Damien Cavicchi is owner of Jackson, Mississippi's legendary music spot Hal & Mal's as well as the speakeasy tucked away nearby, The Walk In. Although he isn't a trained bartender (his calling is to be the chef), he did put those culinary skills to use when crafting the spirit free cocktails for The Walk In. Likewise, he dabbled at guitar and fronted a band in his younger days, but his love of music is still an integral part of him and now he channels it into playlists for the bars. Check out his Mezcal Morning music here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/20FWIdbXJemvLobgHSx0OB?si=LVtRVvUbTomPjxqeBsz-3Q

Alex Howard, owner of Martha My Dear in Nashville, thought he was going to go into the music industry but got bit by the bartending bug instead. He came from a family of music creatives, and he went to college to study the music business himself and become a mover and a shaker. To pay the bills he got into hospitality, and the longer he worked in it, the more he loved it. From learning the basics at Ruby Tuesday and fine tuning his skills at Attaboy, he made the leap to ownership with a spot named after a Beatles Song and his mom. Ease into his indie stylings with this playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6dj7gHkVNeUwNqLlyhsoKk?si=NIoQ309dSuSLlfbI70ndkg

Hannah Spear, bartender at Chicago's Bisous, started playing violin when she was 6 and thought that was going to be her entire life. After years of training and the highs and lows that come with an intense musical existence, she needed to take a break. Enter bartending. Now the craft of making cocktails has her performing for Chicago's drinkers, playing with terroir, reversing martinis, and drinking sherry with jazz. Hear how she balances life at Bisous while restoring her love of violin on this episode, and check out her professed drama queen styled playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/18vOkhghn90s5tBOoDNwQn?si=bMg6gYjuTkuXd3FLiHGNXw

Lou Bernard currently serves as the beverage director for Mita in Washington DC, applying his skills to the drinks at this James Beard nominated (and Michelin Guide) vegan Latin restaurant. He's been involved in the DC scene for years though, proudly bringing the flavors and inspirations from his Latin upbringing to the bar and introducing the area to Singani. He was recently named one of Punch's best new bartenders of 2025, and he's known to sling some drinks named for hip hop tracks while blasting rock en español. Check out his Latin Vibes DC style playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/25Je5BHIPWBiQ6X4eFm8k3?si=3AG3JPPVQhOntO6BGvqjKg

Danny Garcia bartended in the Midwest and the Southwest, and when Lady Jane came calling, he made his way to Denver to join the team. Now serving as the spot's assistant general manager, Danny talks about his love for rums and his current obsession with Billy Joel while not forgetting his childhood fascination with swing music and playing saxophone. He learned something from each space he worked at, and he brought all of that knowledge to the acclaimed Lady Jane program. Check out his nostalgic mix here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0bbM0IyGZUHkShNiN8MRne?si=sA9AWAUERsKzkxSm3y4CAA

Alexandra Kuechler Caffall returned to her hometown of Portland, OR after having been part of the NYC cocktail scene, spending years at Fort Defiance, and now behind the bar at Too Soon. She moved around the music world too, playing several instruments and leading worship groups when she was young, then ditching that to head into opera and direction of musical experiences. We talk the philosophy of music and the craft of the playlist as well as the cocktail in this freewheeling episode. Check out her playlist for mixed company here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7KdTkgBW3qxlI91Z98iw5k?si=TOoE1RluS6Cyn-vKkzXx6A

Judd Finkelstein - known as The Fink, which is also the name of his award winning cocktail bar in Napa Valley - has been a drinks scholar from an early age, digging up classic recipes to try out on friends when they were still more about beer bongs. He even formed the Friends of Ardent Mixology (F.O.A.M.) decades ago, creating a community of like minded folks who enjoyed learning about all things spirit related. And he was a radio DJ by the tender age of 17! There are a lot of fun stories for you in this one, and he selected some great music for you to drink with as well: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0AP6BbezcRO9KGf3qYgYKI?si=l3fqIvfxSUmnd8cOA7snHQ

Cristian Salazar Diaz went from the bar scene in Fresno to combining his culinary training and bartending skills at Trader Sam's at Disneyland, and now can be found at The Lucky Tiki, located in both West Hollywood and Highland Park, CA. He accidentally found himself in the tiki world and went at it with gusto, later applying molecular experimentation into his mixing and enjoying the community and culture that goes along with the lifestyle. It's a long way from his grungy skater days as a drummer, but he still loves that music as much as he loves his tiki life. Check out his playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4qgSWVWG08Ql25BODVQxHV?si=MG88UPseSdixnikATBd-MQ

Cesilia Berumen took the long way to her current role as the general manager at The Golden Tiki in Las Vegas, having a full career and family already in place before relocating to the desert playground about 20 years ago. That major life change also put her in the managerial world of hospitality before she decided to take a step back into bartending, and eventually landed her in an immersive tiki world that is showy in a way that only Vegas can really pull off. Although she doesn't play her flute or violin or banjo anymore, she still loves music and knows how to handle the big names that pass through, like the Backstreet Boys during their Vegas residency! Check out her chaotic sing-a-long playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7wttQNZM85wxuyIhVUZFAQ?si=RV7IBEhNTP67CqVdpTP10w

Ryan Jones is relatively new to the tiki cocktail scene, but he admired it from afar for a long time before he had the opportunity to be a part of it. Growing up in a formerly dry county in Kentucky, he taught himself how to make tiki drinks and drove hours to find specific ingredients. This all paid off when he got a job at the revived Don the Beachcomber bar in Tampa, FL, and then moved on to the tiki speakeasy, Morgan's Cove, after Don's was destroyed in a hurricane. He didn't bring his drum kit with him when he moved, but his band days are not quite behind him! Get to know Ryan and check out his beach punk playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/15AkasmcH69k6U91xHboiR?si=PTVp86cJTuuk-XNHInzwmQ