Explore every episode of the podcast The Philip Duff Show
Dive into the complete episode list for The Philip Duff Show. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
#146, Ruben Maduro, founder, Spirited Union Rum Distillery (Amsterdam), Pineapple Drinks Club distribution (Netherlands)
26 Jan 2026
01:58:12
Ruben’s an old friend from Amsterdam, a native Aruban who bartended in Amsterdam and London, and whose life was changed by a Diplomatico rum training he attended while working as a flair bartender at London’s famed Roadhouse.
(That training was given by none other than Declan McGurk, himself a former flair bartender, who went on to become Director of Bars at The Savoy, leading them to a #1 spot on W50BB, and is now Commercial Director for Boatyard Gin)
Ruben went back to Amsterdam with rum in his heart and started Spirited Union rum, inventing “botanical rum”as a category in the process, delivering orders in person, on his bicycle, for the first few years.
He then crowdfunded (!) buying the former Our/Vodka distillery & bar from Pernod-Ricard, whose bar, cocktail classes and rum blending workshops have made it the #1 activity in the Netherlands on TripAdvisor.
(Last week’s episode was with Brendan Bartley, btw, who bought the Our/Vodka NY bar & distillery and reopened it as Hello Hello Cafe & Bar and Silent Alibi distillery, making 11th Hour Coffee liqueur and more).
Ruben’s gone from strength to strength with Spirited Union rum, exporting across Europe, to the UK, and to five states in the US (where their first customer was Whole Foods!) and recently started Pineapple Drinks Club to import & distribute founder-led brands in the Netherlands.
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
Brendan's a hell of a cool guy: Australian, learned distilling in parallel with his university medical and science studies back home, got a Phd from NYU, GM of New York's hugely fun Bathtub Gin, and in late 2025 he opened Hello Hello Bar and Silent Alibi distillery, both of which are in the West 26th Street space in Manhattan formerly occupied by the New York branch of Pernod-Ricard's epically failed Our/Vodka distillery program.
This is a proper long Philip-Duff-Show episode, so settle in!
We kick off talking neuroscience and Ozempic (because of course) and it quickly morphs into Brendan's career path, immigration advice, bartender training, how they got hold of a distillery smack dab in the middle of Manhattan, what they do at the distillery, and his consulting work formulating liquids for clients as well as running two bars and a distillery, and we taste their first brand, the amazing 11th Hour Coffee Liqueur, as well as a rum brand from a consulting project he's working on and a million other things besides.
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#136, Ben Schott, multi-million-copy best-selling author, (Schott’s Significa), journalist, consultant, designer and photographer
10 Nov 2025
01:47:54
I've been a fan of Ben's since his first book, Schott's Original Miscellany came out in 2002, a collection of quirky facts and insights into subcultures; his 13 (!) subsequent books expanded on the theme and have sold more than 2.5 million copies, in multiple languages, to date.
Ben also wrote two of the best "homage" books in the style of PG Wodehouse, which, if you're a Wodehouse fan, I urge you to read.
His newest book, Schott's Significa, delves into the worlds of hidden languages and subcultures: open-outcry stock trading hand signals, the unspoken languages of the servers of Eleven Madison Park, and the very-much-spoken insider slang of everyone from the diamond dealers of midtown Manhattan to world-famous cocktail bars like Tres Monos and Overstory.
We had a very pleasant and - as you might expect - wide-ranging chat about everything, enjoy!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#46, Colin Field, former head bartender (for 3 decades!), The Hemingway Bar at the Ritz, Paris.
25 Dec 2023
01:26:23
Colin is a legend, an English native who doggedly pursued his dream of being head bartender at the Ritz Hotel in Paris, a position he achieved and dominated for thirty years, creating the Hemingway Bar along the way, serving & befriending celebrities, heads of states, and run-of-the-mill billionaires as well. Now retired from the Ritz, he's busier than ever, running incredible drinks events around the world with his new agency Colin Field Bar Concept, and bartending a gruelling one shift a week at Paris' Maison Proust. This was a great chat with an old mate, and we covered everything from the origins of the negroni to why a code of omerta must exist between bartender and guest, bartending in business class on Air France 380s vs the Emirates configuration (and why Colin prefers Boeing 777s), how he created a true nationally-accredited degree in bartending in France, the politics of five-star hotels, and a whole bunch more. Enjoy!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#45, Forest Collins, French cocktail blogger and author, "Drink Like A Local In Paris"
21 Dec 2023
02:32:19
Forest is the O.G. cocktail blogger in France, since she moved there from the US in 2001 and started the 52 Martinis blog, adding a podcast a decade ago. She's also the author of several books including the new "Drink Like A Local In Paris", Academy Chair for France for World's 50 Best Bars, creator of the 52 Martini iPhone app, and a constant champion of all good bars throughout France. We caught up over a cocktail or two and went through the French scene, French spirits, lists like 50 Best and awards in general, and a bunch more, including what being a local or a regular really entails and why Parisians love that cafe life.
