Movers And Shakers With April Wachtel

On this Christmas Eve, instead of a regular show, I wanted to do something a little different, and share a few things I'm personally grateful for from this year. 

Effie Panagopoulos is a 15 year veteran of the alcoholic beverage industry, and is founder of Kleos, the super premium Mastiha spirit. Effie earned her stripes as a bartender and brand ambassador in Boston, later working for major spirits suppliers like Bacardi and Remy Cointreau, most notably as the US National Brand Ambassador for Metaxa, and as the first dedicated marketing manager for Disaronno in the US. In the podcast today we discuss: Effie’s path to Kleos Selecting a name for your brand Why you should trademark everything How to turn off the internal gremlins And so much more. Although we didn’t get to discuss it in the interview, I also wanted to mention that I witnessed Effie totally crush- and win- the Enthuse Foundation Pitch competition last month in New York City.  If you’re interested in seeing a flawless pitch performance, check out the video here. As always, if you enjoyed the interview please like, subscribe, and share the podcast and give us a review in apple podcasts. It really does hel

Shilen Patel is co-founder and non-alch lead for Distill Ventures, the world’s first accelerator for the spirits industry.  Shilen started in drinks by leading a team at Guinness that turned around over 20 years of brand decline. He then started his own business and has helped dozens of founders realize their potential. He loves asking provocative questions, helping develop brilliant propositions and compelling strategies and coaching high performing teams to deliver great results.  In the podcast today we discuss- What DV is looking for in potential investments The evolution and future of the Non-alch trend The importance of stoicism in entrepreneurship  The biggest challenges facing food and beverage entrepreneurs today ...And so much more. Find Distill Ventures https://www.distillventures.com

Jeffrey Morgenthaler is an award-winning bartender working since 1996 in everything from neighborhood taverns and college nightclubs to fine restaurants and upscale lounges. Jeffrey has been writing about bartending and mixology for years at his website, jeffreymorgenthaler.com- which is still one of the most respected blogs in the cocktail world. He is a regular columnist at Playboy.com, and his recipes and wisdom have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Wine Enthusiast and Wired, among many others. He is the best-selling author of “The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique,” and Drinking Distilled. As always, Jeffrey tells it like it is, and we cover a range of topics including: Why the craft cocktail movement is due for change Why everyone should strive to contribute Why bartenders should stay behind the bar What drinking Manhattans at breakfast signals to others ...And so much more.

Nick Papanicolaou is a former investment banker and MBA graduate turned entrepreneur, who launched his own spirits brand which eventually brought him to Pernod Ricard. He led the M&A and Strategy team for the USA and helped build the New Brand Ventures unit as Head of Business Development. He was also CFO of New Brand Ventures and CFO of Smooth Ambler Spirits. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of Del Maguey Mezcal, Smooth Ambler Spirits and Our Vodka as well as on the Investment Committee for a venture capital fund. In the podcast today we discuss: Why large companies struggle with innovation Relationship building with investors What Pernod is looking for in potential entrepreneur partners The importance of timing in growing your business And so much more. Nick was such a generous and insightful guest, and I hope you get as much value from this conversation as I did. Without further ado, please enjoy this conversation with Nick Papanicolaou Find Nick on Instagram and LinkedIn

Robert Simonson writes about bars, bartenders, cocktails, spirits and travel for The New York Times. His work has also appeared in Imbibe, Food & Wine, Saveur, Bon Appetit, Punch and many other publications. His books include “The Old-Fashioned” “A Proper Drink”,  and “3-Ingredient Cocktails,” and his newest book, “The Martini Cocktail,” was released earlier this fall. His writings have been nominated for a total of eleven Spirited Awards; and two IACP Awards. He is the recipient of the 2019 Spirited Award for Best Cocktail and Spirits Writer, and he is the co-author, with Martin Doudoroff, of two apps, “Modern Classics of the Cocktail Renaissance” and “The Martini Cocktail,”  In the podcast today we discuss: Robert’s early writing career The role of instinct in creative work The evolution of the celebrity bartender The book someone should write on hospitality And so much more.  Robert was such a thoughtful and entertaining guest, and I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.  Find Robert on

Charlie O’Donnell has been an active member of the NY startup community for over 15 years, with a reputation of being the most accessible early stage investor in New York. His fund, Brooklyn Bridge Ventures has made over 60 investments since it was founded, often leading or co-leading investments in a wide variety of startups including The Wing, Petal, Clubhouse, Hungryroot, and Ample Hills Creamery, among others. In today's podcast we discuss: Misconceptions about angel investment versus VC. Reasons to avoid raising money from friends and family. Why raising small amounts of capital is as difficult as raising large amounts. Who should pitch him for investment. And so much more. If you’ve listened to previous episodes, you’ll notice there’s a recurring theme around what it takes to bring an idea into the world. I think many of the principles are universal- you have a great idea, you see a need, you find your audience, and so on. However, what I think is not very clear to the average person is how money affe

