Bartender at Large

On this week's episode we are joined by founder of Fortaleza Tequila & fifth generation tequila producer Guillermo Sauza and William Erickson, the Sales & Marketing Manager for the brand, and discuss the brand's origins and future. So tune in as we discuss everything from managing growth, running out of inventory and also spill a little bit of tea on the tequila industry. _________________________...

Join us this week as we joined by Garret Richard, Chief Cocktail Officerof Sunken Harbor and author of the upcoming book, Tropical Standard.   Still Austin Whiskey Co.:  https://bit.ly/ sawc-bartenderatlarge Preorder Garret's Book: https://www.tropicalstandard.com ____________________________________ Join us every Monday as acclaimed bartender, Erick Castro, interviews some of the bar industry's t...

Join us in this powerful episode as bartender Emily Mistell of Hey Love in Portland, Oregon shares her personal journey and insights on mental health in the industry. From managing stress and anxiety to breaking the stigma, Mistel's vulnerability and strength shines through as she opens up about her own struggles and triumphs. Tune in for a conversation that goes beyond the surface and sheds light...

Join us as we sit down with Frederic Yarm, renowned bartender and author from Boston, as we discuss the realities of achieving a work-life balance while managing bars & restaurants. Yarm shares his experiences and insights on how to deal with burnout in the industry. Whether you're a bartender or simply curious about the hospitality world, this episode offers valuable perspectives on balancing wor...

Get ready to experience the flavors and vibes of Puerto Rico in Portland, Maine with bartender Lyanna Sanabria as she shares her journey and inspiration behind her new bar, Papi. From rum-based cocktails to classic Puerto Rican dishes, Sanabria gives us a taste of her heritage and culture. Join us as we dive into the world of Papi and discover the magic of Puerto Rican hospitality. _______________...

This week we are joined by award-winning perfumer, Dana El Masri, and she takes us into a deep dive on the topic of aroma and fragrance. https://www.jazminsarai.com/ ____________________________________ Join us every Monday as acclaimed bartender, Erick Castro, interviews some of the bar industry's top talents from around the world, including bartenders, distillers & authors. If you love cocktails...

Join us as we chat with co-founder & chef/distiller at Empirical, Lars Williams. Williams and his team have created a revolutionary approach to spirits that puts flavor before category, so tune in as we hear more about his story and philosophy in how he develops new spirits. ____________________________________ Join us every Monday as acclaimed bartender, Erick Castro, interviews some of the bar i...

When a bar is brand new, it can be so easy to get folks excited and enthused for everything going on. But how do you keep a bar feeling energetic and vibrant as the bar goes into its 10th year and beyond? So many of our favorite bars in the industry only grow in impact and importance as time passes, while others fall to the wayside and are eventually forgotten. To help us better understand why som...

This week we are joined by Anu Apte, bar and restaurant owner in Seattle, to share her expertise and insights on the benefits of using software and technology in your bars.   Episode sponsored by Diageo Bar Academy Diageo Bar Academy Virtual Bar: https://www.diageobaracademy.com/en_us/virtual-bar-limited-access/ _____________________________________ Join us every Monday as acclaimed bartender, Eri...

This week we are joined by spirits marketing guru Steven Grasse , Founder and CEO of Tamworth Distilling in New Hampshire to discuss his new book, Brand Mysticism: Cultivate Creativity and Intoxicate Your Audience. For those that don't know, Grasse is the creator of some of the biggest brands in the world, such as Sailor Jerry Rum and Hendrick's Gin, so tune in as he shares his secrets as to how h...

This week we are joined by craft bartender turned attorney-at-law, Daniel Eun Esquire of Westside Hospitality (formerly of PDT, and the Varnish,) and he is here to discuss some pressing issues facing today's bar including handling investors, scaling up operations and various legal issues in operations. Perfect Puree: https://perfectpuree.com/foodservice/complimentary-samples/?utm_source=bartendera...

For this extra special mini-episode we are joined by master educator with Diageo Hospitality Partnership, Vanessa Leon, and she walks us through the various aspects of Diageo Bar Academy online education. Leon shares why the courses are incredibly useful for all skills sets from the novice to the expert.   This episode sponsored by Diageo Bar Academy https://www.diageobaracademy.com/en_us/?utm_sou...

