Emma Janzen is an intrepid traveler, cocktail and spirits journalist, and photographer who splits her time between home in Chicago and the world’s coolest barstools and distilleries. She is the author and photographer of Mezcal: The History, Craft & Cocktails of the World’s Ultimate Artisanal Spirit; co-author of three James Beard Award–winning books: The Way of the Cocktail with Julia Momosé, The Bartender’s Manifesto with Toby Maloney, and The Bartender’s Pantry with Jim Meehan; and a New York Times-bestselling ghostwriter. She most recently co-wrote and photographed The Classic Cocktail Sessions, with Toby Maloney, which was published in June 2026.

Janzen is also one of the foremost authorities in the agave spirits space. As a certified WSET Agave Master, she has judged agave spirits for the Agavos Awards, the New Orleans Spirits Competition, and the John Barleycorn Awards; written articles about mezcal and tequila for outlets including The New York Times, Eater, PUNCH, Imbibe, and Good Beer Hunting; presented panels and seminars about mezcal at Tales of the Cocktail, Mexico in a Bottle, San Antonio Cocktail Conference and more; and has been quoted as an expert source in agave-related stories and podcasts for The Washington Post, AFAR, Craft Spirits magazine, El País, Bartender at Large, Speaking Easy, and more.

She is currently the USA Midwest academy chair for The 50 Best Bars and has been included in the Drinks International Bar World 100, an annual list of the industry’s most influential people, since 2023.