Experienced buyers, bartenders, operators, retailers and category specialists assessing products in a real-world commercial context.
Adam’s journey into distilling began as a child when he crafted cider from an apple tree in his parent’s garden. His passion for homebrewing flourished, even when it was considered...
Alex is the Master Distiller& Master Blender behind Dublin’s Teeling Whiskey Company. As the first employee of Teeling, he has been involved in developing both the award-winning whiskey and the...
Alex’s whiskey journey began in 90’s while studying in Edinburgh. Back then it was the University’s Water of Life Society that initiated a lifetime’s passion and source of learning, fun...
With more than ten years shaping London’s independent bar scene, Allison Crawbuck has built a reputation for creating immersive, story-driven drinking experiences. She co-owns The Absinthe Parlour at The Last...
Amy Teasdale is a whisky specialist and brand ambassador for Filey Bay Whisky, Yorkshire’s first single malt. With a background that moves from cocktail bars into coffee and now whisky,...
For over twenty years, Andy has worked with a vast range of super premium and luxury drinks brands to create high-end consumer focused campaigns and creative solutions. As the Founder...
Arsid started his hospitality journey in Italy before moving to London in 2016, where he quickly found his place in the city’s vibrant bar scene. Beginning as a barback, he...
Ashley Smith is the Master Blender at Glen Scotia Distillery, responsible for the Campbeltown distillery’s multi-award-winning core range and much-loved annual limited editions. Having joined Loch Lomond Group in 2019...
Professor Barry Smith is director of the Centre for the Study of the Senses at the University of London’s School of Advanced Study where he works with neuroscientists and psychologists...
Becky Paskin is an award-winning drinks journalist, presenter and consultant, and founder of the OurWhisky Foundation. Formerly editor of leading online magazine Scotchwhisky.com and global trade title The Spirits Business,...
Ben Lindsay is a senior commercial leader with over 15 years’ experience across premium drinks and FMCG, with a deep specialism in spirits and the UK on-trade. He has held...
Ben Weetman is the Head Distiller at 58 and CO, the award-winning ethical distillery in East London known for its elevated spirits and B Corp commitment. As Head Distiller, he...
Beth Whymark has worked in the spirits industry since 2020. She has edited drinks publications including Whisky Magazine, Gin Magazine, and Rum Magazine, also serving as a spirits taster for...
Billy Abbott is a drinks writer, educator and all-round geek, with a particular interest in whisky, Asian spirits and beer. He left the world of IT in 2011 and is...
Entrepreneur, innovator, and brand consultant with over 30 years of global brand marketing experience across major blue-chip spirits groups and multiple premium categories including gin, vodka, whiskies, tequila, wine, and...
Charlie Mitchell is a renowned industry commentator and research expert within the drinks sector, having worked for well over a decade delving into the data that tells the story of...
From a non-alc start-up, to pouring pints at football stadiums, and serving luxury whisky at five-star hotels, Charlotte has worked in the hospitality industry for over 15 years. She now...
Chris is an award-winning whisky writer, presenter, and judge with over 18 years’ experience in the whisky industry. He has hosted hundreds of events across the globe, won the inaugural...
Chrissie Walker has been working in the food, drink, travel and hospitality industries for the past 22 years. She has been in print in the UK, India and China. She...
With over a decade of experience in the whisky industry, I have worked across sales, advocacy and marketing roles with independent bottlers and distilleries in Scotch whisky. I am currently...
My experience spans working with multi award-winning and innovative producers including City of London Distillery, Victory London Distillery, Martin Miller’s Gin, and The Cambridge Distillery. Across these roles, I developed...
Dan Warner is a London based stalwart of the hospitality and drinks industry with three decades experience spanning elite cocktail bars, global brands and spirit start-ups. As Global Brand Ambassador...
Diego Borras is an independent specialist in cask procurement, working primarily with whisky maturation while also collaborating on selected beer projects. Through his work, he has developed extensive expertise in...
A bar and drinks industry veteran spanning 17 years, Drew is a dedicated community leader and the founder of The London Bartenders’ Association, which now boasts 34,000 members. His deep-seated...
Felipe is an award-winning whisky writer, author, independent bottler, and Keeper of the Quaich. With the Rhythm and Booze Project and Rhythm and Booze Records, he combines music and whisky...
Finn Kokkonen (She/Her) is the Assistant General Manager of the multi-award-winning Soho cocktail bar Murder Inc. She has worked in hospitality since the age of 16, building experience across hotels,...
Gaetano Chiavetta, originally from Sicily (IT), is a dedicated drinks professional with a passion for spirits and cocktails. Starting with a background in bartending from age 14, he later studied...
Georgie Bell is one of the co-founders of The Heart Cut, an award-winning Independent Bottler that collaborates with distilleries across the world to release one-off single cask and small batch...
Hannah’s flavour journey started during her time managing stores for Hotel Chocolat. With a focus on tastings, she took clients through single origin chocolates, their production and flavour. In 2022,...
Hannah Lanfear is considered a preeminent force in the world of spirits education, as author and educator for the Speciality Sessions, as well as having delivered WSET Spirits courses to...
Janice Snowden is the UK brand ambassador for Bushmills who has specialised in the Irish whiskey category for the last decade representing some of Irelands most iconic distilleries in both...
Jo Jacobius is a communications consultant with in-depth experience of the drinks sector. She is Director of Axiom Communications which she established in 1991. She has handled communications for a...
