Bartender at Large

With the number of vegan & vegetarian guests coming into the bar these days, being able to offer them delicious alternatives to ingredients they do not consume is not only solid hospitality, but simply good business. Which is why this week, we are joined by Megan Daniel of Nari, SF, so that she can help us better understand what constitutes a great vegan cocktail, as well as explore some tried and...

It is hard find another country that has contributed more to the world of craft cocktails than Cuba. From the Daiquiri to the Mojito to the El Presidente, this small country has punched above its weight when it came to creating classic recipes. To help us understand why this is & to further explore the depth of Cuban bar culture, we are joined this week by world-renowned bartender, Julio Cabrera,...

It is rare to find a more innovative & creative duo in the bar biz than Noel & Max Venning. These two brothers have not only opened a globally ranked cocktail bar in London, Three Sheets, but they have also written a ground-breaking cocktail book, Batched & Bottled, a book that simplifies cutting edge cocktails for the layman. So tune in this week, as we listen to the two siblings offer their advi...

It is rare to find another wine (or potential cocktail ingredient) that is as delicious & versatile, yet as misunderstood—as sherry. For hundreds of years, sherry was considered one of the world's great wines, spoken about in the same reverential terms as the finest Bordeaux and Burgundies. But in the last few decades, sherry fell by the wayside. Luckily for us, however, sherry is in the midst of...

There are plenty of bar books on how to make the perfect Old-Fashioned or a killer Margarita, but there aren't many books that teach you to how train and lead an incredible bar team. To help lend us some guidance on the subject of scaling up your crew, we are joined by Meaghan Dorman (Bar Director of Raines Law Room, Raines Law Room at the William, Dear Irving, and Dear Irving on Hudson) who has y...

We all wish to innovate in the workplace and help push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of beverage, but what about when what you are setting out to do has never been done before? This week we meet with a couple of rebels in the field of spirits who are not only blazing new trails, but also resurrecting lost methods of brandy production. So join us, as we chat with Alexandre Gabriel...

Have you ever wondered who designs those beautiful tiki mugs that hold your favorite cocktail? Or ever considered who carved the bartop at your local tiki bar? Also, what goes into this sort of design? Tune in this week as we meet with tiki legend, Daniel Gallardo aka Tiki Diablo, the artist who has designed some of the world's most famous tropical havens, as well as many of the industry's most so...

With the New Year in full swing & everyone focused on resolutions  and self-care, we decided to focus this week's episode on leading a healthier lifestyle as a bartender. To help guide the way, our guest this week is Camille Vidal, the founder of the mindful drinking consultancy La Maison Wellness. In years past, Vidal has spent her career as a consultant and global brand ambassador most notably f...

Tune in this week as we chat with industry magnate, Josh Harris —co-owner of the award-winning bars bars  Trick Dog  and  Bon Voyage , and co-founder consulting company The Bon Vivants — as he details his process of creating atmosphere in his venues. Whether it is hitting flea markets in the early morning or taking road trips to find that perfect piece of memorabilia, Harris does not cut corners w...

When you are trying to create a world class bar, there are few things more important than building a strong team where everyone is working hard & on the same page. But putting together an awesome crew is much more than simply choosing the right people, it's also about developing a workplace where they can be challenged & grow professionally, while being surrounded by coworkers they can believe in....

Why wait until Monday for a new episode when you can tune in to this bonus episode with this week's guest: Alexandre Gabriel of Maison Ferrand. Here he will be taking questions from our audience. So listen in as we learn about Cognac from one of the spirit's greatest talents.   Learn More: Maison Ferrand http://maisonferrand.com/en/   ==============================   Join us every Monday as acclai...

Join us as we have a conversation with the creative mind behind so many of today's most prestigious spirits, Alexandre Gabriel. Over the last 30 years, he has earned a reputation for blazing his own trail, resurrecting lost methods & sometimes even ruffling a few feathers in the process. So tune, as we shares his story behind his spirits empire.    Learn More: Maison Ferrand http://maisonferrand.c...

Not so long ago, the Las Vegas strip was the last place that cocktail connoisseurs would head to for a well-crafted beverage, but now those days are long gone, as casinos have grown hip to quality cocktails. A large part of this recent shift is due to people like Sam Ross & Juyoung Kang, who are featured on this week's episode. They are two of the talents who are helping to change how people are d...

