Bartender at Large
Episodes
Episode 200 w the Legendary Dale DeGroff pt 2 | Ep. 200
10 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Here is part 2 to our episode with bartending legend, Dale DeGroff. ============================== Join us every Monday as acclaimed bartend...
Episode 200 w the Legendary Dale DeGroff pt 1 | Ep. 200
08 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Since we are hitting a huge milestone with episode number 200, we wanted to make sure that we matched that benchmark with a guest of equal stature. N...
Creativity & Burnout w Chris Moore pt 2 | Ep. 199
03 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the bar industry, it seems that the most common dream is to own your own bar. But what happens when that goal turns into something that you regret,...
Creativity & Burnout w Chris Moore pt 1 | Ep. 199
01 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the bartender world, it seems that the most common dream is to own your very own spot. But what happens when that goal turns into something that y...
Chloe Frechette on Easy Tiki Drinks | Ep. 198
25 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
While many cocktail aficionados out there love to drink a well-made tiki classic when they are out for drinks, trying to recreate traditional tiki rec...
Ivy Mix on Latin American Spirits | Ep. 197
18 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week we are joined by Ivy Mix (co-founder of Speed Rack, and Tales of the Cocktail: Bartender of the Year 2015) to discuss her new book, Spirits ...
Staying Sane During Covid Shutdown w Yael Vengroff pt 2 | Ep. 196
13 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Part two of our episode with Yael Vengroff, Tales of the Cocktail: Bartender of the Year 2018, and beverage director of Spare Room, Genghis Cohen, Mou...
Staying Sane During Covid Shutdown w Yael Vengroff pt 1| Ep. 196
11 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Since so many bartenders are creatures of the night with predictable nocturnal habits, the Covid shutdown has really thrown us for a loop. Due to the...
Brad Thomas Parsons on Last Call | Ep. 195
04 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week we are thrilled to be joined by the James Beard award-winning author, Brad Thomas Parsons, to discuss his latest book, Last Call: Bartende...
Helping Your Bar Survive Covid-19 w Bobby Heugel| Ep. 194
27 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With the information regarding the Covid-19 shutdown changing from day to day, we decided to link up with Houston bar mogul, Bobby Heugel, so that he ...
Diving into the World of Vodka w PAU Maui | Ep. 193
20 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Vodka tends to be a very misunderstood spirit in the modern craft cocktail movement. In the past, we have done episodes on every spirit you can imagin...
Coronavirus & To-Go Cocktails w Chris Lowder| Ep. 192
13 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With the world currently reeling from the effects of coronavirus, the repercussions are so disorienting that they are leaving most of us in a state of...
An Interview w Our Host Erick Castro | Ep. 191
06 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We finally decided to turn the tables on the host of the show, Erick Castro, and have him answers some questions for once. After allowing him to inter...
Sustainable Cocktails w Claire Sprouse | Ep. 190
30 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With more and more bars are understanding sustainability as a good practice in regards to the environment, many bartenders are beginning to realize th...
A Chat w Industry Leader: Jim Meehan | Ep. 189 pt. 2
25 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back for part two of our interview with famed author and bartender Jim Meehan. Learn More: Jim Meehan https://www.mixographyinc.com/about....
A Chat w Industry Leader: Jim Meehan | Ep. 189 pt. 1
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week we are joined by famed author and bartender Jim Meehan for an extra special two part episode. Even in today's high-stakes cocktail world, it...
The Science of Flavor w Bob Holmes: Author & Scientist | Ep. 188
16 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As bartenders & industry professionals, we work with flavor on a near constant basis, yet so much of what we know about it is based on superstition & ...
Dead Rabbit Irish Whiskey w Stephanie Shen | Ep. 187
09 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Considering the fact that we are going through a bit of an Irish Whiskey renaissance, it is easy to forget that only 15 years ago the whiskey industr...
Achieving Longevity w Ago Perrone of the Connaught Bar | Ep. 186
02 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this business it is so common to see a bar open up win a bunch of awards & then fizzle out within a few years as staff changes & a places loses ...
Vegan Cocktails w Megan Daniel| Ep. 185
24 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With the number of vegan & vegetarian guests coming into the bar these days, being able to offer them delicious alternatives to ingredients they do no...
Cuban Cocktails w Julio Cabrera | Ep. 184
17 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 Presid...
Cocktail Innovators: Max & Noel Venning | Ep. 183
10 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Secrets of Sherry w Talia Baiocchi | Ep. 182
03 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It is rare to find another wine (or potential cocktail ingredient) that is as delicious & versatile, yet as misunderstood—as sherry. For hundreds o...
