Bartender at Large

This week we head to the high desert of Chihuahua, Mexico, with Aaron Dujovne, co-founder and director of operations at the award-winning sotol brand Casa Lotos. Aaron shares how he fell for sotol and spent three years working with a master distiller on a spirit made for cocktails. He also explains why sotol is not mezcal, and why it is not as harsh as its reputation says. We dig into the brand's push to teach bartenders and drinkers about the category, including the launch of Sotol Week with fellow sotol producers and a live distillation in New York. Plus, Aaron tells us why sotol shines in a Margarita or Paloma, and what's next for this rugged spirit as it grows.  ____________________________________ Join us every Monday as acclaimed bartender, Erick Castro, interviews some of the bar industry's top talents from around the world, including bartenders, distillers & authors. If you love cocktails & spirits then this award-winning podcast is just for you. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: Get early access to episodes, exclusive bonus episodes, special content and more: https://www.patreon.com/BartenderAtLarge WATCH OUR VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/bartenderatlarge FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Erick Castro: www.instagram.com/HungryBartender Bartender at Large: www.instagram.com/BartenderAtLarge FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK: Erick Castro: https://www.tiktok.com/@hungrybartender Bartender at Large: https://www.tiktok.com/@bartenderatlarge FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: Erick Castro: www.twitter.com/HungryBartender Bartender at Large: www.twitter.com/BartendAtLarge

This week we head to the high desert of Chihuahua, Mexico, with Aaron Dujovne, co-founder and director of operations at the award-winning sotol brand Casa Lotos. Aaron shares how he fell for sotol and spent three years working with a master distiller on a spirit made for cocktails. He also explains why sotol is not mezcal, and why it is not as harsh as its reputation says. We dig into the brand's push to teach bartenders and drinkers about the category, including the launch of Sotol Week with fellow sotol producers and a live distillation in New York. Plus, Aaron tells us why sotol shines in a Margarita or Paloma, and what's next for this rugged spirit as it grows.  ____________________________________ Join us every Monday as acclaimed bartender, Erick Castro, interviews some of the bar industry's top talents from around the world, including bartenders, distillers & authors. If you love cocktails & spirits then this award-winning podcast is just for you. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: Get early access to episodes, exclusive bonus episodes, special content and more: https://www.patreon.com/BartenderAtLarge WATCH OUR VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/bartenderatlarge FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Erick Castro: www.instagram.com/HungryBartender Bartender at Large: www.instagram.com/BartenderAtLarge FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK: Erick Castro: https://www.tiktok.com/@hungrybartender Bartender at Large: https://www.tiktok.com/@bartenderatlarge FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: Erick Castro: www.twitter.com/HungryBartender Bartender at Large: www.twitter.com/BartendAtLarge

This week we're joined by Trevor Tyler, Vice President of Beverage Operations for Eureka! Restaurant Group, to talk about what it takes to run a great bar program across 38 locations. Trevor shares his 15-year journey from general manager to the top of the beverage team, and breaks down the systems, training, and smart bar setups that keep drinks consistent and hospitality warm on even the busiest nights. We also dig into the Eureka! Whiskey Club, a private barrel program born during the pandemic that now has more than 1,000 members across California and Nevada.  ____________________________________ Join us every Monday as acclaimed bartender, Erick Castro, interviews some of the bar industry's top talents from around the world, including bartenders, distillers & authors. If you love cocktails & spirits then this award-winning podcast is just for you. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: Get early access to episodes, exclusive bonus episodes, special content and more: https://www.patreon.com/BartenderAtLarge WATCH OUR VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/bartenderatlarge FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Erick Castro: www.instagram.com/HungryBartender Bartender at Large: www.instagram.com/BartenderAtLarge FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK: Erick Castro: https://www.tiktok.com/@hungrybartender Bartender at Large: https://www.tiktok.com/@bartenderatlarge FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: Erick Castro: www.twitter.com/HungryBartender Bartender at Large: www.twitter.com/BartendAtLarge

This week we're joined by Trevor Tyler, Vice President of Beverage Operations for Eureka! Restaurant Group, to talk about what it takes to run a great bar program across 38 locations. Trevor shares his 15-year journey from general manager to the top of the beverage team, and breaks down the systems, training, and smart bar setups that keep drinks consistent and hospitality warm on even the busiest nights. We also dig into the Eureka! Whiskey Club, a private barrel program born during the pandemic that now has more than 1,000 members across California and Nevada.  ____________________________________ Join us every Monday as acclaimed bartender, Erick Castro, interviews some of the bar industry's top talents from around the world, including bartenders, distillers & authors. If you love cocktails & spirits then this award-winning podcast is just for you. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: Get early access to episodes, exclusive bonus episodes, special content and more: https://www.patreon.com/BartenderAtLarge WATCH OUR VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/bartenderatlarge FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Erick Castro: www.instagram.com/HungryBartender Bartender at Large: www.instagram.com/BartenderAtLarge FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK: Erick Castro: https://www.tiktok.com/@hungrybartender Bartender at Large: https://www.tiktok.com/@bartenderatlarge FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: Erick Castro: www.twitter.com/HungryBartender Bartender at Large: www.twitter.com/BartendAtLarge

American whiskey is one of the most popular spirits behind any bar. Yet many of us couldn't explain what really happens inside the barrel, or why Kentucky's limestone water matters so much. This week we're joined by Colin Blake, Vice President of Peggy Knowles Stevens & Associates. He spent two years building the American Whiskey Scholars certification with industry experts Peggy Stevens and Susan Riegler. Colin walks us through the program's 10 online modules, which run from flavor components to barrel aging. He also explains chill filtration, GCMS analysis and the three types of chemical reactions that happen as whiskey ages in oak. Plus, he tells us how he went from film and photography to running a distilling school. So tune in this week as Colin shares why the American whiskey industry is one of the most collaborative in all of spirits. Learn More: https://americanwhiskeyscholar.com ____________________________________ Join us every Monday as acclaimed bartender, Erick Castro, interviews some of the bar industry's top talents from around the world, including bartenders, distillers & authors. If you love cocktails & spirits then this award-winning podcast is just for you. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: Get early access to episodes, exclusive bonus episodes, special content and more: https://www.patreon.com/BartenderAtLarge WATCH OUR VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/bartenderatlarge FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Erick Castro: www.instagram.com/HungryBartender Bartender at Large: www.instagram.com/BartenderAtLarge FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK: Erick Castro: https://www.tiktok.com/@hungrybartender Bartender at Large: https://www.tiktok.com/@bartenderatlarge FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: Erick Castro: www.twitter.com/HungryBartender Bartender at Large: www.twitter.com/BartendAtLarge