Brendan McGinley
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.
Stories By Brendan McGinley
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is highly coveted among whiskey drinkers. We take a deep dive into the details of this rare, expensive collection.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Smashburger has release a new offering of menu items it promises will be scorchin' hot. We took a taste-test to figure out if the new options are hot or cold.
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Starbucks Reserve blends are exclusively at specialty Starbucks Reserve locations, but we've tried the new releases so you know the best upcoming blends.