The Philip Duff Show

I met Allen in an Amsterdam bar in 2008, and everyone in the US scene already knew him; I assumed he'd been a bartender and transitioned into education & consulting, as so many of us did in the late 1990s and early 2000s. 
But the truth is much cooler! 
From growing up in Baltimore, living in NY as an aspiring musician, running a cooking school in Italy to becoming part of the Slow Food organisation, hosting a tribute to Jerry Thomas at the Plaza Hotel, being central to cocktail & spirits education for America's largest distributor and then founding NY Distilling Co and creating Dorothy Parker gin and - now - Jaywalk Rye, as well as making "Empire State Rye" a protected category, Allen really has done it all. 
We recorded at NYDC's gorgeous new home in Bushwick, which you really should visit 
Allen on IG: https://www.instagram.com/nydistilleryman?igsh=MXN1bTVlYXpzeWc5YQ==
NYDC on IG: https://www.instagram.com/nydistilling?igsh=c2pqMjdyMTFmcnFy
NYDC: https://www.nydistilling.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 besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is.
They need to be able to hang.
Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)  
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI. 

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 Faceboo...

J'Nai, a born-and-raised New Orleanian, is lead bartender at The Chandelier Bar inside the rather ritzy Four Seasons New Orleans, was just nominated into the final 4 for "US Bartender of the Year" at the 2026 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, makes content with her companies Pretty Magic Cocktails and Magic House Media, and is also awesome (we met on a shoot for Australian Bitters Co. that involved us, ahem, "taste-testing" Sazeracs at 10am in the Old Absinthe House on Bourbon St) and great fun, so onto the Philip Duff Show she goes!
We talked about her upbringing, swerving from dentistry to bartending, how she got into the industry and into craft cocktails, finding her own voice, being Black in big-city New Orleans versus small-town Georgia, political polarisation , the joy of dive bars and how she just wants to be able to eat all of the garnishes, all the time! 
J'Nai on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jnai.angelle
Magic House Media: https://www.instagram.com/magichousemadeit
Pick Up My Shift: https://www.instagram.com/pickupmyshift
Pretty Magic Cocktails: https://www.instagram.com/prettymagiccocktails
(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 besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is.
They need to be able to hang.
Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)  
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI. 

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 Faceboo...

Well, we - meaning me - survived Tales!
(not that Delta Airlines were any bloody help). 
Here's a recap of what I did, where I went and how I think it all shook out, including of course some  - sometimes salty - commentary on the Spirited Awards, said commentary applying to all the the other awards, Lists, nominations and suchlike that now bedevil our once-tranquil industry. 
Enjoy!
(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 besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is.
They need to be able to hang.
Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)  
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI. 

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 Faceboo...

I didn't realise Leslie was the person behind Matchbook Distilling until I had her brother, Andrew Merinoff, on the show (Episode #154, here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Qgz2nPJNYyrVu4MnHoLfd?si=Ypn5UXXlTMii5zNOD_1KrQ )
I was aware of Matchbook, you see, because as well as making their own mindboggling spirits, Matchbook are spoken of reverently by the very best bars in New York, such as Death & Co., Eleven Madison Park, Shinji's (RIP), Schmuck, and more, for the custom distillates they will co-create with such bars to form the basis of truly unique cocktails.   
So when I learned Leslie was the powerhouse behind this all I badly wanted to have her on the show - we just had to wait a couple of months, as she was 8 months pregnant (and still working!) when I first contacted her, not long after I had had  Andrew on. 
The day finally came, and the conversation was amazing. She's had a wild route into this industry, from being born into American liquor royalty on both sides of her family, to home brewing in high school and college, immersing herself in the world of fruits and grains and vegetables, founding Matchbook, being awarded Distiller of the Year (2025) - and even becoming an innkeeper. 
If you're even mildly interested by distilling, this is the episode for you. 
Leslie on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thebookofbam/
Matchbook on IG: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DZOIkukumxH/&ved=2ahUKEwi7muvuzLyVAxXEF2IAHU9gNKoQFnoECB4QAQ&usg=AOvVaw22tx7IOUyWGccq-Kw8L6uf
Buy Matchbook products: https://mdcdropshop.com/collections/all
Stay at the Lin Inn: https://linbeachhouse.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 besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is.
They need to be able to hang.
Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)  
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI. 

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 Faceboo...

Toby is a veteran bartender and mixologist, who added high-level mixology to his legendary drinkmaking speed with stints at Milk & Honey (NY), The Violet Hour (Chicago) and Mother's Ruin, before turning his hand to (as well as consulting on bar programs) writing and co-authoring "The Bartender's Manifesto" with Emma, which won a James Beard award, and most recently "The Classic Cocktail Sessions" a prequel to the Manifesto. 
Emma is an acclaimed Chicago-based spirits, cocktail and bars writer and author, and has won numerous James Beard awards in addition to the one for The Bartender's Manifesto. 
This was really a chat about both the books they've written together, as well as the industry as a whole - enjoy!
Emma on IG: https://www.instagram.com/emmajanzen/?hl=en
Toby on IG: https://www.instagram.com/tobycocktail/?hl=en
Buy the Bartender's Manifesto from an independent bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-bartender-s-manifesto-how-to-think-drink-and-create-cocktails-like-a-pro-emma-janzen/46c7cc8bda6b756b?ean=9780593137987
 Buy the Classic Cocktail Sessions from an independent bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-classic-cocktail-sessions-a-bartender-s-new-fashioned-approach-to-the-world-s-most-beloved-recipes-emma-janzen/583e258db56145d2?ean=9780593798584

(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 besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is.
They need to be able to hang.
Oh, plus we don't edit, we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, nor listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview (or lurk on the Zoom.)  
And our AI automatically deletes pitch emails that are clearly written using AI. 

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 Faceboo...