The MAFFEO DRINKS Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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The MAFFEO DRINKS Podcast

Chris Maffeo

Business

Frequency: 1 episode/9d. Total Eps: 140

The Maffeo Drinks Podcast is a leading business podcast in the drinks industry. More than 130 episodes. Listened to in more than 120 countries. This podcast closes the gap between Bottom-up reality and Top-down expectations with conversations about how brands are actually built, from the field, not the boardroom. Hosted by Chris Maffeo, founder of MAFFEO DRINKS, with over 20 years across 30+ markets. Guests include some of the top voices in the Beverage Industry. Founders, Directors, Top Brands and Distributors such as Mark Ward, Jack Orr-Ewing, Maurice Doyle, Ben Branson, Heather Greene, Philip Duff, Steven Grasse, Francois Monti, Georgie Bell, Robert Simonson, Imme Ermgassen, David Gluckman, Brian Rosen, Danil Nevsky, Felice Capasso, Nick Gillett, Paul Hletko, Racheal Vaughan Jones, Andre De Almeida, Kaitlin Wilkes, Paul Thomas, Stephanie Jordan, Roberta Mariani, Adrian Michalcik, Hunter Gregory, Filiberto Amati, Julian Davies, Alex Ouziel, Daniel Szor and more.

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Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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https://maffeodrinks.com/
278 shares
https://maffeodrinks.substack.com
278 shares
https://themaffeodrinkspodcast.com/people/chris-maffeo
139 shares

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianmaffeo/
57 shares
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianmaffeo/?originalSubdomain=cz
7 shares
https://www.linkedin.com/in/filibertoamati/
3 shares

https://www.instagram.com/maffeodrinks
2 shares
https://www.instagram.com/blue_frezza
2 shares
https://www.instagram.com/industryspirits
2 shares

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RSS feed quality

Good

Score global : 78%

Publication history

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Why The Cocktail Renaissance Was Built Bottom-up: Author Robert Simonson on Documenting Cocktail History While It Happens | 115

Season 4 · Episode 115

Monday, January 5, 2026 • Duration 33:26

Join The Maffeo Drinks Substack for Episode Analysis!

Robert Simonson, author of seven cocktail books including "A Proper Drink: The Untold Story of How a Band of Bartenders Saved the Civilized Drinking World," joins to discuss how the modern cocktail revival actually happened.

This conversation explores how dead crafts come back to life through individuals rather than institutions, why certain innovations spread while others stay local, and the challenge of documenting history while participants are still alive. Simonson spent 18 months interviewing over 200 people across multiple continents to map how a small group of obsessives rebuilt an entire profession from scratch. The discussion reveals patterns about how quality movements emerge, scale, and risk being forgotten by the next generation.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:26 Discussing 'A Proper Drink'
02:47 The Cocktail Renaissance
05:07 Global Influence and Cross-Pollination
12:23 Modern Classic Cocktails
23:22 Local Influences on Cocktails
32:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This Episode is hosted by Chris Maffeo and brought to you by MAFFEO DRINKS.

MAFFEO DRINKS is a leading drinks business podcast, listened to in 120 countries with 130+ episodes. How the industry actually works, from the bar and what it means for the boardroom.

Wanna know what the conversation above means for your team? It's in the paid section.

You get access to Maffeo Confidential (Private Podcast), this analysis, and the full catalog of 130+ episodes, each one translating industry conversation into the commercial decisions underneath it. Find out more at maffeodrinks.com or on Substack.

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Bootstrapping Global Brands While Keeping 100% Ownership: Steve Perez on What Rally Driving Can Teach You About Focused Business | 114

Season 3 · Episode 114

Monday, December 22, 2025 • Duration 39:35

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Steve Perez reveals how he bootstrapped Global Brands (Owner of VK Vodka Kick and Franklin & Sons) from £200k to £65 million in four years without giving away equity. Starting with zero salary while working nights as a waiter, he funded growth by convincing suppliers to extend £100k monthly credit through radical transparency.

His philosophy: "Your business is your soul, your heart. Don't give it away too easily."

From his 400-acre farm supplying beef to his hotels, to using venues as R&D labs for drinks innovation, Steve's vertical integration proves you don't need London to build global brands. With 400 employees including three-generation families, he explains what rally driving taught him the about business:

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:47 Steve Perez: From Rally Driver to Businessman

02:26 The Beginnings of a Business Empire

05:40 Overcoming Early Business Challenges

08:29 The Rise of VK Vodka Kick

16:17 Bootstrapping and Supplier Relationships

22:33 The Perks of the Drinks Business

22:59 Building a Lasting Business Legacy

24:27 Family Business Dynamics

28:32 The Importance of Delegation

32:29 Navigating Risks and Trends

From Modern Classics to Accessible Cocktail Culture: Federico Riezzo on Villa Mamo, Terroir, and Scaling Hospitality | 106

Season 3 · Episode 106

Monday, September 1, 2025 • Duration 42:13

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In this continuation of their conversation, Chris Maffeo interviews Federico Riezzo about modern cocktail classics, Villa Mamo's terroir-driven approach, and scaling cocktail culture. Federico reflects on cocktail legends like Douglas Ankrah and the era that created enduring drinks like the Pornstar Martini, Penicillin , and Breakfast Martini, while exploring why new cocktails struggle to achieve lasting status in today's social media environment.

