PODCAST · arts
Drinks At Work with Sam Bygrave
by Boothby Media
The world of drinks is a big one. Drinks At Work is hosted by Boothby editor Sam Bygrave, and each week he talks to bar owners, bartenders, ambassadors, distillers, writers and more to get a taste of the cities in which they live. Produced by Boothby Media.
Episodes
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Hobart with Rohan Massie from Rude Boy
In this episode, Rohan Massie shares insights into Hobart's vibrant bar scene, the secrets behind Rude Boy's success, and the innovative spirit of Punch & Ladle. Discover how local produce, community engagement, and continuous evolution keep Hobart's hospitality scene thriving, and get Rohan's...
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Singapore with Peter Chua
Sam Bygrave talks to Peter Chua, the bartender/operator/influential industry figure in Singapore, where he owns Night Hawk, a small, stylish, and creative cocktail bar. In addition to a glittering bartending career and stints as a bar consultant, Pete is also one of the founders of Singapore...
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Tokyo with Holly Graham
Holly Graham shares her journey from food and drink journalism to opening unique bars in Japan, including Tokyo Confidential and Niseko. She discusses bar design, menu concepts inspired by Japanese culture, and the evolving Tokyo bar scene.
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Adelaide with Lachlan Harrison
This episode features Lachy Harrison, co-owner of Bar Bar in Adelaide and part of the Cantina group, talking through what makes his tequila-led neighbourhood bar work and what he's building next with No. 6 East. Sam Bargrave also steers the conversation into Adelaide's wider hospitality scene…
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How to win the Suntory Cup, with advice from last year's winners
The Suntory Cup is back for 2026, celebrating bartending talent with a $40,000 prize pool. Here, we talk to last year\'s winners Reuben Beasley-Palmer and Tom Smith, and together with Suntory Oceania group advocacy manager John Galiatsatos, they talk about this year’s brief, how to approach the...
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What does it take to be Glenfiddich’s malt master? In depth with Brian Kinsman
In this episode Sam Bygrave talks to Brian Kinsman of Glenfiddich and William Grant & Sons, and delves into the intricate world of whisky, focusing on the importance of aroma, the role of technology in whisky analysis, and why the human nose can't be beat. We talk about the significance of the...
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An ambassador with 18 years on the card, Linus Schaxmann talks The Glendronach’s new releases
In October, I visited Melbourne to speak to Linus Schaxmann, one of the original Australian brand ambassadors and someone who has been at the gig for 18 years now. We caught up to discuss the latest addition to the portfolio from The Glendronach, which is a trio of whiskies: Ode to The Valley…
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Bar industry strengths and weaknesses with Dre Walters
Dre Walters, owner of Old Mate’s Place and Old Love’s in Sydney, talks to Sam Bygrave as they conducts a SWOT analysis of his bars and the broader bar industry. Walters attributes the enduring success of his venues to a “timeless” atmosphere and a relentless focus on humble, attentive customer...
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How Himkok collaborates to reach new audiences 10 years in
Today's guest is Paul Aguilar Voza, the R&D Manager at Himkok in Oslo, Norway. The bar has been around since 2015, and has picked up numerous accolades along the way. Himkok is also the Norwegian word for moonshine, and the venue is part bar, part distillery and part cocktail lab, as Paul talks...
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Friends with benefits: how to get brands to work better for your bar
This episode of Drinks At Work explores the dynamic relationship between bars and brands in the bar industry, and features Glenfiddich and The Balvenie ambassador, Ross Blainey, and his discussions with Monkey Shoulder & Sailor Jerry ambassador Rachael Bartlett, ALM’s Shawn Elliott, and Brisbane...
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It’s time to “Rack and roll,” says Speed Rack co-founder Lynnette Marrero
There are a lot of cocktail competitions out there, but there isn’t one quite like Speed Rack. Speed Rack is the US-based high-speed bartending competition designed to highlight women and femme-identifying people in the bar industry, all the while raising money for charities supporting breast...
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Luca Baioni on what makes great bartenders, opening Latteria, and more
We’re in Adelaide, and a conversation we recorded with bartender, former brand ambassador, and now bar owner, Luca Baioni. Luca is the co-owner of Latteria in Adelaide, a bar and eatery that is now into its second year of trade. Latteria is inspired by Luca and his business partner, Nicola’s...
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What’s it like working in your family’s 140 year old whisky business?
