Expertise
Whiskey, Barbecue & Grilling, Charcuterie
- Brendan is the author of The Man's Book of the BBQ for Hachette (Spruce-Octopus).
- He knows a ludicrous amount of salting science for charcuterie, jerky, and BBQ dry rub.
- But he's also mostly vegetarian and will cook you a fine vegan meal using beans he grew himself.
Experience
Brendan has been writing about food (particularly BBQ) and drink for over a decade for numerous clients and employers, including AOL, MTV, Maxim, CBS, and Thrillist. He's been fortunate enough to interview (and eat with) numerous luminaries of barbecue, including Michael & Myron Mixon, Chris Lilly, Meathead Goldwyn, and others. He's also been known to ferment his own hot sauce and beer Brendan lives in NYC because the food here is delicious, but along the way he's learned a thing or two about cooking for himself.
Education
He has a degree in English with a focus on Creative Writing.
Tasting Table’s editorial coverage hails from a veteran group of writers and editors with expertise in their respective fields in the food and drink, hospitality, and agriculture industries. Outside experts are also consulted to help deliver factual, up-to-date information and original recipes.
We strive to publish knowledgeable, engaging articles to give readers the information they're looking for, whether that is the news of the day; cooking tips, tricks, and trends; or reviews and recommendations. In an effort to provide the most comprehensive, current, and accurate content, our team is constantly reviewing and updating articles as necessary. Click here for more information on our editorial process.
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Drink
By Brendan McGinley
We sampled all five bottles in Buffalo Trace's 2024 Antique Collection, and let us just say, these whiskeys are highly sought-after for a reason.
By Brendan McGinley
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Drink
By Brendan McGinley
November is upon is, and that means it's time for this year's Goose Island Bourbon County Stout lineup. We tasted and ranked the whole 2024 set.
By Brendan McGinley
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Drink
By Brendan McGinley
The Macallan is celebrating its 200th birthday with the release of its TIME : SPACE Collection, and we got to sample one of these pricey whiskies at the party.
By Brendan McGinley
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Restaurants
By Brendan McGinley
Looking for the best chicken wings? From fast food brands like Wingstop to Korean fried chicken at Bonchon, we sampled them all to rank the best.
By Brendan McGinley
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Drink
By Brendan McGinley
Jack Daniel's just released Coy Hill Barrelhouse 8, the distillery's latest high-proof whiskey coveted by connoisseurs. We tried it for this review.
By Brendan McGinley
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Drink
By Brendan McGinley
After last year's successful launch of a cellar-aged bourbon, Maker's Mark is back with the 2024 edition. Here's why this new bourbon bottle is worth the hunt.
By Brendan McGinley
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Restaurants
By Brendan McGinley
Wing lovers rejoice. We taste-tested Popeyes' Sweet 'N Smokey Chipotle wings and Wingstop's Sweet BBQ Blaze to find out which is the best.
By Brendan McGinley
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Drink
By Brendan McGinley
Hogsworth, the latest offering from Bhakta Spirits, is an unusual blend of bourbon and French brandy. Here's our review of this sadly disappointing spirit.
By Brendan McGinley
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Drink
By Brendan McGinley
Old Forester will release a 24th iteration of its Birthday Bourbon on September 2nd. We tried a sample to see how the whiskey stacks up with past bottles.
By Brendan McGinley
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Expanding its domain in the world of boxed mac and cheese, Kraft recently released new jalapeño and ranch varieties. We tried them both for this review.
By Brendan McGinley
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Drink
By Brendan McGinley
Jack Daniel’s limited Distillery Series Selection #13 brings a unique perspective to rye. Here's what you need to know this bottle and if it's worth buying.
By Brendan McGinley
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Drink
By Brendan McGinley
June 2024 saw the release of Buffalo Trace Distillery's new Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey. Is this limited-edition bottle worth buying?
By Brendan McGinley
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Reviews
By Brendan McGinley
We reviewed every drink and food item on the new Starbucks summer menu so you don't have to, and found some serious winners and some meh items, too.
By Brendan McGinley
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Grocery
By Brendan McGinley
Costco has released its own Kirkland Signature Sous Vide Egg Bites, and they closely resemble Starbucks' egg bites. We tried them, and here's what we think.
By Brendan McGinley
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Drink
By Brendan McGinley
Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is highly coveted among whiskey drinkers. We take a deep dive into the details of this rare, expensive collection.
By Brendan McGinley
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Drink
By Brendan McGinley
Weller Millenium is a high-priced whiskey set for release by W.L. Weller. Read our review to learn about this expression and whether it's worth the hefty cost.
By Brendan McGinley
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Drink
By Brendan McGinley
Starbucks has released its spring seasonal line of ground coffees, including a brand new flavor. We took a taste to see which bag of java is worth the purchase.
By Brendan McGinley
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We asked several experts for their best tips on how to cook beef ribs in a variety of ways depending on the cut, while also avoiding common kitchen pitfalls.
By Brendan McGinley
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Drink
By Brendan McGinley
Starbucks just announced its new Spicy Lemonade Refreshers, a piquant twist on the usual icy relief that lemonade brings to a warm day. Here's what we thought.
By Brendan McGinley
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Restaurants
By Brendan McGinley
Find out which items on Panera Bread's New Era menu you should get excited about, and which ones are more negligible in these budget-conscious times.
By Brendan McGinley
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Reviews
By Brendan McGinley
Starbucks Reserve is releasing a pair of new hot honey coffee beverages. Here's our review of the new limited-time hot honey martini and affogato drinks.
By Brendan McGinley
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Drink
By Brendan McGinley
Starbucks has released its 2024 spring menu, and Tasting Table was one of the first to try it. Read our review of the new lavender-based beverages.
By Brendan McGinley
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Drink
By Brendan McGinley
If you're looking for top-flight tequila, Expresiones del Corazón tequila is a must. We tried out their full lineup and list out our favorites.
By Brendan McGinley
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Culture
By Brendan McGinley
We here at Tasting Table spend a lot of time checking out food-related stock photos ... and sometimes we uncover pictures that are more surreal than savory.
By Brendan McGinley
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Restaurants
By Brendan McGinley
Our restuarant expert ventured out to the new Peter Luger in Las Vegas. They've got a dish that's only available there, and one you won't ever see there.
By Brendan McGinley
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Drink
By Brendan McGinley
Stranahan's most eagerly awaited single malt whiskey of the year is now available. Our expert is here with a review of Snowflake: Pyramid Peak.
By Brendan McGinley
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Exclusives
By Brendan McGinley
The Peter Luger burger might just be the best in the world. We try it firsthand at the new Caesar's Palace location of the famed NYC steakhouse.
By Brendan McGinley
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