Cheers with Nat

Welcome back to Cheers with Nat – the podcast dedicated to cheering on women in drinks. Today's guest is Janice Snowden, UK Brand Ambassador for Bushmills Irish Whiskey. Janice shares how her childhood dream of opening a restaurant eventually led her to discover the world of whiskey – and the big leap she took that started her journey to the job of her dreams. You'll hear where her role as a brand ambassador has taken her, the glamorous and not-so-glamourous sides of the job, and how she developed the key skills – to host, present to, and engage groups of people – that are the bread and butter of her work today. We also learn what keeps her grounded outside of work, her go-to travel destination for cheap pasta and very good wine, how to take a frozen Irish coffee to the next level, and a whole lot more.   What stuck with me from this conversation: On her role today: "Do I have the job of my dreams? Absolutely." On the less glamorous side of her job: "90% of the time, half of the job is schlepping." On the importance of getting out of the classroom: "Let's face it, hospitality ain't leaned through books." On what drew her to working in five-star hotels and Michelin star restaurants: "I wanted to see what is the absolute ultimate level of hospitality and service that you can give to people." On her job at as a tour guide at Jameson: "I think that was the best decision I ever made, because that is essentially the bread and butter of what I do now – hosting groups of people, speaking, and holding them for 90 minutes with just me and some whiskeys. You need to learn how best to engage people. Let's face it, how to control a crowd, as well." On what keeps her working in drinks: "You can never stop learning. If you're ever bored, that's a you problem."   Links & things: What we're drinking: A whisk(e)y highball, aka whisk(e)y and soda Some of Janice's favourite combos include: Bushmills 12 Marsala Cask Finish + Fever Tree white grape and apricot Bushmills Black Bush + Fever Tree spiced orange Bushmills 10 + Schweppes soda, as served at Three Sheets Soho P.S. If you know the official name for a glass swizzle stick, let us know, lol Also don't miss the frozen Irish coffee from Erin Rose in New Orleans (with a Brancamenta float, hat tip Hannah Lanfear) Where Janice has worked in the whiskey world: Jameson Bow Street tour guide IBEC Graduate programme, as Beam Suntory Metro New York ambassador for Kilbeggan Her pandemic was spent at Celtic Whiskey Shop & studying for her General Certificate in Brewing and WSET Level 3 in Spirits (with Hannah & Rose from The Mixing Class) Jameson UK Ambassador Bushmills UK Ambassador Shout out to the two female master blenders at Bushmills: Helen Mullholland – former Alex Thomas – current Janice's award: 2026 Icons of Whisky 'Rest of World' Irish Whiskey Brand Ambassador Shout out to the 'Ireland' winner Beibhinn O'Reilly of Teeling Janice's last call reccs: To listen to = The Centre Cut, Dish, Off Menu, Good Hang with Amy Poehler To drink = Kaveri Ginger Liqueur (shout out to Head of Sales Hannah O'Connor) To visit = Bologna, for cheap pasta and very good wine To know = Alex Thomas, Bushmills Master Blender   Recording info: August 2026 at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society Greville Street (Thank you for hosting us!) Please excuse the few phone buzzes during the episode   Subscribe | Follow on Instagram | Email