Sam Bygrave talks to Kirsten Grant Miekle, about her journey within the whisky industry, the importance of family legacy, innovation, and the art of blending. They discuss the creation of the House of Hazelwood, a passion project that reflects their family's history and commitment to quality. The...
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Hotel bars (and what indie bars can pick up) with Alex Happy Gilmour & Ross Blainey
Hey bartendery types! On this episode of Drinks At Work, Sam Bygrave speaks to Alex Gilmour & Ross Blainey about the nuances of hotel bars, focusing on their unique characteristics, the importance of local flavors, and the challenges faced in the hospitality industry. The speakers share their...
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Sean Baxter on the fight for attention; plus, what bars can learn from Never Never's brand refresh
Hey bartendery types! On this episode of Drinks At Work, Sam Bygrave speaks to Sean Baxter, to discuss recent developments at Never Never Distilling Co., including a brand refresh, the upcoming Never Never Cocktail Competition, and the impact of being acquired by Asahi. He shares insights on...
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How to own and run bars you want to spend time in
Hey bartendery types! On this episode of Drinks At Work, Sam Bygrave speaks to Charlie Lehmann & Sebastian Soto about their approach to owning and running venues — an approach we think makes for great hospitality — which took place live at the Better Bars Summit during Bartenders' Weekender last...
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“Arrogance will never make a great bar,” says The Connaught’s Giorgio Bargiani
Hey bartendery types! On this episode of Drinks At Work, Sam Bygrave speaks to Giorgio Bargiani about the Martini, The Connaught, Grey Goose Altius, and what makes a great bar.
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How Kayla Saito and Yao Wong developed popup menus abroad
Hey bartendery types! On this episode of Drinks At Work, Sam Bygrave speaks to Kayla Saito and Yao Wong about what it taks to put on guest shifts in foreign lands, working only with the ingredients you find when you're there.
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“Opening a bar is about overcoming challenges,” says George Curtis
Hey bartendery types! On this episode of Drinks At Work, Sam Bygrave speaks to George Curtis about what it takes to open not one but two Brisbane bars, why food is so important in the industry right now, about Bartenders' Weekender, and loads more.
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What makes the Brisbane bar scene different with Jacob Cohen and Charlie Hunter
Hey bartendery types! On this episode of Drinks At Work, Sam Bygrave speaks to two Brisbane bartenders — Charlie Hunter and Jacob Cohen — about what makes that scene tick, about Bartenders' Weekender, and loads more.
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Must-visit iconic bars (where the drinks may or may not be good), with Sebastian Cosmo Soto
Hey bartendery types! On this episode of Drinks At Work, we're doing things a little differently. Host Sam Bygrave is joined by Sebastian Cosmo Soto to unpack the last few weeks in bars in Australia, talking about the Maybe Cocktail Festival, the benefit of takeovers, Sorry Not Sorry, and new…
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Satan’s Whiskers on traditional bartending skills and classics, with Daniel Waddy and Finn Sugrue
Sam Bygrave speaks with Daniel Waddy and Finn Sugrue from Satan's Whiskers in London, your favourite bartender's favourite bartenders' bar.
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Sebastian Tollius talks Clemente Bar, Eleven Madison Park, Maybe Cocktail Festival
Sam Bygrave speaks with Sebastian Tollius, the beverage director New York’s Clemente Bar and Eleven Madison Park. We discuss the evolution of cocktail culture, the importance of creating unique bar experiences, and the collaborative nature of crafting cocktails that pair beautifully with food....
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Why Club Suntory — and the Suntory Cup — is back
At Maybe Sammy here in Sydney, I talked with John Galiatsatos (Group Advocacy Manager, Suntory Oceania), Valentine Maguire (Design Manager, Club Suntory), Rhi Lucas (Maker’s Mark Diplomat, Australia & New Zealand), Alice Newport (James B. Beam Distilling Co. Ambassador, Australia & New Zealand),...
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Ivy Mix wants you to back the Rack
There are many cocktail competitions in the bar world, but there isn’t one quite like Speed Rack. Speed Rack is the US-based high-speed bartending competition designed to highlight women and femme-identifying people in the bar industry, all the while raising money for charities supporting breast...
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What Calliope Draper learned working three of The World’s 50 Best Bars
We talk to Calliope Draper, the recipient of the 50 Bets Bars Roku Scholarship at The World's 50 best Bars awards last October. Callie and Sam talk about the lessons learned from Bar High Five, Virtu, and Maybe Sammy, and the importance of inclusivity in the bar industry, and Callie's their…
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Matty Opai talks ‘invisible restaurant’ and 10 years of service at Icebergs Dining Room & Bar
We talk to Matty Opai abouthis time at Icebergs overlooking Bondi Beach. We talk about the significance of hospitality, the evolution of the bar scene, and how they create unique experiences. The discussion highlights the challenges and excitement of managing multiple venues, the art of hosting,...