Joe has been a business journalist for more than 20 years, specialising in the drinks, aviation and duty-free sectors. His writing has appeared in a wide range of trade and...
Joel Harrison is a multi-award winning drinks writer and presenter who specialises in whisky and other fine spirits. His latest book, The Whisky World Tour, is out now. Winner of...
John Cashman is a highly respected figure in the Irish whiskey industry, bringing over 29 years of global experience to his role as a judge. Beginning with Jameson and later...
Originally from Norway, Jon Anders Fjeldsrud moved to London in 1996 to study graphic design, but soon found his calling in hospitality. Beginning as a barback at the 10 Room,...
Racheal has spent over a decade working for some of the world’s leading drinks brands, including Ballantine’s at Pernod Ricard, where she managed the Prestige portfolio. She then moved into...
Josh is the founder of Hard Pour, a strategy studio for rebel brands looking to build market-specific strategies. He also consults for The Drink Cabinet, a creative marketing agency dedicated...
Retail editor Kevin started covering the drinks industry in the early 1990s for Morning Advertiser. He later moved into travel retail and aviation, working with groups including IWSR Magazine, The...
Kieran (Scotland) is a business leader and adaptive athlete representing his sport and the global drinks industry internationally. Elected inaugural Chair of the Scottish Alcohol Partnership, he champions the positive...
Following her first sip of Hendrick’s Gin back in 2012, Kim has been a huge Spirits fan. After boring her friends by talking about gin on her personal social media...
Malcolm brings over half a century of experience in the hospitality industry, shaped by a deep respect for people, place, and craft. His cultured palate has been refined through decades...
Millie Milliken is an award-winning spirits and cocktails writer and author with 15 years in the publishing industry. She regularly writes for publications such as The World of Fine Spirits,...
Mohit Singh is the co-founder and CEO of Desi Daru Vodka, an award-winning ultra-premium spirits brand inspired by India and born in Britain. Launched in 2021 with his wife, Aneet,...
Working within the global wine and spirits industry for fifteen years, Nik is an expert within international import and distribution. Having worked with importers across over forty international markets, Nik...
Noel Sweeney is a globally respected Irish whiskey master distiller and blender with over 30 years’ experience. Beginning in laboratory and production roles in industrial alcohol and flavour manufacture, he...
Since completing an MSc in Brewing & Distilling from Heriot-Watt University and an honours degree in Pharmacology from the University of Edinburgh, Oliver has spent over a decade in senior...
Olly has reported on the global beverage industry as a B2B journalist since 2003. He spent 18 years at Just Drinks, 16 of which as Managing Editor, overseeing editorial strategy,...
Paul is the founder of Everleaf non-alcoholic aperitifs, as well as a bartender and conservation biologist. He has been working in the drinks industry for over thirty years and has...
Rohan is a bartender and distiller based in Kigali, Rwanda. Formerly part of the research team at Native (Tales of the Cocktail’s Best International Cocktail Bar 2020; Asia’s 50 Best...
Rose started her career in hospitality working in bars across the UK but found her love for spirits running Amoeba Bar in Bristol. She became passionate about competition bartending which...
Rosie is the co-founder of N94 Agency, Lecce Cocktail Week, and Brighton Whisky Weekend (launching June 2026). She has worked in the drinks industry for her entire professional career. Growing...
Ruchira Neotia DipWSET is a drinks consultant, presenter and writer, named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Figures in the UK Drinks Industry in 2025. Indian-born and London-based, she...
Sarah Miller is a freelance drinks writer, judge and consultant. Having developed a love of gin – and an uncanny knack for winning gin competitions(!) – in 2014, Sarah launched...
Sarah Turner is a creative drinks marketing consultant specialising in helping drinks brands grow through storytelling, social strategy and standout consumer moments. With over five years’ experience across wine, spirits...
Shyamal Lallah is a dynamic commercial leader specialising in market penetration for challenger drinks brands. Most notably, he scaled Thomson & Scott’s ‘Noughty’ from inception to a multi-million-pound global brand...
Tagore Ramoutar is a founding Director of The English Whisky Guild; he is the lead for the English Whisky Geographical Indication and sat on the BSI Panel for the British...
Thea Cumming is a London-based entrepreneur, mezcal advocate, and hospitality innovator. She is the founder of Dangerous Don, a UK-based mezcal brand that blends traditional Oaxacan craftsmanship with creative “destilados”...
I am a Drinks professional, and trade and brand marketing manager with experience across bar operations, brand advocacy and drinks curation. Having run cocktail bars and worked closely with hospitality...
Tim is the founder of a premium alcohol beverage consultancy business in London called Young Spirit Consulting. He helps premium spirit brands develop their business in Global Travel Retail and...
Tom Liddington DipWSET is a London-based drinks educator and international competition judge. He specialises in structured tasting, assessment methodology and developing confident, analytical tasters across multiple drinks categories. Tom works...
Veronika Karlova is an experienced spirits consultant within the vodka industry. She has been working for Noblewood Group – the owner of Beluga Vodka since 2020 and is currently looking...
Vicky Ilankovan is the Executive Director of Equal Measures UK – the multi-award-winning non-profit driving intersectional EDI in the drinks industry. She is also an award-winning journalist and a practiced...
Zoe Burgess is the founder of Atelier Pip, a London-based drinks consultancy specialising in flavour-led menu development, product creation and brand expression. She has over 15 years’ experience working across...
