Selector Bios
Who is picking all these fantastic whiskeys?
This calendar was started in 2017 by a few people in a cigar club on the way back from their annual golf trip. Each person in the group was asked to select two whiskeys to put in the calendar. As "My Whiskey Advent" grew beyond the cigar club, we introduced the scoring system. In 2021, we started asking several people who placed pretty high on the scoreboard to select a whiskey for the following year's calendar. This year's pickers are a combo of the top 3 advent particpants from 2024 and some cigar club alum.
Matt Atkins - 2024 finish: 2nd
Physician by profession, apple grower by poor impulse control. I fix people; I argue with trees. Sometimes I write myself up for malpractice when cider happens.
Greg Baur* - 2024 finish: 3rd
When he isn’t running Baur Renovations, Greg is busy renovating his own palate, mostly by trying to wash away the memory of any Scotch that reminds him of a "rubber fire" or "burnt assholes" (his actual reviews).
*Greg's bio and pic are AI-generated based on Greg's advent tasting profile.
Matt Eagle (aka Precious)- 2024 finish: 51st
He’s the guy who turns a quiet night in into a mini speakeasy—good whiskey, good chair, zero apologies (trite and cringey bio brought to you by ChatGPT...but that bio pic looks pretty much just like him).
Derek Glunz (aka Quotes) - 2024 finish: 25th
Derek "Quotes" Glunz grew up in Charlotte, went to NC State and now lives in Philadelphia with his wife & three kids. He is tall and good at math. His house bourbon is Four Roses Yellow Label, but he loves to dabble in Suntory Japanese single malts on occasion.
James Hatfield (aka Hanky) - 2024 finish: 12th
Bad golfer, good father, ok husband, good stock picker, ok tech guy, entrepreneur, great smoker of meats, great lawn mower, and best of all, great whiskey picker.
James Hopkins (aka Tubs) - 2024 finish: 39th
James is a fun person that LOVES Scotch, will drink Bourbon, and struggles to understand other whiskeys. He enjoys 3-day weekends, cigars, food, and friends. He has never come close to placing in the top 5...or 50% of this advent calendar—and he's okay with that. He's here for the whiskey. His cigar club refers to him as Tubs—his 3 Core Values are Gratitude, Interdependence and Hope.
Nate Knuffman* - 2024 finish: 1st
A 3-time whiskey advent calendar champion and devout Oktoberfest lover, Nate applies the same efficiency to whiskey ratings that he does to overseeing UNC’s finances. His dynasty is built on a heavy bias for Bourbon and a respectful disdain for Scotch, though the real threat to his title(s) is likely his wife, Hallie, who tastes alongside him with a palate dangerously close to eclipsing his own.
*Nate's bio and pic are AI-generated based on Nate's advent tasting profile.
Erin Kraftchick - 2024 finish: 4th
As Cory's wife, Erin has been dubbed The First Lady of the Advent (by her husband), but she's also a top-tier calendar competitor. Erin finished 4th in 2024 by treating Bourbon like a science and Scotch like a personal insult. While she loves whiskey, her data suggests that love is severely tested whenever she opens a bottle and smells something she describes as a "dirty medicinal bandage." With a 7.83 average for Bourbon and a "devil made Scotch" philosophy for Single Malts, she proves that you can have an elite palate and still refuse to drink things that taste like a "Wings beach shop."
Jonathan (Cory) Kraftchick (aka Hef) - 2024 finish: 20th
I'm the kind of guy that uses his first and middle name and makes it weird when those circles collide. I love whiskey, but like sharing a glass with others more.
John McDowell (aka Worm) - 2024 finish: 7th
John is an anesthesiologist in Raleigh. He enjoys golf, cigars, and high-proof whiskey…but mainly loves being responsible.
Allan Maule (aka PPP) - 2024 finish: 5th
Prior to choosing the two best whiskies in this year's Advent Calendar, Allan's most unexpected achievement was having his video game-inspired play EverScape produced in the New York Fringe Festival. Allan lives in Durham and writes all kinds of things, sometimes for money. His favorite bird is the brown thrasher.
Josh Mitchell* (aka Body) - 2024 finish: 10th
Lover of good drams, cozy December nights, and discovering something new one sip at a time. I’m here for bold flavors, great conversation, and the occasional friendly debate over whether peat is a lifestyle or a cry for help.
In a group of peat-haters and proof-hounds, Josh is the anchor of aggressive mediocrity. He is the Goldilocks of the whiskey calendar: nothing too hot, nothing too weird. His life mantra is the same as his reaction when people get excited about anything - "Everybody just needs to calm down".
*This bio and pic are AI-generated based on who knows what, but knowing Josh, this is 100% inaccurate, except for loving cozy December nights.
Mark Peters* (aka Shaft) - 2024 finish: 29th
A Raleigh nurse and avid golfer, Mark has spent every Advent since 2017 growing a beard that tragically acts as a flavor saver for the Scotch he despises. Affectionately not known as Mark Peaters, he treats peat like a medical emergency, averaging a dismal 5.55 for Scotch vs. 7.09 for Bourbon. As he famously noted, drinking Laphroaig is just "putting this one on the list... of things to avoid."
*Mark's bio pic is AI-generated and a reminder not to drink while you're in the operating room.