Despite his boyish looks, Rish Ravalia has over 20 years of experience in the drinks industry. He began his career at Diageo, managing renowned brands such as Dalmore, before making the switch to the non-alcoholic category. He played a key role in launching Seedlip, one of the pioneering non-alcoholic spirits brands. Remaining passionate about the potential of non-alcoholic offerings, Rish is now spearheading the launch of the innovative brand Pathfinder in the UK. Pathfinder, known for its complex flavour profile and botanical base, aims to challenge perceptions and elevate the non-alc experience. I sat down with Rish at the Gothic Bar, nestled in the heart of the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London’s King’s Cross, to talk about his journey, Pathfinder’s arrival in the UK, and his candid thoughts on why non-alcoholic drinks still have a long way to go before they achieve widespread acceptance.

Olivia McGiff and Sammi Katz first crossed paths in college theatre. A decade later, their friendship is still strong. Their creative partnership began with Cocktails in Color, a vibrant success that led them to team up once again for Spirited Women—a pioneering tribute to the women who have shaped the spirits world throughout history to the present day.

We caught up with Olivia and Sammi at Donas in Stoke Newington to talk about their latest book, its bold illustrations, the remarkable women it highlights and more. I didn't get the chance to ask Olivia about her stint directing a cat circus—but there's always next time.

During our visit to Sydney, we had the opportunity to meet Tom Opie, bartender at The Waratah. Tom is not your typical bartender. He spoke candidly about his decision to moderate his alcohol consumption, a choice rooted in self-awareness and balance. Additionally, Tom shared insights about his Indigenous heritage, which significantly influences his perspective and approach to his work. He proudly incorporates elements of his background into his professional life and artistic expression, which includes his photography, which has become a powerful medium for him to tell stories. As for his future behind the bar, Tom has ambitious plans.

Before chatting with Tim, I had no idea that a fruit called the chuckleberry even existed. But it’s real and plays a starring role in Sippello, the bittersweet English aperitif that Tim Simmons created in the picturesque Surrey Hills. We met Tim at our favourite coffee spot to learn more: how Sippello came to life, the inspiration behind the beautiful bottle, the striking artwork, and the Sippello collaboration with TONIC Magazine for the cover of our seventh volume.

Jack Sotti has had a varied career in hospitality. After being rejected for a visa to Canada, Jack spent time in New Zealand and Australia before returning to England. Now a seasoned bar and brand consultant, Jack met us at Londons Archive and Myth to talk about his career so far, blagging his way into a trial shift in New Zealand, Elephants walking through London Chinatown and how his mother should be his agent.

After spending ten years in the entertainment industry, cousins Anna Axster and Wendelin von Schroder decided it was time for a change. They recognised a lack of diversity in the whiskey industry and noticed the sometimes adverse reactions they received when ordering whiskey at bars. This inspired them to take action and create their own whiskey brand. Thus, Lodestar Whiskey was born. Anna and Wendelin aim to change perceptions and normalise women's enjoyment and presence in the whiskey space as consumers, founders, and industry professionals. We sat down with the cousins to talk about Lodestar and their journey so far and plans for the future

Antosh Samek spent 11 years creating pre-batched cocktails to enhance service at his bar, Claytons, located in Marlow. Although Antosh has moved on from the bar, the bottled cocktails continue to thrive under the name Rythmik Cocktails. We recently spoke with Antosh at Brityard, just off Oxford Street, to discuss his journey in the hospitality industry, the origin of the name Rythmik, his work as a DJ, and the challenges currently facing the UK hospitality sector.

Ladydragón Tequila is a female-led tequila brand co-founded by JC Cortez and Heather Ann. Launched in October 2024, the brand has deep roots in Mexican heritage. JC is a first-generation Mexican American from a family that has grown agave in Guanajuato for generations. In this video, we sit down with JC and Heather Ann to discuss the brand's mission of being made by women for women, the importance of finding your voice as a woman, and their plans for the future.

Eduardo Conde has made a significant impact since joining the Australian cocktail scene. He is the 2023 Diageo World Class Australian Bartender of the Year and currently serves as the general manager of El Primo Sanchez, a vibrant bar located in Paddington, Sydney, Australia. In this interview, we discuss Eduardo's journey so far, his experience managing a Mexican-themed bar in Sydney, his award-winning achievements and his thoughts on the growing popularity of the Mexican cocktail scene.

