F. Paul Pacult is the founding editor and publisher of F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal – The Quarterly Independent Guide to Distilled Spirits, Beers, and Wines newsletter now in its 19th year of publication. He is the author of the critically acclaimed books A Double Scotch: How Chivas Regal and The Glenlivet Became Global Icons (John Wiley & Sons, 2005); American Still Life: The Jim Beam Story and the Making of the World’s # 1 Bourbon (John Wiley & Sons, 2003); as well as author of Kindred Spirits (Hyperion, 1997); and The Beer Essentials (Hyperion, 1997). His latest book, released last year, is F. Paul Pacult’s Kindred Spirits 2: 2,400 Reviews of Whiskeys, Brandies, Liqueurs, Gins, Vodkas, Rums and Tequilas from 2000-2007 (Spirit Journal, Inc., 2008).

As well as being one of the most sought after consultants to the beverage alcohol industry, Paul is a contributing editor and the spirits tasting director for Wine Enthusiast Magazine; a contributing editor for Beverage Dynamics Magazine; the judging director at the annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition; and a founding member of Beverage Alcohol Resource LLC (BAR) an educational company that focuses on spirits and mixology; BAR was the recipient of the 2007 Cheers Magazine’s “Industry Innovator of the Year” award.

He won the “Award of Excellence for Wine Writing – 2003″ given by the Academy of Wine Writing. Paul is the only journalist worldwide to be a Master of The Keepers of the Quaich Scotch Whisky Society (Edinburgh, Scotland); a life member of The Bourbon Hall of Fame (Bardstown, KY); and a life member of the Armagnac Company of Musketeers (Gascony, France). He lives in New York State’s Hudson Valley with his wife and partner Sue Woodley.