Spirit Awards Judges

Nick Stock

TASTING AUSTRALIA DRINKS CURATOR

Nick Stock is one of Australia's most respected and prolific wine critics. His deep involvement in wine stretches well beyond wine-writing to show-judging, educating, broadcasting and winemaking. His wealth of knowledge extends to all corners of the wine world and this, combined with his frank and fearless style, has made him one of the most popular and widely read Australian wine writers. Nick was awarded Best Drinks Journalist at the 2007 Le Cordon Bleu World Food Media Awards.

Bill Lark

Tasting Australia Spirit Awards Patron

Bill and wife Lyn started distilling liqueur from their Tasmanian home in 1992. Today, Bill (nicknamed the 'Godfather of Australian Whisky') is one of the country’s most recognised names in distilling, and is a World Whisky Award Hall of Fame inductee. He has been involved with the Tasting Australia Spirit Awards as a judge since its inception in 2018 and is now Patron for the awards, working alongside the judges to enhance the overall judging process.

Ollie Margan

Head Judge

Ollie Margan is the owner of Maybe Mae and multiple other hospitality venues across Adelaide CBD and surrounds. He has been involved with the Tasting Australia Spirit Awards for three years.

Amy Martin

With 6 years providing support and sales to distillers nation wide, Amy is passionate about the Australian Distilling Industry and assisting distillers with base spirit options, in turn helping them create award winning craft products on an international level.

Brendan Carter

Brendan has worked with iconic wine producers such as S.C. Pannell, Jacob's Creek, G.D. Vajra and a raft of smaller producers in the Adelaide Hills. With his partner Laura, Brendan founded Unico Zelo and Applewood Distillery in 2012 out of a mutual love of the Australian landscape and a passion to push forward sustainable practices in the beverage industry that protect the future of the land.  

Darren Lange

Darren Lange is the founder of leading oak supplier, and presenting partner of the Tasting Australia Spirit Awards, Master Cask. The last 20 years of his career have been focused on oak, initially as an employee of a leading importer and distributor of French and American oak wine barrels. Darren founded Master Cask in 2010, realising a vision to assemble his own portfolio of cooperages.

Graham Wright

With 25 years in the premium wine and spirits trade, current owner of The Odd Whisky Coy, Graham specialises in odd, rare and downright drinkable single malt whiskies, agent for Springbank Distillers and in a previous life was auctioneer and valuer at Oddbins Wine Auctions.

Marcus Motteram

Marcus Motteram is the owner of award winning bar Hains & Co., a bar with a focus on gin and rum with a penchant for whisky and cigars. He has 29 years experience in the industry opening 6 licensed venues from cafes to cocktail bars. Marcus spends time with suppliers daily, tasting everything they have to offer and is passionate and excited about Australia's distilling and spirits scene.  

Mark Reginato

Owner of Hellbound Wine Bar and spirit and wine distributer through Man of Spirit and Connect Vines, Mark is well-known throughout the Adelaide hospitality industry as a beverage connoisseur and returns in 2021 as an esteemed judge for the Tasting Australia Spirit Awards. 

Marshall King

Marshall King is co-owner-operator of Clever Little Tailor and Pink Moon Saloon. He left a PhD in Political Theory to follow what became his true passion – finding, creating, and consuming delicious liquids!

Nick Corletto

Current Managing Partner of Maybe Mae, Nick has over 8 years of experience in bars with focus on cocktails, spirits and Australian produce. Competing regularly in state and national level cocktail competitions, his drinks knowledge is reflective of classical formats and seasonal produce. 

Stephen Pannell

S.C. Pannell Wines was established by Stephen and his wife in 2004, producing dry-grown and environmentally sustainable shiraz and grenache. Stephen has been voted by his peers as one of the top ten winemakers in the country, was once named the International Red Winemaker of the year and been labelled as one of the 50 most influential contributors to the world of wine by Decanter Magazine. 

Stuart Morrow

Stuart has almost 20 years experience in the beverage industry. He has won Time Out Magazine’s Best Bartender award and ALIA’s Bar Manager of the Year, and has written a number of articles for Bartender Magazine and Diageo Bar Academy. Stuart now works at 78° Distillery, leading new product development and commercial projects, as well as working across advocacy, export, and sales.