Topic: A Sip of Knowledge with Brad Kraus of Pedro Mandinga Rum

Hosts: Liz Rhoades, Lew Bryson, & Martin Duffy

What You'll Learn: Join a trio of drink industry veterans in weekly conversation on whiskey, spirits, distilling, marketing, and the current state of the drink industry. This week, Brad Kraus, master distiller at Pedro Mandinga Rum, joins the group.

Brad Kraus is a professional brewer of 31 years experience and is currently Master Brewer for Cerveceria La Rana Dorada and Master Distiller for Pedro Mandinga Rum, both in Panama.

He is a brewery consultant for 26 years, and worked on projects in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and the Dominican Republic.

Brad first judged the Great American Beer Festival in 1992 and has 25 years on the Professional Panel.

He also judged the World Beer Cup, 1996-2018, the International Beer Cup, Yokohama, Japan 2014-2019, the Copa Cervezas de las Americas, Chile 2016-2019, the Ibeerian Awards, Aveiro, Portugal 2016-2019, the KPR Kraft Roku, Poznan, Poland, 2017-2019, Concurso Brasileiro de Cervejas, Blumenau, Brazil, 2017 & 2019, and Copa Quetzal, Guatemala 2019.

Brad won 6 Great American Beer Festival medals, and over 100 medals in regional, national and international competition. He has won 7 international medals for his rums, including his Silver, Spiced, Blend (Aged), and Geisha Coffee Liqueur.

Liz Rhoades, founder of Spirit Safe Consulting, former research scientist for DIAGEO, distilling consultant, spirits writer for The Whiskey Wash & presenter.

Lew Bryson, former managing editor for Whisky Advocate Magazine for 20 years, whiskey author, beer/whiskey writer and presenter.

Martin Duffy, former DIAGEO Master of Whisky for the Midwest, DIAGEO Reserve Brand Ambassador for The Republic of Ireland, North American Brand Representative for Glencairn Crystal.