Every review, article, and guide on Booze.Exchange is written by our dedicated team of spirits journalists and industry experts. We taste, research, and write independently — our opinions are never for sale.
Joe Whitfield
Editor-in-Chief
Speciality: London Dry, Distillery Heritage, Industry Analysis, Spirits Editorial
Joe has spent over fifteen years immersed in the spirits industry, beginning his career at a boutique distillery in the Cotswolds before moving into drinks journalism. As Editor-in-Chief across Gin.Directory, Rum.Directory, Whiskeyful.com, and TheVodka.Shop, he oversees editorial output spanning gin, rum, whiskey, and vodka. He is passionate about preserving the craft traditions that define each category while making spirits journalism accessible to newcomers and connoisseurs alike. He holds a Diploma in Spirits from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and has judged at the International Wine & Spirit Competition.
Ash Carrington
Reviews Editor
Speciality: Contemporary Gin, New Western, Asian Spirits, Craft Distilling
Ash brings a global palate to the team, having spent five years based in Singapore and Tokyo exploring the rapidly evolving Asian spirits scene. As Reviews Editor across Gin.Directory, Rum.Directory, and Whiskeyful.com, his reviews are known for their precision and accessibility — he believes a great review should help you decide whether a bottle belongs on your shelf. Before joining, Ash wrote for several food and drink publications across Southeast Asia and holds a Level 3 Award in Spirits from WSET.
Bishop Mercer
News & Industry Editor
Speciality: Industry News, Awards Coverage, Market Trends, Spirits Business
Bishop covers the business side of spirits with the curiosity of a journalist and the knowledge of an insider. Based in Edinburgh, he has built an extensive network of contacts across distillers worldwide, making him one of the first to report on new launches, acquisitions, and industry shifts. He handles news and industry coverage across Gin.Directory, Rum.Directory, Whiskeyful.com, and TheVodka.Shop. He previously worked in communications for Diageo before switching to editorial, and contributes to several trade publications.
David Thornton
Guides & Education Writer
Speciality: Cocktail Culture, Tasting Technique, Spirits Education, Mixology
David is a qualified bartender turned writer who believes the best way to appreciate any spirit is to understand it. His guides span gin, rum, whiskey, and vodka — from beginner-friendly introductions through to advanced cocktail technique and distillation science. He writes educational content across Gin.Directory, Rum.Directory, Whiskeyful.com, and TheVodka.Shop. He ran the bar programme at a Michelin-starred restaurant in London for six years before dedicating himself to writing full-time. His first book, "The Botanical Spirit", is due for publication next year.
Walter Graves
Features & Culture Writer
Speciality: Spirits History, Travel, Distillery Profiles, Culture & Heritage
Walter writes long-form features that explore the stories behind spirits — the people, places, and ingredients that give each bottle its character. A former travel journalist, he has visited over two hundred distilleries across thirty countries spanning gin, rum, whiskey, vodka, and beyond. He contributes features and culture pieces across Gin.Directory, Rum.Directory, Whiskeyful.com, and TheVodka.Shop. His writing has appeared in Condé Nast Traveller, Monocle, and The World of Fine Wine.
Edward Forwood
Senior Gin Reviewer
Speciality: London Dry, Navy Strength, Classic Gin, Distillery Heritage, Juniper-Forward Styles
Edward has spent two decades judging spirits at competitions from the IWSC to the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, developing a palate that prizes balance above novelty. A holder of the WSET Diploma in Spirits, he spent his early career managing the spirits buying desk at Berry Bros. & Rudd before turning to full-time writing. His reviews are rooted in distillation technique and botanical structure — he wants to know how a gin is made before he decides whether it succeeds. He writes for Gin.Directory with a particular focus on London Dry, Navy Strength, and heritage styles, and has a well-documented weakness for anything cask-aged.
Amelie Farnham
Gin & Botanicals Editor
Speciality: Contemporary Gin, Flavoured, New Western, Craft Distilling, Botanical Innovation
Amelie came to gin via botany — she studied plant sciences at Edinburgh before realising her real interest lay in what happened to botanicals after they reached the still. She has visited over a hundred craft distilleries across the UK, Scandinavia, and Japan, writing about the people and ingredients behind each bottle. Her reviews for Gin.Directory celebrate contemporary, flavoured, and New Western styles, and she has a gift for translating complex botanical profiles into vivid, accessible prose. She is a certified Gin Ambassador and a regular panellist at the Craft Distilling Expo.
