It is with a heavy heart that I write this piece. I’m saying goodbye to my weekly Whisked Foodie columns, and while my time at Whisked Foodie has been one of the most enjoyable times I’ve ever had as a journalist, it is time to move on. I’m not going to get into too much about why I’m departing. It will suffice to say that I’m sad to leave and that I’ll still be promoting the talented writers at Whisked Foodie as much as I can. Having said that, if you keep an eye out, you’ll still see my byline in a number of print magazines at least for the next year. While it would be nice to think that I’m still writing, these pieces are already written and are just awaiting publication. Perhaps someday I’ll be able to return to a regular writing schedule, but for now, I’m going to focus my energies in a different direction.

But enough about me. The exciting news is that this space is being filled next week by one of my favorite wine and spirits people, Phil Manning. Phil is knowledgeable about both wine and spirits, and as a former bartender, Phil understands the world of cocktails in a way that only people who have worked in the industry can explain. Phil is also a great writer, and we both share similar philosophies. If anything, I think Phil is poised to take Whisked Foodie to even greater heights, and I’m excited to see what Phil has in store for this space. As part of my exit from the writing scene, Phil is also taking over my longtime Twitter feed (www.twitter.com/AboutWhisky), where he will be posting updates and breaking news in the world of wine, spirits, and mixology. In short, I think that both you, the readers, and Whisked Foodie, the site, couldn’t be in better hands.

Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, and perhaps someday, I’ll return to contribute the occasional piece if things work out. Until then, let’s raise a glass to Phil, and welcome him to the Whisked Foodie family!