10/16/25: David Thomas Tao

David Thomas Tao writer, reviewer, producer, and spirits expert based in New York City. A Kentucky native and Kentucky Colonel, David’s passion for drinks began in bourbon and has since expanded to all corners of the spirits world. He’s a member of The Barleycorn Society, one of the beverage world’s most prestigious tasting panels.David covers the world of spirits, cocktails, and hospitality, with a particular (but not singular) focus on whiskey.David’s writing has appeared in Fortune, Forbes, Slate, VinePair, Drinkhacker, and Malt Review. In 2016, he co-founded BarBend.com, which grew to become one of the world’s largest independent fitness publishers. David served as BarBend's CEO, leading growth to over 30 million annual readers before the company was acquired in 2023.David graduated from Harvard College and was a Forbes 30 Under 30 list maker for Media in 2019. He’s an active producer of movies, television, and Broadway stage productions. Recent credits include serving as an Executive Producer on “Ferrari” (2023), directed by Michael Mann, as well as “Illinoise” and “Oh, Mary!” on Broadway (both 2024).