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#44, Rachel Harrison, New York City PR powerhouse for bars, hotels and liquor brands
18 Dec 2023
03:11:18
I fucking love Rachel Harrison. We caught up over drinks and went for three hours straight! Her firm Rachel Harrison Communications is a serious mover and shaker for dozens of hotels, resorts, liquor brands and bars across the US and around the world, with offices in the UK, Mexico and elsewhere. There's a lot of PR wisdom in here (my favorite: "Hiring a PR agency means you have to work HARDER, not less!") but we also cover vibrators, hiring diverse candidates, gift giving, Breville toasters, lists and awards, her fitness journey and how she has 4 other Rachels working for her. Give it a listen!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#43, Derek Brown, author of "Mindful Mixology", wellness coach, and bartender
13 Dec 2023
02:28:22
Derek is a hospitality lifer who, after decades of being a bartender, sommelier and founding groundbreaking cocktail bars like The Colombia Room in Washington DC, transitioned in 2018 to being an advocate for no- and low-alcohol cocktails and wellness in general, training as an NASM coach, founding Positive Damage, Inc., and co-founding the Mindful Drinking Fest. Derek's an old friend and it was a joy to shoot the shit for several hours, especially as Dry January looms. We cover everything from Ozempic, beer goggles, the secret sorrow of your kid taking up soccer, Derek's viciously competitive streak that emerges playing Uno, non-alc beers, polishing your shoes if you're wearing a suit, how to get through Day 1 on the wagon, and there's a heartwarmingly wholesome story about Derek's teenage encounter with the late Shane McGowan. Come onboard!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#42, Kevin Armstrong, Owner Satan's Whiskers (London), co-author "Roundbuilding", and bar consultant
04 Dec 2023
01:25:38
It was great to finally catch up with Kevin; I’ve been chasing him to come on the podcast since earlier this year, when I read “Roundbuilding” a book he co-wrote with Daniel Waddy on the technique of making rounds of cocktails as quickly and efficiently as possible, so they can all be served at the same time and to the same quality (link to buy below). Kevin opened London bartender’s bar Satan’s Whiskers a decade ago after a stratospheric career at Jonathan Downey’s Match Bar / Rushmore Group that saw him become Group Bars Director, presiding over the bars and training staff alongside luminaries like Dick Bradsell, Dale de Groff and Sasha Petraske. We talk about what’s happened to speed and efficiency, modern bar trends like the “Scandi’ no-garnish trend you see a lot in London, why jiggers aren't magical, and a whole bunch more. Give it a listen - and make sure you get the book!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#41, Kurt Schlechter, owner Cause + Effect (Cape Town) and bar trainer throughout Africa
20 Nov 2023
01:21:06
Great chat with my old friend Kurt Schlechter, who has trained bartenders in every country on his continent from Cape Town to Cairo, and splits his time between the three branches of his award-winning cocktail bar Cause + Effect, and training bartenders throughout Africa.
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#40, Jeff "Beachbum" Berry, Tiki Historian, Author and Bar Owner
15 Nov 2023
01:51:15
Well, this was a pure delight! Jeff is an old friend and we sat down to talk about Sippin' Santa's Surf Shack, rum ,tiki cocktails, bar ownership and a whole bunch more - give it a listen!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
I've been bumping into the glamourous Kimberly Fisher at cocktail events here in New York for years now so it was high time we sat down together. An Alaskan native and resident of NY for over a decade, she's been an actress and spokesmodel, is a widely published journalist, qualified yoga teacher, licensed real estate agent, on-camera host and bonafide travel fiend, having clocked up 67 countries and every American state except the Dakotas, for some reason. She also represents Casa del Sol tequila, owned by Desperate Housewife Eva Longoria, and indeed we drank a good bit of it during the taping and very nice it was too. We caught up on topics and wide as bumping Bill Gates off a flight, the Jennifer Lawrence movie "No Hard Feelings", reading 100 books a year, the drinks biz and lots more. And yes, she really did take off her Uggs and put on sky-high Louboutins to record this episode. Enjoy!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#38, Robert Simonson, Award-Winning Drinks Writer & Author
30 Oct 2023
01:32:57
Robert might just be the best-known drinks writer in our whole industry; his articles on spirits, bars and cocktails appear frequently in grown-up newspapers like The New York Times as well as trade publications like PUNCH, Imbibe and Vinepair. He's written more than half a dozen books on bars, spirits and cocktails, co-authored two cocktail apps and has his own signature Old Fashioned kit from Cocktail Kingdom as well as "The Mix", his extremely popular Substack newsletter. His newest book, "The Encyclopedia of Cocktails", just came out.
As you might imagine, he's a great person to sit with for a drink and a chat, and that's what went down here, covering everything from how he switched to drinks writing from being a theater critic, why he's not afraid of the threat of AI to writers, if you can earn a living writing in 2023, and his new book, The Encyclopedia of Cocktails. Along the way we also cover awards and lists, anonymity in bars, which types of books sell better and much more - give it a listen!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#37, Oron Lerner, Group Bars Manager, Imperial Group, Tel Aviv
23 Oct 2023
01:50:04
No way this wasn't going to be unusual, but I wanted to talk with Oron, a friend, and see how he was doing. It's a good talk - not as light-hearted as the first time Oron was on the podcast, understandably. We'd normally have done it face-to-face, like we did the first time he was on, and in fact I had flights and a Tel Aviv apartment all booked, planning to arrive on 14 October and do events and tastings for genever and vermouth, some of them at Oron's group's bars. That didn't happen, of course. We agreed beforehand we aren't experts on the region or its history; Oron himself said he wasn't entirely sure about the origins of the conflicts, and if he isn't, I certainly am not. This is a conversation between friends, checking in.
Oron on Instagram: www.instagram.com/lerneroron
(Get in touch with Duff!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#135, Eddie Rudzinskas, founder, @cocktails_for_you & Old Baile Irish whiskey, global advocacy lead for Thomas Henry mixers
03 Nov 2025
01:00:43
The irrepressible Edvinas "Eddie" Rudzinskas is a fixture at just about every bar show and party, and the Instagram he created, @cocktails_for_you, boasts 565, 000 followers.
We sat down during BCBerlin to talk about how he went from working in his native Lithuania to bartending in a small town in Ireland, falling deep down the rabbit hole of mixology, and founding Cocktails for You, initially as a Facebook page sharing all the seminars and events he'd attend, first in Ireland and then - often representing the Bartender's Association of Ireland, BAI - abroad.
He's also recently been named Global Advocacy Lead for Thomas Henry mixers, and co-founded his own (delicious) Irish whiskey, Old Baile.
We grabbed a spare hour (and some champagne) to talk about how he became a social media influencer, the state of the bar world, and building brands in the onpremise, as well as a whole bunch more.
