Vijay Mudaliar is a soft-spoken gentleman in Singapore. He runs a small bar named Native that seats no more than 30 people. But the way he operates his bar is revolutionizing the way to think about waste, sustainability, and responsible bartending. From drinking vessels made of oyster shells, coasters from lotus roots, murals painted with vegetable dye, and even going so far as to weigh the amount of waste created by his popular bar every night. All of this has lead to a lot of recognition. Native placed 4th on Asia’s 50 Best Bars, Vijay was named Bartender of the Year by DRiNK Magazine’s Bar Awards, and was a finalist at Tales of the Cocktail for Best International Cocktail Bar. But his real mission is teaching others how to succeed in the restaurant and bar industry without leaving a footprint. Saving the world seems to be an impossible task for one small bar. But we have to start somewhere… and Vijay Mudaliar is leading the way.

EDIT: A few days after this interview was recorded, NATIVE was announced at #14 on the World’s 50 Best Bars.

To learn more about Native’s practices and how you might be able to implement into your own home or bar program, check out A NATIVE GUIDE TO DECENT BARTENDING.

Ronan Keilthy has made quite a name for himself in recent years – despite being just 22-years-old. He works for Proof & Company, the company behind some of Singapore’s (and the world’s) best bars. He tends bar at 28 HongKong Street – considered ground zero for Singapore’s craft renaissance. But what put him a world stage this year was the Clairin World Championship title belt! We’re talking about Clairin and how exactly he’s always desired to work in hospitality. He’s at the forefront of the cocktail scene in Asia. Next stop… the world.

SIDE NOTE: Since this episode was recorded, everyone’s favorite cocktail guide, Moses Koh, launched his Singapore Bar Event Calendar. So much is happening there that it’s hard to keep up. And that’s why the world gave us Moses. Check out the calendar and Moses’ social media accounts to keep up with the scene.

Jessica Taylor worked her way through beer bars in the 90’s, slinging drinks that ended in “tini”, and learning the craft. After spending several years with J.W. Marriott, she transitioned to an education role with Southern Wine and Spirits. As the head of mixology and education for the state of Indiana, she’s continued to build the Southern Spirits Academy. Her 16 week program covers a wide range of topics, from distillation to ice. She accomplishes that by inviting the biggest names in the beverage business. Listen in to hear how she gets it all done.

Winemaker Drew Voit, when interviewed by Wine Enthusiast, said “I promise compromise-free, non-efficient, non-cost effective, hyper-focused winemaking.” And that is Drew in a nutshell. He is obsessed with the terroir of Oregon, and he’ll stop at nothing to make sure his grapes have a voice.

He knew from a young age that he would be involved in farming somehow, after all it was the family business. When a college classmate brought Oregon wine samples to class, Drew decided then and there that he would set his sights on Oregon to hone his craft. His path has taken him to some of the biggest names of the Pacific Northwest – including Domaine Serene and Shea Wine Cellars. He now makes wine in Willamette Valley under his own label, Harper Voit, while also collaborating and consulting with his neighbors.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It can be difficult to pronounce for non-native speakers so, rather than just order a bottle and learn more about the wine, we often pass it over and order something that doesn’t make us look like bumbling fools in front of the sommelier. And we miss out on one of the great wine regions of the world – a region that has been cherished for its wine for centuries – a region where over ten percent of the citizens are winemakers. This week we invited Baptiste Grangeon of Domaine de Cristia to talk about his family’s history, the region where he makes his wine, and whether or not you can have a Guns n’ Roses reunion without Izzy Stradlin. Santé

Bill Kennedy, the Founder and Operator of Backbone Bourbon Company, joins us this week to talk about his path from young bartender in the 1970’s, to sommelier in the 1980’s and 90’s, and finally to his own distributorship and Bourbon label. It was a circuitous path that involves being thrown to the wolves on the dining floor, a business deal gone bad, and some side trips to Indianapolis.

He’s long been a beloved part of the Indiana beverage scene, and has now become the charismatic force behind Backbone Bourbon, Bonesnapper Rye, and Bone Dry Gin, liquors that are now available in half of the United States. And here is how it all started.

In an era of mergers and acquisitions by multinational alcohol conglomerates, it is rare to find a family-owned distillery with a 150-year history of making world-renowned products. Hayman’s Gin is one of those rare companies. Today we’re talking with Lee Fisher, Head of International for Hayman’s. Since 1863, when a charismatic pharmacist decided to switch from toothpaste to gin, the recipe for Hayman’s Gin was born – the same recipe used today. With so many gins entering the market these days, and with the entire category growing at such a rapid rate, it can seem like a race to come up with the most eccentric gin on the market. But at what point is enough enough? And is there still a place for such traditionalist gins in 2019? All this and more today on “FIVE GENERATIONS OF GIN”!

It’s been almost nine months since we’ve heard from Arthur Black. Last Fall, he left his well-paying position with a national distributor, cashed in his 401K, and set out to explore the world. Since then, he’s lived on the porch of a Rastafarian, climbed the Himaylayas with Sherpas, made the four pilgrimages of Buddhism, was nearly attacked by a tiger, and now he’s back to tell the tales of mystery and imagination. Ladies and gentlemen… Arthur Black returns

Joshua Gonzales was one of the first guests on the show, has talked about mental health and sobriety in the service business, and even guest-hosted our interview with Don Lee of Existing Conditions. This week, he’s back on the show to talk about his new bar, Jailbird.

Joshua has built a career on being a fierce competitor, an educated and opinionated voice of the industry, and one of the most talented barmen in the country. But he’s been largely quiet for the last few years. That’s because he’s been working on this new project – in an underserved (no pun intended) area of Indianapolis. It opened just a few weeks ago, so this week you’re getting a glimpse into what the first few weeks of a new opening are like.

NOTE: As mentioned at the top of the show, I’ve been struggling with throat infections all year, and have a tonsillectomy scheduled soon. I apologize for the delay in getting this posted. I hope to be able to stay on schedule during my recovery by prerecording a couple of shows. Stay tuned. I’ll be back soon.

Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, Jason Wuerful knew from a young age that he wanted to be his own boss. After a stint playing minor league baseball and even co-owning a minor league team (the Traverse City Beach Bums!), he landed in Indianapolis with his very own place. He opened Books & Brews when he was just 32-years-old and has since grown it into a successful franchise. At a time when people were disconnecting from one another and opting to plug-in instead, Jason gambled that humans desire personal interaction through games, books, music, and beer. And he seems to just be getting started. He recently acquired one of Indianapolis’ favorite breweries, Flat12 Bierwerks to help supply his group of stores. He seems to be moving in a thousand directions at once, but there is one thread that holds it all together… community.