#23 Jeffrey Morgenthaler: A Master Bartender’s Guide to Staying Sane in a $25 Martini World episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 3, 2025 · 58 MIN

#23 Jeffrey Morgenthaler: A Master Bartender’s Guide to Staying Sane in a $25 Martini World

from Serves You Right · host Andrew Roy

00:50 The Journey of Writing and Sharing Knowledge03:33 Cocktail Crafting: Learning from Mistakes06:48 Respecting Classic Cocktails09:41 The Art of Tasting and Developing Cocktails12:37 The Design Process in Cocktail Creation15:36 Navigating the Bar Scene and Mentorship18:43 The Evolution of Bartending and Management21:39 The Importance of Flavor Memory and Experience24:34 Judging Spirits and Continuous Learning27:54 Embracing Individual Strengths28:29 The Evolution of Bartending Culture29:39 Trends in the Cocktail Industry31:46 Pricing and Customer Experience in Bars33:34 The Importance of Flexibility in Bar Operations35:42 The Non-Alcoholic Movement and Its Impact39:39 The Future of Drinking Culture48:32 Challenges of the Restaurant Industry52:36 Innovations in Cocktail PreparationWhat if everything you thought made a great bartender was wrong?Today’s guest is Jeffrey Morgenthaler. If you’ve touched a jigger in the last 15 years, chances are you’ve felt his influence. He’s the guy bartenders read, steal from, and share his writings far and wide.Whether you’ve never bartended or you’ve been behind the stick for 20 years, this conversation will challenge the way you think about hospitality, creativity…and maybe even your own career.Links:Jeffrey’s Website (where you can find all the free drink calculators he mentions at the end of the conversation!)InstagramPour yourself something good (maybe a bloody mary, you’ll see why during the convo). This one is pretty funny...Expect to Learn:How to batch cocktails without ruining themThe truth about $25 martinisWhy some bartenders sound like clownsHow to fix mint syrupThe forgotten art of fun in barsWhy most NA cocktails suck (and how to fix them)The power of flavor memoryHow to build better menus fasterWhy Long Island Iced Teas deserve respectHow to avoid pricing people out of your barWhy most “original cocktails” are actually sloppyThe hidden cost of not questioning your bar setup (which is being grilled by Jeffrey on a podcast!).Service starts now.I talk mostly to people in and around the service industry space. I'm looking to hear from the people I wish I could have talked to when I was coming up in restaurants. Said another way: I am trying to make sense of this wild, beautiful mess of a life, and help others that are feeling similarly confused and/or lost. You can find more of my work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠my blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and all my social links are at the bottom of that page.Classic Episodes You May Like:-#10:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nat Harry, cocktail expert!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-#14:⁠ ⁠⁠Dr. Shalini Bahl, mindful marketing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-#22:Doug Frost MW MSAs always, I’m just here taking notes, trying to figure out what it all means.Cheers

00:50 The Journey of Writing and Sharing Knowledge03:33 Cocktail Crafting: Learning from Mistakes06:48 Respecting Classic Cocktails09:41 The Art of Tasting and Developing Cocktails12:37 The Design Process in Cocktail Creation15:36 Navigating the Bar Scene and Mentorship18:43 The Evolution of Bartending and Management21:39 The Importance of Flavor Memory and Experience24:34 Judging Spirits and Continuous Learning27:54 Embracing Individual Strengths28:29 The Evolution of Bartending Culture29:39 Trends in the Cocktail Industry31:46 Pricing and Customer Experience in Bars33:34 The Importance of Flexibility in Bar Operations35:42 The Non-Alcoholic Movement and Its Impact39:39 The Future of Drinking Culture48:32 Challenges of the Restaurant Industry52:36 Innovations in Cocktail PreparationWhat if everything you thought made a great bartender was wrong?Today’s guest is Jeffrey Morgenthaler. If you’ve touched a jigger in the last 15 years, chances are you’ve felt his influence. He’s the guy bartenders read, steal from, and share his writings far and wide.Whether you’ve never bartended or you’ve been behind the stick for 20 years, this conversation will challenge the way you think about hospitality, creativity…and maybe even your own career.Links:Jeffrey’s Website (where you can find all the free drink calculators he mentions at the end of the conversation!)InstagramPour yourself something good (maybe a bloody mary, you’ll see why during the convo). This one is pretty funny...Expect to Learn:How to batch cocktails without ruining themThe truth about $25 martinisWhy some bartenders sound like clownsHow to fix mint syrupThe forgotten art of fun in barsWhy most NA cocktails suck (and how to fix them)The power of flavor memoryHow to build better menus fasterWhy Long Island Iced Teas deserve respectHow to avoid pricing people out of your barWhy most “original cocktails” are actually sloppyThe hidden cost of not questioning your bar setup (which is being grilled by Jeffrey on a podcast!).Service starts now.I talk mostly to people in and around the service industry space. I'm looking to hear from the people I wish I could have talked to when I was coming up in restaurants. Said another way: I am trying to make sense of this wild, beautiful mess of a life, and help others that are feeling similarly confused and/or lost. You can find more of my work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠my blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and all my social links are at the bottom of that page.Classic Episodes You May Like:-#10:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nat Harry, cocktail expert!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-#14:⁠ ⁠⁠Dr. Shalini Bahl, mindful marketing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-#22:Doug Frost MW MSAs always, I’m just here taking notes, trying to figure out what it all means.Cheers

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#23 Jeffrey Morgenthaler: A Master Bartender’s Guide to Staying Sane in a $25 Martini World

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This episode was published on July 3, 2025.

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00:50 The Journey of Writing and Sharing Knowledge03:33 Cocktail Crafting: Learning from Mistakes06:48 Respecting Classic Cocktails09:41 The Art of Tasting and Developing Cocktails12:37 The Design Process in Cocktail Creation15:36 Navigating the Bar...

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