Dr.sc.biotech. Kristijan Damijanić, PhD in Biotechnology, works as a professor of viticulture at the Polytechnic of Rijeka. Since 2005, he has participated as a chairman, secretary, and evaluator in numerous regional and international wine and spirits competitions. He is a certified taster of wines, olive oils, and spirits. He has been the chairman of the judging panel since the first GinIstra in 2022.

Dr.sc. Igor Lukić is a scientific advisor at the Institute of Agriculture and Tourism in Poreč. He earned his PhD on a topic related to spirits and is involved in scientific work focused on the production, chemistry, and quality of wine and other agricultural-food products. Since 2001, he has participated in evaluating spirits at various competitions and exhibitions.

Associate Professor Dr. Marin Mihaljević Žulj was born on October 22, 1981, in Zagreb. He graduated in 2007 from the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Zagreb. Since 2009, he has been teaching at the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Zagreb, where he is currently responsible for three modules: "Fundamentals of Grape Brandy and Cognac Technology," "Quality of Grape and Fruit Brandy," and "Research on the Aroma of Wine and Spirits." In 2014, he became a certified sensory evaluator of wine and fruit wine in accordance with the Regulation on Organoleptic (Sensory) Evaluation of Wine and Fruit Wine in Croatia. That same year, he completed a course in sensory evaluation of spirits in Austria (World-Spirits Academy - Bad Kleinkirchheim). He has successfully collaborated on numerous projects with distilleries in Croatia. He is the author of the book Fruit Brandies, Liqueurs, and Herbal Spirits and has authored around thirty scientific and professional papers in the field of wine and spirits technology. For many years, he has been a member of the judging panel for spirits in the Republic of Serbia and has chaired many judging panels in the Republic of Croatia. For the fourth consecutive year, he is the chairman of the judging panel at the international competition for fruit brandies, gins, and liqueurs in Zagreb, Cro Spirit.

Dr. Ivan Urošević suvlasnik destilerije Tok i konzultant u nekoliko destilerija u Srbiji i regionu. Radi kao profesor prehrambene tehnologije na Poljoprivrednom fakultetu u Bijeljini. Bavi se naučno istraživačkim radom iz oblasti tehnologije jakih alkoholnih pića. Od 2005. do danas je član velikog broja ocjenjivanja jakih alkoholnih pića. Nosilac je Međunarodne diplome WSET Spirits i ocjenjivač na međunarodnom ocenjivanju CMB Spirit Selection. Iza sebe ima veliki broj predavanja, radionica i masterclassova iz oblasti jakih alkoholnih pića.

Ticijana Ikica Piutti is a Hospitality Service teacher at the Eugen Kumičić Vocational School in Rovinj. She has been a long-time member of the Croatian Bartenders Association and holds an SCA Coffee Skills diploma. Recently, she became a certified spirits taster (ANAG) and had the opportunity to receive training at the Mixology Academy in Italy. Through continuous professional development, she has participated in numerous workshops, gaining valuable experience that she shares with her students and colleagues. She has been a judge since the first GinIstra competition.

He was born in northeastern Italy among vineyards, where he began crafting flavored brandies and liqueurs using old local recipes early in his professional life. He decided to deepen his knowledge by studying brandies and later spirits from around the world, earning the titles of ANAG evaluator and lecturer (Associazione Nazionale Assaggiatori Grappa e Acquaviti), WSET Spirits International Diploma holder, Sake Sommelier, and Unionbirrai beer judge. For years, he has been a judge at various national and international brandy and sake competitions. He is active as a speaker and consultant at national events for whiskey, rum, armagnac, mezcal, and gin. He also writes articles for SpiritoItaliano.net.

He lives and works between Gorizia and Trieste, although he has also lived in other Italian cities as well as in Australia. Currently, he is engaged as the territorial representative of ANAG (National Association of Grappa and Spirits Tasters) for Friuli Venezia Giulia, where he manages the association's events, organizes courses, and serves as a lecturer on spirits. He has attended ONAV (wine) and ONAF (cheese) courses, collaborated with other associations, and maintains connections with local distilleries. By profession, he is a computer engineer.

She graduated as a professional specialist in viticulture engineering. With over 15 years of experience as an oenologist in several wineries in Croatia, she has participated as a member and leader of panels at national and international wine and spirits competitions.

Dr.sc. Melita Zec Vojinović is a professor at the Polytechnic of Rijeka and a certified spirits taster. She has participated in regional spirits evaluations and has been a judge at the GinIstra competition since 2023.