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Another round: how The World’s 50 Best Bars works with Emma Sleight
We’re serving up another round of my interview with Emma Sleight, the head of content for The World’s 50 Bets Bars and The World’s 50 Best Hotels. It’s an interesting chat with someone occupying a one of a kind role in the global bar industry — and a high profile one at that.
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Stefano Catino on Maybe Cocktail Festival lineup, and the state of bars right now
In this episode of Drinks at Work, I spoke to Stefano Catino from the Maybe Group because in April the Maybe Cocktail Festival is back, that’s when a big bunch of the some of the world’s best bars and superstar bartenders come to Sydney for a week of guest shifts, hosted at Maybe Group venues. So...
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Federico Malavenda on Fernet-Branca parties, myths, and how it became the bartenders’ handshake
In this episode of Drinks at Work, we talk about the role of brand ambassador for Fernet Branca with Federico Malavenda, the unique culture surrounding Fernet-Branca, and the exciting events planned to celebrate the brand. The Freddy shares insights into the Fernet Branca coin concept, the design...
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Matt Dale on the brand ambassador role in 2025
In this episode of Drinks at Work, Sam Bygrave interviews Matt Dale, a seasoned bartender and the Rhubi brand ambassador. They discuss Matt's journey from New Zealand to Australia and London, his experiences in some of the world's best bars, and his new role promoting Rhubi, a low ABV rhubarb...
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Jason Williams on what to expect when Baptist Street Rec Club opens
In this episode, Jason Williams discusses the upcoming opening of the Baptist Street Rec Club with Sam Bygrave. They explore the concept behind the bar, which aims to be a neighbourhood bar with a focus on high-quality drinks, music, and community engagement. The design reflects Australian...
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How Trish Brew started a gin brand side hustle
In this episode of Drinks At Work, host Sam Bygrave interviews Trish Brew, a bartender turned brand ambassador, who recently launched her own gin brand, Bellicose Pink Gin. Trish shares her journey from starting in fast food to becoming a prominent figure in the bartending world, discussing the...
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2024's best bars, openings, and people with Cara Devine
In this end of the year episode of Drinks at Work, Sam Bygrave and Cara Devine discuss the highs and lows of the year, including notable openings and closures, the evolution of hospitality, and the importance of unique offerings in bars. They talk about the challenges faced by bars and the need…
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Alexandre Gabriel on creativity, Planteray rums, GI rules, farming, and much more
Sam Bygrave talks to Alexandre Gabriel to get his insights into the world of rum production, from Fiji to France to the Carribean, and how he became a master blender. We talk about the art of double ageing rum, and conversation around the importance of geographical indications in the rum world....
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Fred Siggins on new Australian rum, Melbourne pubs, and the Attica criticism controversy
On this episode of Drinks At Work, Fred Siggins talks to Sam Bygrave about the vibrant bar culture of Melbourne, his journey from chef to drinks writer and co-owner of Goodwater, and makes Melbourne’s pub scene unique (and better than Sydney’s). He also talks about the evolution of Australian rum...
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Lachlan Bentley (Gimlet, Apollo Inn) on restaurant bars, collabs with Never Never
Sam Bygrave talks to Lachlan Bentley about his journey in the hospitality industry, focusing on his role as the bar manager at Gimlet and Apollo Inn. He shares insights into the collaboration with Never Never Distilling Co. to create a unique triple dry martini, how they craft their drinks…
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From butcher, to bartender, to whisky ambassador with Josh Davies
Today’s guest on Drinks At Work is Josh Davies, is the Australian single malt whisky specialist for Whyte & Mackay, and that means he’s the ambassador for some very special whiskies — just like The Dalmore, which we talk about at length here. Josh is a Melbourne boy who spent time in England (in...
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Dr Rachel Barrie has nosed over 170,000 whisky casks
On this week’s episode of Drinks At Work, we’ve got deep, deep expertise. I’m talking to the master blender for The Glendronach, Dr Rachel Barrie, about her career — she has, as she says in the chat here, nosed somewhere around 170,000 barrels of whisky to date. That is just a crazy number of...
