Show de Vie Podcast

A love of history, science, and Utah was the spark for one of the great American whiskey tales. David Perkins wanted to be a doctor, but found better ways to help his fellow man in the pharmaceutical industry. This successful career forecasting sales and further understanding chemical compounds were the perfect precursor to a voyage in whiskey. In the face of unpopular whiskey sentiments, David le...

It's High West Whiskey week at SDV! Today we dive into the one man Texas show, Chris Furtado. Chris has worked in all aspects of the hospitality industry and most recently shifted his knowledge at RNDC to become a whiskey maestro for High West. Despite some tangents into tech and coffee, whiskey kept calling him back. It's only a matter of time before this chef, bartender, and father is slinging y...

Welcome to inside the actor's studio with the whiskey king of Chicago, Martin Duffy. Martin has acted, has poured, has traveled, and ultimately established himself as one of the finest minds in the world of whiskey. After working his ranks through the kilt wearing days of "Brand Ambassadors" version 1. He became a SR masters of whiskey for Diageo where he tasted, saw, and smelled everything that w...

Take a deep look into the products and culture of St. George Spirits  with the hospitality veteran Paul Skiera. Working through the ranks behind the bar in Michigan and Florida, Paul made the step from RNDC to the largest small guy- St. George. 3 years later, he loves to share and imbibe in the wonderful reputation his portfolio of spirits has garnered among the industry. No doors are closes, and...

An observer of life and people, Alex Smith set on a writing journey that derailed due to academia and its creative confines. A long time California native, Alex has worked in all types of hospitality settings but found an affinity for Oakland very early on. The journey has ultimately led Alex to a deep passion for Gin, so much so that he now owns one of the the world's most amazing bar destination...

100 episodes, many sips, and numerous life changing moments, this is Mike G. The wonderful guest host Michael Sanders switches roles for this 100th episode and we finally get to know a bit more about the reasons behind Show De Vie. The what, where, how, and why all encapsulated in a mezcal flight. Thanks to everyone that has made this possible, now onto 200 episodes. We chat gin, divorce, music, a...

Back on his way to Austin for Bar Smarts , recovering punk bassist Sean Kenyon expresses his pure hospitality with Occidental and Williams & Graham in Denver, Colorado. The industry veteran has seen it all and possesses a grounded-ness that is sorely missing from the latest wave of craft bartending. From New Jersey to Austin to Colorado, the road has been filled with visceral experiences. But desp...

Mr. Rum himself, Ed Hamilton. There is no more world traveled and scientifically adept rum man than the minister of the Ministry of Rum . Spending many of his years on boats and rigs of all sizes, Ed has sought out the finest rums in the world. With his own label Hamilton, he showcases funk, flavor, and variety with some of the most delectable rums bottled. A wealth of knowledge; this conversation...

From Russia with love: Ania Robbins, the linguist, the teacher, the cocktail extraordinaire, and now Rhum fanatic, has had an interesting journey since leaving Russia years ago. She has mastered English and the construction of amazing cocktails. From hospitality in Mobile, AL to Austin, TX, Ania now manages one of the best cocktail destinations in Austin, Backbeat . In the latest twist of fate, An...

From small-town, USA to the booze laden early days of Austin's cocktail scene, Darren Meowsky is a student of life. He's seen the evolution of Austin from its inception. Always expanding his creative boundaries, Darren made the move from beyond the bar to the distribution realm. He flexes his marketing and social muscles now in San Antonio with Pioneer Wine and Spirits. The emerging culture in SA...

Despite a good college try in the field of Criminal Justice, Stephan Mendez's genetics ran deep. Despite his father's advice to sit down and cozy up to a desk job, Stephan found his calling in the hospitality industry. Shot and beers bars evolved into cocktail mastery. And now, Stephan is the beverage director for the Boulevardier Group in San Antonio, TX. BG has established some of the finest coc...

The trek to America proved to be a life changing one for Vilma Mazaite de Flores. Despite an enjoyable childhood in Lithuania, the spike of wanderlust drove her to explore the world around her. After seeing the worst of Las Vegas hospitality via a casino buffet, Vilma set her sights on a better path; wine. Years later, and after having worked at some fine establishments in Aspen and New York City,...

