The Philip Duff Show

Sarah has gone from working in the family hotel and restaurant in her native Sweden, to party bars in both the Alps and London, then a move to the Netherlands, where we met. 
She did a lot of work in Rotterdam with my old mates Jorgos and Ian at Barsupport, then moved to Amsterdam and got into brands. 
She's done over a decade of great work as a European ambassador for Patron and then Mijenta Tequila, and she's just started her own consultancy to share her deep love of, and storied experience in, brand-building through thoughtful experiences and activations that bring people together. 

She's a lot of fun (although tragically, has aged out of dancing on bars), and this is a great chat - enjoy! 

Sarah on IG: https://www.instagram.com/sarahbellesouth?vrfl=MWhuc2UxaTAyb2RkMw==

Studio Belle South on IG: https://www.instagram.com/studio.bellesouth?psln=ODRyOXZiaDVwenE0

Sarah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-s%C3%B6dersten-b94728ba?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios

(Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries:  [email protected] 

(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is.
They need to be able to hang.
Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)  

And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI. 

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: [email protected]

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff
Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter
Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com

Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos
Old Duff Genever on Faceboo...

Tom's one of the most fun people I know, as well as being intelligent and a fine bartender and host; he's also forgotten more science than almost anyone in our business, and has had a life so packed with adventure we couldn't fit it all in, even in a podcast that runs almost two-and-a-half hours!

From bartending at dancing class to working in labs to making the move to bohemian Berlin, then travelling through South-East Asia doing some questionable things, modelling with a blue Mohawk in Tokyo, then making his way back to Berlin and starting a career as a bartender and then bar owner, it's been a wild ride and Tom survived to tell the tales - enjoy!

Tom & Zyankali Bar on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zyankalibar?mdxt=MW0yZTJub2g1cnZpZA==

Visit Zyankali Bar!  Gneisenaustraße 17, Kreuzberg, 10961 Berlin, Germany 

Link to Tom's acid formulas for simulating citrus: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yuxepg9lg2a6c2u108q82/Bar-Zyankali-Acid-Solutions-Formulation-Mixology-Guide.pdf?rlkey=lar1neozk8xo5ara5phh8x4k6&st=hgziwkj0&dl=0

(Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries:  [email protected] 

(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is.
They need to be able to hang.
Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)  

And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI. 

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: [email protected]

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff
Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter
Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com

Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos
Old Duff Genever on Faceboo...

Nelson is an old mate  - I can't even remember where exactly we met! - but he has blazed a trail from humble upbringings in Portugal, to the Savoy organisation in London, and back to Portugal, winning countless awards along the way, and now inspiring a new generation as he prepares to reboot the legendary Ritz Hotel Lisbon as a Four Seasons, the very epitome of contemporary hotel cool. 

I loved chatting with Nelson; perhaps because we both come from very simple backgrounds.

And I have no doubt the Four Seasons Lisbon, when its bars open - in just a few weeks/months! - will become a global destination. 

Nelson on IG: http://@nelson_de_matosbartender

(Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries:  [email protected] 

(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is.
They need to be able to hang.
Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)  

And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI. 

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: [email protected]

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff
Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter
Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com

Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos
Old Duff Genever on Faceboo...

I met Lorenzo and Ibrahima just last week, and their Japanese-style cocktail bar, Mugi, which opened in Barcelona in April of this year, impressed me so much I wanted to get them on the podcast to tell their story. 

They're both Italians (tho Ibra was born in Burkina Faso), met while bartending in London (of course), and developed a deep love of Japan (they are Japalian!) and its traditions while working in top places like Roka and Coya, before moving to Barcelona. 

We talk about their hospitality journey, why they opened in Barcelona and not Madrid, how the reception has been, how they teach about sake and shochu, why we all love awamori, and why the most popular section of their menu is "Japan meets Mexico". And lots more - 

enjoy!

(Shout-out to Bianca Grisolia, whose Barcelona-based firm BG Communication arranged a presentation, for us Barcelona Hotel Bar Week* attendees, of the Mugi cocktail and food menu last week. Drinks and food are DELISH!. 

*BG Communication also created Barcelona Hotel Bar Week)

Mugi Bar IG: https://www.instagram.com/mugibar.bcn/

Ibrahima Guenne: https://www.instagram.com/ibraguenne/

Lorenzo Cisi:https://www.instagram.com/cisilorenzo/

BG Communication: https://www.instagram.com/bg.communication/

Barcelona Hotel Bar Week: https://www.instagram.com/barcelonahotelbarweek/

(Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries:  [email protected] 

(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is.
They need to be able to hang.
Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)  

And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI. 

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: [email protected]

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff
Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter
Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com

Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos
Old Duff Genever on Faceboo...

Natasha is a whole bundle of energy: raised in the Dominican Republic, she moved to NY young and amassed an impressive background bartending and managing in New York at places like Zuma, Llama Inn & Llama San, and, now, ruling the roost at the New York outpost of Ryan Chetiyawardana's Seed Library, whose first branch opened in 2022 in Shoreditch, east London. 

Enjoy!

Natasha on IG: https://www.instagram.com/natashita/

(Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries:  [email protected] 

(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is.
They need to be able to hang.
Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)  

And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI. 

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: [email protected]

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff
Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter
Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com

Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos
Old Duff Genever on Faceboo...

