Apply to Be a Judge

We’re looking for individuals who bring both experience and integrity to the table. As a judge for the Kentucky Bourbon Awards, you’ll be part of a carefully curated panel tasked with recognizing excellence across a wide range of spirits. Your palate, perspective, and professionalism will help us celebrate the best of Kentucky’s bourbon heritage and ensure each entry is evaluated with the care, attention, and respect it truly deserves from beginning to end.

Judging is conducted through a blind tasting process to ensure fairness and eliminate bias. We do not accept judges who have active marketing or sales roles tied to participating brands, and all applicants are vetted thoroughly. Whether you’re a distiller, bartender, spirits educator, or an experienced taster with deep bourbon knowledge, we encourage you to apply. A balanced mix of backgrounds allows for thoughtful discussion, better decision making, and stronger consensus. Judges must also commit to our code of conduct, designed to uphold transparency, ethics, and mutual respect throughout the entire process from start to finish.

If selected, you’ll gain access to exclusive industry recognition opportunities, be featured on our website, and play a direct role in shaping the future of Kentucky bourbon. This is a meaningful way to give back to the craft and elevate the voices of truly outstanding producers across the region and beyond.