Learn about Villa Mamo, Federico's renovated 1786 Tuscan farmhouse and boutique hospitality venue, where he collaborates with local foragers to create hyper-local botanical cocktails using terroir-driven ingredients. Discover Federico's lower ABV cocktail philosophy that encourages extended social drinking experiences and better guest engagement.

Chris and Federico examine the cocktail industry's workforce challenges, discussing how modern bartenders increasingly prioritize technical innovation over essential hospitality skills like guest reading and relationship building.

Perfect for bar managers, hospitality professionals, cocktail enthusiasts, and anyone interested in sustainable cocktail culture, terroir-driven mixology, and the future of the bar industry.

Timestamps :

00:00 From Douglas Ankrah's Porn Star Martini to the other Modern Classics
08:15 Cocktail Culture Gap Analysis
16:30 Villa Mamo's Terroir Approach
24:45 Lower ABV Philosophy and Social Drinking
32:20 Industry Workforce Challenges
40:04 Future of Hospitality and Scaling Culture

This Episode is hosted by Chris Maffeo and brought to you by

Bar Scene dynamics: from advocacy programs to how to approach top bars | Part 1/2 with Adrián Michalčík, Global Winner Diageo WorldClass 2022 (Oslo, Norway) | 017

Season 1 · Episode 17

Thursday, July 20, 2023 • Duration 26:54

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This is the first episode of the chat between Chris Maffeo and Adrián Michalčík. He is the Global Winner of the Diageo WorldClass 2022 and Global Top 6 in 2016. He is the Director of Mixology at Pier 42 in Oslo.

They discussed:

• The importance of On-trade in brand building, especially in dark markets.

• What can small brands learn from Global Brands' Advocacy Programs.

• How Salespeople can prepare themselves before approaching a bar.

• Latest developments in the Czechoslovak and Nordic bar scenes.

• The Italian and Czechoslovak connection in the Global bar scene.

• How top bars decide which brands to list on their offering

About the Host: ⁠⁠⁠Chris Maffeo⁠⁠

About the Guest: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Adrián Michalčík

This Episode is hosted by Chris Maffeo and brought to you by MAFFEO DRINKS.

MAFFEO DRINKS is a leading drinks business podcast, listened to in 120 countries with 130+ episodes. How the industry actually works, from the bar and what it means for the boardroom.

Brand Ambassadors, Advocacy & KPIs: how to set up the role to build demand bottom-up | Part 2/2 with Filiberto Amati from Amati & Associates (Warsaw, Poland) | 016

Season 1 · Episode 16

Thursday, July 13, 2023 • Duration 31:26

Join The Maffeo Drinks Substack for Episode Analysis!

In this episode, Chris Maffeo talks with Filiberto Amati. He is a Growth Advisor. He has extensive Spirits experience having spent many years in Campari in the Netherlands, Mexico, the Caribbean and in Di Saronno in Central and Eastern Europe. He has been in both marketing and commercial roles.

They spoke about Brand Ambassadors from how to define the role, set up KPIs and enable them to build demand from the bottom-up.

They continue by talking about how big brands have shaped their success by focusing on a core occasion. How did they master with perfect market execution that did not happen overnight. If you enjoyed the episode, please rate it and share it with your friends and colleagues. About the Host: ⁠⁠⁠Chris Maffeo⁠⁠ About the Guest: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Filiberto Amati

This Episode is hosted by Chris Maffeo and brought to you by MAFFEO DRINKS.

MAFFEO DRINKS is a leading drinks business podcast, listened to in 120 countries with 130+ episodes. How the industry actually works, from the bar and what it means for the boardroom.

Wanna know what the conversation above means for your team? It's in the paid section.

Cities & Distributors: how to choose the right city and RTM to start from | Part 1/2 with Filiberto Amati from Amati & Associates (Warsaw, Poland) | 015

Season 1 · Episode 15

Thursday, July 6, 2023 • Duration 32:58

Join The Maffeo Drinks Substack for Episode Analysis!

They speak about how to choose the right city to start from in a market, as they are not all the same. They dive into how to win there before moving to the next city and how to ensure you get the right distribution set-up based on your brand lifestage. If you enjoyed the episode, please rate it and share it with your friends and colleagues. About the Host: ⁠⁠⁠Chris Maffeo⁠⁠ About the Guest: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Filiberto Amati

This Episode is hosted by Chris Maffeo and brought to you by MAFFEO DRINKS.

MAFFEO DRINKS is a leading drinks business podcast, listened to in 120 countries with 130+ episodes. How the industry actually works, from the bar and what it means for the boardroom.

Wanna know what the conversation above means for your team? It's in the paid section.

Nordic drinks conquering the world: how to build a local category beyond its borders, bottom-up | with Marcus Pedersen from O.P. Anderson Aquavit (Malmö, Sweden) | 014

Season 1 · Episode 14

Thursday, June 29, 2023 • Duration 40:38

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In this episode, Chris Maffeo talks with his ex-colleague Marcus Pedersen.

