The Cocktail Academy

In this episode of The Cocktail Academy Podcast, Damian records live from Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London with Andy Loudon, Director of Bars, and Kris Bazys, Bar Manager, during the launch of the new Heroes & Villains menu.
Andy breaks down the thinking behind the menu, how Gerald Scarfe’s artwork shapes the identity of the bar, and why great bars are built on energy, escapism, and experience, not just what’s in the glass. Kris then takes us behind the scenes into the reality of service, explaining what actually changes when a new menu launches, how the team adapts, and what it takes to deliver consistency at scale.
This episode is a strong listen for bartenders, operators, and hospitality professionals who want to understand how top-level cocktail programmes are built and executed in a luxury environment without losing personality.

In this episode:
How the Heroes & Villains concept was developed
Why Scarfes focuses on experience over just drinks
What really changes when a new menu launches
The operational reality behind high-level cocktail service
Why “villain” drinks like Mojitos and Cosmopolitans still matter
How batching and classics work together in a modern bar
The training system behind a high-performing bar team

Key Takeaways
Experience beats everything
Great drinks are expected. What separates bars is how they make guests feel from the moment they walk in.
Menus are built over time
A single menu launch represents months of development, testing, and team input.
Luxury doesn’t have to be stiff
Scarfes shows how to balance high-end service with warmth, personality, and energy.
Operations drive success
Menu changes impact everything—layout, prep, glassware, flow, and team movement.
Training builds consistency
Strong foundations, structured progression, and continuous development are key to maintaining standards.
Classics still matter
Even with modern techniques, classic cocktails remain essential for both training and guest demand.

Highlights
The thinking behind Heroes & Villains and its link to Gerald Scarfe
Why certain classic cocktails became “villains” within the industry
The hidden 48-hour prep behind some drinks
How Scarfes trains and develops its team from the ground up
The balance between batching for efficiency and maintaining craft

Standout Quotes
“People go to bars for escapism.”
“Luxury and comfort are not always the same thing.”
“You can train a monkey to make a good drink with the right recipe.”
“The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.”
“The first thing I protect is my team.”

Guests
Andy Loudon – Director of Bars, Rosewood London
Kris Bazys – Bar Manager, Scarfes Bar

Follow & Connect
Scarfes Bar: @scarfesbar
Rosewood London: @rosewoodlondon
The Cocktail Academy: @welovecocktails
Website: www.thecocktailacademy.com
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Tyler Zielinski has built one of the most interesting careers in modern drinks. In this episode, Damian chats with the author of Tiny Cocktails about his path from early bartending roles in Boston, to advertising in New York, to becoming a writer, consultant, educator, and content creator working across the global drinks industry.
They talk about what it really takes to build a career beyond the bar, why modern bartenders need to think differently about networking and visibility, and how Tyler carved out a lane that blends hospitality, media, and brand work.
The conversation also digs into the rise of tiny cocktails — what they actually are, why they are more than just glorified shots, and how they can create real value for bars and guests alike. Tyler also shares how the book opened the door to projects like Wheels Up and the Up Mini Bar, showing how one idea can evolve into something much bigger.
A great listen for bartenders, operators, drinks creatives, and anyone curious about where cocktail culture is heading next.

In this episode:
Tyler’s route into hospitality
From Boston bars to New York advertising
Why content creation in drinks is harder than it looks
Building a career outside the traditional bar path
Why bartenders need to diversify their network
What tiny cocktails actually are
How smaller serves can work in a bar program
Pricing, access, and tasting-menu applications
The Wheels Up partnership and Up Mini Bar
Why unusual ideas can lead to major opportunities

Follow Tyler:
Instagram: @bon_vivantito
Industry content: @zeststories

Follow The Cocktail Academy:
Instagram: @welovecocktails
TikTok: @welovecocktailsx
Facebook: @welovecocktailsx
Website: www.thecocktailacademy.com
Email: [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a bartender mate, post it to your story, and tag us so we can see it.
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Lindsey Johnson has spent nearly two decades quietly shaping the global drinks industry from behind the scenes. From punk bar bartender to broadcast journalist to founder of the world’s first bartender advocacy agency, Lindsey built Lush Life Productions on one simple principle: take care of bartenders and they’ll take care of everything else.

In this episode, we dive into how she bridges the gap between brands and the bar community, why hospitality professionals should be treated like VIP guests, and the uncomfortable truths about awards, recognition, and what really matters in this industry.

