Our Editorial Team
The Vodka Shop's editorial team brings decades of combined experience in spirits journalism, distillery expertise, and cocktail culture.
Joe Whitfield
Editor-in-Chief London Dry, Distillery Heritage, Industry Analysis, Spirits EditorialJoe 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.
View articles
Ash Carrington
Reviews Editor Contemporary Gin, New Western, Asian Spirits, Craft DistillingAsh 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.
View articles
Bishop Mercer
News & Industry Editor Industry News, Awards Coverage, Market Trends, Spirits BusinessBishop 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.
View articles
David Thornton
Guides & Education Writer Cocktail Culture, Tasting Technique, Spirits Education, MixologyDavid 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.
View articles
Katya Volkov
Eastern European Vodka Specialist Polish Vodka, Russian Traditions, Rye & Potato Vodka, Heritage Distilling, Eastern European SpiritsKatya 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.
View articles
Marcus Hale
Craft & World Vodka Editor Craft Vodka, American Distilling, French Vodka, Scandinavian, Flavoured, Grape-Based, Emerging ProducersMarcus 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.
View articles
Walter Graves
Features & Culture Writer Spirits History, Travel, Distillery Profiles, Culture & HeritageWalter 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.
View articlesWrite for The Vodka Shop
Interested in contributing? We welcome pitches from experienced spirits writers.
Get in touch