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GlobalData research has found the top influencers in spirits based on their performance and engagement online. Using research from GlobalData’s Influencer platform, Drinks Insight Network has named ten of the most influential people in spirits on Twitter during Q3 2020.
Biggest influencers in spirits: The top ten in Q3 2020
1. Steve Rush (@TheWhiskyWire)
Steve Rush is the founding editor of The Whisky Wire, a website providing information and updates on whiskeys. He specialises in freelance spirits writing, digital and social media, PR, marketing and consulting.
Rush has collaborated with a range of spirit brands, advising them on brand development and has represented more than 100 whisky brands at various events. He also created the twitter handle @TheWhiskyWire, where he markets industry related content such as Tweet Tastings and Insta Tastings.
Twitter followers: 27,004
GlobalData influencer score: 100
WIN a duo of Storywood Speyside Whisky Finished Tequilas. RT and Follow @TheWhiskyWire and @Storywood_ for your chance to win! https://t.co/EaDOml8s6G @MPRComms #StorywoodComp #BeInItToWinIt #Tequila #Whisky pic.twitter.com/NA7wJcDuzN
— Steve Rush 🥃 (@TheWhiskyWire) September 4, 2020
2. Inka Larissa (@OnTheSauceAgain)
Inka Larissa is the founder of onthesauceagain.com, a website providing information on spirits. She has extensive experience in the hospitality and tourism industry, having travelled across different continents.
Larissa explores and writes about various spirits including Negroni, tequila, gin and whiskey and is a glassware enthusiast. She also writes about how various spirits are produced apart from travel and lifestyle on her blog.
Twitter followers: 34,744
GlobalData influencer score: 84
Vodka is not always getting the spotlight it deserves, even if there are many quality vodkas on the market. Below I have listed some things about vodka that you may not already know, topics you might use to impress your fellow drinkers.https://t.co/QiDSODDx6b
— Inka Larissa (@OnTheSauceAgain) September 12, 2020
3. MacCocktail (@MacCocktail)
MacCocktail is a data analytics professional who provides news and information on wine, beer and spirits. His areas of interest are food, history, sports, books and pop culture. He is part of the Tequila Interchange Project (TIP), which campaigns for preserving sustainable and quality traditions in the tequila industry.
MacCocktail is also a member of the United States Bartenders’ Guild, a non-profit organisation of bartenders and hospitality professionals.
Twitter followers: 279,414
GlobalData influencer score: 64
What you should know before taking another sip of scotch https://t.co/f98wVgZw4D
— MacCocktail (@MacCocktail) August 26, 2020
4. Mike Morales (@timberelk)
Mike Morales is the CEO of Tequila Aficianado Media, an information and news provider on tequila, mezcal and agave spirits. He is an expert in agave spirit and tequila, and is also an influencer, educator and an advisor to the tequila industry.
Morales also reviews tequila, sotol, raicilla and baconara on his spirits show Sipping Off the Cuff. He is an author and a contributor for global publications like Men’s Health, BBC and USA Today.
Twitter followers: 6,068
GlobalData influencer score: 61
Cielo Blanco Tequila Reviewhttps://t.co/KlqbHdG3Zo
— Mike Morales (@timberelk) August 28, 2020
5. Fiona Beckett (@winematcher)
Fiona Beckett is a wine columnist at The Guardian and has several years of experience in writing for leading newspapers and magazines. Her areas of expertise are food, wine, cheese and presenting. She founded and maintains matchingfoodandwine.com, a wine and food pairing website.
Beckett also owns two food blogs including the2fionas.com and thecheeselover.blogspot.com. She is a podcaster and an author who has written 24 books.
Twitter followers: 45,363
GlobalData influencer score: 50
If you’re anyway near a branch of @waitrose this lovely late summer evening nip in and buy Heston’s new Lazy Sunshine gin. And … er … a bottle of olive oil. Read on to find out why https://t.co/EcUQLATNXz
— Fiona Beckett (@winematcher) September 9, 2020
6. Melissa Cole (@MelissaCole)
Melissa Cole is a beer and food expert, who received certification from the Cicerone® Certification Programme, which trains and certifies beer specialists. She partners with different breweries including Rooster’s, Fuller’s, Odell, St Austell and Ilkley in manufacturing beers.