Adam's a veteran of legendary Manhattan restaurants including Babbo, Carbone and The Grill (formerly The Four Seasons) and became an award-winning writer for publications including Bon Appetit, The Wall Street Journal, Grub Street and many more.

His new book The New Rules of Dining Out is fabulous - maybe the first-ever dedicated guide to enjoying yourself more in restaurants (and bars) by knowing the best way to treat the staff, deal with issues and generally be the kind of guest staff can't wait to wait on. 

This was a GREAT ep - enjoy!

Adam on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dopereiner/?hl=fr

Adam on X/Twitter: https://x.com/adamreiner?s=11&t=kTsTPMPK0kgHLvK8ldrFXQ

Adam's Bon Appetit article about his book: https://www.bonappetit.com/story/will-guidara-unreasonable-hospitality-criticism?srsltid=AfmBOoodl8zGAWjryOujS9Z7DoUN9y5c-aPjz1xxxzcyNh7HTUMws6fO

Buy "The New Rules of Dining Out" from an independent bookseller: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-new-rules-of-dining-out-an-insider-s-guide-to-enjoying-restaurants-adam-reiner/f26a3fef9732ff92?ean=9780807185049&bkshp-astro=t

(Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries:  [email protected] 

(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is.
They need to be able to hang.
Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)  

And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI. 

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: [email protected]

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff
Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter
Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com

Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos
Old Duff Genever on Faceboo...

Officially our most-interviewed guest, me and Tony did our first-ever intercontinental podcast via satellite, and we jammed in  a whole lot - spicy margs, Drastic Dave firing 36% of the staff at Diageo's NY HQ, how the UK as a whole apparently drinks fewer martinis in a year than the legendarily thirsty guests of Bemelmans Bar in NY, and a bunch more. 

We also conducted a tasting of exquisite spirits (Tony) and random stuff I found lying around my host's apartment here in Spain, some of which was legit delish. 

Enjoy!

Tony on IG: https://www.instagram.com/retromannyc/?hl=en

Tony's website: https://www.tonysachsdrinks.com/what-im-writing

(Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries:  [email protected] 

(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is.
They need to be able to hang.
Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)  

And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI. 

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: [email protected]

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff
Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter
Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com

Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos
Old Duff Genever on Faceboo...

Shannon is an utter powerhouse, and after seeing her nail it at Death & Co, then the American Bar at the Savoy, then the ultimate (massive) rock 'n' roll venue Outernet London, it came as no surprise she was tapped to be Director of Mixology for the Venetian - 1st or 2nd largest resort IN THE WORLD! - in Las Vegas. 

So we had to talk. 

This is a good one. 

Shannon on IG: https://www.instagram.com/Shannontebay/

(Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries:  [email protected] 

(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is.
They need to be able to hang.
Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)  

And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI. 

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: [email protected]

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff
Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter
Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com

Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos
Old Duff Genever on Faceboo...

I met Allen in an Amsterdam bar in 2008, and everyone in the US scene already knew him; I assumed he'd been a bartender and transitioned into education & consulting, as so many of us did in the late 1990s and early 2000s. 
But the truth is much cooler! 
From growing up in Baltimore, living in NY as an aspiring musician, running a cooking school in Italy to becoming part of the Slow Food organisation, hosting a tribute to Jerry Thomas at the Plaza Hotel, being central to cocktail & spirits education for America's largest distributor and then founding NY Distilling Co and creating Dorothy Parker gin and - now - Jaywalk Rye, as well as making "Empire State Rye" a protected category, Allen really has done it all. 
We recorded at NYDC's gorgeous new home in Bushwick, which you really should visit 

Allen on IG: https://www.instagram.com/nydistilleryman?igsh=MXN1bTVlYXpzeWc5YQ==

NYDC on IG: https://www.instagram.com/nydistilling?igsh=c2pqMjdyMTFmcnFy

NYDC: https://www.nydistilling.com/

(Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries:  [email protected] 

(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is.
They need to be able to hang.
Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)  

And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI. 

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: [email protected]

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff
Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter
Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com

Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos
Old Duff Genever on Faceboo...

J'Nai, a born-and-raised New Orleanian, is lead bartender at The Chandelier Bar inside the rather ritzy Four Seasons New Orleans, was just nominated into the final 4 for "US Bartender of the Year" at the 2026 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, makes content with her companies Pretty Magic Cocktails and Magic House Media, and is also awesome (we met on a shoot for Australian Bitters Co. that involved us, ahem, "taste-testing" Sazeracs at 10am in the Old Absinthe House on Bourbon St) and great fun, so onto the Philip Duff Show she goes!

We talked about her upbringing, swerving from dentistry to bartending, how she got into the industry and into craft cocktails, finding her own voice, being Black in big-city New Orleans versus small-town Georgia, political polarisation , the joy of dive bars and how she just wants to be able to eat all of the garnishes, all the time! 

J'Nai on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jnai.angelle

Magic House Media: https://www.instagram.com/magichousemadeit

Pick Up My Shift: https://www.instagram.com/pickupmyshift

Pretty Magic Cocktails: https://www.instagram.com/prettymagiccocktails

(Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries:  [email protected] 

(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is.
They need to be able to hang.
Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)  

And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI. 

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: [email protected]

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff
Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter
Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com

Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos
Old Duff Genever on Faceboo...