Drinks At Work with Sam Bygrave

Hosted by Boothby Media

Careers Arts Food EducationInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

120

Latest episode

May 2026

Language

EN-AU

About the show

The world of drinks is a big one. Drinks At Work talks to those who have built — or are building — rewarding and creative careers in the drinks industry, from bar owners to spirits marketers, brand ambassadors, distillers, writers and more. Hosted by Sam Bygrave and produced by Boothby Media.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

May 6, 202642 min

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 competition, and share plenty more tips that just might help you get across the line and win the competition for yourself.

February 5, 202632 min

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 human nose in identifying whisky characteristics, the innovative use of trained dogs for quality control, and the techniques for tasting and assessing whisky.

January 21, 202635 min

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, Ode to The Embers, and Ode to The Dark. They’re all non age statement whiskies, and they show a different side of The Glendronach than you might normally see (they’re also rather delicious).But I also spoke to Linus about whisky more broadly, why the barrel finishing process some brands use isn’t his cup of tea, how bartenders can talk about The Glendronach to punters, and loads more — you can hear the full chat on Drinks At Work this week.

November 27, 202534 min

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 service rather than just cocktail complexity. He discusses significant industry threats, specifically the rising cost of goods and alcohol excise taxes, which forces operators to forecast extreme price increases over the next decade. Finally, he offers advice to aspiring bar owners, emphasising that rent is the most critical factor in site selection and that robust operational systems are essential for survival and scaling.

October 29, 202527 min

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 about in this interview in Hong Kong during The World's 50 Best Bars. He talks about their menu development process — it takes between 8 months and a year for their menus to come to life — and about how they’ve structured the bar and their roster for high volume but innovative cocktails. He also talks about their approach to collaboration through their menus, which has exposed the bar to new audiences despite the bar being 10 years in.

October 23, 202538 min

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 bar owner (and former brand ambassador) Pete Hollands — it's all about how bars can get the most from their interactions with brands.

October 2, 202530 min

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 cancer research — and putting on one big party at the same time.On this episode, which we recorded back in August, we’re talking to Lynnette Marrero, who is the co founder of Speed Rack along with Ivy Mix, because the Speed Rack Australia final is happening in just a couple weeks’ time, Sunday the 19th of August in Sydney at Oxford Art Factory. You can get tickets to watch what really is the most exciting bartending test out there — hit the link in the notes and on the story on boothby.com.au to get yours, all proceeds go towards breast cancer charities. Which is clearly a great thing — we’ll see you there.TICKETShttps://events.humanitix.com/speed-rack-finals-2025-sydney?ref=boothby.com.au

September 25, 202527 min

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 experiences growing up in the north of Italy — a latteria there is like a milk bar here, but Adelaide’s Latteria is a grown up and modern interpretation of it. In this conversation, Luca shares insights into his journey in the hospitality industry, the philosophy behind his cocktail menu, and the importance of community engagement in his venue. He discusses the evolution of bartending, the significance of storytelling in cocktails, and the future of cocktail culture in Adelaide.

September 11, 202540 min

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 conversation also touches on the balance between tradition and modernity in whisky production, the responsibility of being a custodian of a legacy, and the essence of great hospitality in bars.

July 30, 202532 min

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 experiences and insights on creating memorable bar experiences, the role of customer service, and the differences between hotel bars and indie bars. They also discuss the expectations of luxury clientele and how to navigate entitlement in high-end settings.