Shot #68 - Shaker and Spoon

This episode is with Mike and Anna of Shaker and Spoon, which is a monthly cocktail subscription box. The cocktails are being created by bartenders all over the country. In the box you get enough to make 3 different cocktails 4 times, for 12 drinks total. Mike and Anna got started back in 2015 and they’ve been at it ever since then. I had a great time getting hear about how Shaker and Spoon came to be, how they got it off the ground, and where it’s headed. Hope you all enjoy, cheers.

Shaker and Spoon Website: https://www.shakerandspoon.com/

Shaker and Spoon Instagram: @shakerandspoon

Shot #67 - Parker's Passion

Robert Parker is the founder of the Wine Advocate, a newsletter that got started in August of 1978, when newsletter were more prominent then they are today. There’s a lot that you can say about the newsletter itself and the impact that it had on the wine industry. You can find people that talk about the good Parker did for raising awareness about wine in the US, and you can find plenty of people who will criticizes him, and I’ll talk about some of those criticisms. But I wanted to look at this more from a business perspective about what Robert Parker was able to pull off. Because in a pre-internet, pre-Instagram, pre-blogging era, before all of that, Parker pulled off what in today’s terms I think most people would call a side hustle. And he turned this side project into a full time career. I don’t care if it’s 1970, 2018, or 2100, if you can find a way to get paid, to do what you want, what you love to do, that pretty awesome. And that’s the part of Parker’s story that I want to look at.

Image of Alsace, France here

Shot #65 - Josue Romero @the_garnishguy

On this episode I’m talking about taking a break from high school class to grab a beer, calling your Mom to say that you’re leaving a 9 to 5 job, garnishes, glassware, and more with Josue Romero. You can find Josue @the_garnishguy, and he also works at Odd Birds down in St. Augustine, Florida. Hope you all enjoy, cheers folks.

Josue’s IG: @the_garnishguy

Odd Birds Website: https://www.oddbirdsbar.com/

Shot #64 - Hannah Chamberlain @spiritedla

On this episode I’m speaking with Hannah Chamberlain, who runs a blog called Spirited LA. During our conversation we cover everything from her time at Buzzfeed, moving out to California, historical drinkers like Peter the Great, photography, film, and I show how big of a nerd I am. You can check out Hannah on Instagram @spiritedla. I hope you all enjoy, cheers.

Hannah’s IG: @spiritedla

Hannah’s Website: https://spiritedla.com/

Shot #63 - Jason Yu - @jasonfyu

On this episode I’m speaking with Jason Yu, who is a bartender in Southern California. I started seeing Jason pop up on Instagram, and he’s done a few projects with characters like Josh Suchan and Richard Allison, both of whom have been on the show, and I wanted to learn a bit more about his story. We discuss how he got started as a bartender and his first job at a restaurant, photography, archery, and surprisingly, I got a new outlook on golf. Hope you enjoy folks, cheers.

Jason’s Instagram: @jasonfyu

Shot #61 - Maggie Hoffman

If you have a moment, Maggie and I would greatly appreciate you leaving an Amazon review for her new book, "The One Bottle Cocktail". I’ve linked to the book below.

As for the interview itself, Maggie and I talked about her time growing up in Portland, why she choose to go to Princeton, which is probably not something that you’d guess, her first job out of college, and the process of writing a book, which for this one, only took her 12 weeks. I hope you all enjoy, cheers folks.

The One Bottle Cocktail link HERE

Maggie’s Instagram: @maggiejhoffman


 

Shot #60 - Tanner Johnson, @thebarologist

You might know Tanner from his Instagram account, @thebarologist. I first found out about Tanner when he was on Tipsy Bartender, which I’ve linked to in the description below. Tanner is currently the head bartender at Watertable in Huntington Beach, CA, and we started out talking about his original plan to be a chef, how he got started bartending, wine certifications and a whole bunch of other stuff. I hope that you folks enjoy, cheers.

Tipsy Bartender video 1: Snow White’s Poison Apple

Tipsy Bartender video 2: More Life

Tanner’s Instagram: @thebarologist

Shot #59 - April Wachtel

On this episode I’m speaking with April Wachtel, former bartender and brand ambassador, and currently the the owner of Swig and Swallow, and we get into that business and what she’s currently working on.

There’s a bit of a technical issue towards the end of the interview, just in the last couple minutes, but before you get to that, you’re going to hear about April’s 22 years of experience in the hospitality industry, starting with her very first job in the industry, working as a brand ambassador, bartending at Lahi Kia, attending Tales of the Cocktail, and more. One final note, if you’re familiar with apartment bartender, aka Elliot Clark’s story, he talked on this podcast about being in New York and attending a class on spirits and cocktails. That class, which is what first got him interested in cocktails, was taught by none other than April. It was great to see things come full circle.

April’s Instagram: @aprilwachtel

Movers and Shakers Instagram: @moverssshakers

Swig and Swallow Website: https://www.swigandswallow.com/