Ben McFarland, 35, is the current British Beer Writer of the Year and has won the award twice previously - the first as the youngest ever recipient. He is the author of two award-winning books on beer - Good Beer Guide West Coast USA (co-written with Tom Sandham) and World's Best Beers: 1000 Unmissable Brews from Portland to Prague. A further book Boutique Beers is due to be published in 2013. World's Best Beers has been translated into five different languages. As the pubs and bars reviewer for Time Out London, Ben has also written about beer and spirits for numerous magazines and national newspapers including the Guardian, the Independent, the Spectator, The Telegraph, Jamie Oliver Magazine, Conde Nast Traveller and a host of specialist drinks magazines both in the UK and the USA. Alongside Tom Sandham, with whom he launched www.dwink.com, Ben hosts tutored beer and spirit tastings at food festivals and corporate events up and down the country including Taste of London and Foodies. In his capacity as a drinks expert, he has also made regular appearances on TV and radio such as Market Kitchen, LBC, BBC Radio 4, Radio Five Live and Radio 2. Ben & Tom also wrote, researched and performed The Thinking Drinker's Guide to Alcohol, a comedy show, at the Edinburgh Festival in 2011. It is transferring to the West End (Soho Theatre) in the Spring and will be returning to Edinburgh in August 2012 AWARDS 2004, 2006 & 2011: British Beer Writer of the Year 2008: 'Budweiser Budvar' Travel Book of the Year for "Good Beer Guide West Coast USA" (jointly awarded with Tom Sandham) 2008 & 2009: Winner Shepherd Neame Award for Beer and Food Writing
Tom Sandham is an acknowledged expert on cocktail trends and a highly respected drinks writer. A consultant for leading spirits companies, he has judged at the most prestigious international cocktail competitions, achieving a bond with the world's most innovative and experienced bartenders. With his finger on the pulse of significant trends in the creative drinks industry, he has travelled widely in search of the perfect mixed drink, the best bar and the most innovative bartender. A keyholder at the prestigious and award-winning speakeasy Please Don't Tell in New York, he is co-author of the Good Beer Guide West Coast USA plus co-creator, with beer writer Ben McFarland, of discerning drinks website Dwink.com. He is also a regular contributor on spirits and bars for Jamie Oliver's Jamie magazine.