On & Off

Sustainability Behind the Bar With Aurum Maui

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.

Exploring The Whiskey House of Kentucky

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.

Zebra Striping and the Future of Nonalc

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?

The State of Beverage Alcohol Retail and Tech

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.

Non-alc Trends With All The Bitter Bottle Shop and Bar

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.

How Alcohol Retailers Can Use Data and Analytics to Grow

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.

Rum Trends with The Bamboo Room Tiki Bar

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.

The First Government Ganjier

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.)