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
This is a solo Duff ep, where I catch up on a whole bunch of stuff, including:
- Launching Old Duff Genever in Riga, Latvia - Working Bar Convent Berlin, the world's largest bar show - Maison Villevert's charity auction memorial to Gaz Regan - Why I didn't continue my planned trip to Tel Aviv - The informed genius of the Coca-Cola company partnering with Absolut for a...canned Absolut + Sprite? - The Nolet family (Ketel One) buying Bols - The Irish Exit, a fast-service Dead Rabbit in a train station - Patent Pending (NY)'s SharkNado night! - Robert Simonson's book launch, and the impossibly cool Agency of Record bar launch
(Get in touch with Duff!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
Guy and some friends started Procera gin after discovering Juniperus procera trees in Kenya, where he lives. Native to Africa, these trees tower 80 feet high, bearing very large, juicy juniper berries that differ greatly from juniperus communis, the usual juniper type used in gin that grows on a 30-foot shrub around the Adriatic and Eastern Europe. We sat downstairs in the Ivory Peacock, a great new bar-restaurant with 850 gins (!), and over a couple of martinis - Procera, obvs - we talked about how (very expensive) gin could be a stealth project to change the way people think about Africa as a whole, how he stays compliant with EU law although he's using a non-approved form of juniper, how an Aussie with the world's most expensive MBA wound up making gin in Africa, and a ton more. Mostly, I remember we laughed a lot - those martinis really kick in when you're making them with 51% abv gin!
Guy on IG: https://instagram.com/guybrennos Procera Gin on IG: https://instagram.com/proceragin Website: https://www.proceragin.com/
(Get in touch with Duff!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#34, Kimi Winkler, New York City Liquor Salesperson Supreme
25 Sep 2023
01:46:49
Kimi's one of the best salespeople in the city, and has been since she kicked off her careerin liquor back in 2011. She's been an educator, a portfolio manager, an on-premise specialist and a state manager, working for brands as diverse as Stoli, Jagermeister, Novo Fogo cachaca and Copalli rum, and Pinhook whiskey, where she just started as the new New York state market manager. What's common to all those roles is selling, something that a lot of bartenders and ambassadors are terrified of, but that Kimi relishes. (She should, she's good at it). Over a drink of two we chatted about her career started, how to get listings and menu placements, coming into the business without a bartending background, bringing value to the relationship with a buyer, and why you should chat with the bartenders before you even know who the buyer is. Enjoy!
Kimi on IG: https://instagram.com/kimi.winkler
(Get in touch with Duff!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#33, Mark Maynard: 30-Year New York City Hospitality Veteran turned Consultant & Coach
18 Sep 2023
02:47:26
Mark's the best! He walked into Union Square Cafe more than 30 years ago and only left what became the Danny Meyer-founded Union Square Hospitality Group group recently, having scaled the dizzy heights of a restaurant group that was as iconic and successful as it was disruptive, creating a whole new perspective on how to serve guests and manage the staff that do so, all of which Mark played a large part in.
I got to know him better at his last big project at USHG, the ass-kicking Porchlight bar in NY, and we sat down to shoot the shit about just about everything, from being part of Jose Andres' World Kitchen serving people fleeing the war in Ukraine, to diversity 2023-style in restaurant hiring, to the tip controversy (spicy!), to his biggest mistake as a manager, and how he distills that 30 years of expertise to help his consulting clients turbo-charge their business with his new firm, Maynard Consulting.
Special thanks to the Institute of Culinary Education in NY for loaning us a location to record in, and to the one and only Tony Sachs for donating a 50-odd-years-old mini of fine bourbon whisky for us to crack open to get the ball rolling!
Maynard Consulting: https://www.maynardconsulting.net Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-maynard-b8a2976
(Get in touch with Duff!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#32, Kirsten Holm, Matriarch of Copenhagen's cocktail scene, owner K Bar (founded 2002!)
11 Sep 2023
01:32:39
I caught up with the magnificent Kirsten Holm, who I've known for decades, in Amsterdam recently, when we were both in town for the Perfect Serve Barshow. We sat down in the stunning Luminair rooftop bar on top of the Doubletree hotel next to the central train station, and whoa, did we talk about a lot in just 90 minutes or so - powered only by coffee! Everything from what the Copenhagen cocktail scene was like pre-K Bar's opening, to why you have to have top chat skills if you work in a bar that batches its drinks, to fragile mixology vs modern classics, why toilets (and coffee, and bread) are so important, finding your DNA, finding your inner warrior, Brexit, Trump, anti-immigrant sentiments and social media, phew! Kirsten's one of my favorite people, and later the same day we taped she went on to teach a killer seminar, about surviving a bartending & bar-owning career, at Perfect Serve (after she had recovered her notes).
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#31 Chris LeBeau, Mixologist & Podcaster, St. Louis, Missouri
04 Sep 2023
02:14:40
Chris LeBeau is a St. Louis-based mixologist whose workshops are primarily aimed at cocktail-curious home bartenders and corporate events. He also runs the immaculately slick "Decoding Cocktails" podcast, and just launched a second one, "So this one shift" which he describes as "Storycorps meets the beverage industry". He's had me on his podcast before, and we didn't really get to hang at Tales of the Cocktail, so it was time to switch on the mikes and kick back with an adult beverage. We cover the amazingness that is the Michter's Fort Nelson distillery, visitor center and bar in Louisville; the media's relationship to cocktails; what spirits can learn from craft beer; living in an old money town like St. Louis; why vermouth deserves more love; the current state of celebrity bartenders and a whole bunch more.
Give it a listen, Like, Subscribe, Rate and share this podcast with any of your friends who might be into it - and don't forget to subscribe to Chris' podcasts, too.
Decoding Cocktails on IG: https://www.instagram.com/decodingcocktails/ Decoding Cocktails on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFGgHkGrzkz5X6Hzas-rNWA
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#30, Ivan Villegas, Spanish Bartender in London (now Mountain, ex-NoMad London, ex-Davies & Brook, ex-Swift) & CAP
28 Aug 2023
02:41:57
I've known Ivan since 2013, when, still a fulltime photojournalist, he moonlighted bartending at the seminal O'Clock bar in Madrid (90 gins & 7 tonic waters - in 2013!) and became a finalist in the G'Vine Gin Connoisseur Program contest which I organised, so we got to hang out for a week at the world finals in Cognac, France.
Ivan then moved to London to be a full-time bartender (and I moved to New York), so we don't get to hang out as much as I'd like, therefore this was a sprawling three-hour catch-up over mezcal and whiskey, touching on, among other topics:
- All the fun of the Feria in Spain - Pros and cons of guest bartending and takeovers - Why people hiring bartenders should check references - Being a CAP (Cocktail APprentice) at the Tales of the Cocktail festival - Striving for excellence in bar programs and restaurants - Why some of the best bars really only sparkle 1 night out of 30
...and a whole bunch more!
(PS, Mountain, where Ivan works, is the new place from chef Tomos Parry (of restaurant Brat), and it's getting rave reviews - so next time you're in London.....)
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#29, St. John Frizell, owner of Fort Defiance and Gage & Tollner, Brooklyn, NY
21 Aug 2023
02:17:31
I sat down with St. John Frizell, who founded Fort Defiance bar in Brooklyn's Red Hook neighbourhood back in 2009, and brought Gage & Tollner, long the most vaunted fine-dining restaurant in Brooklyn since it opened in 1879, back to life in 2021 (yep, 2021!) after it lay dormant and closed for almost two decades.
I met St. John when he taught a seminar I attended on the subject of playboy travel and food & drinks writer Charles H. Baker, Jr., at Tales of the Cocktail, around 2006 or 2007; in fact, his seminar inspired the first-ever cocktail menu at door 74 (which I opened in Amsterdam in 2008), which was all Charles H. Baker, Jr., cocktails.
We kicked it for several hours and it's all here: laundry tips for white shirts, why martinis now cost $21, St. John's exciting new side hustle as a liquor smuggler, why he'll open more Sunken Harbor Clubs but not more Gage & Tollners, world premiere of the Sunken Harbor Club Membership Scheme, serving Hearsts, the old Pegu Club, having to relearn the art of concentration, and a whole bunch more. We were fuelled solely by coffee, so me and St. John should really do this again some time with a drink in hand!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#28 Matt Pietrek, author of "Modern Caribbean Rum" Tales Spirited Awards "Best New Book On Spirits"
14 Aug 2023
01:24:50
The champ is here! It was a delight chatting to Matt Pietrek, the Rumwonk himself; Matt's responsible for some of the deepest and most illuminating dives into rum history in recent years on what is now his Substack (link below). His magnum opus, "Modern Caribbean Rum", which he wrote, photographed and self-published together with his wife Carrie Smith, just won "Best New Book On Spirits" at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, despite being only available at www.wonkpress.com and costing $100 plus shipping. (It's worth far, far more, by the way - 833 pages long and weighing in at around 9lbs!)
Rum in hand (I was drinking Copalli blanco with a dash of Angostura Aromatic bitters, salty seadog that I am), we got into Matt's journey from being a tech dude living in Seattle to a hairy rum wonk living in New Orleans, his first book Minimalist Tiki, the history and legacies of both rum and tiki drinks & bars, why he gravitated towards rum, 19th century aristocrats as the first influencers, his work as Community Envoy for the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers Association (WIRSPA), why and how he began self-publishing, why the US government is giving the Captain Morgan brand alone a whopping $2.7bn, how US taxes on non-US rum and US subsidies to US rum firms means non-US rums selling in the US are forced to subsidise their US competitors via the taxes they pay to the US, the third rail of the rum world that is spiced rum, and how a Modern Caribbean Rum audiobook might be awesome to fall asleep to.
Matt's main website Rumwonk: https://www.rumwonk.com Other website Cocktailwonk: https://cocktailwonk.com Wonk Press, to order his books: https://www.wonkpress.com/
Matt on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cocktailwonk and https://www.instagram.com/rumwonk Matt on X/Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/cocktailwonk and https://www.twitter.com/rumwonk
(Get in touch with Duff!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
The eagle-eyed among you will see I didn't post any episodes in July, and that's because I was based in Lisbon, but also flying around Europe like a demon, then getting back to the US a day or two before Tales, and then shooting down to Alabama to help my step-daughter move into college.
So this is the catch-up! Lisbon! London! Italy! Amsterdam! New York! New Orleans (and a bit of bitching about the Tales awards)! Alabama!
Tune in and enjoy, and let me know what you'd like to hear more - or less - of in the comments.
(Get in touch with Duff!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#134, Jenna Hemsworth (l) & Alexandra Hooker (r), co-founders, Sorry Not Sorry Collective
28 Oct 2025
02:11:08
I've always followed the industry in Australia closely, as in my opinion it is, pound-for-pound, the best mixology nation on Earth; I've visited often, for teaching and consulting, and wrote a column in Australian Bartender magazine for some years.
Last year the Sydney Morning Herald broke a story (sadly, only the first of many) uncovering alleged wide-ranging abuse at the renowned Australian hospitality group Swillhouse, with allegations ranging from management ignoring complaints right up to sexual harassment and rape by former and current staff.
Several former Swillhouse employees who were victims, including Jenna and Alexandra, bravely waived their right to anonymity, started a lawsuit against their former employer, and formed the Sorry Not Sorry Collective, which is currently touring with guest bartending and other events to raise awareness about these heinous issues, and to raise actual cash to fund their lawsuit.
We caught up during Bar Convent Berlin; I've known Jenna for quite a while and travelled through Japan with her as part of a group learning about shochu.
Because of that, and because both her and Alexandra are also Australians - automatically gregarious and affable people - and bartenders to boot, we had what could be described as a deceptively light-hearted sounding conversation that, as well as learning about their routes into bartending and the Australian scene, deals with some very deep topics indeed, ranging from the alleged abuses to the definition of sex work, consent, and a lot more.
We couldn't go into every detail of the alleged abuses, because their lawsuit is ongoing, however we discussed some comparable cases in other countries, of which there are a depressing amount.
