Stephen Beal

Panel Chair, International Whisky Competition, 2024–2026

Council of Whiskey Masters – Chairman of the Board, 2022–2023

Keeper of the Quaich

Sr. Master of Whisky - Diageo

Stephen “Steve” Beal was one of the most trusted and in-demand spirits specialists in the world, with a career spanning decades at the highest levels of the industry. A Senior Master of Whisky, Keeper of the Quaich, and former Chairman of the Board for the Council of Whiskey Masters, Steve’s influence helped shape the modern landscape of whisky appreciation and education.

He was an internationally recognized spirits consultant, spirits judge, and former brand ambassador for some of the most respected names in the business. In 2015, his lifetime contribution to the whisky world was honored with induction into the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame.

Based in San Francisco, California, Steve passed away in July 2026. His knowledge, generosity, and influence on the whisky community will be deeply missed.