Welcome back to Cheers with Nat – the podcast dedicated to cheering on women in drinks. Today's guest is Roberta Mariani, On-Trade Director for Italspirits, a branding, marketing, and advocacy agency. If you've ever wondered what advocacy actually means in the world of drinks, and how to do it well, we get into all that in this conversation, including what Roberta is an advocate for: the aperitivo and aperitivo culture. Roberta also invites woman in hospitality to share an aperitivo with her, on the free 15-minute mentorship calls she offers. We talk about what inspired her to start them, where people are calling in from, and the kinds of topics that keep coming up. Lastly, we explore another way Roberta gives back to the industry – as a self-defense instructor – and why she feels this kind of training is vital for people in hospitality.   What stuck with me from this conversation: On learning at work: "I've never been the kind of person that [says] 'This is my title. This is what I'm gona do and that's it'. I always wanted to learn more, I was always trying to reach for more. Like, 'Can I be on that project, as well?' I know this is not part of my competence, but I just want to sit here… to listen. So it was a way for me to really speed up on a lot of knowledge…" On why advocacy is so important: "88% of global bartenders say they are recommending drinks on a daily basis. And 95% of the time, the guest orders what they've been recommended." (Source: The NIQ Global Bartender Report 2026) On what she loves about the aperitivo: "I think there's something romantic about the aperitivo. It's a pause in the day. It's the opportunity." On her Aperitivo With Me mentorship programme: "I want to be like the big sister for them." On how to be a good mentor: "I don't do this with the expectation to have all the answers, it's more about asking the right questions." On the importance of community within the trade: "From my experience, you can go to the most remote village on earth and you're gona find someone that knows someone you know. You're always gona find a connection. And this makes you feel alive, it makes you feel connected, it makes you feel part of something." On her self-defense training: "It's not about the aggression, it's not about the fighting, it's actually about prevention. Everything I can do to not find myself in a spot of having to fight."   Links & things: What we're drinking: Savoia Orancio Spritz (Savio Orancio + rose sparkling wine, garnished with green grapes) Where Roberta has worked: Bar Termini Martini Where Roberta is now: Italspirits Aperitivo With Me Mentorship calls Travel advice Self-defense training with Krav Maga London Last call recommendations: Podcast to listen to: Diary of a CEO Products to try: Italian products, like aperitivo, bitters, grappa, vermouth Places to see: Peru for Macchu Picu, Jordan for Petra Jordan, and Norway People to meet: Lauren Mote, Camille Vidal, Claire Warner (who I chatted with for Episode 12), Anna Sebastian, Natasha Sofia, Charlotte Voisey   Recording info: July 2026 in London (Please excuse the few phone buzzes during the episode!)   Subscribe | Follow on Instagram | Email

Welcome back to Cheers with Nat – the podcast dedicated to cheering on women in drinks. In this episode, we're continuing our conversation with Claudia Carrozzi, Fleet Beverage Development Manager at Cunard cruises and President of the UK Bartenders' Guild. If you haven't yet heard part 1 of this episode, do start there, then come on back here for more. For those of you that are caught up, Claudia's just about to take off her Cunard hat and share what her role with the UK Bartenders' Guild entails. We'll hear about the benefits of competing in cocktail competitions, what makes a truly great bartender (hint: it's a lot more than just making a great drink), what it was like to become the Guild's first female president and the legacy she hopes to leave. Lastly, Claudia shares what it is that keeps her so in love with what she does and what keeps her grounded outside of work, too.   What stuck with me from this conversation On her Guild election: "So, I was elected as president and, as president, I was like, right, let's put our sleeves up, you've got your job. And then after a month, I lost the whole team… I set a different way of working with the Guild and it didn't really meet their priorities. You know, nothing wrong, it's just natural when you start restructuring a business." On the importance of cocktail competitions: "I think the first part of competition is challenging yourself. It can get you thinking outside the box and get you outside your comfort zone. I think it's really important for a bartender that wants to grow." On what makes a great bartender: "They understand the menu [and] can read the person." On what makes her proud: "I'm so proud when I can develop people. Not me as a person, but us as a Guild." Links & things Find out more about the UK Bartenders' Guild, including UKBG Academy UKBG Connect Competitions, and the winner from The 2025 National Competition, Sam Chatterji Or check out the other global bartending guilds mentioned, like IBA and AIBES Hosco, for hospitality jobs Claudia's reccs: What to listen to: Business of Drinks What to drink: Kakira Where she wants to go: Vietnam, Okinawa Who to meet: Marika Cappena, Italicus   Recording info August 2026 at Harbour Hotel Southampton (thank you for hosting us!)   Subscribe | Follow on Instagram | Email

Welcome back to Cheers with Nat – the podcast dedicated to cheering on women in drinks. Today's guest is Claudia Carrozi, Fleet Beverage Development Manager with Cunard cruises and President of the UK Bartenders' Guild. Claudia and I had a lot to chat about, so our conversation will be coming at you in two parts. Now, for those of you who listened in to last week's episode with Jo, you might feel a bit of déjà vu here, as part of Claudia's story also takes place on a ship – but this time, we're in the bar! Claudia knew from a young age that she wanted to be a traveling bartender, so in this first part of our conversation, you'll hear how she seized the opportunity to make that happen, where she went in her four years at sea, and how her role changed when Covid brought her back shore side. Then, in part two, we'll we cover Claudia's role with the UK Bartenders' Guild.   What stuck with me from this conversation: On her first hotel job: "He was like 'Well, this is a job for men', and I was like, I can do it." On her plan after finishing school: "My plan was learn English, travel the world. You know, be a traveling bartender." On Amit Sood, one of her mentors: "He really mentored me on the basics – how to read a class, how to talk to people, how to explain things. And that was another person that I was like, I really want to be like him. I'll have this experience in my heart probably for the rest of my life, because that was the other kickstart for the other part of my career." On seizing opportunities: "This person picked up the phone and was like, 'I have an opportunity for you'. And I had no idea who this person was, but I was like, bring it on."   Links & things: What we're drinking: "The bartender's favourite drink", aka Claudia's daiquiri made with Kakira gold rum Where Claudia works: Present Cunard cruises President of the UK Bartenders Guild Past Shaker Bar School Shout out to a key mentor there, Amit Sood, former Head of Training Claudia's original cocktails, available on the Cunard cruise lines: Cunard Spritz, with Cunard gin, Aperol, yuzu, tonic and cucumber peel Cunard Rum Punch, a blend of rums with passion fruit, pineapple, and a little bit of absinthe   Recording info: August 2026 at Harbour Hotel Southampton (thank you for hosting us!)   Subscribe | Follow on Instagram | Email

