The Cocktail Academy

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 working bartender, and how influencers with real bar chops can shape what guests drink around the world.They get into the tension between “what works on Instagram” and “what works on a busy Friday night,” the responsibilities that come with reach, and Hawk’s campaign to make cocktails fun (and drinkable) again.In this episode, we cover:Growing up in the Bay Area, studying audio engineering and falling sideways into bartending via Burning Man and Chelsea’s nudge behind the barBuilding foundations at Cantina, Prizefighter, Perch and Mrs. Fish – and what high-volume vs high-craft venues each taught himPicking up a GoPro, posting rough early videos and realising a working bartender could step into the influencer spaceCOVID as a turning point: brand deals, staying afloat and the decision to leave regular bar work for full-time content creationThe responsibility of bartender-creators: transparency around paid partnerships and learning to say no to brands that don’t fitThe inside story of the Batanga “conspiracy” and what it reveals about how online trends drive real-life ordersBalancing social-friendly recipes with drinks that bars and home drinkers can actually executeWhy Hawk is less interested in rotovaps and more focused on simple, repeatable cocktails you want four of—not just a one-off spectacleHow films, food and ingredients inspire his recipes, including a deep dive into his Joker-inspired cocktail buildAbout Saeed “Hawk” HouseSaeed “Hawk” House is a Los Angeles–based bartender, consultant and full-time creator behind Cocktails by Hawk. After years in San Francisco and LA bars, he now partners with spirits brands, develops menus, runs a mobile bartending business and shares approachable cocktail content with a global audience.Find Hawk: @cocktailsbyhawk on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and more.Find The Cocktail Academy: thecocktailacademy.com · IG @welovecocktails · TikTok @welovecocktailsx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 what few dared: saying no to juice, sugar and shakers, and saying yes to bitter, spirit-forward drinks built on precision and hospitality.In this episode, Damian sits down with the bartender, author and educator to talk about how a career that began in kitchens shaped his approach behind the bar, why “bitterness is the grown-up flavour,” and how a 240-square-foot pop-up turned into a global benchmark for flavour integrity and service culture.🧾 In This EpisodeHow Sother’s culinary discipline and mise en place mindset shaped his bar craft.The story of Amor y Amargo’s accidental beginnings — and why it still hasn’t stopped “popping” 14 years later.Building a bar around limitations and flavour focus: no fruit, no shakers, no syrups — only spirits, fortified wines and bitters.Turning “no” into “yes, but…” — educating guests through experience.The manifesto every team member receives: a two-way promise of mentorship, standards and care.Why true hospitality is about feelings, not transactions.New ventures: SAUCED, Sother’s upcoming podcast blending food, booze and creative friendship.🍊 Key Takeaways“We sell hospitality — everything else comes with it for free.”The first 10 seconds at the bar are everything: eye contact, a menu, and a glass of water.Great bartending starts with knowing your ingredients like a chef knows flavour.Limitation can be a creative superpower.Hospitality isn’t service — it’s making people feel welcome, comfortable, and cared for.🔗 Links & MentionsFollow Sother Teague → @CreativeDrunkAmor y Amargo — amoryamargo.comSAUCED Podcast → Check out the Kickstarter now liveI’m Just Here for the Drinks – Sother Teague’s essential book on spirits and flavourFollow & Subscribe:👉 Instagram @welovecocktails👉 TikTok @welovecocktailsx👉 Listen & support → thecocktailacademy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. The pair share how a pandemic pivot turned a small-island nightclub into one of the UK’s most talked-about cocktail destinations, and why they chose to drop the word tiki in favour of something more authentic and inclusive.They talk origin stories, supply-chain nightmares, and the creative freedom that comes with isolation. With only 80 thousand residents and every delivery arriving by boat, Kiki’s team have learned to plan months ahead, reuse everything, and turn scarcity into a design principle. From fermenting pineapple trim into milk punch to developing house “super-juice” for consistency, they prove sustainability can be both pragmatic and profitable.Jamie traces his path from McDonald’s in Sheffield to running Bath & Bottle and opening his first pop-up in a hotel basement. Drew recalls starting as a 17-year-old glass-washer before discovering hospitality’s addictive rhythm and rising to co-founder. Together they explain how Kiki Lounge began mid-COVID as a one-room experiment and evolved into a purpose-built venue mixing neon, pop culture, and tongue-in-cheek tropical style.The conversation dives deep into:Island hospitality: how intimacy, consistency, and humour define service in a close-knit community.Cultural awareness: moving beyond tiki stereotypes to celebrate joy and colour without caricature.Sustainability by necessity: waste-free prep, local-first sourcing, and ingredient life-cycles that make sense on a small island.The zine menu: an ever-changing