As a native of Guadalajara, Victor Diaz has been surrounded by Tequila his own life. He has followed business ideas, and his innate tenacity gives him a drive like no other. After a fateful move to Austin Tx, he entered the hospitality industry at the legendary Maudie's TexMex restaurant. Here, whilst building relationships with patrons and fellow hospitality workers alike, the concept of Carabuena Tequila was born. Now, time has passed and the brand is growing at a meteoric pace. It sounds like the perfect time to release a Reposado and Añejo. We chat love, creativity, persistence, and more.

Houston native Rich Bailey has embraced kindness, openness, and a steady journey into self-empowerment. What at first was a path leading into practicing psychology soon turned into a path about self exploration. Years and many bar shifts later, Rich has recently moved to Austin, Tx to begin a new chapter as Bacardi's LGTBQ+ ambassador. The role is a perfect extension of Rich's embracing of diversity and the vacillating identities that we all experience. We chat Japan, Scotch, art, and more.

Jesse Hubbard has been a cocktail slinging, ex-moshing, creator for his entire life, but like many, has really dove into his passions during shutdown. With a background in radio, production, and bartending, where does the passion go when you can't be behind the bar? Back to the roots......Punk Rock. Pairing punk rock with cocktails seems like a no-brainer, but Jesse finally articulated it with his new book Punk Rock and Cocktails, where he pays homage to his roots and nods to his future. We chat New Jersey, KROQ, pit camaraderie, and more.

There are few more established and respected individuals in the hospitality industry than Jim Meehan. He has influenced a generation of bartenders with his cocktail havens PDT and Prairie School. His straight forward attitude and brilliant attention to detail make him one of the foremost cocktail experts in the industry. Now after an already successful career, he takes to writing his second book Meehan's Bartender Manual and offers an in depth look at everything bartending. We chat watches, Smashing Pumpkins, relationship, and ore.

 

The legendary Al Young has shared the beauty of Four Roses Bourbon for over 50 years. He's traveled the world, seen consumer tastes change, and now still stands at the forefront of Bourbon discussion as it returns to favor. Starting as a man of the stage, Al fully intended on studying drama, but love and commitment drove him to find a 9-5 day job. Starting with Seagrams in 1964, the impressive journey took foot. We chat actors, dedication, a fulfilling marriage, and good Bourbon tales.

Download   Dr. Ivan Saldana is a thinker, a scientist, an influencer, and a crazy inventor. As a safe keeper of mezcal, and plant lover, his early career may have taken him in a different direction. However, the studies abroad at Sussex full enveloped Ivan into his romantic relationship with agave. Years later, the entrepreneurial spirit took over and he helped developed the beautiful Ancho Reyes and Montelobos products. A vast personality with a vast wealth of knowledge, Dr Ivan has written the Anatomy of Mezcal which still serves as a pillar of agave education. We chat academia, children, turning 40, and more.

A traditional Irish upbringing involves great dairy, lots of rain, and a deep connection to whiskey. For Teeling Whiskey's Niamh Cluskey, moving to Austin to share these beautiful marks was a dream come true. Studying journalism (and even having some experience with radio/interviewing herself) expanded into a deeper interest in people and places. Irish Whiskey perfectly bridged these 2 worlds of tradition and process. But as Niamh's time in the US winds down, what are the next steps and aspirations in such a lovely career so far. We chat Jack Teeling, fashion, radio voice, 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.

 

 

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.