Bardtenders

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In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Bradley Thomas Stephens talks about his career in the industry and giving back to his community and those around him.  He also discusses the education programming that is sponsored by the United States Bartenders' Guild - where he currently serves as the Vice President and National Education Chair. 

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Bradley Thomas Stephens is a 30-year veteran of the hospitality industry, with extensive experience bartending and managing programs around the globe, including in his hometown of Portland, as well as Tokyo, Helsinki, and be...

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In this episode of The Tale & The Telling: The gang runs into the infamous Joey Coconuts. Nattie bangs some tools together, Izzy talks to himself (again), and Rune spends some quality time with a friend.

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Don't miss out on any of the action!  Head to www.bardtender.com to stay up to date with all of the Bardtender content, find resources for mental and physical wellbeing, get access to education materials, and check out what all of our bards are up to! You can also check out our Li...

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In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Jonathan Stanyard talks about cocktail competitions, gives advice for those looking to compete, and shares his experience during the USBG presents World Class 2024 US Finals where he took home the title of US Bartender of the Year! 

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Jonathan is an experienced industry professional with over 25 years in the field. He is the head of The Bitter Gringo Co., which specializes in consultations, content creation, and education. In 2022, Jonathan was awarded the title of World's Best Margarita in the Cointreau Margarita Challenge. I...

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In this episode of The Tale & The Telling: Rune spends some time channeling his inner horse, Izzy learns about gravity, and Nattie takes out the trash! 

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Don't miss out on any of the action!  Head to www.bardtender.com to stay up to date with all of the Bardtender content, find resources for mental and physical wellbeing, get access to education materials, and check out what all of our bards are up to! You can also check out our Linktree at https://linktr.ee/Bardtenders to find ways to...

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In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Deborah Brenner talks about what it means to advocate and support women by creating multiple platforms, foundations, and charities. Deborah is truly an inspiration and has created so many avenues through her hard work and dedication to empowering female bartenders and hospitality professionals. 

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Deborah Brenner is a Social Entrepreneur and Founder of three companies, including Women of the Vine & Spirits, the only global membership organization focused on empowering women across the beverage alcohol industry. With a 20-year background in the male-dominated t...

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In this episode of The Tale & The Telling: Izzy and Rune frustrate some local shop keepers, Nattie enjoys her mushroom sausage a second time publicly, and Finch gives lessons on Finance 101 to Rune. 

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Don't miss out on any of the action!  Head to www.bardtender.com to stay up to date with all of the Bardtender content, find resources for mental and physical wellbeing, get access to education materials, and check out what all of our bards are up to! You can also check out our Linktree at htt...

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In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Eric Kozlik talks about being a spirits judge, creating and running a large cocktail competition, and how to advocate for bartenders during a cocktail competition. 

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Eric Kozlik is a drinks industry consultant, spirits judge, and podcaster based in Washington, DC. He began his journey in 2014, when he created a craft bitters brand with some college friends. This gave him opportunities to collaborate with bartenders and distillers all across the country and to explore the art and science of flavor building. From t...

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In this episode of The Tale & The Telling: Our adventurers connect with someone new in more ways than one. Izzy expresses his love for sausages, Natty learns about some of BB's "faulty" programming, and Rune explores the inside of a massive oak tree. 

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Don't miss out on any of the action!  Head to www.bardtender.com to stay up to date with all of the Bardtender content, find resources for mental and physical wellbeing, get access to education materials, and check out what all of our bards are up...

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In this episode of The Mixing Glass, Clint Spotleson joins the Bardtenders to talk about his career in the hospitality industry, the evolution of the Phoenix, Arizona cocktail scene, his time spent at Herbs & Rye in Las Vegas, and the history of Sagamore Rye whiskey! 

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Clint Spotleson grew up in Phoenix, AZ and has spent 20+ years in the bar industry, helping build the Phoenix cocktail scene. Early in his career, Clint got involved with Camp Runamok, where he built a love for whiskey, which eventually led to an o...

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In this episode of The Tale & The Telling: Our adventurers make their way through the Falernum Forest - Izzy tries out his skills as a rogue, Rune channels his inner-astrology, and Nattie starts bonking things.

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Don't miss out on any of the action!  Head to www.bardtender.com to stay up to date with all of the Bardtender content, find resources for mental and physical wellbeing, get access to education materials, and check out what all of our bards are up to! You can also check out our Li...

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In this episode of The Mixing Glass, Aaron Joseph joins the Bardtenders to discuss his career in the hospitality industry and what it means to provide genuine hospitality. He shares his experiences on what it means to consult for businesses and execute their plans through expertise, experience, and communication throughout the entire process and beyond. Don't miss out on this final interview from Louisville, Kentucky at the Elevate Conference 2024. 