This week we are joined by American microdistiller, writer and creator of Sorel liqueur, Jackie Summers. Summers is an innovator in the industry and in 2012, he became the first Black person in the United States to be granted a license to make liquor post-Prohibition. So tune in, as he shares his philosophy on both business and life. And listen in as reveals some of his secrets on longevity and ho...

This week we are joined by Cameron George, the Ardbeg National Ambassador, and he shares with us his knowledge on the entire scotch category. George is incredibly knowledgable on the subject, so no matter whether you are a hardcore scotch lover or a new to the whisky altogether, everyone will be able to learn something. Diageo Bar Academy: https://www.diageobaracademy.com/en_us/?utm_source=dba-afl...

This week we are joined by acclaimed bartender, author and innovator, Ryan Chetiyawardana, and he shares with us his creative process and philosophy behind his cocktail empire. Over the years his bars (White Lyan, Dandelyan, Super Lyan, Cub, and Lyaness) have won endless accolades including World's Best Bar at The World's 50 Best Bars awards and Best Bar in the World at the prestigious and Spirite...

This is a special episode that was created in conjunction with Patreon for On Air Fest 2022 which took place at the Drug Use & Behavior Lab @ University of Southern California. The event took place on November 5th and was focused on an examination into the role that the cocktail has played within the context of history and culture. We hope that you enjoy the listen.  Featured host: Rachel O'Donnel...

Trying to effectively manage your bar's social media, while simultaneously managing the bar itself can be quite daunting. And with the sea of options out there ranging from Tik Tok to Facebook to Instagram just to name a few, knowing which one works best for your bar can feel overwhelming. To help us navigate the confusion, we are joined by marketing consultant, Micaela Piccolo, of Gaishan Consult...

This week are celebrating New Orleans food and drink with acclaimed bar owner and board member of Tales of the Cocktail, Neal Bodenheimer. And he is here to discuss his new book, Cure: New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix 'Em. On the episode he discusses his love for his unique city, as well as the inspiration behind the book. Get the book: https://www.curenola.com/book ______________________________...

Making the leap from bartender to brand ambassador can be precarious jump, yet so many bartenders who take on the role receive little to no training. For years this left many brand ambassadors unable to acheive their full potential in their new position, as they were never thoroughly shown the ropes. Luckily for them however, Elayne Duff (former Brand Educator with Diageo and Bar Rescue,)  has cre...

The rise of Two Schmucks has been the story of the underdog in many ways, as it was opened with practically no budget, yet it immediately rocketed to the top of the industry --even placing in the top ten at this year's 50 Best Bars. However, behind the scenes there was turmoil and turbulence, which eventually lead to the ouster of the bar's leader and visionary, Moe Aljaff. Tune in to this week's...

For this special episode of the show, we are joined by Jessi Pollak, the 2022 World Class U.S. Bartender of the Year, who is here to tell us about her experiences in taking first place for the United States. In addition, she is here to spread the word on how folks can sign up and compete for themselves, so tune in now to hear more. This episode presented by Diageo Bar Academy https://www.diageobar...

On this week's episode, we are joined by New York Times cocktail writer, Robert Simonson, and take a deep dive into his most recent book Modern Classic Cocktails: 60 plus stories and recipes from the new golden age in drinks. Tito's 25th Anniversary https://www.titosvodka.com/stories/25th-anniversary/ Sponsored by Tito's Handmade Vodka _____________________________________ Join us every Monday as...

This week we are joined by the award-winning bartender, consultant and educator, Ms. Franky Marshall. Over the years, she has received countless accolades and worked at some of the world's top bars, including Dead Rabbit, and Clover Club. Due to her celebrated and prolific career, we discuss how she got started in the biz, as well as the early days of the craft cocktail renaissance. We also discus...

This week we are joined by Sierra Clark (founder) & Morgan Schick (brand director) of Brucato Amaro and hear their story behind their line of award-winning amaros. Whereas many amaro makers in America attempt to create a product that replicates the flavor of their Italian counterpart, they instead decided to take their inspiration from the Golden State of California to creat something truly unique...

For this week's episode, we decided to shine the spotlight on Cachaça, the beautiful and poorly misunderstood native spirit of Brazil. To lead us through this education, we are joined by the director of marketing for Novo Fogo, Luke McKinley. So tune in as we discuss the production, history and present of this incredible cane spirit. Cocktail Limelight: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRziiIEtY...