#122, Jake Burger, mixologist, London bar owner, Portobello Road gin distiller, raconteur

Jake's one of the OG's of the UK bar scene, first making waves by winning multiple cocktail and bartending contests (including one where he won a £10, 000 diamond) when based out of his native Leeds, working in Leeds' top bars and then opening one of his own, then moving to London and opening beloved industry hangout The Portobello Star bar, co-founding the Alternative Bar Awards in the Star, and then upgrading both the Star and its in-house gin still to much larger premises, the Ginstitute, where the brand he co-founded Portobello Road Gin, is produced. Jake's a hilarious man, concealing a deep knowledge of spirits and mixology behind an affable, self-deprecating Northern exterior.The Star, after a period of non-existence, is now back and thriving, as is Portobello Road Gin, and Jake is, God help us, an elder statesman of the UK bar world. Jake was in New Orleans at the same time as me, so we pre-gamed Tales of the Cocktail by meeting up for a martini and some beers,  and we shot the shit for an epic three hours one afternoon, enjoy!Jake on IG: https://www.instagram.com/jakefburger/The Portobello Star on IG: https://www.instagram.com/portobello_star/Portobello Road Distillery: https://www.instagram.com/spiritofportobelloroad/?hl=en (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] 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...