Cole is also an author and a regular judge at international competitions held in various countries including Brazil, New Zealand, US and Europe, thanks to her fine palate.
Twitter followers: 36,743
GlobalData influencer score: 49
Obvs we also have beer, wine, spirits & soft drinks! There’s hand sanitiser on each table, every table is sanitised between customers & staff are diligently sanitising their hands too (in fact, one of ’em was diligent enough to spray sanitise the whole of my back the other day😄)
— Melissa Cole (@MelissaCole) September 24, 2020
7. Kat Kinsman (@kittenwithawhip)
Kat Kinsman is a senior editor at Food & Wine, an American monthly magazine featuring recipes, restaurant reviews and wine pairings. Her areas of expertise are food and beverage writing, editing, public speaking on food and mental health, pop culture and social justice.
Kinsman also hosts a cooking show and founded Chefs With Issues, a common platform for people in the hotel industry to share issues.
Twitter followers: 97,605
GlobalData influencer score: 49
It’s been a beast of a week, but @osayiendolyn‘s feature on @smallsalexander‘s generous spirit of hospitality is alive online and in print, with photos by Kelly Marshall and it’s just sunshine. https://t.co/hBDe39O7Kn
— Kat Kinsman (@kittenwithawhip) September 18, 2020
8. Keith Mahon (@MrKeithMahon)
Keith Mahon is the managing director at TheTaste.ie, Ireland’s leading digital food and drink magazine with more than ten million subscribers worldwide. He has extensive experience in online technology management and commercial management, having worked with various firms for more than two decades.
Keith Mahon was previously working as the managing director at TheDiningRoom.ie, a website featuring some of the famous culinary destinations in Ireland.
Twitter followers: 64,195
GlobalData influencer score: 47
Love the New #sabasecretgarden on Baggot Street, it’s a little sun trap in the heart of Dublin 4, add in delicious food & cocktails and you have the perfect Sunday Lunch, well done to all involved 🍴👌 pic.twitter.com/lEd9jhbkdx
— Keith Mahon (@MrKeithMahon) July 19, 2020
9. Robert Joseph (@robertjoseph)
Robert Joseph is a consultant for Ch Malartic Lagraviere, a winery in France. He is an expert in wine production and has worked with various brands including Greener Planet and le Grand Noir. He specialises in wine evaluation, editing and publishing and industry analysis.
Joseph is also a speaker, commentator, author, brand creator and has co-created the website www.realbizwine.com. He is the director for DoILikeIt, a company focused on using innovative methods to understand consumer preferences in wine.
Twitter followers: 31,327
GlobalData influencer score: 47
“These days, vodka needs to add flavourings to be seen as sexy, while malt whisky is growing. It could soon be gin’s turn again”
(Dave Broom, WINE mag, 1995)Hendrick’s was launched 4 years later pic.twitter.com/82aiQuKvVc
— wine thinker (@robertjoseph) September 17, 2020
10. Caroline Pardilla (@Carolineoncrack)
Caroline Pardilla is a contributing writer at Eater, a website providing information on dining and drinking. She also started her own blog Caroline on Crack in 2005, which won multiple awards including Best Drinking Blog and Best Local Blogger.
Pardilla is also contributing writer at Liquor.com, a website dedicated to spirits, wines, recipes and bars, and LAist.com, a website covering news, arts and food.
Twitter followers: 22,418
GlobalData influencer score: 47
Cocktails-to-go are permanent in Iowa! Ahem, @GavinNewsom.https://t.co/gw9K2aevQD from @DispatchAlerts
— Caroline on Quarantine (@Carolineoncrack) August 26, 2020
Methodology
GlobalData’s influencer identification framework identifies influencers based on relevance; size of network, connections and followers; engagement levels with their content and analysis and input from sector experts. Influencers are then evaluated on a series of specific topic-related keywords used over the period and weighted by engagement metrics.