Libsyn Directory

Creating the Most Successful Liqueur in 50 Years w Tom Maas of RumChata | Bartender at Large ep 504

Release Date: 06/29/2026

Palm Republic Rum w Eric Winter | Bartender at Large ep 515

Bartender at Large

Rum has long suffered from an image problem in this country, as too many drinkers still associate the category with sugary spiced bottles and sticky frozen drinks. But if tequila could go from a spirit taken by the shot to one sipped and studied, then why can't rum do the same? To help us make sense of where the category is headed, we are joined this week by actor and co-founder of Palm Republic Rum, Eric Winter. So tune in as he shares how a single pour of aged rum nearly twenty years ago set him down this path, and what went into blending Jamaican funk with rums from Panama and the US Virgin...

Bar Design & Equipment w Corrinne Walenda | Bartender at Large ep 514

Bartender at Large

Bartenders spend their whole careers reaching into ice wells, pulling from speed rails and slamming glass door coolers shut a few hundred times a night, and yet most of us have never given a second thought to who decides how any of that gets built. To help us pull back the curtain on the equipment side of the business we are joined by Corrinne Walenda, Corporate Training Manager and Brand Ambassador for Perlick, who has spent nearly 15 years working in restaurant equipment and building training programs that translate between the people who make the gear and the people who use it. Get your...

Bartender Finance w Dana June | Bartender at Large ep 513

Bartender at Large

It is no secret that our industry moves in cash and good nights, but very few of us were ever taught what to actually do with it once it lands in our pocket. Between untracked income, lifestyle creep and a social media feed constantly telling us how we should be spending, it is far too easy to make great money for years and still have nothing to show for it. This week's guest learned that lesson early, watching her mother lose her job in the 2008 crash after more than a decade of strong earnings behind the bar. So tune in as we are joined by Dana June, founder of How to Cocktail and author of...

Global Bar Consulting w Chris Lowder | Bartender at Large ep 512 Episode VIDEO

Bartender at Large

This week we are joined by Chris Lowder, co-founder of Lowder-Tascarella Hospitality, two-time Tales of the Cocktail nominee for Best Global Bar Mentor, and one of Drinks International's 100 Most Influential Figures in the Global Bar Industry. After leading World's 50 Best-recognized bars across China, Chris co-founded LTH, now a team of 18 spanning New York, Miami, and Bangkok, with his latest work on display at Miami Beach's Shelborne by Proper. So tune in as we discuss why sustainable operations and financial literacy beat chasing accolades, his years bartending in Korea and China, and the...

Global Bar Consulting w Chris Lowder | Bartender at Large ep 512 Episode

Bartender at Large

Canned Cocktails Done Right w Neal Cohen of Tip Top Proper Cocktails | Bartender at Large ep 511

Bartender at Large

Not too long ago, the idea of a truly great cocktail coming out of a can seemed like a contradiction in terms, but this week's guest has been on a mission to change that. We are joined by Neal Cohen, Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Atlanta-based Tip Top Proper Cocktails. Before launching the brand in 2018 with childhood friend Yoni Reisman, Neal spent years in radio and as Marketing Director for Superfly, producing large-scale events like Bonnaroo and Outside Lands, where he noticed something was missing from the market: bar-quality classic cocktails you could actually enjoy at a...

Canned Cocktails Done Right w Neal Cohen of Tip Top Proper Cocktails | Bartender at Large ep 511 VIDEO

Bartender at Large

Commercial Bar Design That Works w Tobin Ellis | Bartender at Large ep 510 Video

Bartender at Large

Have you ever worked a shift behind a bar that seemed like it was designed by someone who has never made a drink in their life? Wells in all the wrong places, no room for a trash can, and a setup that leaves your back aching by last call. This week we are joined by six-time international bartending champion and founder of Studio Bar Magic, Tobin Ellis, who has spent over two decades fighting to fix exactly that. So tune in as we discuss his theory of "zero-step bartending," why the bar is the true engine of any restaurant, and how getting real bartenders involved in the design process can save...

13 Generations of Distilling w Marko Karakasevich | Bartender at Large ep 509

Bartender at Large

This week we are joined by Marko Karakasevich, 13th generation master distiller and owner of Charbay Distillery. Since his parents founded the distillery back in 1983, Charbay has been quietly pushing the boundaries of American spirits, from hop-flavored whiskeys distilled from actual beer, to vodkas infused with fresh-picked fruit, to the highly anticipated gin he plans to launch in 2026. So tune in as Marko walks us through his one-of-a-kind approach to distillation, including his 32-fraction method, why he extracts with both water and alcohol, and the crucial roles that bottle shock and...

Mastering Sake w Yoko Kumano & Kayoko Akabori | Bartender at Large ep 508

Bartender at Large

For too many bartenders, sake remains one of the most intimidating sections of the back bar, with confusing labels and endless categories making it hard to know where to even begin. Luckily, this week we are joined by Yoko Kumano and Kayoko Akabori, co-founders of the beloved Japanese beverage shop Umami Mart and authors of Everyday Sake: The Go-To Guide for Choosing, Pairing, and Serving. Together they have made it their mission to demystify sake and make it approachable for everyone, from curious first-timers to seasoned industry pros. So tune in as they break down how to navigate the...

More Episodes

The creator of RumChata, Tom Maas, sits down with us to reflect on his remarkable journey from brand builder to published author. Tom shares the story behind his new book, Tastes like Money, offering an inside look at the business of building a beloved beverage brand from the ground up. He pulls back the curtain on the wins, the lessons, and the grit it takes to turn a dream into a product that fills back bars across the country. Whether you're a bartender, a spirits enthusiast, or an aspiring entrepreneur, Tom's insights are as memorable as the drink that made him famous.

Get his book: https://tastes-like-money.com/

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Join us every Monday as acclaimed bartender, Erick Castro, interviews some of the bar industry's top talents from around the world, including bartenders, distillers & authors. If you love cocktails & spirits then this award-winning podcast is just for you.

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