John Barleycorn Society

Spirits writers, marketers and designers are among the most influential forces in the spirits industry. Their opinions, ideas and creative talents inform and influence consumer perceptions and buying decisions.

The John Barleycorn Society was started by a group of spirits journalists seeking to honor excellence in all facets of the industry. The journalists spent several years creating a comprehensive competition that became the John Barleycorn Awards.

An elite team of authoritative and influential spirits journalists was selected to administer the flagship component of the Awards, a blind tasting competition destined to become the preeminent arbitrator of spirits taste, quality and character.

John McCarthy

Director of Judging, Spirits Journalist

John McCarthy is co-founder and Director of Judging for the John Barleycorn Society. John is the author of The Modern Gentleman, A Guide to the Best Drinks, Food, and Accessories and was the long-time senior managing editor and alcohol aficionado at Men’s Health magazine. When not travelling the world in search of spirits, wine, and cocktail enlightenment, John works as a mixologist and consultant. You can check out his storytelling at Forbes, Men’s Health, Maxim, JW Marriott magazine, Bourbon+, and Gear Patrol. 📸: @ebruyildiz

Leslie Sbrocco

Author, Speaker, Consultant, and Television Host,

Leslie Sbrocco is one of the most awarded and renowned spirits journalists in the world. Leslie is a three-time Emmy winner, James Beard Award winner, author, speaker, consultant and television personality. In addition to a prolific book and magazine writing career, Leslie is the long-time host of the PBS series Check Please! a regular guest on NBC’s Today show, and frequently appears on CNN, QVC and the Hallmark Channel. Her latest project, 100 Days, Drinks, Dishes & Destinations is now airing on PBS stations.

Fred Minnick

Spirits Personality, Author, Editor, Host

Fred Minnick is a renowned best-selling author, taster, and speaker. He’s the editor-in-chief of Bourbon+, co-founder of Bourbon & Beyond Festival, host of Bourbon Up on Amazon Prime, host of the Fred Minnick Podcast, and Fred Minnick YouTube channel, co-host of Bourbon Pursuit Podcast, and an in-demand spirits personality who regularly appears in national print and television interviews. Fred is also the bourbon authority of the Kentucky Derby Museum and is single handedly returning the ascot to prominence.

Wayne Curtis

Spirits Journalist

Wayne Curtis is author of And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails. Wayne’s written frequently about cocktails, spirits, travel and history for numerous publications, including The Atlantic, New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. He currently covers spirits and cocktails for The Daily Beast, Garden & Gun, Spirited, Distiller, and 750 Daily.

Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan

Spirits Personality, Author, Speaker

Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan is a speaker, writer, author, and veteran judge known for her discerning palate. Jennifer has appeared on NBC’s Today show, Fox Business, Fox News, Fox & Friends, CNN/Money, CBS, Anderson Cooper, and Bloomberg TV. She has also been featured in major publications and hosted seminars with Food Network Stars Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay, and Jacques Pépin. Jennifer is one of only 4 women in the U.S. to attain the international title of Master of Wine.

Robin Robinson

Author, Spirits Journalist

Robin Robinson is the author of The Complete Whiskey Course: A Comprehensive Tasting Guide in Ten Lessons, released in 2019 and winner of the 2020 Gourmand Award for Spirits Education. Robin created and teaches the popular “Whiskey Smackdown” series of classes at New York City’s renowned Astor Center, the longest running whiskey education class in the U.S., now in its 11th year.

G Clay Whittaker

Spirits Journalist

Clay Whittaker is a prolific freelance spirits, culture, and lifestyle writer. His work has been featured in some of the top print and digital publications like Esquire, Maxim, Men’s Journal, Southern Living, Popular Science, NBC, NPR, The Daily Beast, Playboy and Bourbon+. His media resume also includes assistant editor and tasting coordinator for Cigar Aficionado and editor at large for the Bourbon Review.

Frank Caiafa

Author, Beverage Director, Consultant

Frank Caiafa is an author, writer, tasting judge, and food and beverage director/consultant who has worked with some of the world’s top bars and restaurants including New York’s Lexington Hotel and Waldorf Astoria. Frank is the author of The Waldorf Astoria Bar Book, a modern update of the classic cocktail books of the Waldorf from the 1930s. His writing and recipes have been published in numerous publications including The New York Times, Wine Enthusiast, and Time Out New York.

