Jillian Dara

Contributor|Spirits

I am a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, spirits, wine, food and culture. Having lived and worked in Bermuda, London, Santiago and New York City, I’ve witnessed the whimsical power of a traditional spirit or local brew to bring strangers together in the most chance of circumstances. This perspective inspired me to taste my way around the globe to seek out the stories and personalities behind the bottles. My journeys have taken me from Europe’s famed wine destinations throughout Italy, Spain and France to lesser known regions in Hungary and Slovenia, as well as rice wine villages in Southern China and a Swedish farmhouse producing schnapps. I may have been raised on island rum but today, when I'm not in tasting mode, you'll find me sipping a classic: dirty martini or a dry white. Raise a glass with me @jilliandara.