Joe Whitfield
Editor-in-Chief
Speciality: London Dry, Distillery Heritage, Industry Analysis, Spirits Editorial
Joe has spent over fifteen years immersed in the spirits industry, beginning his career at a boutique distillery in the Cotswolds before moving into drinks journalism. As Editor-in-Chief across Gin.Directory, Whiskeyful.com, and TheVodka.Shop, he oversees editorial output spanning gin, whiskey, and vodka. He is passionate about preserving the craft traditions that define each category while making spirits journalism accessible to newcomers and connoisseurs alike. He holds a Diploma in Spirits from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and has judged at the International Wine & Spirit Competition.
Ash Carrington
Reviews Editor
Speciality: Contemporary Gin, New Western, Asian Spirits, Craft Distilling
Ash brings a global palate to the team, having spent five years based in Singapore and Tokyo exploring the rapidly evolving Asian spirits scene. As Reviews Editor across Gin.Directory and Whiskeyful.com, his reviews are known for their precision and accessibility — he believes a great review should help you decide whether a bottle belongs on your shelf. Before joining, Ash wrote for several food and drink publications across Southeast Asia and holds a Level 3 Award in Spirits from WSET.
Bishop Mercer
News & Industry Editor
Speciality: Industry News, Awards Coverage, Market Trends, Spirits Business
Bishop covers the business side of spirits with the curiosity of a journalist and the knowledge of an insider. Based in Edinburgh, he has built an extensive network of contacts across distillers worldwide, making him one of the first to report on new launches, acquisitions, and industry shifts. He handles news and industry coverage across Gin.Directory, Whiskeyful.com, and TheVodka.Shop. He previously worked in communications for Diageo before switching to editorial, and contributes to several trade publications.
David Thornton
Guides & Education Writer
Speciality: Cocktail Culture, Tasting Technique, Spirits Education, Mixology
David is a qualified bartender turned writer who believes the best way to appreciate any spirit is to understand it. His guides span gin, whiskey, and vodka — from beginner-friendly introductions through to advanced cocktail technique and distillation science. He writes educational content across Gin.Directory, Whiskeyful.com, and TheVodka.Shop. He ran the bar programme at a Michelin-starred restaurant in London for six years before dedicating himself to writing full-time. His first book, "The Botanical Spirit", is due for publication next year.
Katya Volkov
Eastern European Vodka Specialist
Speciality: Polish Vodka, Russian Traditions, Rye & Potato Vodka, Heritage Distilling, Eastern European Spirits
Katya grew up in Kraków surrounded by the rituals of Polish vodka culture — the frozen bottle, the zakąski, the unhurried conversation. She studied food science at the Jagiellonian University before spending five years documenting distilleries across Poland, Russia, Ukraine, and the Baltic states. Her reviews are precise and culturally grounded, placing each vodka within the tradition it belongs to. She holds a certificate from the Polish Vodka Academy and has judged at the Vodka Masters and the International Spirits Challenge. She writes for TheVodka.Shop with a focus on Eastern European heritage, grain character, and the art of rectification.
Marcus Hale
Craft & World Vodka Editor
Speciality: Craft Vodka, American Distilling, French Vodka, Scandinavian, Flavoured, Grape-Based, Emerging Producers
Marcus discovered vodka through the American craft distilling boom — he spent two years visiting micro-distilleries from Brooklyn to Portland, tasting everything from corn-based to grape-based to milk-based vodka. His palate is open and enthusiastic, and his reviews celebrate innovation without losing sight of quality. He covers craft, flavoured, and world vodkas for TheVodka.Shop, with a particular interest in how base ingredient and distillation technique shape character. He is a certified spirits specialist through the Society of Wine Educators and contributes to Imbibe and Punch magazines.
Walter Graves
Features & Culture Writer
Speciality: Spirits History, Travel, Distillery Profiles, Culture & Heritage
Walter writes long-form features that explore the stories behind spirits — the people, places, and ingredients that give each bottle its character. A former travel journalist, he has visited over two hundred distilleries across thirty countries spanning gin, whiskey, vodka, and beyond. He contributes features and culture pieces across Gin.Directory, Whiskeyful.com, and TheVodka.Shop. His writing has appeared in Condé Nast Traveller, Monocle, and The World of Fine Wine.
