Our Team
Founder, Editor in Chief
Nino Kilgore-Marchetti is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Whiskey Wash, an award winning whiskey lifestyle website dedicated to informing and entertaining consumers about whisk(e)y on a global level. As a whisk(e)y journalist, expert and judge he has written about the subject extensively, been interviewed in various media outlets and provided tasting input on many whiskeys at competitions. He also maintains a large private collection of whiskey from which he continually educates his palate on this brown spirit type.
Editors
Margarett Waterbury is the author of Scotch: A Complete Introduction to Scotland's Whiskies. A full-time freelance writer and editor, she currently serves as The Whiskey Wash reviews editor. Her work has appeared in Whisky Advocate, Food and Wine, Spirited Magazine, Edible Seattle, Sip Northwest, Civil Eats, Travel Oregon, Artisan Spirit, and many other publications. She is the former managing editor of Edible Portland, as well as a cofounder and former managing editor of The Whiskey Wash. She was named the Alan Lodge Young Drinks Writer of the Year, earned two fellowships for the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers, and, as part of The Whiskey Wash team, helped the site earn two International Whisky Competition Website of the Year awards.
Columnists
Steve Coomes is an award-winning journalist and book author specializing in whiskey and food. In his 30-year career, he has edited and written for national trade and consumer publications including USA Today, Southern Living, Delta Sky Magazine, Nation’s Restaurant News, Pizza Today, Restaurant Business, Bourbon + and American Whiskey magazine. In 2013, he authored “Country Ham: A Southern Tradition of Hogs, Salt & Smoke,” and in 2020, he authored "The Rebirth of Bourbon: Building a Tourism Economy in Small-Town USA." When not writing about food and drink, he leads large-scale, intimate and virtual food and spirits
Felipe is a whisky writer, musician, author, spirits competition judge, and tastings host. As a whisky writer, Felipe has been widely published across industry magazines and websites. His book, London Cocktails, is published by Cider Mill Press and is distributed worldwide by Simon and Schuster. As a musician, he is the co-founder of The Rhythm and Booze Project, a duo fusing live music and whisky through gigs, tasting events, and multimedia. For his work, he was named the 2022 Icons of Whisky Communicator of the Year, and the 2021 Alan Lodge Young International Drinks Writer of the Year.
News Team
Gary Carter has been at the helm of metro newspapers, magazines, and television news programs as well as a radio host and marketing manager. He is a writer/editor/photographer/designer by trade, with more than 30 years experience in the publishing and marketing field. Gary enjoys working to build something great, whether that be a novel project, a start-up, an organization, a fresh-face to the journalistic world, or even something as simple as a short story. A native Texan and a Pacific Northwest convert, he is a whiskey enthusiast who cut his teeth on it ... literally!
Review Team
Larissa Banitt is a writer and nurse born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. She's a foodie, whisk(e)y nerd, and animal lover. You'll often find her hiking with her dog, trail-riding with her horse, or crocheting with her cats.
Suzanne Bayard struck out to the West Coast with her now husband almost a decade ago to explore the intersection of wine and policy in its world-class wine regions. She manages a Portland, OR bottle shop by day as the wine buyer and newsletter editor. She is also the Director of the Deep Roots Coalition, an organization of 30 Willamette Valley wineries that educate on and promote dry farming and sustainable practices. She joined the Whiskey Wash to explore two other passions: writing and whiskey.
Cindy Capparelli started the Portland Bitters Project in 2014 with the vision to create the best bitters on the market. Now her bitters are enjoyed around the country and internationally to make expressive, delicious cocktails. She teaches at two Portland colleges and visits private groups, distilleries and maker's spaces to spread the gospel of high-quality ingredients and time-honored technique. Cindy gives her students the confidence and knowledge to stir up a drink at home, experiment with tinctures or just more fully enjoy their food and beverage experiences.
Olivia Cohen is a word and whiskey lover living in the Pacific Northwest. She works as a writer by day, and incidentally enjoys it so much that she's always looking for great publications to contribute to after 5. Which, of course, is also the best time for a drink.
