Kara defected to writing about spirits, cocktails and bars after starting out writing about matters financial, and finance's loss is cocktail's gain!
A New York native and friend, Kara has written seven spirits- and cocktail-related books as well as her newest venture, The Cocktail Cabinet, decks of beautiful playing cards themed around a particular spirit - the first two, Gin and Whiskey, are already out in the wild - with cocktail recipes curated and in some cases created by Kara on each card.

We sat down to talk about Kara's 14 years (and counting!) run as the spirits person at Wine Enthusiast magazine, got nerdy about nerdiness in relation to coffee and martinis, then talked about martinis, the business of writing, why we're not on TikTok, and why she's looking for new vodkas to review, among a whole bunch more things - enjoy!

Kara on IG: https://www.instagram.com/newman_kara/?hl=en
Kara's books (and the Decks) on Bookshop.org, supporting local independent bookstores: https://bookshop.org/search?keywords=kara+newman
Kara's website: https://www.karanewman.com/

Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things than their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is, for a few hours.
They need to be able to hang.
Oh, plus we don't edit, and we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, or listener or “reach” stats, either.)

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff
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Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com

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I've known New York (well, Long Island) native Chris for over two decades, since we met at a flair bartending contest in the Cayman Islands, and he's maintained his rep as a flair bartender while becoming an accomplished mixologist as well, getting sober, winning Diageo World Class USA in 2017, crafting the Via Carota range of bottled cocktails and - just now - founding Continuous Beverage Solutions AND all this while still holding down regular bar shifts at i Sodi here in Manhattan.

We sat down - over a St. Agrestis Phony Espresso Negroni, in my case, 'cos it's Sober October - to talk about the old flair days, making the switch from flair to mixology, getting on the Bar Rescue train early, why cocktails should have abv % on menus, and his new firm Continuous Beverage Solutions which helps bars, companies and individuals ensure everyone - whether drinking full-fat, low-alc or zero-proof - has a seat at the bar.
Oh, and a looot more, enjoy...

Chris on IG: https://www.instagram.com/chriscard0ne/?hl=en
Continuous Beverage Solutions on IG: http://instagram.com/continuousbev
Continuous Beverage Solutions on FB: https://www.facebook.com/continuousbev/

Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things than their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is, for a few hours.
They need to be able to hang.
Oh, plus we don't edit, and we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, or listener or “reach” stats, either.)

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff
Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter
Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com

Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos
Old Duff Genever on Facebook: facebook.com
Old Duff Genever on X/Twitter: ...

The Cocktail Panda himself comes on The Philip Duff Show!
I've known Iain for years - he entered the G'Vin Gin Connoisseur Program which I used to run - and he's built a mini bar empire in Edinburgh so it was time to catch up on his adventures guest bartending for his uncle in Korea, celeb liquor, how he got his start in the bar business and what he'd do differently now, plus how he got famous for inventing new ways to create flavour.

(We also drank some seriously odd stuff; I had a gin martini followed by the only liquor left in our Spanish apartment the night before flying back to NY, which turned out to be Tom Zyankali (of Zyankali Bar in Berlin)'s Zyankali Falernum, which was 50% abv(!). Iain countered with a Metaxa brandy with sweet vermouth. )

Iain on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thecocktailpanda/

Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries: consulting@liquidsolutions.org
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things than their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is, for a few hours.
They need to be able to hang.
Oh, plus we don't edit, and we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, or listener or “reach” stats, either.)

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: philip@liquidsolutions.org

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff
Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter
Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com

Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos
Old Duff Genever on Facebook: facebook.com
Old Duff Genever on X/Twitter: ...