In this episode we cover:
Lindsey’s unconventional path from punk clubs to brand strategist
Why 80% of alcohol purchasing decisions are influenced by bartenders
The founding of Lush Life Productions and 19 years of bartender advocacy
Why brands still misunderstand the power of the bar
Economic downturns and why they often lead to smarter brand investment
The real reason some bartender programs fail
Why hospitality must be practiced towards hospitality professionals
Why awards don’t always equal impact
Social responsibility and bars as community safe spaces
Advice for bartenders who want to work with brands
Advice for small brands trying to grow strategically

Key Takeaways
If you want bartenders to champion your brand, feed them, respect them, and invest in them properly.
Showing up consistently matters more than chasing visibility.
Awards are nice — but mentorship and community-building matter more.
Smaller brands win by focusing deeply, not broadly.
Hospitality is not a buzzword. It’s logistics, care, trust, and follow-through.

Connect with Lindsey
🌐 Website: https://lushlifeproductions.com
📩 Sign up to the newsletter via the website
📸 Instagram:
@livethelushlife
@pdxcw (Portland Cocktail Week)
@camp_runamuck

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone in hospitality who needs to hear it.
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In this episode, Damian sits down with Declan McGurk, a hospitality leader whose career spans high-volume bars, global spirits brands, and one of the most iconic hotel bars in the world.
Declan traces his journey from glass collecting and flair bartending in late-90s Leeds, through brand and sales roles in London, to managing the legendary American Bar at The Savoy. Along the way, he shares why systems matter more than stories, how classics training builds real confidence behind the bar, and why the martini remains the ultimate benchmark for hospitality standards.
The conversation also dives into his move to Boatyard Distillery, the realities of growing a spirits brand in a crowded market, and why bartender trust is still the most powerful driver of long-term success.
A must-listen for bartenders, managers, and drinks professionals who care about fundamentals, consistency, and genuine hospitality.

In this episode:
Starting out behind the bar and learning through structured training
Why everyone in hospitality is in sales (whether they realise it or not)
Lessons from The Savoy: consistency over personality
The martini as a diagnostic tool for bars and bartenders
Classics vs over-complicated cocktail menus
The current state of gin and why “real gin” still matters
What great hospitality actually looks like heading into 2026

Key takeaway:
Great hospitality isn’t about perfection, i t’s about standards, energy, and making sure nobody leaves unhappy, guests or staff.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe to The Cocktail Academy Podcast for more conversations with the people shaping modern hospitality.

Instagram 📲 Follow @welovecocktails for episode clips, insights, and bartender-focused content.
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Saeed “Hawk” House – better known online as @cocktailsbyhawk – joins Damian to talk about his path from Bay Area barback to LA content creator, why he still thinks like a working bartender, and how influencers with real bar chops can shape what guests drink around the world.
They get into the tension between “what works on Instagram” and “what works on a busy Friday night,” the responsibilities that come with reach, and Hawk’s campaign to make cocktails fun (and drinkable) again.

In this episode, we cover:
Growing up in the Bay Area, studying audio engineering and falling sideways into bartending via Burning Man and Chelsea’s nudge behind the bar
Building foundations at Cantina, Prizefighter, Perch and Mrs. Fish – and what high-volume vs high-craft venues each taught him
Picking up a GoPro, posting rough early videos and realising a working bartender could step into the influencer space
COVID as a turning point: brand deals, staying afloat and the decision to leave regular bar work for full-time content creation
The responsibility of bartender-creators: transparency around paid partnerships and learning to say no to brands that don’t fit
The inside story of the Batanga “conspiracy” and what it reveals about how online trends drive real-life orders
Balancing social-friendly recipes with drinks that bars and home drinkers can actually execute
Why Hawk is less interested in rotovaps and more focused on simple, repeatable cocktails you want four of—not just a one-off spectacle
How films, food and ingredients inspire his recipes, including a deep dive into his Joker-inspired cocktail build

About Saeed “Hawk” House
Saeed “Hawk” House is a Los Angeles–based bartender, consultant and full-time creator behind Cocktails by Hawk. After years in San Francisco and LA bars, he now partners with spirits brands, develops menus, runs a mobile bartending business and shares approachable cocktail content with a global audience.

Find Hawk: @cocktailsbyhawk on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and more.
Find The Cocktail Academy: thecocktailacademy.com · IG @welovecocktails · TikTok @welovecocktailsx
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