Episodes

The epitome of the hospitality entrepreneur is the amazing, Jill Cockson. She is one of the minds behind Swordfish Tom's, Drastic Measures and Chartreuse Saloon and her mentality towards business, the industry and building a culture that we want to be proud of. One of the best business interviews that I have ever had. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospit...

This came from a post I did involving a Van Gogh quote, "If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint,” then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced"; This quote is deeper and more important than the first appearance. If you have a voice in your head that is telling you something that is negative or detrimental to your happiness, it is not your voice but someone else that has been implanted in there. Maybe it's a parent, a relative, a "friend" or a teacher but no one is born w...

We chat with the heads of the advocacy bodies for the restaurant and bar industry in BC about their reflections on 2020 and what we can expect in 2021 for the industry going forward. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative stories that are helping to define the creative, culturally-...

Got to know where the attention is in 2021. And it’s in TikTok and Clubhouse. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative stories that are helping to define the creative, culturally-necessary space of ‘modern hospitality’—covering topics from front-of-house service, to back-end business...

Amazing episode from Jennifer Massolo from Liquid Projects based out of Miami, we chat about her journey of always being ahead of the game when it comes to drinks trends over the last 20 years. She has been at the forefront of pushing craft spirits into the limelight not just in Florida but across the US. Her passion for the industry is so amazing and infectious, had a great chat with them. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and...

Wanted to talk about TiKTok and drinks brands in 2021, this is a growing platform with huge possibilities to make great inroads to a new demographic. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative stories that are helping to define the creative, culturally-necessary space of ‘modern hospit...

Had an amazing chat with food and drinks entrepreneur from Gastronomer Lifestyle and On the Back Bar Podcast, loved chatting about small city cocktail culture, the big move to Bangkok and his love for the industry as whole. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative stories that are he...

This came out of a comment on Instagram from a follower wanted to do a 5 list for social media of bars and restaurants. Here are my top 5 things you need to do to stay ahead of the curve in 2021. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative stories that are helping to define the creative...

The final piece of the Focus Patience Success series, we delve into what it means to have success, the definition of success and always being happy with the little wins. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative stories that are helping to define the creative, culturally-necessary spa...

We are rolling into 2021 and I have been doing a lot of Top 5 lists so I thought I would tackle the 5 things every young bartender getting into this game should know and do. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative stories that are helping to define the creative, culturally-necessary...

This is the second episode of my three part mantra of Focus, PATIENCE, Success. I have talked about this over and over again but this one delves into how to have patience and mitigate when you are feeling like you don't. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative stories that are helpi...

It's almost the end of 2020, a rough year for most of the restaurant industry but a bumper year for many distilleries, wineries and breweries but how can you continue to build on this success. Here are the top 5 points from Kristoff, myself and the Acclamation Marketing and Media team. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves...

This is a three part series on something that I want you to take to heart for 2021. 2020 has been good and bad all year but planning now for 2021 is super important. This is FOCUS, part of my Focus, Patience, Success mantra for 2021. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative stories t...

I wanted to tackle this one because as we continue to face lock downs, decreased revenue and more; the research and development into our businesses minute details. Here is my list of 5 things a owner or manager of a restaurant or bar should know daily. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and pr...

A great chat with H from Elixir SF and so many more things, we get down to the driver of buying a 150 year old bar in 2003 and how he continues to leverage and build on the Elixir brand in San Francisco and further afield. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative stories that are hel...

With the drop in guests over the last few weeks, I have been harping on the need to track and push per head spend and the education of training. This is something that is rarely looked at as closely as it should be, a higher per head spend means you can hit your break even quicker with less guests in the room. The time is now to get your staff training in line for 2021. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados...

I chat to The Rum Ambassador and one of the team behind Equiano Rum, the latest rum to hit the market. We chat rum, launching a brand during covid and long term plans for the first Afro-Caribbean Rum on the world stage. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative stories that are helpin...

I taped this last week on my 40th birthday, thought I would get the top ten things I reflect on, on this milestone. 1. You have time, you aren’t that old 2. Find someone that accepts you but doesn’t try to understand you 3. Work hard when you are young 4. Find a mentor 5. Don’t be scared to take risks / try not to have regrets 6. Find little things that are just for you / don’t waste your money on cheap liquor 7. Learn to love yourself 8. Find your passion / happiness 9. Never settle 1...

I chatted to long time friend and peer, Raj Nagra from Bartender Boxing Organisation and how he turned a side hustle into a tour de force that is helping bartenders the world over with health and wellness. His passion for the sport and for this passion project is evident in this interview and everyone should sign up for the initiative post covid. Tons of information on their website, so hit the link. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, dist...

One that I still struggle with, as a passionate creative, it is sometimes difficult to balance these mantras out. That being said, I have gained a huge amount of experience and have learnt slowly to play the balance of both of them Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative stories tha...

Had an amazing chat with Charles Gibb of Fever-Tree North America, over 3 decades in the spirits realm leading teams the world over from the UK to Australia and the US. Had an incredible chat with him on everything from his entrepreneurial spirit inside global brands to what his legacy is going to be. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades...

Been really busy with new projects and running Clive's and I wanted to do something a little different when it comes to setting goals and being self aware. Self Awareness is the key to success when creating and striving for goals for yourself. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative...

The last episode from the monster session I did with the Vic Food Guys. I have cut it up into 3 sections for your listening pleasure. We go indepth across the board on my upbringing, the hospitality industry and so much more. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative stories that are ...

I wanted to give my raw take on the awards, especially the World's Best 50 that was just announced. I spoke with Mark Sansom from the organisation a few weeks back about the changes they have made over the last 6-12 months and I also go into how and why awards are important, what they mean to venues and to cities. This is my experience with the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards and how it not only changed Clive's Classic Lounge but also Victoria as a city. Share a dram with the hospitality ...