Joe Whitfield
Editor-in-Chief
Speciality: White, Distillery Heritage, Industry Analysis, Spirits Editorial
Joe has spent over fifteen years immersed in the spirits industry, beginning his career at a boutique distillery in the Cotswolds before moving into drinks journalism. As Editor-in-Chief across Gin.Directory, Rum.Directory, Whiskeyful.com, and TheVodka.Shop, he oversees editorial output spanning gin, rum, whiskey, and vodka. He is passionate about preserving the craft traditions that define each category while making spirits journalism accessible to newcomers and connoisseurs alike. He holds a Diploma in Spirits from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and has judged at the International Wine & Spirit Competition.
Ash Carrington
Reviews Editor
Speciality: Aged Rum, Cachaça, Asian Spirits, Craft Distilling
Ash brings a global palate to the team, having spent five years based in Singapore and Tokyo exploring the rapidly evolving Asian spirits scene. As Reviews Editor across Gin.Directory, Rum.Directory, and Whiskeyful.com, his reviews are known for their precision and accessibility — he believes a great review should help you decide whether a bottle belongs on your shelf. Before joining, Ash wrote for several food and drink publications across Southeast Asia and holds a Level 3 Award in Spirits from WSET.
Bishop Mercer
News & Industry Editor
Speciality: Industry News, Awards Coverage, Market Trends, Spirits Business
Bishop covers the business side of spirits with the curiosity of a journalist and the knowledge of an insider. Based in Edinburgh, he has built an extensive network of contacts across distillers worldwide, making him one of the first to report on new launches, acquisitions, and industry shifts. He handles news and industry coverage across Gin.Directory, Rum.Directory, Whiskeyful.com, and TheVodka.Shop. He previously worked in communications for Diageo before switching to editorial, and contributes to several trade publications.
David Thornton
Guides & Education Writer
Speciality: Cocktail Culture, Tasting Technique, Spirits Education, Mixology
David is a qualified bartender turned writer who believes the best way to appreciate any spirit is to understand it. His guides span gin, rum, whiskey, and vodka — from beginner-friendly introductions through to advanced cocktail technique and distillation science. He writes educational content across Gin.Directory, Rum.Directory, Whiskeyful.com, and TheVodka.Shop. He ran the bar programme at a Michelin-starred restaurant in London for six years before dedicating himself to writing full-time. His first book, "The Botanical Spirit", is due for publication next year.
Rafael Montero
Caribbean & Latin American Rum Specialist
Speciality: Caribbean Rum, Demerara, Jamaican Pot Still, Cuban Traditions, Barbadian Rum, Aged Sipping Rums
Rafael grew up in Barbados surrounded by sugarcane fields and the copper pot stills of the island's oldest distilleries. He spent a decade working across the Caribbean rum industry — from the blending rooms of Mount Gay to the molasses pits of Demerara — before turning to writing. His reviews are rooted in tradition, terroir, and the cultural significance of rum in Caribbean life. He holds a diploma from the West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers Association and has judged at the International Rum Conference and the Caribbean Rum Awards. He writes for Rum.Directory with a focus on aged sipping rums, pot still character, and the heritage distilleries of the Caribbean.
Isla Navarro
World Rum & Agricole Editor
Speciality: Rhum Agricole, Cachaça, Craft Rum, Flavoured & Spiced, Asian Rum, Emerging Regions
Isla discovered rum through the rhum agricole tradition of Martinique, where she spent two years apprenticing at distilleries across the French Caribbean. Her palate spans the rum world — from the grassy cane juice spirits of the Antilles to the craft rums of Australia, the cachaças of Brazil, and the emerging distillers of Southeast Asia. She writes for Rum.Directory celebrating agricole, cachaça, spiced, flavoured, and world rums, with a gift for connecting production technique to flavour in vivid, accessible prose. She is a certified Maître Rhumier and sits on the tasting panel of the Global Rum Awards.
Walter Graves
Features & Culture Writer
Speciality: Spirits History, Travel, Distillery Profiles, Culture & Heritage
Walter writes long-form features that explore the stories behind spirits — the people, places, and ingredients that give each bottle its character. A former travel journalist, he has visited over two hundred distilleries across thirty countries spanning gin, rum, whiskey, vodka, and beyond. He contributes features and culture pieces across Gin.Directory, Rum.Directory, Whiskeyful.com, and TheVodka.Shop. His writing has appeared in Condé Nast Traveller, Monocle, and The World of Fine Wine.