Jessica Ramirez has parlayed her talents in event planning to transition into the hospitality, distribution, and now product industries. A trek to Texas for love and the avoidance of Michigan winters evolved into her latest role at Cadre Noir Imports. She evangelizes the great spirits which include: Combier, Banhez Mezcal, Control C Pisco, and more. With some well known labels and some lesser know...

There are few names that are as synonymous with quality, trust, expertise, and compassion as David Suro's. A successful restaurant owner and agave impresario: David is the sane voice of the industry. He has traveled for agave, studied for agave, and managed to import some of the finest agave spirits ever to be conceived. With Siembra Metl and Siembra Azul , his perspective on terroir and flavor ar...

Passion goes a long way, and for Mike Morales his love of agave has drove him to assemble a massive archive of information. His site Tequila Aficionado  is the most comprehensive and informative source for tequila, mezcal, and sotol on the internet and in print today. From his high school days in East LA, Mike has trekked through the health club, newspaper, radio, and food distribution industries....

A southern pilates instructor gone rogue, Carley Dunavant has been juggling health and hospitality for years now. After a full life entrenched in the southern culture of towns like Oxford and Memphis, love yet again brought another great person into Austin, TX. From behind the bars at Drink. Well., Qui, and JW Marriott to shifting to the distribution side of the house, Carley has maintained her in...

As Tacy begins her masterplan return to the Southwest, it's time to sit back and reflect on how all of this happened in the first place. The concept of homeschooling is foreign to many of us, but happens to be the impetus for this entire chat with Tacy. Fending to find herself amidst tragedy, seclusion, and sheltering, Tacy has emerged a reflexive and incredibly perceptive woman. The hospitality i...

Tempus Fugit Spirits co-founder John Troia is a vestige of an olden time. He's traveled the world in pursuit of exquisite booze and come back to the states with some of the finest spirits available. He connects the new world to the old. This California native has always appreciated historical aesthetic and even brought that eye to the fashion industry. An interesting path of Chartreuse and hospita...

Making the move from behind the bar to across it (via distribution) isn't always the most intuitive career, but Austin's Nicki Petry is making the transition smoothly. A Wyoming born horn player and rockabilly extraordinaire, Nicki has had an interesting career path. From a booming Las Vegas economy to a stint in the military, he's seen it all an drank it all. But why now, what is it about Glazer'...

More midwest love on SDV this week. Brandon Cummins rose through the ranks of the hospitality industry to now work in product development with Altamar Brands. He has a brilliant collection of spirits to evangelize such as: Tequila Ocho, Right Gin, and Foursquare Rum. The traveling, creativity, and technological agility come from a rich background in wine and guitar. Band guys make the brand guys....

Don't go into the business he said, I want different things for you he said. But yet St Louis' Justin Cardwell found himself being pulled back into the industry despite his father's advice. Stints in computer science, film, and hockey were just temporary as the hospitality gene's dominance took effect. Justin is dedicated to improving his skills while also making simple flavors even more accessibl...

The road to hospitality is often paved with drumming, touring, and recording. Chris McClish grew up in the golden era of punk and post-punk music. The Richmond, VA and surrounding music scenes crept into a burgeoning pianist and influenced him to be a drummer. The thankless life of being a drummer led him to great opportunities at Sound City, The Troubadour, and more. But as many personalities col...

From the school of hard knox, to Austin, TX. Jeremy has started from humble beginnings and turned these experiences into successful bar ownership with 3 concepts now under his belt. Tennessee and Longview, TX don't begin to describe Jeremy's backstory but working as a door man at Beauty Bar just might. An often private persona with a penchant for delicious whiskey, Jeremy has just opened his third...

The balance between romance and the hospitality industry is a complicated one. Madelyn Kay is a rising start in the cocktail scene and represents a lot of the complications brought on by technology. As a Speed Rack competitor, shaker and stirred at Vox Table, her career is building but at what social cost? This chat is broken into two parts, the latter being more up close and personal with Madelyn...

Salud Bon Vivants! Today's guest Whitney Hobbs cut her teeth with sandwiches and brunches before joining the Ancho Reyes/Tequila Ocho team. What started as a path paved in volleyball veered sharply into hospitality since mean coaches can really change the trajectory of one's life. A few stabs at academia and living the Rocky Mountain high later, Whitney stepped into yet another chapter of her stor...