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#26, Tales of the Cocktail 2023 roundup with Australian drinks & bars writer Sam Bygrave
01 Aug 2023
01:29:47
We both - barely - just survived Tales 2023, and as he lives in Sydney we don't get to sit down to share a drink often, so on his NY stopover I grabbed Sam Bygrave, founder of independent news hub for the Australian bar industry Boothby Drinks and formerly one of the longest serving editors of Australian Bartender Magazine. (In fact, Sam was my editor when I wrote a column for AB).
Shout-out to Samantha and Ben at Porchlight in New York for letting us record in their legendary back room!
Over some beers, some Old Duff genever and some Mezcal Vago Pechuga from the most adorable little mini-oilcan flask you ever did see, we recap Tales and dive into a whole bunch of other stuff too, from health insurance in America to why caviar bumps make sense, William Grants flying over 10 entire bar teams from Australia to work their portfolio party at Tales, why great cocktail bars should serve excellent Guinness, and the horrors of not being able to drink off-grid without Resy hunting you down.
(That all-French spirits bar with the amazing sound system that I mentioned was A La Francaise, opened in Paris by Stephen Martin in 2015.
Website: https://www.boothby.com.au Sign up for the newsletter: https://www.boothby.com.au/#/portal/signup
(Get in touch with Duff!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#25 Crafting Success: Inside the World of January Spirits with Co-founders Lucky Preksto & Jon Langley
19 Jun 2023
01:34:44
Ever wondered about the nitty-gritty of running a craft spirits company? Join us in this eye-opening episode as we chat with John and Lucky, co-founders of January Spirits, who share their inspiring journey from working together in different bars and restaurants to creating their very own spirit brand. You'll learn about crafting unique liqueurs, navigating complex US legislation, and their mascot - Janus, the Roman God of the past, present, and future.
Dive into the fascinating world of crafting liqueurs as John and Lucky discuss the intricate process of perfecting their recipes, blending ingredients, and the importance of trusting oneself. We explore the history of coffee grinders and their impact on the American Civil War, as well as different drinking occasions for Amaro - a complex but enjoyable beverage. You'll also discover the challenges of competing with well-known brands in the world of craft gin production and pricing strategies.
In this absorbing conversation, John and Lucky share their gin tasting experiences, the rise of martini culture in New York City, and the importance of balancing bitter and sweet elements in cocktails. We also discuss selling alcohol in America, hotspots for their craft spirits, and the incredible journey of January Spirits. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights into the world of craft spirits and learn from the experiences of these passionate entrepreneurs!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#24 Spirits, Sustainability, and Personal Growth: The Journey of Stephanie Jordan and Avallen Calvados
19 Jun 2023
01:11:45
Are you ready to embark on an incredible journey through the world of spirits, sustainability, and personal growth? Join us for a captivating conversation with Stephanie Jordan Balmforth, co-founder of Avallen Calvados, as we explore her diverse background, passions, and the making of a sustainable spirits brand. Over a delightful Dempsey cocktail, Stephanie shares her upbringing in London as the daughter of a British mother and Colombian father, her love for yoga and running, and how mindfulness shapes her daily life.
[NON-AI TEXT: The Dempsey Cocktail, 1922, Robert Vermeire
1.33oz. / 50ml Avallen Calvados 5/6oz. / 25ml Bluecoat Gin 5ml grenadine 2 dashes (from a bitters bottle) Kubler absinthe Shake with ice Strain into cocktail coupe]
Discover how Stephanie's unique perspective led her to a successful career as a global brand ambassador, meeting her business partner Tim and creating the premium Avallen Calvados. Together, they tackled the challenges of modern agriculture, environmental impact, and the world of spirits distribution. We also dive into the fascinating history of Dutch settlers in Argentina, the prevalence of brandy in Asia, and the origin of the word 'sin'.
From Stephanie's passion for creating meaningful connections with consumers through storytelling to her experiences living in New York and Europe, this episode is packed with intriguing insights. We wrap up with a discussion on the founding of Avallen Spirits and the importance of finding the perfect balance between tradition and modernity. Tune in to this exhilarating episode to hear all about Stephanie Jordan Balmforth and the remarkable world of Avallen !
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
This was so much fun we forget we were recording! After fuelling up a starving Sother with one of Will Wyatt's preposterously good Electric Burritos, Sother kicks off by spilling the tea on Trap Cocktails, Maxwell Britten, and his firm's soon-to-open African diaspora restaurant, Ubuntu. We discuss the joys of vegan food both at the DIG fast-casual chain and at Eleven Madison Park, Sother invents the word "proteinaceous", Phil Barlow and Coconut Cartel rum's copper ice plate gets a look in, we learn about bidding for vintage rye whiskey at Sotheby’s , why modern corks are way better, and if you can even get regular Michelob any more. Just to show off, Sother becomes the first guest on the show ever to use the word "nomenclature", we explore why flair is hard but mixology is easy, rap about the joy of yummy drinks a la Leo Robitschek, why there are only a few really outstanding people in any field, how millionaires can get tax rebates in Sweden, taste some genepi, then some gin, and announce the world exclusive of Sother’s forthcoming pineapple habanero mezcal hot sauce. (By the way, that quote I mentioned was in Sebastian Faulks' James Bond book "Devil May Care", not one of Anthony Horowitz's Bond books, and here it is:
"The waiters in their short white coats were all Romans of a certain age who had spent a lifetime in their chosen profession. They were swift and precise in their movements, polite without being deferential." )
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#22 Unlocking the Benefits of Alcohol: Creativity, Bonding, and Cultural Connections with Dr. Edward Slingerland
04 Jun 2023
01:43:54
Ever wondered how alcohol can actually be beneficial in fostering creativity, bonding, and even lie detection? Join our intriguing conversation with award-winning Sinologist and philosophy professor Dr. Edward Slingerland, as we discuss his recent captivating book, "Drunk", and shed light on the often-misunderstood spirits industry.
