’s board.
Candidates were evaluated on all aspects of their chosen specialisation, including knowledge of history, production methods, major distilleries, industry, tasting skills, and an understanding of regulations and standards of identity.
Judges assessed each candidate individually and selected new Masters based on established standards upheld by the council.
To qualify for the Master’s programme, individuals must first complete the first and second levels through remote study.
The council also announced the appointment of Monique Huston, vice-president of spirits at Winebow, as the new chairwoman of the board.
She will take over the role from current chairman Bernhard Schäfer in January 2026.
New members
At this year’s annual exams, the title of Master of Scotch was awarded to five new members: Octavio Bernal, Jeffrey LaBelle, Megan Sawkar, Robert Späth, and Jamie Wen.
William Breeden, Andy Cartin, Siddharth Sawkar, and Bethne Stewart were recognised as Master of Bourbon.
The council allows graduates to choose either ‘whiskey’ or ‘whisky’ for their title, in line with their specialisation.
Four new members were awarded Master of Whisky: James Ball, Will Breslaw, Mark Griffith, and Andy Westley.
Chase Henry, Kevin Malta, and Justin Strumpfer chose to be recognised with Master of Whiskey.
The council
The Council of Whiskey Masters comprises over 80 members worldwide, and numerous industry veterans have served on the board of advisors since its inception in 2019.
Notable members include Steve Beal, Dave Broom, Martin Duffy, Sébastien Gavillet, Monique Huston, Charles MacLean, Becky Offringa, Hans Offringa, Tobias Gorn, Paul Pacult, Peggy Noe Stevens, Arthur Nägele, and Andy Watts.
Additionally, over the past year, several whisky authorities have joined the council’s board, including Rachel Barrie, John Campbell, Susan Reigler, Stefan van Eycken, Nancy Fraley, Stephanie Macleod, and Michael D’Souza.
The study programme is open to participants from all over the world, and the next Master’s exams are scheduled to take place in 2026 in the Scottish Highlands.
Last year, the council welcomed 17 new members after exams were held at the Isle of Raasay Distillery in Scotland.
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