The Philip Duff Show

Robert's a swashbuckling figure even by liquor biz standards: son of a fighter pilot, he grew up in England, set up a chain of radio stations across Europe in his youth, ran an agency, then slipped sideways into the liquor biz (armed only with a degree in languages) and climbed the greasy pole at Bacardi for 26 years, ending up as CEO of North America, after stints running the business in Moscow and Asia, among others. In 2015, with another Bacardi refugee, Juan Rovira, RFR founded Samson & Surrey, a craft brand incubator which acquired Tequila Ocho, Mezcal Vago, Bluecoat Gin, Widow Jane whiskey, FEW whiskey and Brenne whisky and then applied RFR & Juan's expertise to grow the brands, before Samson & Surrey was itself acquired by Heaven Hill in 2022. (Full disclosure: RFR & Juan were both still running Samson & Surrey in May 2023, when they hired Mrs Duff to be their head of advocacy). We've had a quick drink together here and there but I've wanted to have a longer chat for ages, and we finally managed to plan it in - not easily, as, by his own admission, RFR sucks at being retired and is working harder than ever, helping (among other things) Filthy Foods grow. We chatted about marketing, NPDs, what's changed in the liquor biz, the fallacy of research, Dick Bradsell's branding genius, why packaging rules, and a whole lot more. Enjoy!RFR on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-furniss-roe-418136 RFR's email:  robert_furnissroe@hotmail.com    Get in touch with Duff!Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org (PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, and we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, or listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview or Zoom.) Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.orgPhilip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/ Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos Old Duff Genever on Facebook: facebook.com Old Duff Genever on X/Twitter: ...

Angus is so old a friend that we can't remember exactly where we met but we're 99% sure it was at a bar show or get-together of some kind, probably in London, where he, a bartender from Oxford, was in on the ground floor of what we can now look back - after thirty years - to confirm was the birth of the Second Golden Age of cocktails. He and I were the two first people from the bar biz to have "Global Brand Ambassador" on our business cards (he for Tanqueray, me for Bols), and our careers have had significant parallels and overlaps ever since. He's written numerous articles, taught at every bar show in the world and hasn't written a book. (Yet). He also just stepped down from being BCB (global)'s first-ever Director of Education, having taken the already-stellar BCB seminar program to new heights. He's a terrific public speaker, a deep thinker, funny and self-deprecating as only an Englishman can be - and he loves all things liquor and bars to distraction. In a move we can all get behind, this living legend is back running bars, as Director of Bars for the Capella luxury resort in Taipei, and as we were both in Athens for the Bar Show (he to give a great seminar on Talking In Bars, me to carry my wife Elayne's bags), I decided we had to sit down and catch up. Enjoy!Angus on IG: https://www.instagram.com/anguswinchester/?hl=en Get in touch with Duff!Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org (PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, and we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, or listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview or Zoom.) Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.orgPhilip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/ Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos Old Duff Genever on Facebook: facebook.com Old Duff Genever on X/Twitter: ...

I've been a fan of Ben's since his first book, Schott's Original Miscellany came out in 2002, a collection of quirky facts and insights into subcultures; his 13 (!) subsequent books expanded on the theme and have sold more than 2.5 million copies, in multiple languages, to date. Ben also wrote two of the best "homage" books in the style of PG Wodehouse, which, if you're a Wodehouse fan, I urge you to read. His newest book, Schott's Significa, delves into the worlds of hidden languages and subcultures: open-outcry stock trading hand signals, the unspoken languages of the servers of Eleven Madison Park, and the very-much-spoken insider slang of everyone from the diamond dealers of midtown Manhattan to world-famous cocktail bars like Tres Monos and Overstory. We had a very pleasant and - as you might expect - wide-ranging chat about everything, enjoy!Ben on IG: https://www.instagram.com/benschott/Ben on X / Twitter: https://x.com/benschott?s=21&t=kTsTPMPK0kgHLvK8ldrFXQBen's website: https://www.benschott.com/Buy Ben's books (and support independent bookshops): https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=ben+schott Get in touch with Duff!Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org (PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, and we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, or listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview or Zoom.) Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.orgPhilip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/ Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos Old Duff Genever on Facebook: facebook.com Old Duff Genever on X/Twitter: ...