I am so excited to present my interview today with Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka, Mr Lyan.   Ryan is an Internationally renowned bartender, businessman, and author, and he and his establishments have won heaps of awards- from International Bartender of the year to World’s Best Bar, to Best Bar Team, to World’s Best Bar Menu, and so much more.  Currently his venues include Lyaness, Cub and Super Lyan (re-located from London to Amsterdam), and he's launching another venue, Silver Lyan, In Washington D.C this winter.    In the podcast today we discuss Ryan’s early days in food & beverage Challenging the status quo Rethinking sustainability Opening and closing successful bars Creativity & growth, and so much more A quick note to our listeners- the audio is a little shaky for the first minute, but please stay with us, because Ryan is brilliant, gracious, and you'll kick yourself if you don’t.    Find Mr Lyan www.mrlyan.com    Follow Ryan on Instagram @mrlyan   Follow Ryan’s businesses on Instagram @

I’m so excited to present my interview today with Ben Branson.   Ben is the Founder of Seedlip and Æcorn Aperitifs, the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirits and aperitifs, intent on changing how the world drinks.    With offices in the Chilterns, Los Angeles and Sydney, Seedlip is now available in over 25x cities including New York, Barcelona, Shanghai & Singapore and served in many of the world’s most awarded bars, restaurants and hotels.    In the podcast today we discuss Seedlip’s evolution from a kitchen project to a globally recognized brand How Ben thinks about culture creation Wellness as hygiene Advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, and so much more.    Ben is not only an incredible founder, but he is humble and generous as well, and I hope you love this interview as much as I do.    Social handles Find Seedlip www.seedlipdrinks.com @Seedlipdrinks on IG   Follow Ben on IG @seedlip_ben

I’m so excited to present today’s interview with Claire Warner. Claire has worked in the drinks industry for over 20 years, starting her career as a bartender and moving into brand advocacy and education, and later liquid development and innovation.   Claire joined Belvedere Vodka and LVMH in 2003, and was appointed Head of Spirit Creation and Mixology in 2009.  In this role, Claire led the development of all new Belvedere expressions, as well as creating the global educational programs for Belvedere.    Claire joined the alcohol-­free world of Seedlip in 2018 as Head of New Brands, and is currently managing director for Seedlip’s sister brand, Aecorn Aperitifs.   In the podcast today we discuss: Claire’s career trajectory The importance of knowing yourself and following your authentic path Risk taking in the startup world The importance of coaching and mentorship And so much more... Honestly I can’t tell you how much I loved this conversation with Claire, and I hope you get as much value from it as I did.

I'm so excited to present my interview today with Giuseppe Gallo. Giuseppe is a twenty year veteran of the beverage and hospitality industries, and founder of ITALICUS Rosolio di Bergamotto, a liquor that is reestablishing a forgotten Aperitivo category. Prior to Italicus, Giuseppe was best known as a global brand ambassador for MARTINI & ROSSI and was recognized as Best International Brand Ambassador at Tales of the Cocktail in 2014. In the podcast today we discuss: 1. Giuseppe's journey to launching Italicus. 2. The history of the Rosolio category. 3. Challenges and crucibles of launching a premium beverage brand as a start up. 4. Why big companies struggle with innovation, and so much more. Follow Giuseppe on Twitter. Follow Italicus on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

I'm so excited to present my interview today with Ming-Tai Huh, Head of Partnerships at Toast, & Proprietor at Puritan & Company As many of us know, restauranteurs are struggling with rising labor costs, and are adapting their businesses to accommodate for the increase in off-premise restaurant sales. In conditions like these, operators are constantly looking for solutions to cut costs and increase revenue.  Toast is a company strategically poised to make real change in the industry. It is a technology platform that combines restaurant POS, front of house, back of house and guest-facing technology with a diverse marketplace of third-party applications, helping restaurants streamline operations, increase revenue and deliver amazing guest experiences. Recently Toast raised $250 million in a Series E round, which brings their valuation to $2.7 billion. David Yuan at TCV, the growth equity firm that co-led Toast latest round financing says, "At TCV, we invest in companies that have the potential to reshap

Steve Luttman started his career at Unilever, working in Europe, the United States, and Brazil on various brands including Lipton Iced Tea, Ben & Jerry’s, Bertolli, and Ragu Pasta Sauce.  In 2003, he joined Diageo & Moët Hennessy’s Schieffelin & Somerset as Senior VP Marketing.  In 2005, he created and launched Leblon Cachaça, the leading superpremium Cachaça in the United States. Leblon is now found in over 40 countries, and was acquired by Bacardi Ltd in 2015. Steve is now the Managing Director of Tortoise & Volt Marketing & Ventures, a boutique creative marketing and innovation agency based in New York City.    In the podcast today we discuss Why Steve decided to launch Leblon  Leblon’s initial go-to-market strategy, and barriers faced along the way What characteristics make great entrepreneurs When to bootstrap vs raise capital Thoughts on how the Cannabis industry will affect the alcoholic beverage industry …...And what brands have to do to persevere in today’s world   Follow Steve