Leadership & Management w Meaghan Dormanl | Ep. 181
27 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 trai...
The Bad Boys of Brandy: Hubert Germain-Robin & Alexandre Gabriel | Ep. 180
20 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 s...
What it's Like to be a Tiki Artist w Tiki Diablo | Ep. 179
13 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Holistic Hedonism w Camille Vidal | Ep. 178
06 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 lif...
Unforgettable Bar Spaces w Josh Harris | Ep. 177
30 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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-found...
Building Culture w Megs Miller of FAM Bar | Ep. 176
16 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Bonus Episode: Q&A w Alexandre Gabriel of Pierre Ferrand
11 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 h...
Conversation w Master Blender Alexandre Gabriel | Ep. 175
09 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Vegas Casino Cocktail Bars w Sam Ross & Juyoung Kang | Ep. 174
02 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 l...
Holiday Cocktails w Nick Bennett of the Porchlight NYC | Ep. 173
25 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 k...
Coffee Cocktails w Martin Hudak of Mr. Black | Ep. 172
18 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Think you know enough about coffee cocktails? Well think again, because this week we are joined by bartender Martin Hudak, the global brand ambassador...
Bartender's Choice Awards w Jakob Sundin & Michael Bergstrom | Ep. 171
11 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Bartender's Choice Awards is annual show that acknowledges excellence within the Nordic drinks industry and is recognized as the most prestigious ...
Bar Operations w Kevin Demers of Cold Room Montreal| Ep. 170
04 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Mechanics of Distilling w Dan Farber | Ep. 169
28 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 ap...
Pioneer of Cocktail Foraging & Molecular Mixology Nick Strangeway | Ep. 168
21 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There are very few names in the international bar world that have been as influential over the years as Nick Strangeway. Whether it was resurrectin...
Making Your Bar LGBT+ Friendly w Chris Cabrera | Ep. 167
14 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 schoole...
Exploring the Highball w Lauren Mote & Ali Reynolds | Ep. 166
07 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Oftentimes, the simplest drinks can be the most difficult to master and the highball definitely falls into that category. While it can seem decepti...
Modern Tiki w Shannon Mustipher| Ep. 165
30 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Tune in this week, as we are joined by acclaimed author & bartender Shannon Mustipher, as she shares her love regarding everything tropical. In addit...
Entrepreneurship w Simon Ford of Ford's Gin| Ep. 164
23 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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. ...
Creating a Neighborhood Cocktail Bar| Ep. 163
16 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 mu...
Building a Bar While Building a Family w Lindsay Nader & Trevor Easter | Ep. 162
09 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Part 2: Tiki Legend: Jeff "Beachbum" Berry | Ep. 161
02 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We are back with another hour plus episode of the show and this time we went to New Orleans to meet with Jeff "Beachbum" Berry, acclaimed author of ma...
Part 1: Tiki Legend: Jeff "Beachbum" Berry | Ep. 161
02 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We are back with another hour plus episode of the show and this time we went to New Orleans to meet with Jeff "Beachbum" Berry, acclaimed author of ma...
Tokyo Bartending w Rogerio Igarashi Vaz | Ep. 160
26 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On a recent trip to Tokyo, we took the opportunity to sit down with one of the country's top bartenders, Rogerio Igarashi Vaz. Rogerio is the owner o...
Exploring Amaro w Stephanie Andrews | Ep. 159
19 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
To help us dig a little deeper into the world of amaro, we decided to sit down with Stephanie Andrews (of Billy Sunday in Chicago) since her bar has t...
Bonus: Q&A w Richie Boccato
12 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Tune in for a bonus Q&A session that Richie Bocatto & Erick Castro did with a group of Sweden's top bartenders. Learn More: Bocatto Industries ht...
Ice & Technique w Richie Boccato | Ep. 158
12 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Anytime the topic of ice comes up in the world of cocktails, Richie Bocatto's name is usually mentioned soon after, as he is world-renowned for his pa...
Dangerous & Poisonous Cocktails w Camper English | Ep. 157
05 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In the race for innovation and creativity in the world of cocktails, many bartenders are reaching for ingredients that are potentially poisonous and c...
Tiki Master: Brian Miller of the Polynesian | Ep. 156
29 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join us this week as we talk with internationally acclaimed bartender, Brian Miller, Partner/Beverage Director/Bartender of The Polynesian in New Yor...
Carina Soto Velasquez of Candelaria in Paris | Ep. 155
22 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Running a transatlantic consulting group, while still owning some of the world's best bars is no easy task, which is why we decided to sit down with t...
