Adam O'Connell
Adam O'Connell has been writing for Master of Malt for over eight years now. He’s visited distilleries, wineries, and breweries across the world, reviewed a variety of whiskies, gins, rums, Tequilas, mezcals, brandies, vodkas, wines, beers, and cocktails, and contributed all kinds of words in all sorts of places, including over 1,000 articles to its award-winning online blog, The Whisk(e)y Wash, and many of the handy guides you might have enjoyed. He’s even jammed with Kiefer Sutherland AND dined with Ainsley Harriott. Not at the same time.
Can SCHOFIELD’S BAR Bring Manchester Hospitality to Covent Garden?SCHOFIELD’S BAR is coming to Covent Garden. Founders Joe and Daniel Schofield have built one of the most celebrated cocktail bars in Britain in Manchester’s Sunlight House. Since opening in…
Bird Copenhagen: How To Build a Bar with a ThemeBird Copenhagen is a music bar. Music is the theme. That doesn’t sound particularly groundbreaking, but building a bar with a proper theme is harder than it looks. Opening a…
The Whisky Dive Bar: A Dream, via the IzakayaThe whisky dive bar. There’s a concept. Low lighting and cold Highballs. The heat of food and conversation. Every bottle is open. A bartender gets irritated by the small plates…
Archive & Myth: New Menu, New Manager, No DramasThere is a ritual involved in entering Archive & Myth. There’s a code, or a knock, or possibly a short TikTok dance you’re supposed to perform somewhere around Leicester Square….
Hugo Spritz: The Drink of the Summer?Is it the summer of the Hugo Spritz? It just might be. There’s an obvious appeal. For many, the floral sweetness of elderflower is an easier flavour to take than…
Nancy’s London Bridge: The New Bar ReviewUp enough stairs to make you feel like Po in Kung Fu Panda, especially in this heat, lies Nancy’s. The new London Bridge cocktail bar looks towards the Shard and…
What’s Next for The Martini?What’s next for the Martini? It seems the direction of travel is colder, smaller, dirtier, more savoury, more personalised Martinis. Recent trend coverage reflects this. Decanter says the Dirty Martini…
10 More Drinks Buzzwords You Never Want To Hear AgainWell, you liked The Drinks Buzzwords You’re Sick Of Hearing, so have another piping hot batch of lingo that need to be sealed in a barrel, rolled into the sea,…
Europe’s 50 Best Bars Has Arrived, And Athens Has Stolen The CarEurope’s 50 Best Bars 2026 has landed, with Line named No.1. A glitter cannon has been shot into the European cocktail scene with a scream: Athens, baby. Here’s what the…
How To Create A Bar Menu: More Expert AdviceFor Alex Lawrence-Milia, managing director of Mr Lyan Venues, the a bar menu should derive from collective work rather than individual ownership. We’re discussing the second menu that the New…
Where Does The Trade Drink A Martini?The Martini isn’t having a comeback. It’s not possible to have one when you never left. It’s never been more diverse, however. Oyster shells, tomato water, mezcal, whiskey, freezer pours,…
The Drinks Buzzwords You’re Sick Of HearingMaking a drink and selling a drink are two different skills. Both are haunted by the same problem: buzzwords. Producers wants to communicate value. Buyers wants to feel like they’ve…
Can Luxury Hotel Bars Feel Human Again?Luxury hotel bars have a fairly unforgiving reputation: beautiful rooms, expensive drinks, stiff service, and an overwhelming sense that you had accidentally wandered into somebody else’s tax bracket. Too many are…
The Dos and Dont’s of Spirits Competition JudgingSpirits competition judging sounds like a cushy gig. There’s definitely worse ways to make a living. Though it’s not quite sitting in a velvet armchair, swirling a glass, declaring it…
Is This The Best Bartender In The World?Is Giorgio Bargiani the best bartender in the world? The assistant director of mixology at the Connaught Bar has just won the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award for Europe’s 50 Best…
Creating A New Bar Menu: The View From Eve BarFor Kelvin McCabe, beverage director at Eve Bar and the Adam Handling Collection, a new bar menu should not begin with a list of drinks. It should begin with the…