printed magazine that educates guests (“What the **** is Kiki?”) and keeps the team inspired.Hospitality outside the glass: the energy, soundtrack, and sense of fun that make a night at Kiki feel like an event.Expect plenty of stories — from trading bar tabs for furniture in the early days to guest-shifts aboard the island’s heritage steam train. They also name their dream Kiki soundtrack (Spice Girls, Anderson .Paak, Madonna), confess the most Isle-of-Man thing that’s ever happened during service, and share their picks for overrated and underrated cocktails (spoiler: flavour-blaster bubbles out, 20th Century in).Key takeaways for bar owners and bartenders:You don’t need a big city to build a world-class bar; you need a clear identity.Sustainability works best when it’s built into the workflow, not bolted on for PR.Fun and professionalism can coexist — “we take what we do seriously, but not ourselves.”Print menus can educate, entertain, and evolve with your guests.Why it matters:Kiki Lounge has redefined what island hospitality can be — proving that creativity, community, and a little irony can turn 36 miles of rock in the Irish Sea into a global cocktail destination.Connect & Follow:Kiki Lounge @kikis.loungeJamie Lewis @jamielewislewisDrew Fleming @drewfleming00The Cocktail Academy @welovecocktails | @welovecocktailsxsayhello@thecocktailacademy.comIf you enjoyed this episode: share it with a hospitality friend, rate & review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and subscribe for weekly conversations with the bartenders, owners, and authors shaping modern cocktail culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 accident — cocktail classes in Austin, Texas, and a story pitch at her local newspaper — turned into a decade-plus career exploring drinks, design, and the culture surrounding them.Emma shares how she transitioned from multimedia work at a paper into drinks journalism, eventually becoming digital editor at Imbibe magazine before striking out on her own to focus on spirits, cocktails, and book projects. Along the way, she became a trusted collaborator for some of the biggest names in bartending, including Julia Momose (The Way of the Cocktail), Toby Maloney (The Bartender’s Manifesto), and Jim Meehan (The Bartender’s Pantry).In this conversation we cover:Emma’s unconventional path into the industry — from design writing to drinks journalism.The cocktail classes and first visit to Tales of the Cocktail that sparked her passion.Lessons from seven years at Imbibe and how that shaped her perspective on drinks writing.Moving into co-authoring books with leading bartenders and how her role flexes from writer to editor to project manager.Behind the scenes of The Bartender’s Manifesto and the challenge of translating Toby Maloney’s teaching into a book format.Why The Bartender’s Pantry feels like a pattern interrupt in cocktail publishing — with its focus on ingredients, culture, and ethics.Emma’s philosophy on what makes a book worth writing (and worth reading) in an industry full of recipe collections.Advice for bartenders and operators thinking about writing a book — from finding your niche to doing the research, and the realities of time, money, and motivation.Her favourite drinks books that continue to inspire her writing and thinking.What styles of cocktail books she’s ready to see less of.Emma also talks honestly about the craft of writing — how she bridges the gap between a bartender’s knowledge and what readers actually need — and why books in this space are best viewed as a service to the community.📲 Connect with Emma: Instagram @emmajanzen 🎧 Listen to more episodes & Lock-In sessions: thecocktailacademy.com 📩 Get in touch with Damian: sayhello@thecocktailacademy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.Tim’s journey is anything but ordinary — from working on his family’s egg farm in Termonfeckin, County Louth, to becoming U.S. Ambassador for Tullamore D.E.W., and now building a modern Irish whiskey brand that celebrates the global Irish diaspora.In this episode we cover:The buzz of the Irish House takeover at Tales of the Cocktail and why it marked such a powerful moment for Ireland’s bartenders, brands, and hospitality.Tim’s leap from farming to whiskey through the Bord Bia Fellowship and his early work with Cooley Distillery.Nearly a decade with Tullamore D.E.W., helping the brand grow across the U.S. and beyond.The spark behind Lost Irish Whiskey — how the concept of the Irish diaspora became both the story and the liquid.Sourcing casks from six continents, blending challenges, and the unexpected flavours that shaped the final whiskey.Why bottle design details like grip, cork acoustics, and visibility on the back bar were crucial to the brand’s identity.Insights from co-authoring From Barley to Blarney with the Dead Rabbit team, and how it influenced Tim’s approach to storytelling.What makes Irish pubs such enduring cultural spaces — unpretentiousness, community, and conversation.Tim also shares his quickfire takes:Banished forever: Aquafaba in cocktails.Favourite cocktail experience: Irish Coffees at the Buena Vista Café in San Francisco.Best pint of Guinness in Ireland: The Palace Bar, Dublin.Best pint abroad: Graces Bar on 14th Street, New York City.📩 To get in touch with Tim:Instagram: @lostirishtimInstagram (brand): @lostirishwhiskey🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.