Pippa Guy of the Savoy American Bar | Ep. 154
15 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Bartending at one of the top-ranked cocktail bars in the world can be a lot of pressure, particularly when it is is one that has as rich a history as ...
Chat with w Gary Solomon Jr of Tales of the Cocktail | Ep. 153
08 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Every July, bartenders & spirits professionals from all around the world come to New Orleans to celebrate cocktail & bar culture at Tales of the Cock...
Conversation w Sam Ross of Attaboy NYC | Ep. 152
30 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join us this week as we sit down with legendary bartender, Sam Ross, for a special one-hour episode. For those of you that don't know, Ross is the in...
The 5 Star Dive Bar w/ Moe Aljaff of Two Schmucks | Ep. 151
23 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How do you open an award-winning bar with almost no budget in a country where you don't speak the language, yet still manage to get it onto the World...
Chat w Tequila Legend Julio Bermejo | Ep. 150
16 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What better way to celebrate episode 150, then with a special hour-long episode featuring tequila legend, Julio Bermejo, of Tommy' s Mexican Restau...
A Look into the Spirited Awards w Charlotte Voisey | Ep. 149
09 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Each & every year, bartenders and industry professionals from around the world meet up in New Orleans to attend the Spirited Awards during Tales of th...
Tiki in Paris w/ Scotty Schuder | Ep. 148
03 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When most of us think of beverage in France, we think of Champagne & wine, yet it is home to one of the most respected tiki bars in the world. Indeed,...
Bar Industry Self-Care w/ Ashtin Berry | Ep. 147
27 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In competitive industry with so many opportunities, it can often be difficult to find time to slowdown and make time for yourself. If you don't, then ...
Channeling Inspiration w/ Kevin Diedrich of Pacific Cocktail Haven | Ep. 146
19 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Writer's block can be a real issue for today's bartender when they are looking to create new recipes and menus, which is why being able to tap into av...
Mastering the Highball w/ Masahiro Urushido | Ep. 145
12 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The classic highball is such a simple drink, traditionally only made with only two ingredients, yet so often the drink falls flat. This is because wha...
Developing Immersive Cocktail Menus w/ Jillian Vose of Dead Rabbit | Ep. 144
05 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Dead Rabbit is one of those bars that is constantly winning awards and receiving accolades on their menu, which is why we decided to sit down with the...
American Brandy & Modern Classics w/ Jeff Bell & Thomas Pastuszak | Ep. 143
28 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Tune in this week as we hang out with the team from Bertoux Brandy, Jeff Bell (PDT) and sommelier Thomas Pastuszak (NoMad Hotel Group.) This week we ...
Baijiu: The Spirit You Probably Know Nothing About | Ep. 142
22 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Considering that it is the world's most popular spirit, it is surprising how little it is known by much of the western world. It is because of this la...
On Location w/ Goslings Rum | Ep. 141
12 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For this episode, we actually took a trip down to the island of Bermuda, so we could get a firsthand look behind the scenes of Gosling's Rum with Malc...
Unraveling the Secrets of Distillation & Spirits Production | Ep. 140
07 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Education on spirits and the art of distillation can be overwhelming in today's spirits industry, and it can be tough to navigate through all of the i...
One of the World's Best Bars: Tjoget in Sweden | Ep. 139
31 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Running one of the world's top ranked cocktail spots is no easy feat. To help us learn a bit more into what goes into such an operation, we decided to...
Becoming a Badass Brand Ambassador w/ Tom Johnson Ep. 138
24 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With many bartenders leaving the bar to make the move to a brand ambassador position, we decided to go over some tips on making the transition a succe...
Making a Brand Ambassador w/ Simon Ford Ep. 137
17 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
To help us explore the role of the brand ambassador, we decided to hang out with industry legend, Simon Ford, the man who single-handedly helped defin...
Montreal, Mocktails & Shots w/ Kate Boushel | Ep. 136
11 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With Montreal evolving into such a hotspot for food & drink, w=e decided to head there ourselves and explore the scene there with local bartender, Kat...
Entrepreneurship w/ Jennifer Colliau | Ep. 135
03 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It can be difficult to navigate the transition from a bartender to a business owner & it often seems that many in the industry don't like to share the...
Exploring Islay Scotch w/ Simon Brooking of Laphroaig | Ep. 134
24 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The smokey peat flavor of Islay Scotch is unmistakable, but how much do you really know about where it comes from & how it is made? To help us separat...
The Founders of Almond Liqueur, L'Orgeat | Ep. 133
18 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wanted to launch your own liqueur? Or wondered what it would take to grow your favorite housemade ingredient into a brand available ar...
