What is the future of THC drinks, after the U.S. government scheduled the hemp loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill to close on Nov 13, 2026? For answers, we speak with Xander Shepherd, co-founder of the THC beverage brand Artet.

Aurum Maui, a new restaurant from Destination Hospitality Group, weaves sustainability into every detail of the bar and beverage program, from repurposing citrus peels and fruit offcuts to composting and using reusable or compostable straws. In this episode Aurum Maui’s bar manager Ryan Dunton shares some of the restaurant’s sustainable practices.

In this episode, we’re joined by David Mandell,  co-founder and CEO of Whiskey House of Kentucky, a new, state-of-the-art sourcing house in Elizabethtown, KY, about 30 minutes west of Bardstown. David discusses the state of sourced whiskey, industry technology, and the whiskey market in general.

We’re joined by Dan Kleinman, Chief Brand Officer at Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, to discuss one of the biggest trends in 2025: zebra striping, or swapping back and forth between alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages while drinking. What generations are leading this behavior? What does it say about the future of nonalc vs. alc drinking?

In this episode, we interview Sadr Amir, CEO of Downtown Spirits and Esquin Wine & Spirits in Seattle, Washington. These two off-premise brands remain at the forefront of industry trends. Amir discusses the importance of tech and date, experiences and events, the latest alcohol trends, and the scale and nature of the ongoing industry correction.

Ian Blessing and his wife Carly recently opened All The Bitter, a comprehensive zero-proof tasting lounge in Chico, CA. In this episode Ian shares the story of how they went from former French Laundry sommeliers to launching a cocktail bitters brand to opening the no-proof bar/bottle shop, along with some general NA trends and recommendations.

In this episode, we’re joined by Quinton Jay, founder and owner of Bacchus Wine & Spirits, a Top 100 Retailer based in Millbrae, CA. Bacchus is a leader in the beverage alcohol retail industry in terms of using data and analytics to shape successful business strategies.

There’s a lot to love about rum, but many consumers don’t understand all that the storied cane spirit has to offer. We chat with rum expert Chase Lanier, beverage manager at The Bamboo Room Tiki Bar in Savannah, GA, about some of his favorite brands and styles, popular cocktails and what he’s been doing to get guests into the spirit.

We interview the first government ganjier, Joe Audette, who's certified position is the legal cannabis equivalent of a sommelier. Audette is also Alcohol Retail Operations Manager for the City of Elk River, which is a control jurisdiction in Minnesota. He bridges the gap between legal alcohol and cannabis, representing the future of the THC industry. Tune in to hear his unique, insightful thoughts on the current state of legal cannabis! (We also hear briefly from Starr Sorheim, City of Elk River Senior Communications Coordinator.)

The popularity of Asian culture, flavors and cuisine stands to boost interest in sake, but what exactly is this ancient Japanese beverage? How do you serve it and what do you pair it with? We pose these questions and more to “Sake Samurai” Tim Sullivan, the director of education for the Sake Studies Center at the American craft sake brewery Brooklyn Kura.