David Wondrich Location: New York City David Wondrich is an award-winning drinks writer and renowned cocktail historian. He has published some of the most revered and influential books on cocktails, including Imbibe! (2007), which was the first cocktail book to win a James Beard Award and is considered the preeminent reference for bartenders and cocktail aficionados alike. In addition to Food & Wine, his writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Daily Beast, Esquire, Bon Appétit, Saveur, Wine Enthusiast, and more. Experience Before David Wondrich established himself as the ultimate cocktail expert and historian, he was an English professor at St. John's University — a job he hated. What he really wanted to do was write, not to mention get paid to go to bars. As luck would have it, he landed a job at Esquire transcribing and editing a cocktail book from 1949, giving him a chance to put his academic skills to good use. He went on to become a drinks writer for Esquire and a senior drinks columnist for The Daily Beast. In addition to Imbibe!, Wondrich has published Punch (2004), Killer Cocktails (2005), and Esquire Drinks (2010), and edited the Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails (2021). He has won the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award an impressive four times. Education David Wondrich earned a doctorate in Comparative Literature from New York University, specializing in Latin scientific poetry. About Food & Wine Food & Wine, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is an award-winning online resource for anyone passionate about the culinary world. With rigorously tested recipes and the most trusted restaurant, drinks, culinary travel and home coverage, we inspire and empower people everywhere to discover, create, and devour the best in food and wine. Learn more about us and our editorial process.