I'm so excited to present my interview today with Ryan Magarian. Ryan is president of Ryan Magarian Concepts and Hospitality, he is co-founder of Oven and Shaker, and co-founder of Aviation American Gin, which was recently purchased by the actor Ryan Reynolds. For over two decades Ryan's unique chef like approach to mixed drinks, along with the development of several innovative professional bar cultures locally, nationally, and internationally, has gained him recognition as one of america's top craft bartenders. In the podcast today, we discuss the evolution of his career in food and beverage, mentorship/relationship building in hospitality, and advice for entrepreneurs starting out. Without further adieu, I'm so excited to share my conversation with Ryan. In this episode we discuss: Ryan's start in the industry and how he helped found Aviation American Gin Mentorship / Relationship building in hospitality How to know if you've found the right business partner How to build a small brand Dealing with the isol

Kerry Preston is an executive coach and founder of Growtality, where she works with clients to optimize individual and organizational performance, growth, and vitality through research based methodologies. Kerry's worked with luxury brands, individuals, and businesses to help them reach their full potential. She spent over ten years with Unilever, eventually taking her expertise to run workshops and coaching for Credit Suisse, I.B.M., Equifax, NARS, La Paris, Moet Hennessy USA, Johnson and Johnson and SANAFI. She's a highly sought after business expert, the co-author of three books including; "You Did What?", "You Said What?", and "Enhancing Your Executive Edge: How to develop the skills to lead and succeed". Kerry and I met earlier this spring when she presented at an Enthuse Foundation pitch night in New York City, and I asked her to come on the podcast to share some of her amazing insights with our audience. In this episode we discuss: How Kerry came to found Growtality How to reverse engineer your dream

Simon Ford is a legend in the cocktail and spirits worlds and is a co-founder and president of the Ford's Gin Company, formally the 86 Company. While he started his career working in wine, he's probably best known for his time in spirits marketing, working with some of the world's largest brands launching Plymouth Gin in over ten countries, directing on-premise strategy for Absolute Vodka in the U.S., and creating and executing programs for a myriad of brands including Jameson, Chivas Regal, and The Glenlivet. In 2012, Simon co-founded the 86 Company, an award winning spirits company including Ford's Gin, Caña Brava Rum, Tequila Cabeza, and Aylesbury Duck Vodka.   In Today's Episode we discuss: 1) New products in the pipeline 2) How Simon went from working in the nonprofit sector to founding The 86 Company 3) Brand-building as a Brand Ambassador 4) Mistakes made along the way 5) And so much more!   Follow Ford’s Gin on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook Follow Simon on Twitter and Instagram

Elliott Clark is the founder and creative director of Apartment Bartender. Apartment Bartender is a private digital content agency that specializes in the drink and lifestyle category. Elliott is also the co-founder of Earn Your Booze, a drink and fitness event company geared towards helping industry professionals to find balance between wellness and imbibing.   In Today's Episode you'll learn: 1) How Elliott got into photography and social media, and how he knew to leave his job and focus on AB full time 2) Elliott's perspective on timing, and the importance of choosing a name for your brand or business 3) What Elliott would do differently, if he were to do it all over again  4) The dangers of comparison, and the importance of consistency  5) Incorporating authenticity and vulnerability into your personal or professional brand 6) How to think about diversification among social media channels 7) The importance of pursuing your passion and meaning, and surrounding yourself with mentors and advisors

I'm so thrilled to have Billy Melnyk on the show with me today. Billy and I go way back- from when he was Director of Influential Accounts at Bacardi, and I was the New York based Brand Ambassador for the rum portfolio. Billy is now the Founder and CEO of Soto Sake a super premium junmai daiginjo sake. Billy's experience spans music and nightlife and marketing and the spirits industry. He is a super savant, so I really hope you listen all the way through- there are tons of gems scattered throughout the conversation and he's a great storyteller as well. Without further ado, please enjoy this interview with Billy Melnyk.

Hey y'all- So sorry for the long absence, and a belated happy new year! Here's a quick update to let you know what's in store for Movers and Shakers in 2018, plus an opportunity to participate in Swig + Swallow's instagram giveaway with @apartment_bartender. More interviews coming soon with Billy from Soto Sake, Aidan and Andrew from Fora Foods, and Austin Allan from Tio Gazpacho.

We are super excited to welcome Noah Rothbaum on this episode of Movers & Shakers. Noah is the drink and food editor of the Half Full section at the Daily Beast. He's the author of "The Art of American Whiskey" and "The Business of Spirits." And he hosts the podcast, "Life Behind Bars" with the esteemed Dave Wondrich. Today we discuss the evolution of drinking culture in New York and beyond, life as a journalist in food & beverage, and so much more. I hope you enjoy the show.