The irrepressible Edvinas "Eddie" Rudzinskas is a fixture at just about every bar show and party, and the Instagram he created, @cocktails_for_you, boasts 565, 000 followers. We sat down during BCBerlin to talk about how he went from working in his native Lithuania to bartending in a small town in Ireland, falling deep down the rabbit hole of mixology, and founding Cocktails for You, initially as a Facebook page sharing all the seminars and events he'd attend, first in Ireland and then - often representing the Bartender's Association of Ireland, BAI - abroad. He's also recently been named Global Advocacy Lead for Thomas Henry mixers, and co-founded his own (delicious) Irish whiskey, Old Baile. We grabbed a spare hour (and some champagne) to talk about how he became a social media influencer, the state of the bar world,  and building brands in the onpremise, as well as a whole bunch more. Enjoy!Eddie's personal IG: https://www.instagram.com/eddie_this_is_my_life/?hl=enCocktails For You IG: https://www.instagram.com/cocktails_for_you/?hl=enOld Baile Whiskey IG: https://www.instagram.com/oldbailewhiskey/?hl=enThomas Henry mixers: https://www.instagram.com/thomashenry_borninbars/?hl=en Get in touch with Duff!Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org (PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, and we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, or listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview or Zoom.) Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.orgPhilip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/ Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos Old Duff Genever on Facebook: facebook.com Old Duff Genever on X/Twitter: ...

I've always followed the industry in Australia closely, as in my opinion it is, pound-for-pound, the best mixology nation on Earth; I've visited often, for teaching and consulting, and wrote a column in Australian Bartender magazine for some years. Last year the Sydney Morning Herald broke a story (sadly, only the first of many) uncovering alleged wide-ranging abuse at the renowned Australian hospitality group Swillhouse, with allegations ranging from management ignoring complaints right up to sexual harassment and rape by former and current staff. Several former Swillhouse employees who were victims, including Jenna and Alexandra, bravely waived their right to anonymity, started a lawsuit against their former employer, and formed the Sorry Not Sorry Collective, which is currently touring with guest bartending and other events to raise awareness about these heinous issues, and to raise actual cash to fund their lawsuit. We caught up during Bar Convent Berlin; I've known Jenna for quite a while and travelled through Japan with her as part of a group learning about shochu. Because of that, and because both her and Alexandra are also Australians - automatically gregarious and affable people - and bartenders to boot, we had what could be described as a deceptively light-hearted sounding conversation that, as well as learning about their routes into bartending and the Australian scene, deals with some very deep topics indeed, ranging from the alleged abuses to the definition of sex work, consent, and a lot more. We couldn't go into every detail of the alleged abuses, because their lawsuit is ongoing, however we discussed some comparable cases in other countries, of which there are a depressing amount. This is very much worth a listen. Sydney Morning Herald article exposing abuse: https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sex-sleaze-and-swillhouse-the-sinister-side-of-the-glitzy-hospitality-scene-20240820-p5k3r0.htmlJenna on IG: https://www.instagram.com/jrhemsworth/?hl=enAlexandra on IG: https://www.instagram.com/alexandr4hoo Get in touch with Duff!Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org (PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, and we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, or listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview or Zoom.) Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.orgPhilip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/ Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos Old Duff Genever on Facebook: facebook.com Old Duff Genever on X/Twitter: ...