📩 To get in touch with Damian: sayhello@thecocktailacademy.com 📲 Follow us on Instagram @welovecocktails Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Damian is joined by Mandy Naglich, an Advanced Cicerone®, certified taster, drinks writer, and author of How to Taste. Mandy’s journey into the world of flavor started with homebrewing, where she won a gold medal at the National Homebrew Competition in 2016, and led her into the deep study of sensory science, fermentation, and tasting.In this episode, Mandy shares:How she went from winning a homebrew medal to becoming an Advanced Cicerone® and certified taster.Why fermentation underpins so many flavors we love—from chocolate and cheese to beer, wine, and spirits.Her take on the crossovers between beer, wine, and cocktails, and why cocktails are leading the charge in embracing science and chemistry.The biggest misconceptions about tasting—and why anyone can become a better taster with practice.Damian’s firsthand experience of the super taster test at Tales of the Cocktail, and what our genes reveal about how we each perceive flavor differently.The crucial role of aroma and retronasal smell in shaping what we taste.How sight, texture, and expectation can make or break the drinking experience.Tips for building your own flavor vocabulary and why note-taking helps train your palate.The surprising ways memory and context shape tasting, from German Hefeweizen to holiday meals.Mandy’s passion shines through as she shows how taste is not just biology—it’s memory, context, and practice. Whether you’re a bartender, a drinks enthusiast, or just curious about why things taste the way they do, this episode will give you tools to taste with more clarity, confidence, and joy.👉 Follow Mandy: @drinkswithmandy 📖 Her book: How to Taste: A Guide to Discovering Flavor and Savoring Life🎙️ Lock-In Sessions Want more? Each episode continues in The Cocktail Academy Lock-In—exclusive, industry-focused conversations for bartenders, operators, and serious drinks fans. You can listen to Mandy’s Lock-In session and all previous extras for FREE at thecocktailacademy.com.📩 Connect with DamianInstagram: @welovecocktailsTikTok: @welovecocktailsxFacebook: @welovecocktailsxEmail: sayhello@thecocktailacademy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we sit down with one of the most influential voices in modern drinks journalism — Noah Rothbaum, author, editor, historian, and the man behind some of the most important cocktail publications of the last 20 years.From bringing a mystery bottle to Dale DeGroff, to co-editing The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails with David Wondrich, Noah shares his personal journey through the golden age of modern cocktail writing — and gives us a peek behind the curtain at his latest release, The Whiskey Bible.We talk about the pivotal role of bars like Pegu Club and the Rainbow Room, how Irish whiskey fell (and rose again), and why Black Bush and Redbreast 12 still punch well above their weight.Whether you're a bartender, bookworm, or spirits nerd — this one’s for you.📚 About Noah Rothbaum:Noah Rothbaum is a renowned drinks writer and editor. He is the Chief Cocktail Correspondent for Flaviar, former Managing Editor of Half Full at The Daily Beast, and founding Editor-in-Chief of Liquor.com.He’s the author of:The Business of Spirits (2007)The Art of American Whiskey (2015)The Whiskey Bible (2025) And co-editor (with David Wondrich) of the essential Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails.He’s won multiple Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, hosted the podcast Life Behind Bars, and continues to shape the way the world writes and thinks about booze.🥃 What We Cover:Getting his start at Food & Wine under Pete WellsEarly stories with Dale DeGroff and Audrey SaundersWhy the Oxford Companion took 8 years to completeHow The Whiskey Bible came to life — and what makes it differentThe fall and rise of Irish whiskey (spoiler: the Coffey still matters)Why hospitality is the trend we should never loseAffordable, underrated spirits you should be serving nowAnd why Redbreast 12 is the ultimate convert-maker📌 Referenced in the Episode:The Oxford Companion to Spirits & CocktailsThe Art of American WhiskeyThe Whiskey Bible (Workman Publishing) - buy it here Life Behind Bars Podcast📲 Connect with Noah Rothbaum:Instagram: @noah_rothbaum📚 Noah’s Top 3 Books for Bartenders:The Craft of the Cocktail – Dale DeGroffImbibe! – David WondrichThe Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails – Eds. Wondrich & Rothbaum🔐 Want More?Listen to the Lock-In bonus episode on www.thecocktailacademy.com — where Noah joins us for a more relaxed chat about drinks trends, undervalued spirits, and the eternal battle between snobbery and hospitality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Wondrich, a cocktail historian and author, shares his fascinating journey from punk musician to one of today's leading drinks voices. He recalls working with legends like Dale DeGroff and the impact of Imbibe! on the cocktail renaissance. David emphasizes the significance of storytelling in mixology and discusses the colossal task of creating The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails. He also teases the release of his upcoming comic book on cocktail history, blending humor and wisdom with engaging bar stories.