Joe Whitfield
Editor-in-Chief
Speciality: Wine Regions, Appellations, Industry Analysis, Wine Editorial
Joe has spent over fifteen years immersed in the wine industry, beginning his career at a boutique vineyard in the Cotswolds before moving into drinks journalism. As Editor-in-Chief at OakyWine.Club, he oversees editorial output spanning wine reviews, guides, and industry analysis. He is passionate about preserving the craft traditions that define each wine region while making wine journalism accessible to newcomers and connoisseurs alike. He holds a Diploma in Wine from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and has judged at the International Wine & Spirit Competition.
Ash Carrington
Reviews Editor
Speciality: Natural Wine, Orange Wine, Skin-Contact, Asian Wine, Craft Winemaking
Ash brings a global palate to the team, having spent five years based in Singapore and Tokyo exploring the rapidly evolving Asian wine scene — from Japanese Koshu and Chinese Ningxia reds to the emerging natural wine bars across Southeast Asia. As Reviews Editor at OakyWine.Club, his reviews are known for their precision and accessibility — he believes a great review should help you decide whether a bottle belongs on your shelf. Before joining, Ash wrote for several food and drink publications across Southeast Asia and holds a Level 3 Award in Wines from WSET.
Bishop Mercer
News & Industry Editor
Speciality: Industry News, Awards Coverage, Market Trends, Wine Business
Bishop covers the business side of wine with the curiosity of a journalist and the knowledge of an insider. Based in Edinburgh, he has built an extensive network of contacts across producers and wineries worldwide, making him one of the first to report on new releases, acquisitions, and industry shifts. He handles news and industry coverage across OakyWine.Club and Whiskeyful.com. He previously worked in communications for Diageo before switching to editorial, and contributes to several trade publications.
David Thornton
Guides & Education Writer
Speciality: Cocktail Culture, Tasting Technique, Wine Education, Mixology
David is a qualified sommelier turned writer who believes the best way to appreciate any wine is to understand it. His guides span wine regions, grape varieties, and tasting technique — from beginner-friendly introductions through to advanced food pairing and winemaking science. He writes educational content for OakyWine.Club. He ran the wine programme at a Michelin-starred restaurant in London for six years before dedicating himself to writing full-time. His first book, "The Grape Trail", is due for publication next year.
Margaux Delacroix
Old World Wine Specialist
Speciality: French Wine, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Austrian
Margaux was raised among the vineyards of the Médoc in Bordeaux, where her family has worked the harvest for three generations. She studied oenology at the University of Bordeaux before spending five years tasting her way through Burgundy, Champagne, the Rhône, Piedmont, Rioja, and the Douro Valley. Her reviews are technically precise and deeply rooted in terroir — she wants to know the soil, the exposition, and the vintage conditions before she forms an opinion. She holds the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines and has judged at the Decanter World Wine Awards. She writes for OakyWine.Club with a focus on Old World wines, Champagne, and the relationship between land and glass.
Lucas Harrington
New World & Natural Wine Editor
Speciality: New World Wine, Australian, New Zealand, South African, South American, Natural Wine, Orange Wine, Biodynamic
Lucas came to wine through the natural wine movement — he spent two years working harvests in the Jura, the Loire, and Georgia before exploring the vineyards of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Argentina. His palate is adventurous and inclusive, embracing everything from pet-nat to premium Barossa Shiraz. He writes for OakyWine.Club celebrating New World wines, natural and orange wines, and the winemakers who challenge convention. He holds the Court of Master Sommeliers Advanced Certificate and contributes to Noble Rot and Decanter magazines.
Walter Graves
Features & Culture Writer
Speciality: Wine History, Travel, Winery Profiles, Culture & Heritage
Walter writes long-form features that explore the stories behind wine — the people, places, and terroir that give each bottle its character. A former travel journalist, he has visited over two hundred wineries across thirty countries spanning Old World, New World, and emerging wine regions. He contributes features and culture pieces across OakyWine.Club and Whiskeyful.com. His writing has appeared in Condé Nast Traveller, Monocle, and The World of Fine Wine.
