I like to enjoy life, mainly through drink and food (my Twitter and Instagram handles are @whattastesgood, after all), and I love sharing those things with others. I write and edit, analyze and review, educate and evangelize about whisky and other spirits. I also serve as whiskey editor and critic at The New Wine Review.
Check out my work and get in touch if you’d like to explore this beautiful world with me.
Writing
Some of my favorite bits of writing can be found in my selected portfolio. Bylines include Bon Appétit, Men’s Health, The Daily Beast, Insider, Men’s Journal, VinePair, Gear Patrol, InsideHook, Imbibe, Atlas Obscura, Punch, Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate, Liquor.com, Wine Spectator, Cigar Aficionado, Market Watch, Barleycorn Drinks, and The Village Voice.
Whisky Reviews
I’m currently blind-tasting and reviewing whiskies of all stripes for The New Wine Review, highlighting recent write-ups through regular tasting briefs. I also served as a reviewer for several years at Whisky Advocate.
Speaking & Media Appearances
An experienced public speaker, panel moderator, and guest on podcasts and video livestreams, I am available as an expert voice on whisky, spirits, and the beverage alcohol industry. Get in touch if you’d like to learn more.
Bio
A veteran spirits journalist and sensory evaluation expert, I am one of the foremost authorities on whisky in the United States. I’m currently the whiskey editor and critic for The New Wine Review, and I write for a variety of other publications. Previously, I served as Senior Editor at Whisky Advocate, where I managed digital editorial operations. I also designed, developed, and oversaw Whisky Advocate’s blind tasting department, responsible for the quarterly Buying Guide and annual Top 20 Most Exciting Whiskies of the Year awards list, and served as a reviewer of bourbon, scotch, and other whiskies. Concurrently, I served as Editor-at-Large of wine and spirits trade publication Market Watch.
I combine the chops of an experienced reporter and editor with a love of storytelling and sharing my knowledge and passion with others. While at Whisky Advocate, I produced and starred in dozens of videos exploring different aspects of the whisky world. I also developed the popular #TasteWithSpace Instagram Live interview series, serving as its primary host and giving thousands of whisky lovers access to master distillers and blenders, live every week. I have moderated panels with industry leaders, appeared as an expert guest on podcasts and video streams, and led whisky tastings for groups as small as six and as large as 50.
I have written hundreds of articles about whisky and spirits and interviewed the top names in the industry, giving me unparalleled access and expertise. I received the Alan Lodge Young International Drinks Writer Award in 2020. I am a Certified Spirits Specialist, and a graduate of the University of North Carolina and the University of Edinburgh.
Susannah Skiver Barton 