The Cocktail Academy

Women, Tequila & Representation | Grace González & Tiffanie Barriere

This week on The Cocktail Academy, two conversations from Tales of the Cocktail 2026 bring together very different perspectives on tequila, bartending, representation and

Why Plantation Rum Became Planteray | Alexandre Gabriel on Rum, Risk & Reinvention

What does it take to spend nearly four decades making spirits differently — and to be willing to risk what you've built when you believe something needs to change? Recor

Inside AJABU: The Rise of Africa's Cocktail Culture

AJABU: The Festival Putting African Cocktails on the World StageRecorded live during Tales of the Cocktail 2026 in New Orleans, Damian sits down with Colin Asare-Appiah a

Leo Robitschek: What Would People Miss If Your Bar Closed?

In the first episode of our Tales of the Cocktail 2026 series, Damian sits down in New Orleans with legendary bartender and hospitality leader Leo Robitschek. Leo helped

Behind the Scenes at Europe’s 50 Best Bars 2026 in Amsterdam

Damian recaps his trip to Amsterdam for the inaugural Europe’s 50 Best Bars 2026. What started as an awards ceremony quickly became a full festival of cocktails, with ba

The Secret Behind Maybe Sammy's Success | Stefano Catino

Stefano Catino: Why Hospitality Matters More Than Cocktails This week on The Cocktail Academy Podcast, Damian sits down with one of the most respected operators in globa

Bourbon, Brand Advocacy & Hospitality Careers with Benji Purslow

Benji Purslow joins Damian this week to discuss his journey from pub bartender and aspiring musician to International Advocacy Manager at Heaven Hill. From pulling pints

Inside Sip & Guzzle with Steve Schneider

This week on The Cocktail Academy Podcast, Damian sits down with Steve Schneider, partner at Sip & Guzzle in New York and one of the defining figures behind modern cockta

The Cocktail Apps Bartenders Actually Use

From recipe databases and home bar apps to batching systems, dilution calculators and profitability tools, Damian breaks down the difference between cocktail enthusiast a

Julie Reiner: Hospitality, Mentorship and the Noise of Modern Bartending

Julie Reiner joins The Cocktail Academy Podcast for a candid conversation on what it really takes to build a lasting career in hospitality. A true legend of the modern c

Inside Casements: Building a Modern Irish Bar in San Francisco

In this episode of The Cocktail Academy Podcast, Damian Cole sits down with Gillian Fitzgerald of Casements Bar in San Francisco to explore what it really takes to build

Inside Scarfes Bar: Building a World-Class Cocktail Menu with Andy Loudon and Kris Bazys

In this episode of The Cocktail Academy Podcast, Damian records live from Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London with Andy Loudon, Director of Bars, and Kris Bazys, Bar Manager,

Tiny Cocktails, Big Ideas with Tyler Zielinski

Tyler Zielinski has built one of the most interesting careers in modern drinks. In this episode, Damian chats with the author of Tiny Cocktails about his path from early

Lindsey Johnson on Trust, Care & the Real ROI of Bartender Education

Lindsey Johnson has spent nearly two decades quietly shaping the global drinks industry from behind the scenes. From punk bar bartender to broadcast journalist to founder

Martinis, Standards, and Great Hospitality with Declan McGurk

In this episode, Damian sits down with Declan McGurk, a hospitality leader whose career spans high-volume bars, global spirits brands, and one of the most iconic hotel ba

Saeed “Hawk” House on Bartending, Cocktail Content Creation & Making Drinks Fun Again

Saeed “Hawk” House – better known online as @cocktailsbyhawk – joins Damian to talk about his path from Bay Area barback to LA content creator, why he still thinks like a

Sother Teague (Amor y Amargo): Bitterness, Balance & the Beauty of Saying No

From culinary classrooms to cocktail culture, Sother Teague has built one of the most distinctive bars in the world... Amor y Amargo in New York’s East Village by doing w

Kiki Lounge: Building a Tropical Bar on a Not-So-Tropical Island

On this episode, Damian Cole sits down with Jamie Lewis and Drew Fleming from Kiki Lounge — the award-winning bar bringing tropical escapism to the windswept Isle of Man.

Emma Janzen: Translating Bartender Brilliance into the Written Word

This week Damian is joined by Emma Janzen, an award-winning journalist and drinks writer whose byline has become a fixture in the cocktail world. What started as a happy

Lost Irish: The Tim Herlihy Interview

This week on The Cocktail Academy Podcast, Damian welcomes back Tim Herlihy, co-founder of Lost Irish Whiskey, storyteller, and longtime champion of Irish hospitality. T