Welcome back to Cheers with Nat – the podcast dedicated to cheering on women in drinks. Today's guest is Joanne Love, Craft Marketing Manager at hop company BarthHaas and co-host of the podcast A Woman's Brew. Jo's been working in the beer industry for just over 4 years now, but she discovered her love of beer in her previous role… as a costumer on a cruise ship! A self-proclaimed 'creative person', Jo studied textiles and spent 8 years at sea as a wardrobe supervisor, helping to bring the ship's shows to life. So, how the heck did she go from that role to working in the drinks industry? Well, you're just going to have to listen in to find out! For anyone curious about making a transition into drinks from another industry, this episode is for you. Jo reflects on her transferrable skills, the thread that's carried through all of her roles to date, the many hobbies that keep her busy outside of work – and how they've helped her to get to where she is today, too.   What stuck with me from this conversation: On her role as craft marketing manager: "It's a bit of strategy, a bit of planning, a bit of running events. I quite like that it's not the same every day." On doing a little bit of everything:"I found this phrase lately that I really like, 'I'm a jack of all trades and a hoe of all hobbies'." On recognising her own skills: "You are still not sure right up until the end of that contract if you're going to get another one… I was lucky because, well, I say I was lucky, but actually I was good at my job. And so then I kept getting taken back on to the next thing and the next thing." On the thread throughout her career: "I didn't think I was strategic, but now when I look back at it, it's all of these things that I did along the way that are very strategic." On her podcast: "We really wanted it to be an opportunity to elevate other peoples' voices. Like, it's not really about us. It's about getting information out to people about beer, so they feel more confident about it. And it's about getting other people's voices out…you know, we've tried to get some of those lesser known breweries out there to be heard. And we just kinda do that and we don't really think about the impact that that's had." On her impact: "I had a brewer come up to me once at a festival and say 'I'm a brewer because of you'." On what keeps her in the drinks industry: "The creativity, beause this is art, as well. Craft brewers are doing amazing, crazy things. And I love that we're a small, artisanal industry that's still trying things, still trying to push the boundaries, and having a good time doing it."   Links & things: What we're drinking: Merakai Espresso for my Depresso coffee stout (5.4%) Brewed for International Women's Collaboration Brew Day Using Edge Tea & Coffee Where Jo works: BarthHaas Hop products, including Spectrum and Prysma Hop academy and webinars Jo's video with the Malt Miller Curious to try some green hop beers? Check out your local cask beer pub next month. Mine is The Pembury Tavern in Hackney and they do a Green Hop Beer Festival every October. Keep tabs on their social here for dates! Jo's other hats: Love Beer Learning A Woman's Brew podcast Conversation with Wild Weather Ales Conversation with We Are Beer Jo's qualifications: Certified Beer Server & Certified Cicerone Jo's awards: Women in Beer Awards Communicator of the Year British Guild of Beer Writers Citizen Beer Communicator with Tori Powell for A Woman's Brew Last call recommendations: What do drink: PSL & pumpkin beers What to watch: from a self-proclaimed "Vampire girlie"… Buffy The Vampire Lestat, based on Ann Rice's The Vampire Chronicles Where to go: Worthing, including Merakai (for their Pastry Palooza in November), Old Bike Store, Beer No Evil, The Selden Arms, & The Brooksteed Who to know: Tori Powell, Jo's co-host on A Woman's Brew Emma O'Neill-Parsons from Merakai Brewing   Recording info: July 2026 in London   Subscribe | Follow on Instagram | Email