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John McCarthy on Muck Rack

John McCarthy

Verified
Queens
As seen in: Barleycorn Drinks, Forbes, JSTOR Daily, Maxim, Gear Patrol, Roads and Kingdoms, The ABR Podcast, The Arrow
Covers:  Spirits, Wine, Travel and Lifestyle. I occasionally dabble in health and food politics.

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John McCarthy’s Biography

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Men’s Health magazine for ten years, where he last served as Senior Managing Editor. Since departing Men’s Health, McCarthy has written two books, Whiskey Rebels and The Modern Gentleman, published by Workman Press. McCarthy also founded the John Barleycorn International Spirits Competition, for whom he is director of judging and edits Barleycorndrinks.com, a spirits lifestyle online publication. McCarthy has produced spirits, travel, and lifestyle content for multiple outlets, including Forbes…

John McCarthy’s Journalist Portfolio

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Salmon fishing on the Taku

Salmon fishing on the Taku

Canada's mining industry clashes with Alaskan tribes and state government over practices on transboundary wat…

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Navigating Napa Valley: It's Not Just About Wine Anymore

Navigating Napa Valley: It's Not Just About Wine Anymore

Napa was once-upon-a-time a sleepy little farm town where wine lovers strolled around the hills and valleys, …

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Hanoi Rising

Hanoi Rising

Cover story exploring the ins-and-outs of Hanoi, Vietnam

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Art, Love And Mezcal: How Ron Cooper Sparked A Revolución For Oaxaca's Smoky, Mysterious Spirit

Art, Love And Mezcal: How Ron Cooper Sparked A Revolución For Oaxaca's Smoky, Mysterious Spirit

When Ron Cooper took a road trip to Mexico to party with his friends in the early 1960's, he had no idea it w…

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Dubai: One City, Three Ways

Dubai: One City, Three Ways

Feature for JWM Magazine exploring the amazing city of Dubai.

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A Healthier Pour

A Healthier Pour

Spring Cocktails that are leaner and meaner than their stuffy, classic cousins.

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Articles

WHAT’S NEW: High West Introduces Bourye 2025

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By John McCarthy Verified
| Barleycorn Drinks
This whiskey’s recipe has evolved as the company brought its own distillate online. Its current iteration is a recipe of High West distilled and MGP-made ryes mingling with MGP and Kentucky-distilled bourbon. The blending of this annual limited release was overseen by High West’s Director of Sensory QA & New Product Development, Tara Lindley. bottled at 92 proof with an MSRP of $125.
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WHAT’S HOT! The Lost Explorer Reserva del Maestro Mezcal

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By John McCarthy Verified
| Barleycorn Drinks
The aforementioned Madre Cuishe agave used in distillation here was aged for 12 years. Ramos employed two methods of cooking the agave. The first batch was roasted in conical earthen ovens for approximately 72 hours. The next portion was steamed in brick ovens for 24 hours. The agave is fermented naturally in open-air wooden vats and is double-distilled in copper alembic pots.
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WHAT’S NEW! Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19-Year-Old Straight Wheat Whiskey

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By John McCarthy Verified
| Barleycorn Drinks
This 19-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey is born of the same grain recipe used to make Bernheim Original, which is considered a “low wheat” whiskey. The 51% wheat, 37% corn, and 12% malted barley grain recipe contains the minimum wheat content allowed for Heaven Hill to call its to call itself such. From there, the whiskey was aged almost two decades on the 5th and 6th floor of Rickhouse Y, a seven-floor structure. The whiskey was ultimately bottled at 100 proof.
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Interview

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What was your first job as a journalist?

I've written for magazines throughout my career, but began writing full time as a freelancer in 2016. My first gig was a Forbes Contributor.

Have you ever used a typewriter?

Not professionally, but sure

How is social media changing news?

Bigger, faster, but not better