The Curious Bartender
A veteran bartender and author interviews the founders, distillers, and innovators behind the world's most notable food and drink brands.
This is a peer-to-peer conversation for the serious spirits professional or enthusiast. Stephenson leverages his own deep industry knowledge to bypass surface-level questions, engaging guests in detailed discussions about craft, business strategy, and personal history. The show often uses an on-air tasting as a conversational anchor, allowing the specific qualities of a spirit to lead to broader topics.
“The host's status as a respected industry peer, not just a media personality, allows for a uniquely candid and knowledgeable conversation. Unlike broader food and drink shows, it maintains a sharp focus on the business and craft of spirits, grounded by the shared sensory experience of tasting on-air.”
Who hosts this show
Tristan Stephenson is a British bartender, author, and business owner. With a career spanning over two decades, he has co-founded multiple award-winning bars, consulted for hundreds of brands, and authored a series of nine popular books on spirits and cocktails under "The Curious Bartender" name. The podcast serves as an extension of his research, featuring long-form interviews with influential figures in the world of food and drink.
Credentials & credits
- Author of nine books in "The Curious Bartender" series.
- Co-founder of Fluid Movement, a drinks consultancy.
- Co-founder of bars including Black Rock, The Worship Street Whistling Shop, and Purl.
- CLASS Bartender of the Year 2011.
- Imbibe Magazine's Innovator of The Year 2018.
- Former Brand Ambassador for Diageo Reserve and Tanqueray.
Other ventures
- The Curious Bartender (book series).
- Fluid Movement (consultancy).
- Black Rock (bar).
- The Worship Street Whistling Shop (bar, closed).
- Purl (bar).
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- uk
When new episodes drop
- 01Wild Turkeys Hidden TensionJun 22, 2026 · 2 min
- 02
- 03Simon Ford - Ford's Gin, Martinis, 86 Co., First Brand Ambassador, TOTC, NYC, LondonJun 15, 2026 · 2h 15m
- 04
- 05Julio Bermejo - Tommy's, Tequila Production, Margaritas, MexicoJun 1, 2026 · 2h 06m
- 06
- 07Freddy Andreasson - El Gallo Altinero, Tequila & Jalisco, 50 Best, Terroir, CoffeeMay 18, 2026 · 1h 39m
- 08
Notable episodes
- 01Three Generations of Wild Turkey Bourbon... with Bruce Russell
A deep dive into the family dynamics, production philosophy, and market pressures at a legendary American whiskey distillery, exemplifying the show's access and depth.
- 02Simon Ford - Ford's Gin, Martinis, 86 Co...
Chronicles the journey of a modern spirits entrepreneur, from brand ambassador to founder, covering the creation and eventual sale of a major gin brand.
- 03Julio Bermejo - Tommy's, Tequila Production, Margaritas...
The definitive history of a world-famous bar and cocktail (the Tommy's Margarita) from its creator, showcasing the show's focus on iconic industry origin stories.
What you'll be asked on this show
Stephenson is a well-researched host who often contributes historical facts and context, acting as a knowledgeable peer rather than a simple interviewer. He opens by establishing the guest's origin story before moving chronologically through their career. He uses prompts and personal observations to encourage guests into long, detailed stories, allowing the conversation to flow naturally. A signature element is tasting spirits with the guest, using the sensory experience to pivot to topics of production, history, or personal preference. He probes business topics like acquisitions and brand strategy with direct, informed questions.
The format is a long-form, one-on-one interview, often conducted on-location. Stephenson's style is relaxed and conversational, frequently sharing his own anecdotes to build rapport. He and his guest often taste multiple spirits throughout the interview, using the tasting notes to guide the discussion.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
12 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
origin
2- Q.01
“How did you first get into the drinks industry?”
This is a frequent opening question to establish the guest's origin story.
- Q.02
“How did [iconic product or brand] come about? Was it a single moment or a gradual process?”