Together, we dive into the role of alcohol in society, its stress-reducing effects, and how it can be used alongside cultural tools like religion to build trust. Dr. Slingerland also shares his experiences as a bartender in San Francisco and as a professor at the University of British Columbia. We tackle the challenges of integrating drinkers and non-drinkers, the power dynamics within the service industry, and the potential effects of banning spirits from college campuses.
Lastly, we explore the differences between northern and southern drinking cultures, the role of bartenders in regulating drinking, and the impact of social media on our drinking habits. Get ready for an insightful and fascinating discussion that will have you rethinking your relationship with alcohol!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#21, Giacomo Giannotti, From Gelateria to Global Acclaim: The Journey Behind Paradiso, the World's Best Bar and the Future of Bartending
29 May 2023
01:13:25
How did growing up in an Italian ice cream shop lead to owning the world's best bar? Join us as we chat with Giacomo Giannotti about his incredible journey from humble beginnings to achieving international acclaim with his Barcelona-based bar, Paradiso, current #1 on the World's 50 Best Bars list. Listen in as we explore the lessons he learned along the way, how his experiences in London at places like B@1 shaped his hospitality expertise, and the inspiration behind his world-renowned establishment.
But that's not all! We also dive into the fascinating world of truffle-infused spirits, taste Paradiso's experimentaL new white truffle amaro, and hear my stories of creating a cognac that complements the flavor of truffle. We discuss the process, the challenges faced, and the impact of Paradiso's prestigious title on the spirits industry.
From speakeasies to post-pandemic customer attitudes, we'll touch on the evolution of the bar scene and the future of bartending, including Paradiso's bar training program. We'll also explore the influence of iconic venues like Rum Trader in Berlin and Milk and Honey in New York, and discuss the importance of investing in quality drinks and service to meet the needs of the new generation of drinkers. So, grab your favorite cocktail and join us for this captivating conversation that takes you behind the scenes of the world's number one bar, Paradiso!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#20 Chris Maffeo, On Trade Sales Strategist & Founder of Maffeo Drinks
22 May 2023
01:48:58
This one's for the industry people! I first came across Chris on LinkedIn, where he posts short, GOLD pieces of advice almost every day for small brands looking to grow and scale sustainably in bars and restaurants, building on his decades-long experience of doing just that across Europe, from his native Italy to the Czech Republic, where he now lives.
Over a Pilsner Urquell or two we covered a bunch of topics, including: - Why a beer mentality can help sell spirits - Why decanters on TV only mean they couldn't find a liquor sponsor - How brands need to move from their historical consumption occasion to a new one via cocktails - Why your first job is to turn your brand proposition into a commercial proposition - Why its better to sell 3 bottles with a staff tasting as opposed to 10 cases without one - Why JRR Tolkien did occasionally phone it in.
Chris has a great newsletter you can sign up for at his website below, his podcast is well worth a follow and so is he, especially on LinkedIn.
Chris' website & newsletter Winning With Drinks: https://www.winningwithdrinks.com/
The Maffeo Drinks Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/the-maffeo-drinks-podcast/id1670614849?ref=winningwithdrinks.com
(Get in touch with Duff!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#19 Julio Bermejo, Creator of the Tommy's Margarita, Bartender, Agave God
15 May 2023
01:36:05
I nabbed Julio Bermejo while he was in town for the launch of Campari's new luxury (and tasty) tequila, named Mayenda, and Campari generously let us borrow one of their conference rooms* loftily overlooking New York's Bryant Park from the 19th floor, to record an episode. Equipped with a dram or two of tequila, we covered vital topics, including:
- Why "fresh" is like "pregnant" - when it comes to juice - How important it is to support owner-operated tequila brands - Why Mexican distillers don't think there are any additives in tequila that need to be disclosed - The joy of synthetic corks - The greater joys of ripe agave - The American (kind-of) celebrity who owns a tequila brand and has never been to Mexico - Julio's mobile phone number (he read it out on-air! Just don't call him when he's sleeping, right?)
Always great to hang with Julio!
Now, don't forget to Like, Share and review The Philip Duff Show on whichever platform you listen to it on - oh, and tell a friend about us, if you think they'd like the show.
*It was the Old Fashioned Conference Room, in case you're wondering; they're all named after cocktails. It's right next to the Sidecar conference room.
(Get in touch with Duff!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#18, Dale de Groff, King Cocktail, Maker of Bitters, Amaro & Aperitivo, and Author
09 May 2023
01:53:33
The King is here! Me and Dale de Groff taste the delicious new De Groff Amaro and De Groff Aperitivo he's made with Ted Breaux (who won't let Dale say what's in them), we talk about history's first-ever cocktail party with "gin and bitters", our biggest ever failings as bartenders and managers, why Freddy Heineken bought several former horse stables around Amsterdam, the importance of yumminess in cocktails, and the story of how Dale once had a fabulously wealthy six-foot-six regular who had to go home at 7pm each evening because he was already hammered by then. And lots more. Enjoy!
De Groff Spirits website: https://degroffspirits.com
Buy "The New Craft of the Cocktail" : https://www.amazon.com/New-Craft-Cocktail-Everything-Mixologist/dp/1984823574/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JQ3KGVDRATX1&keywords=dale+de+groff&qid=1683643740&sprefix=dale+de+groff%2Caps%2C61&sr=8-1
(Get in touch with Duff!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#17, Erick Castro, Bartender, Bar Owner (Raised by Wolves, SD), & podcaster (Bartender at Large)
02 May 2023
01:46:45
Whoa this was great! Who knew Erick was a journalism graduate? I always assumed bartending for him was a work placement after jail (;-)! He made his bones in mega legit Cali bars like Rickhouse in San Francisco (where I met him) then relocated to San Diego and opened his own places, Polite Provisions (T-shirt slogan: "Polite As Fuck") and the award-winning Raised by Wolves. Along the way he worked as a gin ambassador, started (and continues - you should subscribe) the Bartender at Large podcast, as well as co-founding the Bartenders Weekend event in SD and making (check it out on YouTube) the Bartender At Large movie!
