Brendan's a hell of a cool guy: Australian, learned distilling in parallel with his university medical and science studies back home, got a Phd from NYU, GM of New York's hugely fun Bathtub Gin, and in late 2025 he opened Hello Hello Bar and Silent Alibi distillery, both of which are in the West 26th Street space in Manhattan formerly occupied by the New York branch of Pernod-Ricard's epically failed Our/Vodka distillery program.

This is a proper long Philip-Duff-Show episode, so settle in!

We kick off talking neuroscience and Ozempic (because of course) and it quickly morphs into Brendan's career path, immigration advice, bartender training, how they got hold of a distillery smack dab in the middle of Manhattan, what they do at the distillery, and his consulting work formulating liquids for clients as well as running two bars and a distillery, and we taste their first brand, the amazing 11th Hour Coffee Liqueur, as well as a rum brand from a consulting project he's working on and a million other things besides.

Enjoy!

Brendan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/b.is.somewhere?igsh=MWI0MzEzdGJjajBiag==

11th Hour Coffee Liqueur: https://www.instagram.com/drink11thhour/

Hello Hello bar: https://www.instagram.com/hellohellobar/?hl=en

Bathtub Gin: https://www.instagram.com/bathtubginnyc/?hl=en

(Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(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.)

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
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It's never dull when I drop round Tony's, even during Dry January, and this session was no exception.

After chowing down on sushi and sashimi, fancy fellows that we are, we got down to serious discussions encompassing Fraggle Rock, 1980s "wrestling" in the UK, the new American health directives on alcohol, how I happened into a random Miracle Christmas pop-up bar in the wilds of New Jersey, and then (because, as a drinks writer, Tony gets sent unholy amounts of stuff), we created an infinity bottle from all the many samples of a particular bottled-in-bond whiskey Tony had been sent over the years, and tasted a hoo-mama really-out-there rum, the news and tasting of which is a Philip Duff world exclusive! (Unless you read Food and Wine magazine online last Friday, that is).

Enjoy!

Tony on IG: https://www.instagram.com/retromannyc/

Tony's website: https://www.tonysachsdrinks.com/

Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(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, and we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, or listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview or Zoom.)

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff
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,Kurt's back!

His last appearance on the 'pod was November 2023, so we sat down to catch up on everything that's been going on since then in Africa, South Africa, and further afield, over martinis, delicious SA brandy and a spot of Brooklyn whiskey - enjoy!

Kurt on IG: https://www.instagram.com/kurtschlechter/?hl=en

Cause + Effect on IG: https://www.instagram.com/causeeffectcpt/?hl=en

Order The Flair Bartending Book: https://barproducts.com/products/flair-bartending-by-marco-canova-tom-dyer?srsltid=AfmBOoq3_Nh9XBn3XIki60wKQyQzis1K_AGRoGHHdUomqsnSQ-5lbEjL

Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(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, and we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, or listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview or Zoom.)

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff
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Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com

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Well, what a year it's been!

I added Kazakhstan to my "list of countries I got drunk in", hit all the usual suspects on the global bar show circuit and added the inaugural Gulf Bar Show in Dubai as well, and spent my usual eight weeks living in Europe to boot, sucking down €9 (instead of $36) martinis and plate after plate of delicious boquerones.

2025 was also the Year of Tariffs, the launch of Hard Cut Vodka, the downfall of Uncle Nearest, the rise of the GLP-1 agonists (better known as Ozempic, et al, to you and I), the launch of several new cocktail weeks, bar awards, and training programs, and a lot more besides - enjoy!

Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(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, and we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, or listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview or Zoom.)

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff
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Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com

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Gareth's been a mate and fellow expat-in-New-York for a longish time, but I ran into him again recently when he hosted a mega-fancy private dinner in the already-mega-fancy members' area of private club Casa Tua, a dinner which I gatecrashed in a genteel manner, as my apartment was unexpectedly full of women playing mahjong.

Gareth was the consummate host, introducing the 2025 special edition of Aberfeldy single malt, the rather delicious 18-Year-Old Bolgheri Tuscan Finish, and it occurred to me - after more than a few drams - that he'd be a fun guest on the show.