This week on the podcast, Damian is joined by Jordan Hughes, better known as the High-Proof Preacher — a former pastor turned cocktail creator, photographer, author, and educator. Jordan has become one of the most recognisable creative voices in the drinks world, with his striking visuals, viral cocktails, and approachable educational platform, Cocktail Camera.We dig into Jordan’s unusual journey from the pulpit to Portland’s cocktail scene, how he built a career blending drinks and photography, and the lessons he’s learned about creating content that actually connects. Along the way, we touch on the rise of the creative economy in hospitality, why visuals and substance must balance in bars, and how authenticity is the secret ingredient for both cocktails and content.In This EpisodeJordan’s origin story: from church ministry to cocktails and photographyHow High-Proof Preacher started as a side hobby in 2017 and became a full-time careerWorking with Portland’s local distilleries and evolving into brand partnershipsThe shift from photographer to full-fledged content creator during the pandemicTales of the Cocktail and the community energy of the global bar worldHow Jordan’s pastoral background shapes his view on hospitality and people-focused workThe double-edged sword of social media: educated consumers vs. chasing visualsWhy authenticity and investing in staff training matter more than neon signs and Instagrammable backdropsJordan’s philosophy for capturing real moments behind the bar in photography and videoAn overview of Cocktail Camera and what bartenders and bar owners can learn from his 101 and Pro coursesOne practical tip any bar can use right now to instantly improve cocktail photographyJordan has very kindly offered our listeners 75% off the Cocktail Camera 101 with code COCKTAILACADEMY. to access this outstanding course, just click here: https://www.cocktailcamera.com/offers/P545iA84?coupon_code=COCKTAILACADEMYConnect with JordanInstagram: @highproofpreacherInstagram (education): @cocktailcameraWebsite & Courses: cocktailcamera.comConnect with The Cocktail AcademyInstagram: @welovecocktailsTikTok: @welovecocktailsxFacebook: @welovecocktailsxWebsite: thecocktailacademy.comEmail: sayhello@thecocktailacademy.comWant more? Don’t miss the Cocktail Academy Lock-In, available exclusively at thecocktailacademy.com, where Jordan shares even more hands-on advice for bartenders and bar owners looking to step up their content game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re taking you straight to Bourbon Street for a very special episode recorded live at the legendary Irish House event during Tales of the Cocktail 2025.Forget the quiet studio chat — this one’s got rooftop terrace energy, full-on party vibes, and the kind of background noise that puts you right there in the middle of it all. Over the course of the night, Damian grabbed mini-interviews with some of the biggest names in Irish hospitality, including:Dave Mulligan – Bar 1661, DublinLaura Bonner – Muff Liquor Company, DonegalJack McGarry – The Dead Rabbit, New YorkTim Herlihy – Lost Irish Whiskey & event organiserDarragh Flanagan – Bord Bia (Irish Food & Drink Board)Alice Carroll – Foxes Bow WhiskeyGillian Fitzgerald – Casements Bar, San FranciscoLeah Doyle – Ardc Agency & event organiserYou’ll hear stories, laughs, and plenty of unfiltered moments from a night that showcased the very best of Irish bars and brands on the world stage.We’ve also got to shout out the incredible line-up of bars and brands who made the Irish House what it was: Casements, Bartley Dunne’s, The Dead Rabbit, Cask, 1661, Nickel City, Bar Snack, Nubeluz, Hawksmoor, Swift, Muff Irish Whiskey, Valentia Island Vermouth, Foxes Bow Whiskey, Tullamore D.E.W, Guinness, Mad March Hare Poitín with Poachers Ginger Beer, Jameson Original, Jameson Triple Triple, Jameson Black Barrel, Boatyard Double Gin, Five Farms Irish Cream, Teeling Small Batch, Bushmills 12, Bushmills 16, Bushmills 21, Glendalough Irish Botanical Gin, Glendalough Irish Rose Gin, and Lost Irish Whiskey.🔥 Don’t miss: Quickfire Q&As with even more guests from the night — dropping on our Instagram this week.If you enjoy the show, hit subscribe or follow, and leave us a review — it’s the best way to help us bring you more big-name conversations from the world of cocktails and hospitality.Follow The Cocktail Academy:Instagram – @welovecocktailsTikTok – @welovecocktailsxFacebook – @welovecocktailsxWebsite – www.thecocktailacademy.comEmail – sayhello@thecocktailacademy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.