In this episode of The Cocktail Academy Podcast, Damian Cole sits down with Gillian Fitzgerald of Casements Bar in San Francisco to explore what it really takes to build a world-class modern Irish bar.

Casements has become one of the most respected Irish bars in the US by doing things differently. This conversation goes deep into the bar’s identity, how Gillian and the team avoid tired Irish stereotypes, and how they create cocktail menus that feel rooted in Irish culture while still speaking to San Francisco and California produce.

Gillian shares the story behind Casements, what it was like opening just weeks before Covid, how the team survived through grit and rapid delivery pivots, and how they continue to evolve the bar through strong hospitality, staff development, and thoughtful drinks.

The episode also dives into the inspiration behind Casements’ new cocktail menu, including landscape, language, Irish ingredients, and the influence of the late Manchán Magan. If you are interested in Irish cocktails, cocktail menu development, modern Irish hospitality, bar ownership, or running a successful contemporary bar, this one is packed with insight.

In this episode:

• What makes Casements one of the most talked-about modern Irish bars in San Francisco
• How to create an Irish bar without clichés, shamrocks, or plastic paddy nonsense
• The story of opening Casements just six weeks before Covid shut everything down
• How the team built a delivery model overnight to keep the business alive
• Why Irish hospitality should be welcoming, inclusive, and for everybody
• How Gillian approaches cocktail menu development at Casements
• Blending Irish ingredients and ideas with California produce
• Why constraints, limited space, and simple techniques can lead to better drinks
• How Casements develops staff knowledge and gets the whole team involved in menu creation
• The thinking behind the new Casements menu and its connection to Irish language and landscape
• Why curiosity matters when building drinks for guests
• The story behind the name Casements and Roger Casement’s legacy

Key takeaways:

• A modern Irish bar should reflect real Irish culture, not stereotypes
• Great cocktail menus are built on clarity, balance, and identity
• You do not need endless equipment or overcomplicated techniques to make outstanding drinks
• The best bars build people, not just menus
• Hospitality works best when every guest feels welcome
• Sometimes the drinks with the most soul come from memory, place, and personal connection

Notable moments:

• Gillian explains how Casements was designed to feel like an authentic, contemporary Irish space in the middle of San Francisco’s Mission District
• She shares the bar’s survival story during Covid, from batch cocktails to mobile Guinness service
• Damian and Gillian discuss the challenge of making Irish drinks feel modern and relevant
• Gillian breaks down how the team tests cocktails, what makes the cut, and why one weird drink always stays on the list
• The new menu is revealed as a tribute to Irish language, land, and the work of Manchán Magan

If you enjoy conversations about cocktail culture, Irish whiskey, bar ownership, hospitality, and menu development, make sure to follow The Cocktail Academy Podcast and share this episode with someone in the trade.

Contact and follow:

Casements Bar

Instagram: @casementsbar

Website: casementsbar.com

The Cocktail Academy

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Website: www.thecocktailacademy.com

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