We caught up* on all things expat, his origin story in Guildford, differences in bartending in the UK vs NY, how his milk punch is better than both Nico de Soto's and Eamon Rockey's, modern bartender education, why ICE are about to arrest him for smuggling explosives (and Christmas pudding) into the USA, his go-to order in a bar, and a whole lot more, tasted our way through three Aberfeldy releases including the aforementioned Super Tuscan finish, then we went for pints at the Dead Rabbit's holiday pop-up, Jingle Jangle, and then a couple more at the excellent Lucky Tiger.

*At Bacardi’s PR firm’s NY office: shout-out to Nike Communications!

Enjoy!

Gareth's IG: https://www.instagram.com/smokeymcgowan/

Aberfeldy's IG: https://www.instagram.com/aberfeldy/

Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(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, and we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, or listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview or Zoom.)

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org

Philip 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

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Daniyel is, in my opinion, the most naturally gifted brand ambassador I've ever met, but the reason he's been nominated for so many awards and other accolades is that since I met him many years ago, he has always been on a never-ending journey of self-improvement. I don't think I've ever seen him without a broad grin on his face, and if you spend ten seconds in his company, you'll have one, too.

We caught up to talk about his origin story in Trinidad, working in fine dining and TGI Friday's, leaving mobile cocktail-bar catering entrepreneurship behind for full-time brand ambassadorship for the House of Angostura, and the power of gratitude, among a lot more.

This is a very wholesome episode - enjoy!

Daniyel on IG: https://www.instagram.com/daniyeljones/

Daniyel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniyeljones

Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(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, and we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, or listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview or Zoom.)

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
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Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com

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Michael Neff, like so many of us, fell sideways into hospitality and now 27-odd years later, he's still in it, opening bars across the USA, consulting, podcasting and just plain bartending.

He's a real bartender's bartender, and you can see that DNA in all the places he's opened or consulted on or worked at: Ward III, Rum House, Holiday Cocktail Lounge (NY), Cottonmouth Club (Houston), Inkwell (Omaha) and other bars - more than fifty of them - that he's opened, spanning seven US states.

His approach to hospitality is thoughtful, insightful and empathetic; he can sling drinks with the best of them, but he also thinks carefully about why every guest is walking through the door.

I really enjoyed catching up with Michael for this episode, and I think you will, too.

Michael on IG: https://www.instagram.com/cocktailwhisperer/

Michael's website: https://michaeljneff.com/

Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(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, and we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, or listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview or Zoom.)

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff
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Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com

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Robert's a swashbuckling figure even by liquor biz standards: son of a fighter pilot, he grew up in England, set up a chain of radio stations across Europe in his youth, ran an agency, then slipped sideways into the liquor biz (armed only with a degree in languages) and climbed the greasy pole at Bacardi for 26 years, ending up as CEO of North America, after stints running the business in Moscow and Asia, among others.

In 2015, with another Bacardi refugee, Juan Rovira, RFR founded Samson & Surrey, a craft brand incubator which acquired Tequila Ocho, Mezcal Vago, Bluecoat Gin, Widow Jane whiskey, FEW whiskey and Brenne whisky and then applied RFR & Juan's expertise to grow the brands, before Samson & Surrey was itself acquired by Heaven Hill in 2022.

(Full disclosure: RFR & Juan were both still running Samson & Surrey in May 2023, when they hired Mrs Duff to be their head of advocacy).

We've had a quick drink together here and there but I've wanted to have a longer chat for ages, and we finally managed to plan it in - not easily, as, by his own admission, RFR sucks at being retired and is working harder than ever, helping (among other things) Filthy Foods grow.

We chatted about marketing, NPDs, what's changed in the liquor biz, the fallacy of research, Dick Bradsell's branding genius, why packaging rules, and a whole lot more. Enjoy!

RFR on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-furniss-roe-418136

RFR's email: robert_furnissroe@hotmail.com

Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(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, and we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, or listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview or Zoom.)

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org

Philip 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
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Old Duff Genever on X/Twitter: ...