About World's Best Spirits
Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley are professional drinks writers, consultants, hosts and presenters.
They have been shortlisted for the past four years as 'Communicators Of The Year' by the International Wine and Spirits Competition and their first book together, Distilled: A Guide To The World's Best Spirits (Octopus Publishing), awarded ‘Best Drinks Book’ in The Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards 2015, is the biggest selling book global on pan-spirits, now published in 14 languages.
The duo then wrote 'Straight Up: Where To Drink And What To Drink On Every Continent’, published in 2017 and in 2019 released The World Atlas Of Gin, which is now also translated into several languages and has been shortlisted for the 2020 Tales Of The Cocktail Spirited Awards.
Both former record executives at major record labels, Joel and Neil are at the forefront in providing expertise and innovation in the alcoholic drinks world, the duo have a wealth of knowledge to share with audiences across the globe.
They are both ‘Keepers Of The Quaich’, one of the highest accolades in the Scotch whisky Industry, have been made Mousquetaires d’ Armagnac, in recognition for their services to the global promotion of this noble French brandy, Rectifiers of the Gin Guild for their work within the growing gin market and are both Liverymen for the Worshipful Company Of Distillers. Both are regular drinks contributors for The Sunday Telegraph.
The pair has appeared on several prime time television shows including slots on ITV’s The Alan Titchmarsh Show, Tried & Tasted with Michel Roux Jr and are more widely known for their regular TV outlet, Channel Four Sunday Brunch where, for the past six years, they have a acted as the show’s most enduring drinks experts. Their work can also be found across international radio programmes in UK, USA and India, discussing the finer points of the world of distilled drinks and cocktails.
Education is key for Joel and Neil, and the duo have hosted over 200 spirits and cocktail tastings around the world from, Taiwan to Poland, for audiences as diverse as The Telegraph Whisky, Gin and Cocktail Experiences, the Cannes TWFA World Exhibition and the Japanese Ambassador at the House Of Commons.
Their appeal is simple: dispelling the myths and misunderstanding which surround the drinks world, presenting a clear, concise message to the growing number of those drinkers eager to experience the stories behind an array of incredible drinks from around the globe.
Their creative consultancy business, Caskstrength Creative, can be found
here.
Their award winning books on drinks and drinking can be found here.
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