He asks this to deconstruct the mythology behind famous creations, seeking the practical story.
personal
3- Q.01
“Did you ever have aspirations to do something other than the family business?”
He asks this to explore the guest's personal journey and the pressures of legacy.
- Q.02
“How do you feel about [a major business event, like an acquisition]?”
He asks this to get past the press release and understand the personal, emotional side of a business deal.
- Q.03
“What are your memories of [a specific industry figure]?”
He asks this to capture personal reflections and anecdotes about key people in the industry.
history
1- Q.01
“What was the drinks scene or the bar like at that specific time?”
The host often asks for historical context to ground the conversation in a particular era.
craft
2- Q.01
“How much of your work is protecting the legacy versus putting your own stamp on it?”
This question is used for guests in legacy positions to explore the tension between tradition and innovation.
- Q.02
“What were you learning on your distillery visits that you could take back to your own business?”
This question connects the guest's travels and research directly to their business decisions.
advice
1- Q.01
“What's your advice for entrepreneurs looking to launch a new brand today?”
Asked towards the end, this question seeks to distill the guest's experience into actionable advice.
future
2- Q.01
“Are we heading towards another [market boom or bust] now?”
He uses historical market cycles to frame questions about current and future industry trends.
- Q.02
“What are you excited about in the world of food and drink right now?”
This question gauges the guest's current interests and identifies positive industry trends.
culture
1- Q.01
“Do you think you can tell a lot about a nation's culture by its [service stations, bars, etc.]?”
A philosophical question used to explore broader theories about food, drink, and national identity.
Signature segments
- · On-air tasting of multiple spirits with the guest.
- · Sponsored spirit tasting segment.
- · On-location interviews at distilleries and bars.
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically founders, multi-generational distillers, brand ambassadors, or influential operators in the spirits and hospitality world (e.g., Bruce Russell of Wild Turkey, Simon Ford of Fords Gin). They are veterans with deep expertise and a significant story to tell about their craft or brand.
- Bruce Russellon Three Generations of Wild Turkey Bourbon, Blending, Bourbon Glut, Old Bourbon - with Bruce Russell
- Simon Fordon Simon Ford - Ford's Gin, Martinis, 86 Co., First Brand Ambassador, TOTC, NYC, London
- Valentine Warneron Valentine Warner - Food & Art, Eating Seasons, Douglas Fir, Cider, Hepple Gin, Nick Strangeway
- Julio Bermejoon Julio Bermejo - Tommy's, Tequila Production, Margaritas, Mexico
- Yumi Yoshikawaon Yumi Yoshikawa - Chichibu Distillery, Ichiro Akuto, Japanese Whisky, Mizunara Oak, Floor Malting
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
Sponsors are premium spirits and mixer brands like Belvedere Vodka and Fever-Tree, aligning directly with the show's content. The audience consists of industry professionals and high-end consumers, making it a targeted environment for premium beverage marketing.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who is the host of The Curious Bartender?
- The host is Tristan Stephenson, a veteran bartender, author of nine books on spirits, and founder of several award-winning bars.
- What is the format of the show?
- It is a long-form, one-on-one interview show with influential figures from the food and drink industry, often involving a tasting of spirits during the conversation.
- Is this podcast still active?
- Yes, new episodes are released weekly.
- Where can I listen to The Curious Bartender?
- The podcast is available in video format on YouTube and Spotify, and as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and other major platforms.
- Who is this podcast for?
- It's primarily for bartenders, spirits industry professionals, and serious enthusiasts who want a deep understanding of how iconic drinks and brands are made.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Tristan Stephenson - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [02]Tristan Stephenson | The Curious Bartenderthecuriousbartender.co.uk
- [03]The Curious Bartender YouTube Channelyoutube.com
- [04]Profile - Tristan Stephenson - Difford's Guidediffordsguide.com
- [05]Profile – Tristan Stephenson - Tasting Britaintastingbritain.co.uk
- [06]Books by Tristan Stephenson - Goodreadsgoodreads.com
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