Talia Gragg is part of the Portland service industry community, and an alumna of the Multnomah Whiskey Library. She’s an avid spirit and cocktail enthusiast, and likes to experience them both academically and recreationally. When not sipping whiskey she’s a ceramic artist and lover of travel.
Courtney Kristjana's opinions may be strong like the peat in her scotch, but she guarantees honesty and integrity all the while keeping an open mind. It's tiresome having to prove her credentials and worth as a woman in the liquor industry, especially when it comes to drinking whiskey, but it does not stop her from pursuing happiness one dram at a time. When not bartending or writing whiskey reviews, Courtney is usually found knitting, watching horror movies, or bouldering.
Devon Lyon has spent the past two decades producing video content as well as writing copy and scripts for clients around the globe. But no matter how strong his natural wanderlust, it’s the Pacific Northwest he calls home. Whether it’s the growing local craft spirit scene, world-class wines, or a brewery on every corner, life on the “best” coast isn’t too bad a spot to sit back and enjoy a sip. And nothing sips better than whiskey. Devon spends his free time working to master his Hasselblad medium format 501cm camera, fly fishing, snowshoeing and traveling internationally with his partner and his daughter.
Jason Marshall has spent his career as a bartender advocate and mentor , providing an opportunity for the best new faces and ideas to flourish. The process has given him opportunities to stretch creatively, develop wonderful people who branched out to their own passions, and host cocktail competitions with a bartender community focus. He is a certified Executive Bourbon Steward.
A decade ago, Carin Moonin traded a 5th floor walkup in Hoboken, NJ for a house in SE Portland and remain grateful for the swap. Carin feels Portland’s a great whiskey town: It fits the weather and her general mood (even improves it sometimes). She enjoys exploring the many shades of brown liquor and learning what it can do for her. Carin has written for publications including Salon.com, DailyDot.com, Willamette Week, Portland Monthly, and more. When she's not drinking whiskey or writing about it, she can be found running, reading, or seeking out free samples in grocery stores.
Reporting and writing has taken Scott Bernard Nelson all over the world, giving him an opportunity to cover everything from 9/11 to an Olympic Games to the invasion of Iraq. These days, he’s retired from daily journalism but still enjoys talking with interesting people and writing fun stories. When he’s not dabbling in short fiction or screenplays, you’ll probably find Scott rock climbing or fly fishing in the Pacific Northwest – and, whenever possible, drinking great whiskies.
Jerry Sampson is a freelance writer, editor and screenwriter. Her creative work is ever improved by her love of whiskey and craft cocktails. She enjoys taking cool fall days to explore the great distilleries around Portland to get a closer look at the inner workings of her favorite spirits.
Austin Scarberry is a writer and pastry chef based in Portland, Oregon. He uses his experience in the culinary industry to inform his reviews, letting the gentle thoughtfulness he learned from baking guide his work. Outside of The Whiskey Wash, he mainly writes poetry and fantasy/sci-fi. You can find his other work in Sci-Phi Journal or Oprelle Publications' poetry anthology "Matter — 2021 Edition II". Follow him on Twitter @ScarberryWrites.
Charles Steele is a Portland area attorney, born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. His legal education affords him an analytical approach to understanding whiskey and other aged spirits. Traditionally a legal writer, freelancing for The Whiskey Wash will prove a unique opportunity to flex his writing skills. Although he prefers whiskey and whiskey based cocktails, he has a profound affection for all unique and strange liquors from Malort to Ojen, if it's odd he wants it.
Jennifer Williams is a former Dallas, Texas bartender of 15 years where she developed an appreciation for patrons with a healthy respect for great whiskey. She moved to Portland, Oregon in 2019 where she graduated from Portland State University as an English Literature major with a minor in Writing. While at PSU, she served as the Arts & Culture editor for the college’s monthly magazine, The Pacific Sentinel, in her final term. She is a voracious reader, an outdoor runner, dabbles in photography, and adores classic jazz. Jennifer is always up for a whiskey and great conversation with old friends from Texas as well as the many new ones she’s made since relocating to Oregon.