Tucked down a laneway in the suburb of Collingwood, Melbourne, is the multi-award-winning cocktail bar Above Board. This island-style bar features space for 16 seats, with no standing allowed, creating an intimate atmosphere. We spoke with Above Board owner Hayden Scott Lambert to discuss his background, the bar's unique concept, being nominated for awards, and what life was like during lockdown.

Stefano Catino is a prominent figure in the Australian bar scene. He co-founded the Maybe Group, which owns several renowned bars, including Primo Sanchez, Maybe Frank, Dean & Nancy, and his latest venture, Little Cooler. We sat down with Stefano outside the multi-award-winning bar, Maybe Sammy, to discuss his background, his move to Australia, how he feels about winning awards and whether he has a career in construction.

The Heart Cut is an independent whisky bottler founded by husband-and-wife duo Georgie Bell and Fabrizio Leoni. The company specialises in releasing limited-edition single-cask and small-batch whiskies sourced from distilleries around the world. Their mission is to spotlight innovative and lesser-known distilleries, providing consumers with unique tasting experiences while educating them about the whisky-making process and the stories behind each bottle. We asked the couple what inspired them to start the business, how they choose the distillers they work with, their plans for the future, and what it's like to work with your other half.

Amanda Schuster is a Brooklyn-based freelance drinks writer with over 17 years of experience in the industry. In this video, we interview Amanda about her background and her latest book, Signature Cocktails, a collection of 200 iconic drinks from around the globe. We also chat with her about Duran Duran.

Stanislav Harciník is a prominent figure in the bartending and hospitality industry, renowned for his expertise in cocktail creation and bar management. He currently serves as an ambassador at the Mirror Cocktail Bar Carlton in Bratislava, Slovakia. Stanislav has also plays a significant role in organising industry events, notably co-founding the Mirror Hospitality Expo in Bratislava. Additionally, he is the author of "The Cocktail Balance," a book that shares his insights and techniques in cocktail creation. In this video, we talk about all of this and his plans for the future.

That Boutique-y Rum Company is an independent bottler specialising in sourcing and bottling unique and high-quality rums. As a part of the Boutique-y family, which includes That Boutique-y Whisky Company and That Boutique-y Gin Company, this rum-focused venture aims to introduce delicious and unusual rums to a broader audience, including confirmed enthusiasts, adventurous newcomers, and the rum-curious. We sat down with Global Ambassador Peter Holland at a busy Master of Malt World Dram Day event to learn more.

Nestled in Barcelona's vibrant Gràcia neighbourhood, FOCO has quickly become a must-visit destination for cocktail enthusiasts. Opened in 2022 by English bartenders Tom Godfrey and Theo Quinn, the bar has already made its mark on the city's thriving nightlife. I got to speak with co-founder Tom Godfrey, who shared insights into FOCO, including its name, decor, the local area, and their plans for the future.

That Boutique-y Whisky Company is an independent bottler of whiskies from around the world. It's known for its creative approach to bottling and labelling. Dave Worthington is their Global Brand Ambassador. We caught up with Dave at Dram in London to talk about the company's origins, its distinctive labels, plans for the future and what Dave did before going full-time into whisky.

Joanne Moore, the Master Distiller at G&J Distillers has been at the forefront of the gin industry for nearly two decades. Since 2006 she has held the position of Master Distiller, becoming the seventh person to do so since the company's inception in 1761. In our interview we spoke to Joanne about her journey into distilling, being one of the first female distillers, the recent gin boom, staying ahead of trends, and how she likes her gin at the end of a long day.

Grace Gonzalez is a fourth-generation distiller and brand ambassador at El Major Tequila. While in London, we talked to Grace about her family's history with tequila, the brand, and what it means to be a woman in a male-dominated industry.

Imme Ermgassen is the co-founder of Botivo, an aperitif-inspired, slow-sipping botanical drink. I met her at Botivo's shiny new office bar to talk about where it all began, the genius of Botivo's co-founder, Sam Paget Steavenson, and her thoughts on the non-alcoholic category.