Secrets of Sherry w Talia Baiocchi | Ep. 182

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 a renaissance & being re-discovered wine lovers & bartenders around the world. So, tune in this week as this beautiful elixir is demystified by Talia Baiocchi, author of the James Beard nominated book: Sherry: A Modern Guide to the Wine World's Best-Kept Secret, and Editor-in-Chief of the award-winning PunchDrink.com

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Erick CastroComment
Leadership & Management w Meaghan Dorman | Ep. 181

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 Meagan Dorman (Bar Director of Raines Law Room, Raines Law Room at the William, Dear Irving, and Dear Irving on Hudson) who has years of experience running multiple award-winning venues around New York City. So, tune in as she reveals the tools & insights that allow her to thrive and succeed.

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Erick CastroComment
Bad Boys of Brandy: Hubert Germain-Robin & Alexandre Gabriel | Ep. 180

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 of Maison Ferrand and Hubert Germain-Robin, one of the first craft distillers in modern American spirits.

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Erick CastroComment
What it's Like to be a Tiki Artist w Tiki Diablo | Ep. 179

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 sought after mugs.

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Erick CastroComment
Holistic Hedonism w Camille Vidal | Ep. 178

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 for St-Germain, but she is now forging a career as an advocate for low/no ABV cocktails, while also elevating practical well-being and healthy habits for hospitality employees.

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Erick CastroComment