I met Andrea in the End Times, even though we didn't know it, then; he made several delicious cocktails with Old Duff Genever for me, in New Zealand, in mid-March 2020, before the world closed down. Andrea is a remarkably cool guy who came from Italy to, first, Australia, and then NZ, to perfect his craft, knowing that first he had to perfect his language skills. He then worked months - even after winning national and international cocktail contests! - washing glasses, before being promoted to bartender. He's a great guy. This is a great listen. Andrea on IG: https://www.instagram.com/captainspaghetti92/?hl=enStaffies Card Game: https://www.instagram.com/staffiescardgame/?hl=enNew Zealand Bar Convention: https://www.instagram.com/nzbarcon/?hl=enAgnes Vermouth: https://www.instagram.com/agnesevermouth/?hl=en Get in touch with Duff!Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org (PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, and we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, or listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview or Zoom.) Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.orgPhilip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/ Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos Old Duff Genever on Facebook: facebook.com Old Duff Genever on X/Twitter: ...

Edmund Weil, co-founder of renowned London bars Nightjar, Oriole, and Swift, shares his journey in the hospitality world. He discusses the importance of authenticity in agave spirits and recounts how a professor sparked his love for tequila. Edmund reveals insights on cocktail artistry from Marian Beke, emphasizing creativity and presentation that transformed London's bar scene. He also reflects on the challenges of staffing post-Brexit and innovative business strategies during tough economic times, all while planning for future expansion.

I met Steve at Cologne Bar Symposium earlier this year, which also hosted the first-ever launch of Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey outside the USA. We chatted a bit and I attended his seminar; to say Steve's life is fascinating is like saying Elon Musk is a decent engineer. From a childhood of wealth in Cambodia with servants and bodyguards, to contracting polio and losing the use of one of his legs, to years of barely subsisting in a Thai refugee camp, being sponsored to come to the US as child, graduating high school and college despite severe ADHD, founding a string of successful bars despite not knowing how to bartend or cook, bars, which led to him creating Skrewball, the world's first peanut-butter flavoured whiskey with his wife (and childhood sweetheart) Brittany in 2018 and selling it to Pernod-Ricard for a rumoured 9-figure sum in 2023 after it boomed to over 600, 000 cases by 2022, his life has not been dull. He's one of the most truly inspiring people I've ever met, relentlessly upbeat and happy, despite having had more than a lifetime's worth of slings and arrows shot his way before he was even in his teens. Enjoy!Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey on IG: https://www.instagram.com/skrewballwhiskey?igsh=MXVkOGF5a3FyMWZveQ== Get in touch with Duff!Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org (PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, and we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, or listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview or Zoom.) Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.orgPhilip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/ Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos Old Duff Genever on Facebook: facebook.com Old Duff Genever on X/Twitter: ...

Our mutual friend (and PR guru) Laura Peet suggested I have liquor biz lifer Ken on, and he was a great guest! We chatted about the liquor industry, recent developments like GLP-1 inhibitors, the effects of phone-based gambling on drinks sales in bars, the Seagrams curse, and a whole bunch more, while I was drinking a Fre Damm Tostada a non-alc beer whose parent brand, Damm coincidentally is imported to the US by United States Beverage, where Ken's been brought in to bolster the liquor division. Ken on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenaufiero United States Beverage on IG: https://www.instagram.com/unitedstatesbeverage/?hl=esLaura Peet on IG: https://www.instagram.com/peetcom7/ Get in touch with Duff!Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org (PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is. They need to be able to hang. Oh, plus we don't edit, and we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, or listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview or Zoom.) Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.orgPhilip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/ Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos Old Duff Genever on Facebook: facebook.com Old Duff Genever on X/Twitter: ...

Sarah Morrissey, an award-winning NYC mixologist and bar manager, shares her fascinating journey from a suburban religious upbringing to the vibrant New York bar scene. She explores the parallels between hospitality and religion, the challenges of undertraining in the industry, and the impact of bartending on authentic guest experiences. Discussing her Substack and the controversy surrounding her views on restaurant reviews, Sarah reveals her frustrations with how bars are often overlooked. Plus, she hints at an exciting upcoming bar project!