Happy Halloween!

Growing careers and opportunities are built on education, and for Collectif 1806's Emily Arseneau, her journey through the hospitality industry has led to amazing twists and turns. A Louisiana native, Emily can create, craft conversations, and inspire. Her blend of radio DJ antics and studio art sensibilities, make her a prototypical, hard working hospitality veteran. With a wide array of bartending gigs under her belt, she leaves a massive impact on the Dallas cocktail scene while soon venturing to New York for her largest opportunity yet, National Brand manager for Collectif 1806- a group dedicated to best practices and education in the hospitality industry. We talk "Dig", Cointreau, and crazy facts this day in history. 

Sometimes pouring that first cocktail just opens up a gateway to flavor and opportunity. For Houston's Hal Brock, the hospitality industry always offered the creative and humanitarian sensibilities on which Hal thrives. When academia doesn't quite offer the flexibility and cash flow of the bistro down the street, serious decisions need to be made and in Hal's case, they led him through numerous avenues in the hospitality industry. From the cocktail haven Anvil to working in the distribution chain at Glazers, this winding road has uncovered many new narratives. The latest chapter finds Hal spreading the joy of Rum with Parce, a Columbian variety that uniquely demonstrates the terroir and processes of the region. We chat astrology, love, and symbolic imagery in bottle enclosures.

Sometimes playing trombone in school band is the perfect gateway into bigger and better things. For Houston's Alex Negranza, this modest start transitioned into promotions, coffee, and booze....for now. With few dollars in his pocket, Alex left his native California to start a new chapter in Seattle. Here he fell more in love with coffee, which (as we'd expect) led to a deep passion for booze, and now he not only evangelizes the delicious Scrappy's Bitters, but he bartends at the cocktail mecca Anvil in Houston, TX. Aspiring to always learn and educate, Alex also serves as education chair for the Houston USBG. We chat bourbon, coincidence, and barista-ness.

In our second installment of horror movie madness at SDV, we chat with Trey Jenkins and Michael Phillips about their top 3 films for the season. Nestled in a chilling, dark booth in the back of King Bee, we dive into some absolute classics. Whether you like acid blood, vampire love, or arachnid heads, this chat will pique your interest about the horror genre. Sit back on the edge of your seat, and enter the bone chilling worlds of John Carpenter, Ridley Scott, and more.....

Alien

Ringu

The Fly (1986)

The Thing (1982)

Let the Right One In

Rosemary's Baby

Diving into the spirit of Halloween, this week at SDV we take a look at some of our favorite guest's favorite horror movies. As we wait patiently for the weather to shift, i's time to bundle up, turn off the lights, and get scared a little with our favorite slasher, ghouls, and alien beings. Recorded in the dark annals of a booth at King Bee, this first installment of two dives into the minds of ghastly guys Billy Hankey and Don Swaynos. Perhaps you'll find some new favorite films in all of this.....

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

Phantasm

The Wicker Man (1973)

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

Basket Case

Suspiria

A love of history, science, and Utah was the spark for one of the great American whiskey tales. David Perkins wanted to be a doctor, but found better ways to help his fellow man in the pharmaceutical industry. This successful career forecasting sales and further understanding chemical compounds were the perfect precursor to a voyage in whiskey. In the face of unpopular whiskey sentiments, David learned about blending and leveraged it to make some of the finest blends in modern spirits. As the world's love of whiskey increased, so did High West sales and its need for expansion. Now, in the wake of a $160 million acquisition by constellation brands. who is the man that started it all? We talk Paul Newman, the mountains, and gadgetry.

Image from WSJ

It's High West Whiskey week at SDV! Today we dive into the one man Texas show, Chris Furtado. Chris has worked in all aspects of the hospitality industry and most recently shifted his knowledge at RNDC to become a whiskey maestro for High West. Despite some tangents into tech and coffee, whiskey kept calling him back. It's only a matter of time before this chef, bartender, and father is slinging you drinks behind his own bar. We chat rye, patrons, and talking to your audience in a language they can understand.

Welcome to inside the actor's studio with the whiskey king of Chicago, Martin Duffy. Martin has acted, has poured, has traveled, and ultimately established himself as one of the finest minds in the world of whiskey. After working his ranks through the kilt wearing days of "Brand Ambassadors" version 1. He became a SR masters of whiskey for Diageo where he tasted, saw, and smelled everything that whiskey had to offer. He now ponders the next steps while traveling the states spreading the word on the world's most luxurious sipping vessel: the Glencairn glass. In his constant support of the spirits industry, Martin has also co-produced multiple installments of the Chicago Independent Spirits Expo. We chat impressions, Gene Hackman, and how perhaps this is no whiskey country for old men.

Take a deep look into the products and culture of St. George Spirits with the hospitality veteran Paul Skiera. Working through the ranks behind the bar in Michigan and Florida, Paul made the step from RNDC to the largest small guy- St. George. 3 years later, he loves to share and imbibe in the wonderful reputation his portfolio of spirits has garnered among the industry. No doors are closes, and no projects are off limits as St. George explores every grain and fruit imaginable. We talk terroir, rock stardom, and suit jackets.