This was a whole lot of fun and, full disclosure, towards the end I was a little hammered, because I had to rush home to tape this after dropping by (my old head bartender at door 74 in Amsterdam) Timo's guest shift in Bar Goto. Just like the Danny Ronen episode inadvertently became a Quentin Tarantino episode, this one had a lot of talk about journalism, media, the Mean World Syndrome, as well as pondering if rich people are real people too, why Erick's next bar may well be in CDMX, the joy of Empirical, and Erick's tale of some chap who connected Chat GPT to his Tinder, which I guess is the modern remake of Cyrano de Bergerac. Enjoy!
Erick: IG @hungrybartender, @raisedbywolvesspirits , @bartendersweekend Twitter: @hungrybartender YouTube: Bartender At Large Podcast: Bartender at Large
(Get in touch with Duff!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#133, Andrea Marseglia, slow drinks advocate, mixologist, IG influencer, founder of New Zealand Bar Convention, Staffies card game, and Agnes vermouth
20 Oct 2025
02:00:47
I met Andrea in the End Times, even though we didn't know it, then; he made several delicious cocktails with Old Duff Genever for me, in New Zealand, in mid-March 2020, before the world closed down.
Andrea is a remarkably cool guy who came from Italy to, first, Australia, and then NZ, to perfect his craft, knowing that first he had to perfect his language skills.
He then worked months - even after winning national and international cocktail contests! - washing glasses, before being promoted to bartender.
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
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Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#16, Salvador "Chava" Periban, Agave Expert, 24 April 2023
23 Apr 2023
01:32:49
Agave all day! (Although we were drinking rye whiskey, as it goes). Had a blast sitting down with the one and only Salvador "Chava" Periban, a Michoacan friend, combustion engineer, former head distiller, agave devotee (& expert), Mexico City resident and another of my fellow judges at the ADI awards. You may have heard him on The Speakeasy or Agave Road Trip podcasts but trust me, it's a lot more fun to sit down with the man himself, not least because he ALWAYS has some fine-ass mezcal on his person, somewhere!
Catch Chava on IG at @chavaperiban and www.salvadorperiban.com
(Get in touch with Duff!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
Managed to carve out some time old friend, bar supremo, longtime West Coaster, and dude who sends out thousands of cocktail kits every month with Shaker & Spoon, Danny Ronen! We were both sequestered in a hotel in ritzy Tiburon, California, judging the American Distilling Institute's Craft Spirits Awards, so we took a break from judging spirits to......sit down and drink some and fix the world. Enjoy!
Danny is @dronen on IG, and his firms @shakerandspoon and www.dannyronen.com
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Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#14 Tony Sachs, Debonair Drinks Writer, 10 April 2023
10 Apr 2023
03:25:12
Well THIS really was a Springsteen-in-his-prime length episode, a whopping three-and-a-half hour opus chez Sachs where we drink a selection of cocktails from the stunning new Wanderlust menu at London's Pine Bar in the Biltmore Mayfair hotel, confirm that both Khoosh and Dr. Hostetter's bitters taste delish with champagne or genever, drink some genever that - shock! horror! - isn't Old Duff but is pretty damn good, and in between talk about everything from Percocet-and-whisky boilermakers, Bud Light and an unnamed but sure to be wildly overpriced rye whiskey thats about to come out. Enjoy! Tony Sachs: @retromannyc Pine Bar at the Biltmore Mayfair: @thepinebar Khoosh Bitters: @khooshbitter Dr. Hostetters Bitters: @drhostetters Phoenyx Spirits: @phoenyxspirits
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Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#13, Dushan Zaric, Co-founder of Employees Only, author & consultant
02 Apr 2023
03:05:24
This is a MAMMOTH episode with the legendary co-founder of the Employees Only bar empire, co-founder of The 86 Co (famous for Ford's Gin and recently acquired by Brown Forman), author of "Speakeasy" and certified good time, Dushan Zaric, a friend of mine for going on twenty years now. It's so hilariously amateurishly edited (we did two recording sessions) that after about an hour it almost sounds like we've finished, but we didn't; we went on to do another 2.5 hours or so after that! It's everything you ever wanted to hear: teaching young folk nowadays, opening a bar without sewage because you're broke, AI, Dr. Hostetter's bitters, Khoosh bitters, a toast to Trans Day of Visibility (we recorded it on that day, y'see), Dushan officiating at my wedding, a couple of brand-new genever cocktails, and much, much, much more.
Dushan's great new YouTube show is 4am Chicken Soup, and his IG handle is @4amchickensoup. EO is @employeesonlyny and Macao Trading Company (where we recorded the second half) is @macaonyc
Khoosh bitters is @khooshbitter on IG, and Dr. Hostetter's is @drhostetters, both from the fine chaps at @phoenyxspirits
(Get in touch with Duff!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
The Philip Duff Show #12 News Roundup 2 March 2023
03 Mar 2023
00:43:32
What a few weeks! Time to talk our way through what's been happening. Shitty Serena Williams ad for Superbowl for Remy Martin? Check! Controversy about the technical files for Irish single pot still whiskey? cHECK! Jack Daniels? Ago Perrone? Salvatore Calabrese? Simon Ford? Matsuhisa Nobu? Bob de Niro? Check, check, check, check?. Wild times - ENJOY THE LISTEN!
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Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
The Philip Duff Show #11, Sake and Shochu Mixology with Japanese bar owner and mixologist Kenta Goto
22 Feb 2023
00:51:31
Here I cover the history and production techniques of sake and shochu at a 101 (basic) level, and then Kenta Goto of the acclaimed New York bars Bar Goto and Bar Goto Niban takes over and unveils a whole new template for creating cocktails using sake or shochu as the base, as opposed to whisky or gin. We tried to make this seminar podcast-friendly but the visuals mean that watching this with video on The Philip Duff Show on YouTube is probably better. This started life as a talk we both gave on on Instagram during COVID, then evolved into a standing-room-only seminar at Bar Convent Berlin in 2022, so we thought we'd put it out for anyone who wasn't able to make it last year. Kenta's one of the best operators around, both when it comes to cocktails and to running bars, and his new template for cocktails with shochu and sake is ground-breaking. Kenta is on Instagram as @kenta_san , and his bars are @bargoto_nyc in Manhattan and @bargoto_niban in Brooklyn.