They use Aquavit, a typical Nordic distillate, to discuss how niche categories can create demand and appeal beyond their borders. They talk about traditional and modern target occasions, how to approach bars, get on the back bar, cocktail menus, and ultimately drive rotation.

If you enjoyed the episode, please rate it and share it with your friends and colleagues.

About the Host: ⁠⁠⁠Chris Maffeo⁠⁠

About the Guest: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Marcus Pedersen

This Episode is hosted by Chris Maffeo and brought to you by MAFFEO DRINKS.

MAFFEO DRINKS is a leading drinks business podcast, listened to in 120 countries with 130+ episodes. How the industry actually works, from the bar and what it means for the boardroom.

Wanna know what the conversation above means for your team? It's in the paid section.

The 80/20 rule in export: how to focus on winning on a couple of markets first | Part 2/2 of the Interview with Philip Duff, Founder of Old Duff Genever and Liquid Solutions (NYC, NY, USA) | 013

Season 1 · Episode 13

Thursday, June 22, 2023 • Duration 33:23

Join The Maffeo Drinks Substack for Episode Analysis!

This episode is the second part of the selection of Chris Maffeo's chat with Philip Duff.

They started speaking about how to avoid spreading yourself too thin by entering numerous markets you cannot control effectively; having one person handle to trade at the street level while avoiding bureaucratic processes that may hinder your progress is better.

They closed the episode by discussing how brands should avoid relying too much on past success when looking toward future growth opportunities. What works today might not work tomorrow due to changing market dynamics or consumer preferences.

If you enjoyed the episode, please rate it and share it with your friends and colleagues. Listen to the Philip Duff Show (podcast) to find out more.

About the Host: ⁠⁠⁠Chris Maffeo⁠⁠

About the Guest: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Philip Duff

This Episode is hosted by Chris Maffeo and brought to you by MAFFEO DRINKS.

MAFFEO DRINKS is a leading drinks business podcast, listened to in 120 countries with 130+ episodes. How the industry actually works, from the bar and what it means for the boardroom.

Wanna know what the conversation above means for your team? It's in the paid section.

The shelf-life mindset: what can spirits learn from beer to drive rotation | Part 1/2 of the Interview with Philip Duff, Founder of Old Duff Genever and Liquid Solutions (NYC, NY, USA) | 012

Season 1 · Episode 12

Saturday, June 17, 2023 • Duration 36:18

Join The Maffeo Drinks Substack for Episode Analysis!

This episode is a selection of Chris Maffeo's chat with Philip Duff. They spoke about the difference between beer, wine, and spirits and what Spirits marketers can learn from the beer industry by better understanding the ecosystem - from breweries/distilleries through importers/distributors/wholesalers/bar owners/staff/bartenders/consumers. The importance of avoiding the far too common disconnect between marketing guidelines and actual bar practices. They spoke about cocktail occasions being a popular trend many brands want to participate in. Some have a credible story, while others seem like random marketing inventions. If you enjoyed the episode, please rate it and share it with your friends and colleagues. To find out more, listen to the Philip Duff Show (podcast). About the Host: ⁠⁠⁠Chris Maffeo⁠⁠ About the Guest: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Philip Duff

This Episode is hosted by Chris Maffeo and brought to you by MAFFEO DRINKS.

MAFFEO DRINKS is a leading drinks business podcast, listened to in 120 countries with 130+ episodes. How the industry actually works, from the bar and what it means for the boardroom.

Wanna know what the conversation above means for your team? It's in the paid section.

How to get on Cocktail Menus: thinking out of the box to achieve rotation | Part 2/2 of the Interview with Brad Crompton, Director at Spirits of Bermondsey (London, UK) | 011

Season 1 · Episode 11

Friday, June 9, 2023 • Duration 33:09

Join The Maffeo Drinks Substack for Episode Analysis!

In this episode, Chris Maffeo spoke to Brad Crompton, Director at Spirits of Bermondsey (Trinity 25)

In the farming part of their chat, we dive into practical strategies for increasing sales in bars. We explore the importance of targeting independent outlets and overcoming skepticism from bar managers/owners. To drive awareness and generate interest, offering free samples and designing special promotions/events prove beneficial.

We also discuss the power of relatable cocktail names and segmenting drinks based on their approximate alcohol content (ABV) to attract customers. Tracking bar menu changes and creating a pipeline for future opportunities is emphasized. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Share it with friends, click follow and rate it if you liked it. About the Host: ⁠⁠⁠Chris Maffeo⁠⁠ About the Guest: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Brad Crompton

This Episode is hosted by Chris Maffeo and brought to you by MAFFEO DRINKS.

MAFFEO DRINKS is a leading drinks business podcast, listened to in 120 countries with 130+ episodes. How the industry actually works, from the bar and what it means for the boardroom.

Wanna know what the conversation above means for your team? It's in the paid section.

The MAFFEO DRINKS Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

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The MAFFEO DRINKS Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other25

LinkedIn50

Instagram7

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other25

LinkedIn50

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