Jack Robertiello

Spirits Journalist, Consultant

Jack Robertiello is an internationally known spirits writer and speaker with years of competition judging experience. Jack currently writes for Beverage Media, Flavor and the Menu, Cheers magazine, Beverage Dynamic, and Nightclub & Bar. In addition to his writing, Jack is a consultant to spirits companies and teaches private classes and seminars on tasting spirits, especially focusing on tequila, rum, and whisky.

Rachel DelRocco Terrazas

Spirits Writer, Speaker

Rachel DelRocco Terrazas is Associate Editor at Wine & Spirits Magazine, where she oversees the tasting department and leads the spirits writing. Rachel is also an in-demand speaker and educator having presented at San Antonio Cocktail Conference, Bar Convent Brooklyn, and BevCon Charleston. She is a certified sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and is pursuing the Level 3 Advanced of Wine & Spirits Education Trust.

Tony Sachs

Spirits Journalist

Tony Sachs has been writing about spirits, cocktails, bars and the boozy life in general since 2007 for the Huffington Post, Robb Report, Serious Eats, Whisky Advocate, Liquor.com, and Esquire. Tony has judged cocktail competitions for several brands, including Jack Daniel's, Stoli Elit, and Chivas Regal. Tony is a member of the Bourbon Roundtable, which helps select batches of Booker's Bourbon for release.

Brad Japhe

Spirits Journalist

Brad Japhe is a freelance journalist specializing in travel with a focus on spirits, food and beverage. His work appears in all major media markets across the United States. He hosts frequent craft beer/spirits tastings on both coasts, preferring scotch to bourbon, IPAs to lagers, and a hearty hamburger to a prime cut of steak. His favorite breed of dog is the Siberian Husky and he suffers from an irrational, unrequited love for the New York Knicks.

Susie O.

Spirits Journalist

Susie is a freelance cocktail, spirits, food, and travel writer coming to us from Dallas, Texas ... or wherever her travels take her. Susie is the founder of SusieDrinks.com and TheJetsweater.com, contributes to Bevvy, the Dallas Observer, D Magazine, Where Magazine, and Texas Lifestyle Magazine, and runs her own social media consulting agency. But she's never too busy to dive into "research" for her articles, because the perfect Gibson isn't going to find itself.

David Moritz

Spirits Entrepreneur

David Moritz is a spirits entrepreneur who created an award-winning boutique wine and spirits group and a marketing agency catering to high-end spirits brands. David’s package designs and creative marketing have won dozens of awards for industry giants such as Patron, Remy, Moet Hennessy, Diageo, Campari, Bacardi and Terlato. David and his creative team designed the iconic John Barleycorn statuette.

Who is John Barleycorn?

Since the first distiller started experimenting with various grains and techniques, many a would-be artisan has searched for the elusive combination that would produce a spirit hailed for its perfect taste and flawless presentation. For half a century, this quest has been illuminated in poems, stories and lyrics penned by the likes of Robert Burns, Jack London and Steve Winwood. Their protagonist, John Barleycorn, is a metaphor for the indignation, suffering, death and rebirth in the cyclical nature of planting, growing, harvesting and distillation. John Barleycorn has been revered for centuries. But he has never seen anything like what is happening now. A new generation of marketing is igniting demand for historic brands, varieties, new flavors, craft cocktails and small distilleries that are popping up throughout the world. John Barleycorn has emerged from the fields and taverns to a worldwide economic catalyst providing millions of jobs and billions of dollars in annual economic activity.

John Barleycorn Society

Spirits writers, marketers and designers are among the most influential forces in the spirits industry. Their opinions, ideas and creative talents inform and influence consumer perceptions and buying decisions.

The John Barleycorn Society was started by a group of spirits journalists seeking to honor excellence in all facets of the industry. The journalists spent several years creating a comprehensive competition that became the John Barleycorn Awards.

An elite team of authoritative and influential spirits journalists was selected to administer the flagship component of the Awards, a blind tasting competition destined to become the preeminent arbitrator of spirits taste, quality and character.

John McCarthy

Leslie Sbrocco

Fred Minnick

Wayne Curtis

Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan

Robin Robinson

G Clay Whittaker

Frank Caiafa

Jack Robertiello

Rachel DelRocco Terrazas

Tony Sachs

Brad Japhe

Susie O.

David Moritz

Who is John Barleycorn?

"John Barleycorn's inhibition rises like a wall betweenone's immediate desires and long-learned morality."

Jack London

© 2019 John Barleycorn Awards All rights reserved