Staff List and Contact Information
About the Staff
Get to know our talented writing and editing team
Christopher Null, Publisher and Editor in Chief
A veteran journalist, the author of four books, a published poet, and an award-winning winemaker, Christopher Null has more than 25 years of experience writing about wine and spirits. He founded Drinkhacker in 2007 as part of Null Media, a publishing company that provides editorial and content strategy services. He also writes regularly about the science of booze for WIRED and is an occasional contributor to ADI's Distiller magazine. He has been a judge for both the American Distilling Institute Judging of Craft Spirits and Whiskies of the World spirits competitions and often works as a consultant, developing formal tasting notes for spirits brands around the world.
Location: Austin, TX
Email: [email protected]
Beats: General inquiries and announcements, all spirits, wine, drinking science
Favorite cocktail: Campari & Soda
Drew Beard, Assistant Editor and Social Media Editor
Drew Beard isn't sure how he became Assistant Editor at Drinkhacker, but he knows that he's had quite a lot to drink ever since. In addition to writing and editing for the finest spirits website in all the land, he operates a small hotel outside of Washington, D.C., in Virginia wine country (yes, it's a thing). Drew is a Certified Specialist in Spirits and Executive Bourbon Steward, among other booze-related merit badges, and he edits our weekly Newsletter with a fervor that has no equal.
Location: Washington, DC
Email: [email protected]
Beats: Whiskey, rum, tequila/mezcal, cocktail recipes
Favorite Cocktail: Black Manhattan
Rob Theakston, Editor at Large
Rob Theakston spent the better part of his misspent youth as an Associate Editor at Allmusic.com and has since retreated to a life of whimsical academic work at the University of Kentucky. He divides his ample leisure time between the fine communities of Ypsilanti, Michigan and Lexington, Kentucky. He still writes for Drinkhacker, as he does not believe he would be allowed to write about booze anywhere else.
Location: Lexington, KY
Email: [email protected]
Beats: Wine, coffee, books, beer
Favorite cocktail: Osborn
Robert Lublin, Writer
A theatre professor by day and a libations enthusiast by night, Robert spends his time teaching class, taking care of his children, or at the bar. He lives near Boston, Massachusetts with his wife, twin daughters, and Sonny, the golden retriever. In addition to writing for Drinkhacker, he has published two books on Shakespeare as well as numerous articles and book chapters on theatre history, Frankenstein, and The Evil Dead. His hobbies include collecting whiskeys, watching ridiculous movies, running, and practicing Kenpo karate, in which he holds a black belt.
Location: Medford, MA
Beats: Whiskey, beer, wine, tequila
Favorite Cocktail: Manhattan
David Tao, Writer
David Thomas Tao (he/him) is an entrepreneur, editor, and voice actor based in New York City. He is the CEO of BarBend.com, a media brand that provides multi-platform coverage of news, analysis, training, and opinion in strength training and sports. David is a 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 list maker for Media and a Founding Member of the Rolling Stone Culture Council. David is a proud Kentucky native with a (nearly) lifelong love for bourbon and American whiskey culture.
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Beats: Whiskey, cocktail recipes, travel
Favorite cocktail: Brown Derby
Monica Uhm, Writer
Monica Uhm is an incurable dilettante who has been dabbling most consistently as an international tax specialist, recording singer-songwriter and coffee shop loiterer - sometimes contemporaneously. Inevitably, she has channeled her bottomless enthusiasm for discovery into the intriguing eclectic expanding universe of bourbons, engaging in bourbon-banter at every opportunity.
Location: Westchester County, NY
Beats: Bourbon, ready-to-drink, hard seltzers
Favorite cocktail: Whiskey Sour
Jacob Kiper, Writer
Jacob is based in Owensboro, Kentucky. He takes a special interest in reading books on American beverage alcohol history, and has completed over 500 to date. It is Jacob’s realization that one cannot fully tell the history of America without understanding the place of beverage alcohol. In February 2020, Jacob founded Coming Whiskey on Instagram where he informs consumers of what new American whiskeys are coming to market in the near future. The account has been embraced by consumers and the industry.
Location: Owensboro, KY
Email: [email protected]
Beats: Whiskey, books, Americana
Favorite cocktail: Old Fashioned
Sailor Guevara, Writer
Sailor Guevara is a renowned spirits specialist, journalist, award-winning mixologist, hospitality veteran, rockstar wife and cat mom. Throughout her career, Sailor has earned many accolades, such as the 2020 World Icon of Whiskey Award and the American Distilling Institute named her a top influencer in 2024. With an insatiable curiosity and never ending desire to learn, Sailor has traveled the world experiencing food and drink culture. In 2022, Sailor took the helm as Executive Director of Good Deeds Spirits, a not-for-profit spirits brand that raises funds for industry causes. When she’s not obsessing over spirits and drinks culture, she’s at home in her witch city of Salem, Massachusetts, singing karaoke with friends.
Location: Salem, MA
Email: [email protected]
Beats: Spirits, cocktails, distilleries, travel
Favorite cocktail: Whisky Sour
How to Reach Us
General editorial or business inquiries may be sent via email to [email protected].
Submission information for wineries, breweries, and distilleries looking to send product for review can be found here.