Welcome to ManTalkFood.com.

jake emen journalistI’m Jake Emen, and I’m your host on this journey. I’m a freelance travel, food, and drinks journalist, with a special love for all things whiskey.

This site is really focused on something we can all agree is a good thing: enjoying good eats & downing good drams. But it’s really simply a collection of my assorted musings, writings, and various misadventures.

Beyond this site right here, I’ve been published in a wide range of print and online outlets, including:

  • AFAR
  • Airows
  • Alcohol Professor
  • Barron’s Penta
  • Bourbon+
  • Bloomberg Pursuits
  • CN Traveler
  • Departures
  • Destination Weddings & Honeymoons
  • Distiller.com
  • Distiller Magazine
  • Discover Magazine
  • Drizly
  • Eater
  • Flaviar
  • Food & Wine
  • GQ
  • Imbibe
  • Inside Hook
  • Liquor.com
  • Matador
  • Men’s Health
  • Modern Farmer
  • New York Magazine’s The Strategist
  • Oct.co
  • Old Liquors Magazine
  • On Tap Magazine
  • Paste Magazine
  • PUNCH
  • Roads & Kingdoms
  • Robb Report
  • Scotchwhisky.com
  • SevenFifty Daily
  • Tales of the Cocktail
  • Tasting Table
  • Time Out
  • Thrillist
  • Travel + Leisure
  • TripSavvy
  • Uproxx
  • USA Today
  • Vice Munchies
  • Vinepair
  • Washington City Paper
  • Washington Post
  • Washington Post Express
  • Wine Enthusiast
  • The Whiskey Wash
  • Whisky Advocate
  • Yahoo (News, Sports, Local)
  • Zagat

jake emen iacp award finalist

Writing Awards & Acknowledgements

  • 2023 Tales Of The Cocktail Spirited Awards Finalist – Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing x2
  • 2022 International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) Awards Finalist – Narrative Beverage Writing
  • 2017 Croatia Golden Pen Awardjake emen journalist adventure travel trade association

Additional Credentials:

  • Spirits judge for national and international competitions, including the American Distilling Institute and American Craft Spirits Association
  • ATTA journalist member
  • Voter for several prominent international food & beverage awards
  • Official reviewer, spirits tasting notes writer & craft distillery consultant

Oh yea, and I’m also always looking for new opportunities—so feel free to get in touch with me to discuss a new project, story, or idea.

I never turn down a tasty bite or sip, and here’s where I’ll be discussing it. Cheers.