(Get in touch with Duff!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
The Philip Duff Show Series 2, Episode #3 The Great Non Alcoholic "Spirits" Debate with David Gluckman
16 Feb 2023
00:42:15
David Gluckman is a drinks industry legend, and he reeaalllly doesn't like the concept of the new non-alcoholic "spirits". This from the man who invented Baileys Irish cream liqueur, Tanqueray TEN gin, The Singleton whisky, and many more liquor brands. (You can read, watch and listen all about it, with links to old ads, videos and music jingles, by buying his book "That Will Never Sell" here: https://tinyurl.com/bdzx2anc, and read his views on non-alc "spirits" for free both here: https://tinyurl.com/ysrnyfpd and here: https://tinyurl.com/33sh9ux9) So, I thought I'd have a chat with him about this barely-eight-years-old category that's forecast to sell $10bn per year within a few years: the good, the bad, the ugly and what David would do to upgrade non-alcoholic drinking options without taking the mickey. Have a listen, this was fun! Best bet of catching David is on LinkedIn.
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Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
Back with a bang after a few months off, I thought I'd do a roundup of all the news of 2022: world news, bar & cocktail news, spirits business news and what I was up to myself. Damn thing ran to almost two hours and I still forgot to mention that Netflix show "Drink Masters". Get yourself a large beverage to hand, make sure you're sitting comfortably and hit play...
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Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
Podcast Series 2 Episode #1 - Seminar - Say It Ain't So: The Disputed Histories of Genever and Gin
05 Oct 2022
00:46:08
There's been a lot of debate recently as to whether gin (which was definitely first created in England) descended from Dutch genever - or from somewhere else. In this seminar I add a lot of information only available from Dutch-language sources, and try to explain why, although gin didn't have a single ancestor from a single country, the most influential distillate that led to the creation of gin was genever.
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Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
S1 E7 Oron Lerner, beverage director for Imperial Group, live from Tel Aviv! (Recorded May 18th)
26 May 2022
01:50:13
I sat down last week with my old friend Oron Lerner in Tel Aviv , where he's beverage director for the World's 50 Best Bars-listed Imperial Craft bar, as well as their other excellent outlets La Otra and Bushwick. Over a few martinis and quite a bit of genever, we chat about life in a war zone, perceived happiness, the one kind of diversity people don't want to get behind and why you should turn your phone off and kick back with a glass of liquor in each hand from time to time, as well as a whole bunch more stuff. Follow Oron on Twitter and Instagram: @LernerOron Follow meeeee: @philipduff on Twitter and @philipsduff on Instagram And if you like this podcast, please rate, subscribe, share and tell a friend.
(Get in touch with Duff!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
#132, Edmund Weil, co-founder, Nightjar, Oriole and Swift bars, London
13 Oct 2025
02:10:18
Edmund co-founded Nightjar, a speakeasy cocktail bar with live music, in London with his life and business partner, Roisin Stimpson, in 2010, with its first head bartender being Marian Beke.
Nightjar quickly stormed the lists of nominations, Best Bars, and more, and a lot of that success was due to Marian's incredible cocktail presentations, in bespoke vessels, using skill and flavour combinations that upped London's game significantly, and have since been copied widely.
Hand-in-hand with that was Edmund and Rosie's laserlike focus on music, vibes and guest experience.
Nightjar expanded to a second venue, then a third; they opened a larger version, named Oriole, then partnered with lauded operators Bobby Hiddleston and Mia Johansson to open Swift, an all-day, two-level bar concept that now has three branches in London.
Me and Edmund sat down in a quiet moment during Bar Convent Berlin to catch up; I really enjoyed this, and I hope you do, too.
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
Podcast #6 - Kummel, Tequila & Fifty Year Old Daiquiris with drinks writer Tony Sachs
17 May 2022
02:19:49
I had huge fun taping this epic two-hour episode with the hilarious noted drinks writer and music fiend Tony Sachs, wherein we drink Silver Bullet cocktails with hundred-year-old kummel, Improved Holland Gin Cock-tails with hundred-year-old angostura bitters, ponder if you should lisp when you say Jerez, what a Katy Perry cocktail would taste like and have a celebrity basketball players' tequila taste-off. Also, Tony drinks a fifty-year-old bottled daiquiri. Don't forget to Like, Subscribe and Follow the podcast, leave a review, tell a friend, and follow me on Instagram at @philipsduff and Tony at @retromannyc.
(Get in touch with Duff!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
Podcast #5 - Drinkin' With Dan Dunn, drinks writer, author, and wild man!
29 Apr 2022
01:02:38
FINALLY an episode that's just me hanging out with someone, slurping down drinks and shooting the shit! Me and Dan solve all the world's problems, from his troubling lack of Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards to how everyone can crash at my place in Portugal this summer, to what it was like to fly maskless on a plane, how Ray Charles loved genever and how Ted Haigh got it onscreen, all while we're inhaling Old Duff Genever and Fresh Victor cocktail mixes. This was a fun one.
(Get in touch with Duff!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org
Podcast #4 - Seminar - The Prehistory & Evolution of Gin 2022
06 Apr 2022
01:07:46
An OG seminar I first gave way back in 2010, on behalf of the French grape-based G'Vine Gin. It's been really popular and I'm usually asked to teach it again every couple of years, most recently at Cabo Cocktail Festival in Mexico in 2017. It's a mini- Genever 101 and a mini-Gin 101, but mostly it traces the origins of gin from when distilling knowledge first came to Europe, through genever to the birth of what we would recognise as gin in England, which was complete when the column still was first patented in 1830. Hope you like it, and if you'd like a deeper dive into genever, check out some of the other seminars here on the podcast, and as ever, Like, Subscribe and tell a friend!
(Get in touch with Duff!
Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI.
Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org