399: How Does It Feel Competing Against The World's Best Bartenders Making Six Cocktails in Six Minutes in Front of a Large Audience?

How does it feel competing against the world's best bartenders making six cocktails in six minutes in front of a large audience? How can bartending become a form of storytelling instead of simply making drinks? How did the Mojito begin as a 16th-century medical remedy? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Kaitlyn Stewart, the first Canadian to win the prestigious title of World Class Bartender of the Year and author of the book, Three Cheers: Cocktails Three Ways: Classics, Riffs, and Zero-Proof Sips. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.   Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of Kaitlyn Stewart's terrific new book, Three Cheers: Cocktails Three Ways: Classics, Riffs, and Zero-Proof Sips. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose two people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck!   Highlights How did growing up in her parents' restaurant shape Kaitlyn's career in hospitality? How did a mentor show Kaitlyn that bartending could combine storytelling, creativity, and performance? What was it like competing to make six cocktails in six minutes inside a Mexican wrestling ring? How did Kaitlyn become the first Canadian to win World Class Bartender of the Year? Why does Kaitlyn believe the world's greatest cocktails have stood the test of time? Why did Kaitlyn design her cocktail book with classic, modern, and alcohol-free versions of every drink? How does the Manhattan cocktail secretly contain New York City's 212 area code? Which classic cocktail has the strangest origin story? How did the Mojito begin as a medical remedy more than 400 years ago? What inspired the invention of the now-famous Espresso Martini?   About Kaitlyn Stewart Kaitlyn Stewart is an internationally recognized, global bartending champion with over 20 years of hospitality experience. In 2017, she became the first Canadian to win the prestigious title of Diageo's World Class Bartender of the Year. Beyond the bar, she is an author, recipe developer, consultant, and content creator with nearly a million followers across her Likeable Cocktails social platforms. Kaitlyn travels extensively to conduct seminars, judge cocktail competitions, and host guest shifts at some of the world's top bars. She was recently ranked #65 on the Drinks International Bar World 100 most influential people list and recognized as one of the Imbibe 75 "Ones to Watch." Additionally, she has been a multi-time nominee and short-list finalist for the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards in the categories of International Bar Mentor and Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Social Media Channel.       To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/399.