Join us this week as dive deep into holiday cocktails with renowned eggnog advocate, Nicholas Bennett of the Porchlight in New York City. Bennett is known for his eggnog which is aged over a year, as well as his Hot Buttered Rum. So tune in as we go over the fundamentals of seasonal cocktails, as well as what goes into being able to serve them in a high-volume bar setting.   Learn More:   Nick Ben...

Think you know enough about coffee cocktails? Well think again, because this week we are joined by bartender Martin Hudak, the global brand ambassador of Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur and co-founder of the award-winning cocktail bar Maybe Sammy. On this episode, he sheds light on everything regarding coffee cocktails from production to sourcing to application. If you love coffee as much as we do, then...

The Bartender's Choice Awards is annual show that acknowledges excellence within the Nordic drinks industry and is recognized as the most prestigious awards for the Nordic bar scene. Tune in and listen to how the co-founders, Jakob Sundin & Michael Bergstrom, started an independent awards showcase that is run by bartenders and for bartenders.   Learn More:   Bartender's Choice Awards https://www.b...

Kevin Demers has been part of the bar industry for more than a decade now and in that time, he has played a pivotal role in the cocktail community. He has done utilizing not only his skills behind the bar, but also via his award-winning bars, The Coldroom and El Pequeño. Tune in this week & listen in as he shares his insight regarding hospitality & creating inviting environments that create regula...

Is there a difference between aging and maturity in spirits? How does brandy differ from whiskey? What kind of apples do you need to make a quality apple brandy? Learn the answers to these questions and many more for distiller Dan Farber, who has over 30 years of experience making spirits.    Learn More:   Dan Farber https://distilling.com/judge/dan-farber/   ==============================   Join...

  There are very few names in the international bar world that have been as influential over the years as Nick Strangeway. Whether it was resurrecting lost recipes, foraging for ingredients or innovating cocktails via molecular mixology, he has consistently managed to be at the forefront of the industry. Which is why we were so happy to sit down with him & hear him share his story & inspiration. ...

The history of the LGBT+ community is so closely tied to bars & nightlife that we decided to meet up with Chris Cabrera, of Grey Goose, to get schooled on issues pertinent to the cocktail world. We discuss everything from the Stonewall Riots, "The Death of the Gay Bar," and how to offer the best hospitality to your guests no matter what their sexual identity.    Learn More:     Chris Cabrera https...

  Oftentimes, the simplest drinks can be the most difficult to master and the highball definitely falls into that category. While it can seem deceptively easy in approach, there is much more to it than just spirit & mixer, which is why we decided to bring on Ali Reynolds & Lauren Mote, so they could share their insight & passion on this beloved classic. So join us in exploring the highball in all...

Tune in this week, as we are joined by acclaimed author & bartender Shannon Mustipher, as she shares her love regarding everything tropical. In addition, she walks us through her creative process when creating new cocktails & riffing on the classics.   Learn More:   Shannon Mustipher:  https://www.shannonmustipher.com   ==============================   Join us every Monday as acclaimed bartender,...

Launching your own business can be a treacherous endeavor particularly when you are in the bar & spirits world where the stakes can be make or break. So, tune in this week as Simon Ford of Ford's Gin offers up real talk on entrepreneurship & starting your own spirits business without holding anything back.    Learn More: Ford's Gin   https://www.fordsgin.com     ==============================   Jo...

Opening a local bar that is a hit with the neighborhood is hard enough, but trying to do that while still executing award-winning cocktails is that much harder. This week, we go to the Bar Hommage, winner of the Best Cocktail Bar in Sweden award at the Bartenders' Choice Awards 2017, and meet with the masterminds of the operation, Alex Skarlen & Ola Carlson. Together they shed some light on what i...

Making the transition from a boyfriend & girlfriend to full-blown business partners can be a tough task for many of us in the bar world, and once you throw a baby into the mix it can be ever harder. Which is why for this episode, we decided to link up with one of the industry's top power couples, Lindsay Nader & Trevor Easter (of the Snug in Sacramento) and got advice from them on how they manage...