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Aaron, a beverage consultant, has been an active participant in the hospitality industry for over 19 years.  He has spent ti...

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In this episode of The Tale & The Telling: Nattie uses a sextant, Izzy learns how to read a map for the first time, and Rune connects with nature.

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Don't miss out on any of the action!  Head to www.bardtender.com to stay up to date with all of the Bardtender content, find resources for mental and physical wellbeing, get access to education materials, and check out what all of our bards are up to! You can also check out our Linktree at https://linktr.ee/Bardtenders to fi...

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In this episode of The Mixing Glass, SC Baker joins the Bardtenders to discuss her award winning cocktail, "The Louisville", live from the ELEVATE Conference sponsored by Chilled Media in Louisville Kentucky. 

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S.C. Baker is an award-winning bartender based in Louisville, Kentucky, and a proud member of the Louisville USBG (United States Bartenders' Guild) chapter, which won Chapter of the Year in 2024. Known for her creative bourbon cocktails, Baker claimed top honors at the Louisville Cocktail Competition during the Bourbon & Beyond Festival in 2022 with her signature drink, "Th...

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In this episode of The Tale & The Telling: Izzy spends some time getting inside his own head. Nattie & Rune meet their newest companion! 

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Don't miss out on any of the action!  Head to www.bardtender.com to stay up to date with all of the Bardtender content, find resources for mental and physical wellbeing, get access to education materials, and check out what all of our bards are up to! You can also check out our Linktree at https://linktr.ee/Bardtenders to find ways to listen to the...

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In this episode of The Mixing Glass, Antonio Rodriguez joins the Bardtenders to discuss Weber Ranch Vodka live from the ELEVATE Conference sponsored by Chilled Media in Louisville Kentucky. We take a deep dive into the spirit and talk about the nuances that it takes to create a vodka made from agave and its unique place in the world of spirits. 

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At Weber Ranch 1902 Vodka, we like to say that our spirit is “Born in Jalisco, Crafted in Texas.” The same could apply to our master distiller Antonio Rodrig...

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In this episode of The Tale & The Telling: Izzy spends some time getting to know himself a little better. Rune & Nattie spend some quality time together and share a family meal. 

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Don't miss out on any of the action!  Head to www.bardtender.com to stay up to date with all of the Bardtender content, find resources for mental and physical wellbeing, get access to education materials, and check out what all of our bards are up to! You can also check out our Linktree at https://linktr.ee...

You're listening to Bardtenders! In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Daniyel discusses what it was like growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, his dedication, passion, and drive towards becoming the best hospitality professional, and the importance of Angostura bitters in any bar program. We also discuss the House of Angostura's 200-year anniversary and the special edition of bitters that were released to commemorate the event! 

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Global Brand Ambassador. Entrepreneur. Bartender Extraordinaire. Daniyel Jones has represented the House of Angostura® around the world for the past ten years. He’s crisscrossed the globe from...

Welcome back to The Tell & The Telling!! Join the Bardtenders as they embark on a new journey set 10 years after the events of Campaign One.

Grab a seat, pour yourself a drink, and let's get ready to roll some dice. We'll see you in the Angostura Islands! 

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Don't miss out on any of the action!  Head to www.bardtender.com to stay up to date with all of the Bardtender content, find resources for mental and physical wellbeing, get access to education materials, and check out what all of our bards are up...

You're listening to Bardtenders! 

In this episode of The Tale & The Telling: Rune tries to lend a helping hand, Nattie rustles up some grub to feed her family of seven, and Izzy experiments with fire for the first time. 

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Don't miss out on any of the action!  Head to www.bardtender.com to stay up to date with all of the Bardtender content, find resources for mental and physical wellbeing, get access to education materials, and check out what all of our bards are up to! You can also check out our Lin...

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In this episode, we reflect on 2024 and highlight some major moments for the year ahead! Find out where we're going to be in 2025, teasers for Campaign Two of The Tale & The Telling, and so much more! 

Thank you so much for listening and supporting our show. We can't wait to show you what we're planning for 2025! 

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Don't miss out on any of the action!  Head to www.bardtender.com to stay up to date with all of the Bardtender content, find resources for mental and physical well...

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In this holiday special, the Beartenders play a game of Honey Heist and go on a quest for Santa's secret stash of honey. Will they steal the honey as master criminals? Or will they get captured by animal control and land on the naughty list this year? 

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Don't miss out on any of the action!  Head to www.bardtender.com to stay up to date with all of the Bardtenders content, find resources for mental and physical wellbeing, get access to education materials, and check out what all of...

