Every review, article, and guide on Gin.Directory 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.
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