Tom Sandham

Coming Up

Writing and drinks came early and stayed coupled in Tom Sandham’s work. In 2007–2007, he co-authored *Good Beer Guide West Coast USA*, an early sign of the practical curiosity and editorial discipline that would shape his output. He also worked as editor at *CLASS*, adding another layer of experience in how to frame, sharpen, and deliver copy about what people drink. Those roles established the working pattern that still runs through his practice: attention to detail, structure on the page, and a clear sense that drinks culture is also cultural material.

Where They Are Now

Column writing and direction now sit at the centre of Thinking Drinkers, where Tom Sandham works as columnist and director. As one of the company’s co-founders, he is not reporting on the project from a distance; his present role carries the same line of authorship that started it. That position suits work built around cocktails and spirits, where commentary depends on accuracy as much as tone. Alongside his work for The Telegraph and as an author, his output keeps moving between reporting, opinion, and public-facing drinks writing.

Signature

Tom's signature dishes include World's Best Cocktails, The Thinking Drinker's Guide to Alcohol, Good Beer Guide West Coast USA, Thinking Drinkers: The Enlightened Imbiber's Guide to Alcohol, and The Thinking Drinkers Almanac. Read together, these titles map a body of work that moves between cocktails, beer, and spirits without losing the practical edge of drinks writing. The range points to a writer who works in guides, almanacs, and commentary with the same priorities: usefulness, clarity, and enough wit to keep the subject moving.

In Their Words “With new babies in our lives we can certainly attest to the fact that we are born with nothing other than a demand to drink, which makes our show incredibly pertinent.” “We joined forces again in 2007 when we co-wrote the award-winning Good Beer Guide West Coast USA.” The lines are in the same register as the work itself: plainspoken, lightly comic, and grounded in the everyday facts around drink. They also show a writer who turns experience into a clean line of copy without overworking it.

Honors

Tom's honors include Industry Communicators of the Year, Educator of the Year, Spirits Communicator of the Year, and Keeper of the Quaich. The set of awards points to recognition across communication, teaching, and the wider spirits trade, which matches a career built on making drinks subjects legible without flattening them.