You're listening to Bardtenders! In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Sherri Jenkins discusses what it's like to work as both a Licenesed Professional Clinical Counselor and a bartender. She discusses the overlap of both jobs and the need for access to mental health for hospitality professionals. Sherri Jenkins is leading the charge towards bringing awareness to mental health struggles in the industry. 

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Sherri Jenkins is breaking barriers in both the mental health and service industry realms. As a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor - (LPCC-S), Reiki II practitioner, MiNDFest Sponsorship Committee Member and award-winning b...

You're listening to Bardtenders! In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Jaz'min Weaver talks about flavor pairings, running unique and custom events, and how the Bardstown Bourbon distillery focuses on innovating, experimenting, and creating new ways to enjoy bourbon! 

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Jaz'min Weaver has spent the last decade running bar programs in Metro-Detroit with a focus on being low-waste, seasonal, and craft forward.  Her background includes beverage pairing to prix fixe menus that changed daily, complex mocktails, pairing fragrances to cocktails, pairing cocktails to oysters, immersive beverage experiences and teaching cocktail classes. ​

Jaz'min is a ce...

You're listening to Bardtenders! In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Darian Everding discusses the SAFE Bar Network, Absinthe cocktails, and what it's like to work and network in a small market in Iowa. 

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Darian Everding (she/they) is a queer, neurodivergent collector of stories, and an enthusiastic spirits professional. Darian also serves as the Business Development Representative for the nonprofit organization SAFE Bar Network to bring accessible bystander intervention culture and training to bar programs across the United States.

Darian loves alcohol herstory, absinthe cocktails, getting nerdy about botanicals, and wandering a...

You're listening to Bardtenders! In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Stephen Halpin talks about his career in hospitality all over the world and how it led him to become the National Brand Ambassador for The Busker Irish Whiskey. Stephen talks about growing up in Ireland, how cocktail competitions can open doors to success, and he gives us an in-depth look into The Busker Irish Whiskey. 

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Stephen Halpin is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in the global spirits industry. Starting his bartending career at the age of 17 in his hometown o...

You're listening to Bardtenders! In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Absinthia discusses her love for Absinthe and how it has led her to create her own brand, Absinthia Absinthe. We also discuss Absinthe cocktails, the history of the spirit, and how to avoid fake Absinthe at Burning Man! 

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Absinthia Vermut is the founder of Absinthia's Bottled Spirits. Absinthia’s journey into the world of absinthe started over two decades ago, sparked by a love for art history and a fascination with this legendary spirit. 

Before it was even legal in the U.S...

You're listening to Bardtenders! In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Sebastien Derbomez talks about his journey in the hospitality industry and how the path you take as a bartender can open the door to opportunities to travel around the world. Sebastien speaks about his experiences traveling, immersing himself in other cultures, and hosting a cocktail competition next to an active volcano! 

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Sebastien Derbomez is the US Manager of Brand Advocacy across the William Grant & Son’s portfolio.

Sebastien started his career in the beverage industry 20 years ago in London at the pre...

You're listening to Bardtenders! In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Justin Koury talks about his journey as the Wizard of Whiskey and blind tasting over 1000 whiskeys for his upcoming publication. He also discusses his company, BevFluence, and how they are bringing education to hospitality professionals. 

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Justin Koury has spent more than 25 years in the culinary, wine, whiskey, hospitality, and consulting world. He has an MBA with a focus in Hospitality Tourism. 

 Justin's website, Wizard of Whiskey, has covered the wine and spirits industry with a podcast since 2012. Justin is completing his Ame...

You're listening to Bardtenders! In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Chris Cardone talks about competing in cocktail competitions, his history with alcohol and his choices that led to sobriety, and his new business - Continous Beverage Solutions!

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Chris Cardone, the principal owner of Continuous Beverage Solutions, brings over 24 years of bartending, hospitality, and nightlife experience. He has trained staff, designed, opened, and provided beverage consultant services for a wide range of establishments across New York, including neighborhood pubs, NYC cocktail bars, high-end restaurants, sports bars, catering services, seasonal hotspots, and high-volume nightclubs. His...

You're listening to Bardtenders!  In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Wendy Hodges joins us to talk about the upcoming ELEVATE Conference in Lousiville, Kentucky taking place from October 20-23rd 2024. We also talk about her career in bartending, ballroom dancing, British pubs, and how all of those things come together to lay the foundation for Wendy's amazing career! 

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Wendy Hodges is a professional bartender with over 30 years of experience in the Food and Beverage industry. Her current role as the National Director for the Chilled 100 with Chilled Magazine keeps her up to date wi...

You're listening to Bardtenders!  In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Akil Babb joins us to talk about his career in the hospitality industry as he moved from a chef to a bartender and how his past experiences paved the way for cocktail creation. Akil also discusses his upcoming consulting company, "Twisted Spoon Hospitality" and how his career has led him to this amazing opportunity. 

