Top Journalists in Distilleries
Kara Newman Wine Enthusiast
Writer-at-Large and Spirits Reviewer at Wine Enthusiast; longtime drinks journalist and cocktail book author based in New York. Specialties: Spirits reviews, whiskey and RTDs, cocktail trends, category deep-dives.
email | website | outlet profile
Clay Risen The New York Times
New York Times reporter who frequently writes about whiskey and distilling; author of American Whiskey, Bourbon & Rye and other category-defining books. Specialties: American whiskey (bourbon/rye), Scotch, spirits industry features and books.
Aaron Goldfarb VinePair (Writer-at-Large)
Writer-at-Large at VinePair and award-winning spirits journalist with regular bylines at NYT, WSJ, Esquire and more. Specialties: Spirits industry investigations, whiskey culture, cocktails, brand profiles.
website | Muck Rack | outlet profile
Dave Broom JancisRobinson.com (Spirits expert)
One of the world’s most respected spirits writers; JancisRobinson.com’s spirits expert and author of The World Atlas of Whisky and A Sense of Place. Specialties: Global whisky (Scotch/Japanese), rum, category education, books/film.
email | website | outlet profile
Lew Bryson Freelance (former Whisky Advocate)
Veteran whiskey and beer writer; former longtime managing editor at Whisky Advocate and author of Tasting Whiskey and Whiskey Master Class. Specialties: American whiskey, distilling history, consumer education, opinion.
Wayne Curtis Freelance
Award-winning spirits columnist and author of And a Bottle of Rum; contributes to outlets including Imbibe, Garden & Gun and The Daily Beast. Specialties: Rum, American spirits history, cocktail culture, long‑form features.
Becky Paskin OurWhisky Foundation / Freelance
Drinks journalist and presenter; founder of the OurWhisky Foundation and former editor of The Spirits Business and Scotchwhisky.com. Specialties: Whisky (Scotch/global), industry equality and representation, presenting.
website | Muck Rack | Instagram
Alice Lascelles Financial Times
Award-winning drinks columnist for the Financial Times and author of The Cocktail Edit and The Martini: The Ultimate Guide to a Cocktail Icon. Specialties: Luxury spirits, cocktails, bar culture, wine & spirits columns.
Jonah Flicker Robb Report / Freelance
New York-based whiskey critic and spirits writer with regular columns and reviews for Robb Report, Esquire, Food & Wine, Liquor.com and more. Specialties: Whiskey reviews/criticism, new releases, distillery features, lifestyle.
Emma Janzen Freelance
James Beard Award–winning author and journalist focused on agave spirits and sense‑of‑place distilling; contributor to Punch, Eater and others. Specialties: Agave spirits (mezcal/tequila), terroir-driven categories, global bar culture, books.
Robert Simonson The New York Times / PUNCH / Freelance
Cocktail and spirits writer for The New York Times; author and Substack publisher (The Mix) with extensive spirits and distillery reporting. Specialties: Cocktails and spirits, bar and distillery coverage, books.
email | website | X (Twitter)
Tim McKirdy VinePair
Managing Editor at VinePair and host of the Cocktail College podcast; leads spirits tastings and buying guides across whisky, rum, tequila and more. Specialties: Spirits tastings, buying guides, category rankings, podcast hosting.
email | outlet profile | Muck Rack
Tony Sachs Forbes / Food & Wine / Alcohol Professor
Spirits contributor at Forbes and Food & Wine; longtime drinks writer with regular whiskey coverage and tastings. Specialties: Whiskey (Scotch/Irish/American), rum, product spotlights, human‑interest spirits stories.
Forbes profile | website | Instagram
Hamish Smith Drinks International / CLASS Magazine
Bars Editor at Drinks International and Editor of CLASS; chairs The World’s 50 Best Bars voting for the UK & Ireland and covers global spirits trends. Specialties: Global bars and brands, industry rankings (Bar World 100), category trends.
email | Muck Rack | Outlet contact
Melita Kiely The Spirits Business
Editor‑in‑Chief of The Spirits Business, overseeing global spirits trade coverage and competitions. Specialties: Trade news, category reports, brand launches, competitions (Global Spirits Masters).
Richard Woodard Just Drinks / Freelance
Veteran wine & spirits journalist contributing to Just Drinks, Decanter and others; known for clear-eyed analysis of global spirits and distillery trends. Specialties: Global spirits business analysis, Scotch/Japanese whisky, cognac, tequila.
author page | bio | Muck Rack
Maggie Kimberl American Whiskey Magazine
Content Editor of American Whiskey Magazine and Co‑Chair of the World Whiskies Awards USA; Louisville‑based bourbon specialist and judge. Specialties: American whiskey and bourbon culture, judging/tastings, awards.
Nino Kilgore‑Marchetti The Whiskey Wash
Founder and Editor‑in‑Chief of The Whiskey Wash, an award‑winning whiskey lifestyle publication covering distilleries and releases worldwide. Specialties: Whiskey news and reviews, consumer education, new releases and brand coverage.
Liza Weisstuch Whisky Magazine / Freelance
Freelance journalist and U.S. contributing editor for Whisky Magazine; writes widely on distilleries, spirits and travel. Specialties: Whisky features, distillery profiles, travel & culture reporting tied to spirits.
Muck Rack | Whisky Magazine (US Contributing Editor)
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