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Spirits writer Dominic Roskrow dies

The drinks trade has been paying tribute to spirits writer, author and consultant Dominic Roskrow who has died.

Dominic Roskrow
Tributes have poured in for Dominic Roskrow, who has died

News of Roskrow’s death came to light this weekend as tributes began flooding social media platforms. He was 61 years old.

Roskrow’s work in the drinks industry included being editor of The Spirits Business between 2011 and 2012, and editor of Whisky Magazine.

From April 2016 to June 2018, Roskrow worked as a spirits writer, magazine editor and consultant at Craigellachie Hotel in Speyside, Scotland.

He then took on the role of editor-in-chief at Whisky Quarterly from June 2018 to April 2020, before becoming managing director of Worldwide Whisky Company.

Since November 2020, he worked as a consultant to three whisky companies.

His accomplishments also included penning a number of spirits books, such as Whiskey America, and The World’s Best Whiskies.

The spirits industry has been posting tributes to Roskrow on social media.

American author Fred Minnick posted on Twitter: “Saddened to learn about the passing of whisky writer Dominic Roskrow, whose whisky books educated thousands on good drams. He helped build the profession I enjoy today and never stopped educating people. Dominic was an inspiring leader in whisky writing. Rest in peace, my friend.”

Whisky consultant Blair Bowman also paid his respects: “Very sad to learn the news that Dominic Roskrow has died. He was extremely kind and generous to me when I was first starting in the whisky industry. He will be missed.”

Freelance spirits writer and consultant Kristiane Sherry also shared her tribute on Twitter. She wrote: “Dom Roskrow was on the same trip as me when I first tasted whisky. Funny, friendly, generous with his knowledge – he was one of the first to welcome me into the drinks-writing fold. He found things hard, his life wasn’t always easy. But he was such a talent and will be so missed.”

Blackwater Distillery also posted its condolences online: “We are devastated by the news that Dom Roskrow has died. I have known Dom for over 20 years, since his days as editor of Whisky Magazine, and indeed he was at our distillery only last year. He is a great loss to the industry and our thoughts are with his family.”

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