Dragos Axinte, founder of Novo Fogo Cachaca is the prototypical entrepreneur. He's part inventor, part creative, and wholly health focused. For much of his life he spent time in communist Romania, from which his family ultimately left to venture to the states. Landing in LA, Dragos and his father continued the family trade, soldering. This mechanical aptitude transformed into multiple patents and ultimately the opportunity to start a new business. A curious affection for Brazil aimed the project towards Cachaca and now many marks later, Dragos travels to help people find health and great cane sips. We talk cancer, patents, the classics, and more.

With too many accomplishments to name, Daniel de Oliveira, or simply DDO, has traveled the world making a wonderful name for himself. After years behind the bars of Chicago, a shift to brand work has opened up countless doors. From Leblon cachaca, and most recently Jägermeister, DDO entertains and charms the industry. But with all the traveling and jet setting, where does the time to balance one's personal life come into the mix. We chat GNR, politics, love, and more.

Leaving academia has been the best decision yet for Teeling Whiskey's Kevin Hurley. The Dublin native has not only been at the helm of Ireland's cocktail resurgence, but he's quickly become one of the world's foremost authorities on Irish Whiskey. With such a creative lens of distillation, Kevin travels the world sharing the delicious labels of Teeling Whiskey. We chat sports, architecture, health, and how delicious the Teeling Single Malt is.

Most people don't realize that Thiene, Italy is a town known for innovation and entreprenurial endeavors. For Gra'it Grappa's Luca Fabris, this rich food/tech/and idea incubator set the foundation for the future. After traveling the world consulting and handling finances for many companies, Luca found his rich Italian heritage converging with the emerging cocktail world around him. Years later, the beautiful Gra'it Grappa was introduced to the world. A beautiful blend of crispness, floral essence, and light-handed grape flavor, Luca hopes to redefine the "less than stellar" notions about Grappa in the states. We talk Italy, accounting, and food. 

From casual beer sipping to home brewing in small quantities, Ben Sabin has used his passion for beer in combination with a degree in communications to found the project Friends and Allies Brewing. These first few months of operation present a health challenge and a logistical keg-stacking one. What does Friends and Allies bring to the world of branding and Austin brewing? Their keen focus on flavor and aesthetic up the bar of standards in the brewing community. We chat history, Houston, and the recent Tullamore D.E.W. brewery collaboration.

Once a brewery tour guide, always a brewery tour guide. Tullamore D.E.W.'s Jane Maher is a touring monster. With the 2017 installment of D.E.W. and a Brew, Jane is traveling the US pairing Tully with the finest brews in the land. Whether it's a 12 year, 18, overproof, or the trusty standard Tullamore D.E.W., a nuanced boilermaker pairing   is sweeping the states in over 60 US stops. From her small town Irish upbringing, to studies in architecture, how does Jane like the ambassador life and how is that memoir coming along? We talk the Southwest, rest, and hosting.

Zahra Bates of Courvoisier embraces all of the charm the world has to offer. From LA to London, she pays homage to the classics of literature and philosophy. Starting as a shy book worm, Zahra's now decorated career in hospitality has created a gregarious and cheery friend of the industry. Where will the next love of art and culture take her? We chat Minerva, Cognac, France, and more...

Minding his studies as an athletic South African kid, Jono Marcus followed in the footsteps of many. He pursued a straight and arrow path in the banking industry. But the interest in people, places, and the larger world drove him to pursue a green card lottery that transported him to America. Struggling to connect in LA, a great friend became the conduit between Jono and the distribution world. Years later, Jono now travels the Southwest sharing the delicious native spirit of America,Brandy, for Copper and Kings; the burgeoning Kentucky Brandy distillery. We chat Hollywood, Elon Musk, grapes, and more.

From a rich creative upbringing in the theater world of Nimes, France, Camille Ralph Vidal has split her artistic and business-minded personality into distinct tracks. After a career cleansing trek into the hospitality industry of Australia, her life was forever changed. Learning to speak English, learning the foundations of cocktail composition, and learning how to find her path in this cocktail renaissance collided into a chance meeting with late St-Germain founder Rob Cooper. Years later, Camille is known as Madame St Germain: the ultimate host. Beyond the travels and education, she's also found the time to write a book expressing her innate hosting nature. "How to Drink French Fluently: A Guide to Joie de Vivre with St-Germain Cocktails" We chat health, Instagram, and more.