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Akil Babb is a bartender/bar consultant that’s been behind the stick since 2013. Starting his cocktail career at Whiskey house, in downtown Gainesville, Florida. Akil worked in a wide...

You're listening to Bardtenders!  In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Morgan Dangerfield talks about immersive experiences at the gaming table, creating his own video games, and the upcoming Mystic Con Convention hosted by Heroes of Evermore in October 2024! 

Morgan Dangerfield is a Semi-Professional Dungeon Master who has been running a homebrew Dungeons & Dragons campaign for the last 5 years in the world of Evermore with sponsors from around the world. Morgan focuses on prioritizing character immersion by breaking the 4th wall and capturing all the senses of the players bringing them further into the world.

Mo...

You're listening to Bardtenders!  In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Tara Gillum joins us to talk about her 20+ career in the hospitality industry. We cover cruise ship bartending, what it's like to own a cocktail bar, and working with charity organizations.

Tara Gillum cut her teeth behind local bars at an early age and quickly fell in love with the bar industry. Over the course of her career, Tara worked in a variety of positions ranging from cruise ships to hotel bar management. In 2014 she took a leap of faith and opened Steiner’s Speakeasy in Chi...

You're listening to Bardtenders!  In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Sarah Karl talks about mobile bartending, owning a small business, and the future of the hospitality industry. 

Sarah began her bartending career at Scarlett O'Hara's in downtown St. Augustine in 2014, when Mumford & Sons ROCKED the city. Building on two years of serving experience and a deepening passion for bartending, Sarah fully immersed herself in the craft. Following the acquisition of Scarlett O'Hara's by a company specializing in craft cocktails, Sarah enhanced her skills in quality ingredients and advanced techniques, which she later applied at Barley Republic, fu...

You're listening to Bardtenders!  In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Devin Chapnick returns to discuss advocacy for our peers in the hospitality industry, creating positive work culture, and "The Hero's Journey & Hospitality".  

Devin Chapnick is the owner of Convenient Cocktail Co. The idea of Convenient Cocktail Co. was formed in the Fall of 2022. Devin moved there in 2021 with his then soon-to-be wife after years of working in the Denver bar scene. Devin had plans of opening his own bar and settling down. Devin met his future business partner Josh while working at a local cocktail bar cal...

You're listening to Bardtenders!  In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", McIntyre talks about starting a small business, finding clients, hiring the right employees, and what it takes to run a mobile bartending and spirit education company.

Matthew McIntyre serves as the Co-Founder and CEO of McKarl’s Libations, a hospitality group specializing in high-end mobile craft bartending, bar consultations, and retail and on-premise promotions.

With a background in some of North Florida's most prestigious bars, his lengthiest stint was at The Ice Plant in St. Augustine, FL. Matthew holds the title of Executive Bourbon Ste...

You're listening to Bardtenders!  In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Danny Posey discusses the struggle and strategies for success in working in small U.S. markets. Danny also talks about ways to connect with other professionals in the hospitality industry to help grow your career and advance your education! 

Danny Posey has been in the hospitality industry for 17. Danny started his journey in the industry working at a big corporate chain restaurant and since then has worked as a server, bartender, beverage director, manager, and training lead.  Danny has always loved bartending and has recently been bac...

You're listening to Bardtenders!  In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Bobby Mercier shares his experiences operating and managing brand activations, cocktail competitions, music festivals, and other large events across the United States and Mexico!

Robert Mercier, a New Hampshire native and hockey fanatic, has enjoyed a career spanning close to two decades in the hospitality business. He currently resides in Deland, Florida with his wife and children who keep him focused on his goal of advancing his career in food and beverage through education and dedication.

With experience in many facets of the business i...

You're listening to Bardtenders!  In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", we are joined by Emma Alexander to share her expertise on building bar culture and the important of mentorships in the hospitality community.

Emma Alexander's journey in the hospitality industry began in the late 90s in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she started as a bartender. Today, she stands as the CEO of EHA Consultants, boasting a rich and diverse career trajectory. From bartending and managing bars to serving as a Distributor Specialist and Beverage Director, Emma's expertise spans various roles across 11 states.

Beyond her professional e...

The idea of Convenient Cocktail Co. was formed in the Fall of 2022. Devin moved there in 2021 with his then soon-to-be wife after years of working in the Denver bar scene. Devin had plans of opening his own bar and settling down. Devin met his future business partner Josh while working at a local cocktail bar called No Hard Feelings and soon discovered that they were also neighbors! While drinking one night at one of their home bars, Josh mentioned that he wanted to try to get a dehydrated garnish company started, and pitched it to Devin to partner with...