Joe Whitfield
Editor-in-Chief
Speciality: Bourbon, Scotch, Distillery Heritage, Industry Analysis, Spirits Editorial
Joe has spent over fifteen years immersed in the whiskey industry, beginning his career at a Speyside distillery before moving into drinks journalism. As Editor-in-Chief at Whiskeyful.com, he oversees all editorial output — from in-depth distillery profiles to tasting notes and industry analysis. He is passionate about preserving the craft traditions that define great whiskey while making whiskey journalism accessible to newcomers and connoisseurs alike. He holds a Diploma in Spirits from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and has judged at the International Wine & Spirit Competition.
Ash Carrington
Reviews Editor
Speciality: Japanese Whisky, World Whisky, Rye, Craft Distilling, Asian Spirits
Ash brings a global palate to the team, having spent five years based in Singapore and Tokyo exploring the rapidly evolving Asian whisky scene. As Reviews Editor at Whiskeyful.com, his reviews are known for their precision and accessibility — he believes a great review should help you decide whether a bottle belongs on your shelf. From Japanese precision to Taiwanese innovation and Indian boldness, Ash covers the world whisky beat. He previously wrote for several food and drink publications across Southeast Asia and holds a Level 3 Award in Spirits from WSET.
Bishop Mercer
News & Industry Editor
Speciality: Industry News, Awards Coverage, Market Trends, Spirits Business
Bishop covers the business side of whiskey with the curiosity of a journalist and the knowledge of an insider. Based in Edinburgh, he has built an extensive network of contacts across distillers worldwide, making him one of the first to report on new launches, acquisitions, and industry shifts. He handles all news and industry coverage at Whiskeyful.com. He previously worked in communications for Diageo before switching to editorial, and contributes to several trade publications.
David Thornton
Guides & Education Writer
Speciality: Cocktail Culture, Tasting Technique, Spirits Education, Mixology
David is a qualified bartender turned writer who believes the best way to appreciate whiskey is to understand it. His guides span every corner of the whiskey world — from beginner-friendly introductions through to advanced cocktail technique and distillation science. He ran the bar programme at a Michelin-starred restaurant in London for six years before dedicating himself to writing full-time at Whiskeyful.com. His first book, "The Spirit of Oak", is due for publication next year.
Walter Graves
Features & Culture Writer
Speciality: Spirits History, Travel, Distillery Profiles, Culture & Heritage
Walter writes long-form features that explore the stories behind whiskey — the people, places, and landscapes that give each bottle its character. A former travel journalist, he has visited over two hundred whiskey distilleries across thirty countries, from the peat bogs of Islay to the rickhouses of Kentucky. He contributes features and culture pieces at Whiskeyful.com. His writing has appeared in Condé Nast Traveller, Monocle, and The World of Fine Wine.
Duncan Cairns
Senior Whisky Reviewer
Speciality: Scotch Single Malt, Highland, Speyside, Islay, Campbeltown, Lowland, Cask Influence
Duncan has spent two decades judging Scotch whisky at competitions from the International Wine & Spirit Competition to the World Whiskies Awards, developing a palate that prizes balance and terroir above trend. Born in Speyside and raised within sight of the Macallan distillery, he brings an instinctive understanding of Scotch single malt that only a lifetime of proximity can provide. His reviews are rooted in distillation technique and cask management — he wants to know the wood programme before he forms an opinion. He holds the WSET Diploma in Spirits, has sat on the Keeper of the Quaich selection committee, and writes for Whiskeyful.com with a particular focus on Scotch, cask influence, and the art of blending.
Sienna Blackwell
World Whiskey Editor
Speciality: Bourbon, American Whiskey, Irish, Japanese, Rye, Indian, Craft Distilling, Emerging Regions
Sienna came to whiskey via the American craft distilling movement — she spent three years working harvest seasons at distilleries across Kentucky, Tennessee, and Oregon before turning to writing full-time. Her palate spans continents: from the corn-rich mashbills of Kentucky to the mizunara oak experiments of Hokkaido and the tropical maturation of Kavalan in Taiwan. She writes for Whiskeyful.com celebrating bourbon, rye, Irish, Japanese, and emerging world whiskeys, and she has a gift for translating complex production techniques into vivid, accessible prose. She is a certified Kentucky Bourbon Trail Ambassador and sits on the tasting panel of the American Craft Spirits Association.
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