HERE'S THE SCOOP

I’m an award-winning journalist, editor, and photographer who pens stories on the origins and nuances of spirits, cocktails, and global drinking cultures for publications like The New York Times, PUNCH, Bon Appetit, Eater, and more. Formerly the digital editor at Imbibe and drinkways editor for Good Beer Hunting, I am also an author and co-author, which you can read more about here. (I also occasionally ghostwrite pop culture cocktail books to help pay the bills; one of them debuted on The New York Times Bestseller list!)

I love putting on my critical hat to judge cocktail and spirits competitions (most recently, the Agavos Awards and the New Orleans Spirits Competition), and in recent years I have also judged journalism competitions such as the James Beard Foundation media awards and the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards. (I was a co-chair for the Media awards from 2024-2025). I am also the Midwest Academy Chair for The World’s 50 Best Bars, and I have moderated and appeared on panels at San Antonio Cocktail Conference, South by Southwest, Mexico in a Bottle, Charleston Food & Wine Festival, and Tales of the Cocktail.  

Finally, because I like to keep things fresh, I also do consulting for advertising and research agencies, copywriting for spirits brands, and individual mentoring sessions on the side. When I’m not at my desk I’m usually making vibey playlists, scheming what plants to grow in the garden, scouring antique malls for vintage glassware, or messing around with a cookbook in the kitchen because I feel grounded when I cook.