A Conversation w/ Jeff Bell of PDT & Bertoux Brandy | Ep. 132
11 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Jeff Bell is a man that needs no introduction. He has been behind the bar at the award-winning PDT in NYC for almost a decade and during that time, he...
A Conversation w/ Industry Leader Ivy Mix | Ep. 131
04 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For this episode, we got the chance to sit down with Tales of the Cocktail's Bartender of the Year for 2015, Ivy Mix. Not only is she the co-owner of ...
Exclusive Look into Disneyland's Club 33 w/ Matt Ellingson | Ep. 130
26 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With so much allure and legend surrounding the mysterious & elusive, Club 33 --the hidden bar found inside Disneyland-- we decided to drop in & chat w...
Understanding Vermouth w/ Jake Parrott | Ep. 129
21 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
While many of us in the industry have loads of knowledge in regards to cocktails and spirits, not many of us know the ins & outs of the vermouth & aro...
Mastering Your R&D Sessions w/ Alicia Perry | Ep. 128
14 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Conducting a cocktail R&D session can be quite daunting for the average bar manager or bar team. Since this seems to be a common problem for many in t...
Live from Toronto Cocktail Conference w/ Dave Mitton of Lot 40 | Ep. 127
07 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For this episode, we filmed in front of a live audience of over 200 bartenders from around the world. Since we were recording in Toronto, we thought w...
Running a Craft Cocktail Empire w/ Dave Kwiatkowski | Ep. 126
15 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Since running and concepting just one bar is more than enough to keep your hands busy, it can be hard to wrap your head around operating an entire hos...
Unraveling the Secrets of Mezcal w/ Emma Janzen | Ep. 125
08 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
While the popularity of Mezcal is blowing up around the world, many folks out there still don't seem to know much about it. To help clear the air & di...
Christmas Pop-Ups & Vintage Cocktail Books w/ Greg Boehm | Ep. 124
02 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If you have stepped foot into a craft cocktail bar at sometime in the last 10 years, then you have no doubt enjoyed the work of our guest, Greg Boehm....
Into the World of Kahlua w/ Stephanie Brown| Ep. 123
26 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With coffee culture exploding around the world, we thought that there couldn't be a better time to hang out with Global Kahlua Brand Ambassador, Steph...
Making Better Cocktails w/ Tom Walker | Ep. 122
18 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Although, there has never been a better time for cocktails than today, there are still way too many bad drinks being sold to unwitting guests. Is this...
Exploring Irish Whiskey w/ Tim Herlihy | Ep. 121
11 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Join us as we get in-depth with Irish Whiskey expert, Tim Herlihy. Not only do we explore Irish Whiskey in all of its glory, but we also examine the p...
Conversation w/ Imbibe Editor Paul Clarke| Ep. 120
05 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Being a spirits writer is not an easy gig, especially when you are the editor of one of the world's leading industry magazines. There is so much more ...
Secrets of Cocktail Creation w/ Yael Vengroff | Ep. 119
28 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Far too many people in the bar industry see cocktail creation as a baffling and mysterious act, but this is very often because many of the top drink ...
Things We Hate & Love About Today's Bars w/ Ross Simon | Ep. 118
21 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
For this episode we decided to team up with Ross Simon, of Bitter & Twisted, and play a game where we list three things we hate about the bar world t...
How to Build a Kickass Beer Program | Ep. 117
15 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
For this episode dive deep into the world of beer from the perspective of the craft bartender. Not only do we explore the differences between microbr...
Clearing the Air w/ Flor de Caña Rum & David Powell | Ep. 116
07 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A couple of years ago there was a big controversy involving Flor de Caña Rum and the health of its field workers. This week let's follow up with them...
The State of Modern Cocktails w/ Mark Stoddard | Ep. 115
30 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Exploring Jamaica Rum w/ Alex Kong of Worthy Park | Ep. 114
23 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Cocktail Development & Menu Concepting w/ Julie Haase | Ep. 113
16 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
On Location at Maker's Mark | Ep. 112
16 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Cocktail Media Masters: Rachel & Kyle Ford | Ep. 111
16 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Founder of Italicus Liqueur: Giuseppe Gallo | Ep. 110
16 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Spirits Legend: Alexander Gabriel of Maison Ferrand | Ep. 109
12 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Its not everyday that we get the chance to sit with someone as accomplished as, Alexander Gabriel, the man behind Pierre Ferrand Cognac, Plantation Ru...
The History of the Gin & Tonic w/ Charlie Roberts | Ep. 108
30 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas