The Banter

The Guys revisit an incident involving an older Burgundy, a decanter and a difference of opinion. 

The Conversation

The Restaurant Guys have Philip Duff on the show to hear about his genever.  The conversation winds into Irish whiskey, Batavia Arrack, and a special vodka endorsed by an action film star whom Philip is teaching to bartend. 

The Inside Track

The Guys have crossed paths with globe-traveling Philip Duff for decades. Philip has had his hand in many aspects of the bar world and here is what he thinks is the key to making it in this wild and wonderful industry.

“You build something, be it a brand, be it a bar and people are right to tell you it's crazy because if it was a good idea, well, why didn't anybody else do it? But without lunatics, we don't get Teslas and Stage Left Steak and Old Duff Geneva and Door 74, right? A certain degree of lunacy has to be baked in,” Philip Duff on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2025

Bio

Philip Duff began bartending at 15 in his native Ireland. In addition to working behind bars, he became an educator of spirits, bartending and cocktails and teaches at many spirits and cocktail conventions. 

He began Liquid Solutions, the on-trade consultancy. He founded Holland’s first speakeasy bar, Door 74 in Amsterdam, and owns the award-winning Old Duff Genever brand. 

Philip has published articles in Drinks International, CLASS magazine, Imbibe UK, Mixology (Germany), Australian Bartender, and Reuters. 

He also served as the educational director for Tales of the Cocktail and judged for the IWSR, the World’s 50 Best Bars, and the Spirited Awards.

Info

Old Duff Genever

http://www.oldduffgenever.com/

Philip’s podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-philip-duff-show/id1614308846

Francis demonstrates decanting Burgundy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8MdkUr5dBA

If you want a chance to get two tickets to our Bourbon, Beer & Beefsteak and live recording with Sother Teague and Jack McGarry in New Orleans on July 21, 2026,

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Magyar Bank

https://www.magbank.com/

Stage Left Wine Shop

https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Our Places

Stage Left Steak
https://www.stageleft.com/

Catherine Lombardi Restaurant
https://www.catherinelombardi.com/

Stage Left Wineshop
https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

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