Episodes

Michael Bascetta is a Melbourne-based hospitality pro who is the co-owner of the influential Fitzroy wine bar, Bar Liberty; they’ve also got the Italian-inspired Capitano in Carlton and Falco Bakery in Collingwood. Michael also has Worksmith, a co-working space for hospitality, and we talk about how that has evolved, how they very nearly lost it during the pandemic, and why it’s a break-even proposition at best; Michael is also behind the Melbourne Cocktail Festival which kicks off next week on ...

Michael Bascetta is a Melbourne-based hospitality pro who is the co-owner of the influential Fitzroy wine bar, Bar Liberty; they’ve also got the Italian-inspired Capitano in Carlton and Falco Bakery in Collingwood. Michael also has Worksmith, a co-working space for hospitality, and we talk about how that has evolved, how they very nearly lost it during the pandemic, and why it’s a break-even proposition at best; Michael is also behind the Melbourne Cocktail Festival which kicks off next week on ...

Michael Bascetta is a Melbourne-based hospitality pro who is the co-owner of the influential Fitzroy wine bar, Bar Liberty; they’ve also got the Italian-inspired Capitano in Carlton and Falco Bakery in Collingwood. Michael also has Worksmith, a co-working space for hospitality, and we talk about how that has evolved, how they very nearly lost it during the pandemic, and why it’s a break-even proposition at best; Michael is also behind the Melbourne Cocktail Festival which kicks off next week on ...

Today’s guest on the podcast is Ross Blainey. He’s the ambassador for The Balvenie and Glenfiddich, and not shy of a real discussion about the whisky world. This is actually a conversation I had with Ross for an online Boothby.Talks event during lockdown in October 2020, called How Whisky Works — you can watch the video here. The idea behind the talk was to get at a broader look at how the whisky world operates. It’s not a chat about how whisky as a liquid is made — there’s no chat about the si...

Today’s guest on the podcast is Ross Blainey. He’s the ambassador for The Balvenie and Glenfiddich, and not shy of a real discussion about the whisky world. This is actually a conversation I had with Ross for an online Boothby.Talks event during lockdown in October 2020, called How Whisky Works — you can watch the video here. The idea behind the talk was to get at a broader look at how the whisky world operates. It’s not a chat about how whisky as a liquid is made — there’s no chat about the si...

Today’s guest on the podcast is Ross Blainey. He’s the ambassador for The Balvenie and Glenfiddich, and not shy of a real discussion about the whisky world. This is actually a conversation I had with Ross for an online Boothby.Talks event during lockdown in October 2020, called How Whisky Works — you can watch the video here. The idea behind the talk was to get at a broader look at how the whisky world operates. It’s not a chat about how whisky as a liquid is made — there’s no chat about the si...

James France has been influential within the Australian drinks industry over the last decade, and is responsible for importing some of the best and most respected craft spirit brands through his company Vanguard Luxury Brands. He also seems to have a knack for recognising and breaking small brands in the Australian market, brands that then go on to get picked up by the big players in the drinks world, brands like Ketel One, St Germain, Hudson Whiskey and Four Pillars among others. Sam Bygrave ...

James France has been influential within the Australian drinks industry over the last decade, and is responsible for importing some of the best and most respected craft spirit brands through his company Vanguard Luxury Brands. He also seems to have a knack for recognising and breaking small brands in the Australian market, brands that then go on to get picked up by the big players in the drinks world, brands like Ketel One, St Germain, Hudson Whiskey and Four Pillars among others. Sam Bygrave ...

James France has been influential within the Australian drinks industry over the last decade, and is responsible for importing some of the best and most respected craft spirit brands through his company Vanguard Luxury Brands. He also seems to have a knack for recognising and breaking small brands in the Australian market, brands that then go on to get picked up by the big players in the drinks world, brands like Ketel One, St Germain, Hudson Whiskey and Four Pillars among others. Sam Bygrave ...

Shay Chamberlain is an accomplished bartender and bar manager. She ran the Melbourne cocktail institution that is Black Pearl, working there for four years. Before that, she honed her conflict resolution skills at the late night hospo bar of choice for many in Sydney, Big Poppa’s; and before there, Shay was a key member of the team at Bulletin Place that saw them win a number of accolades, including Cocktail Bar of the Year and land on The World’s 50 Best Bars list. In this chat we talk about w...

Shay Chamberlain is an accomplished bartender and bar manager. She ran the Melbourne cocktail institution that is Black Pearl, working there for four years. Before that, she honed her conflict resolution skills at the late night hospo bar of choice for many in Sydney, Big Poppa’s; and before there, Shay was a key member of the team at Bulletin Place that saw them win a number of accolades, including Cocktail Bar of the Year and land on The World’s 50 Best Bars list. In this chat we talk about w...

Shay Chamberlain is an accomplished bartender and bar manager. She ran the Melbourne cocktail institution that is Black Pearl, working there for four years. Before that, she honed her conflict resolution skills at the late night hospo bar of choice for many in Sydney, Big Poppa’s; and before there, Shay was a key member of the team at Bulletin Place that saw them win a number of accolades, including Cocktail Bar of the Year and land on The World’s 50 Best Bars list. In this chat we talk about w...

Jason Williams is not just a bar owner, nor is he just the creative director for Proof & Company's consultancy agency Proof Creative — he also is one of the few bartenders to have his face and nickname adorn a bottle of gin. Williams talks to Sam Bygrave about how the choices he has made along the way, his openness to opportunity, and his adaptability have led him to a unique and creative career.

Jason Williams is not just a bar owner, nor is he just the creative director for Proof & Company's consultancy agency Proof Creative — he also is one of the few bartenders to have his face and nickname adorn a bottle of gin. Williams talks to Sam Bygrave about how the choices he has made along the way, his openness to opportunity, and his adaptability have led him to a unique and creative career.

Jason Williams is not just a bar owner, nor is he just the creative director for Proof & Company's consultancy agency Proof Creative — he also is one of the few bartenders to have his face and nickname adorn a bottle of gin. Williams talks to Sam Bygrave about how the choices he has made along the way, his openness to opportunity, and his adaptability have led him to a unique and creative career.