EP-305 Tiffanie Barriere of the Drinking Coach

Tiffanie Barriere is the epitome of southern hospitality—warm, kind, and welcoming. She’s just the person you’d want as your drinking coach, which is fitting: The Drinking Coach is a moniker given to her by a friend, and it eventually became the name of the Instagram account where she shares stories of uncelebrated Black people throughout history, with a cocktail alongside. Tiffanie is more than an incredible bartender—she’s a teacher, a mentor, and a historian, using her platform to shed light on long-forgotten stories. Tiffanie started her journey at One Flew South, the first upscale restaurant in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. She worked as the beverage director at the restaurant for seven years, during the time when it was recognized as the “Best Airport Bar in the World” at Tales of the Cocktail. Now, as an independent bartender, Tiffanie is getting her own recognition for her contributions to the bartending and service world. Earlier this year, she was featured on the cover of Imbibe Magazine’s 75 People to Watch issue, and most recently announced her involvement in the Jubilee project, a venture by award-winning food and nutrition journalist Toni Tipton-Martin. In our conversation, Tiffanie and I talk about what sparked her interested in service and how it grew into a passion. She shares the difficulties of striking out on her own as an independent bartender, and also talks about inspiration, and why she is her ancestors' wildest dreams come true.