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A deep dive on how The Waratah works with Evan Stroeve
On this episode, I’m talking to Evan Stroeve, the owner of The Waratah in Darlinghurst about what makes that place tick, how they structure their team, how they develop menus and the first few weeks opening a new bar. This chat took place at Bartenders' Weekender in Brisbane in June. You can…
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Talking awards, hospitality, and culture with Stefano Catino
On this episode, Sam Bygrave talks to Stefano Catino, co-owner of the Maybe Group in Sydney. The conversation delves into the essence of hospitality, the evolution of the bar Maybe Sammy, the impact of awards on business success, and the significance of building a strong team culture.…
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Bars are where fashion, music, art (and food and drink) come together for Ross Blainey
On this episode, I’m talking to Ross Blainey, the creative collaborations lead for Glenfiddich and The Balvenie. Ross discusses his unique role, which goes beyond the traditional brand ambassador duties by bringing elements from various cultural spheres such as fashion, art, and music into the...
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‘That wine wankery makes people feel inferior,’ says Samantha Payne
On this episode, I’m talking to Samantha Payne, the drinks writer for Gourmet Traveller and noted wine writer, sommelier, and consultant. We talk about what makes a great wine list, discuss the rise of natural wine, the exciting developments in the world of wine, and champagne alternatives. We…
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Luke Whearty on five years of Byrdi, and why there are too many average guest shifts
On this episode, I’m talking to Luke Whearty, the bartender and owner of Byrdi in Melbourne. In this conversation with Luke, we talk about Byrdi and the five year milestone — theirs is part of the 2019 class of openings that had to contend with the pandemic in 2020 — he talks about what makes a...
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Shirley Yeung on Mix Haus, working with Rhubi, and more
On this episode, I’m talking to Shirley Yeung, she’s the co-founder of Mix Haus, a WA-based non-profit working to support women in hospitality around Australia, she’s also the group operations manager for a stable of Perth venues including Foxtrot Unicorn, Edward & Ida’s, and Nieuw Ruin.…
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10 years in: Nick Corletto on Maybe Mae’s longevity and upcoming tour
This episode we're talking to Nick Corletto. He talks about how the Maybe Mae philosophy has developed over time, and the upcoming celebrations for the bar's 10th birthday. Hidden Spaces Melbourne: The Attic, 304 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065 (entrance off back lane) Date: Sunday, August 18th...
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“It’s about the storytelling for us,” says new Balvenie ambassador, Joseph Chisholm
Sam Bygrave talks to Joseph Chisholm about the role of innovation and creativity in the whiskey-making process. Joey shares his experience as the Balvenie brand ambassador and the responsibility of nurturing the brand. He highlights the handcrafted nature of Balvenie and the five rare crafts that...
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Five years in with the co-owner of NSW’s number one bar, Sebastian Cosmo Soto
In this episode of Drinks at Work, Sam Bygrave interviews Sebastian Soto, co-owner of Double Deuce Lounge. They discuss the bar's concept, its five-year anniversary, and the challenges of owning a bar. They also talk about the importance of staff retention and creating a positive work culture.…
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Mentorship, colour-coded calendars: how Jake Down won Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year Australia
This episode we're talking to Jake Down, the newly crowned winner of the Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year Australia for 2024.
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How to open your first bar — what to know about landlords, money and more
This episode is a recording of a live interview with four top bar operators I held back in June at the Better Bars Summit during Bartenders’ Weekender in Brisbane. On the panel: Stefano Catino (Maybe Group and five time World's 50 Best Bars stalwart, Maybe Sammy), Martin Lange (Cobbler, Death &...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The world of drinks is a big one. Drinks At Work is hosted by Boothby editor Sam Bygrave, and each week he talks to bar owners, bartenders, ambassadors, distillers, writers and more to get a taste of the cities in which they live. Produced by Boothby Media.
HOSTED BY
Boothby Media
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Drinks At Work with Sam Bygrave have?
Drinks At Work with Sam Bygrave currently has 124 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Drinks At Work with Sam Bygrave about?
The world of drinks is a big one. Drinks At Work is hosted by Boothby editor Sam Bygrave, and each week he talks to bar owners, bartenders, ambassadors, distillers, writers and more to get a taste of the cities in which they live. Produced by Boothby Media.
How often does Drinks At Work with Sam Bygrave release new episodes?
Drinks At Work with Sam Bygrave publishes regularly with 124 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Drinks At Work with Sam Bygrave?
You can listen to Drinks At Work with Sam Bygrave on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Drinks At Work with Sam Bygrave?
Drinks At Work with Sam Bygrave is created and hosted by Boothby Media.
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