What does it take to resurrect a pre-Prohibition whiskey brand while building one of America's most celebrated cocktail bars? Join us for a deep dive into the business of hospitality with Ryan Maybee, the Kansas City entrepreneur behind the legendary speakeasy Manifesto and the historic revival of J. Rieger & Co. Ryan pulls back the curtain on the operational realities of navigating federal regulators, raising capital for a distillery, and the five-year grind to bring a 100-year-old brand back from the dead. He shares hard-won lessons on partnership structures, the discipline of knowing your numbers, and why creating an entirely new whiskey category required as much business savvy as creative instinct. From surviving the pandemic to building a sprawling distillery campus with a 40-foot slide, Ryan offers an unvarnished look at the entrepreneurial roller coaster. Tune in for a masterclass in calculated risk, brand building, and the long game of leaving a lasting mark on an industry.

This episode produced in association with J. Rieger & Co.

____________________________________

Join us every Monday as acclaimed bartender, Erick Castro, interviews some of the bar industry's top talents from around the world, including bartenders, distillers & authors. If you love cocktails & spirits then this award-winning podcast is just for you.

SUPPORT US ON PATREON: Get early access to episodes, exclusive bonus episodes, special content and more: https://www.patreon.com/BartenderAtLarge

WATCH OUR VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/bartenderatlarge

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:
Erick Castro: www.instagram.com/HungryBartender
Bartender at Large: www.instagram.com/BartenderAtLarge

FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK:
Erick Castro: https://www.tiktok.com/@hungrybartendert=ZT-8uBekAKOGwU&r=1
Bartender at Large: www.tiktok.com/BartenderAtLarge

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:
Erick Castro: www.twitter.com/HungryBartender
Bartender at Large: www.twitter.com/BartendAtLarge

What happens when your dream project becomes your darkest hour? Join us for a raw and unflinching conversation with Trevor Frye, renowned bartender, consultant and entrepreneur who watched his lifelong dream of opening his own bar spiral into a psychological and financial nightmare. Trevor holds nothing back as he recounts the cascade of setbacks—from delays and budget mishaps to partnerships fracturing under pressure—that brought him to the brink of ruin. He opens up about the toll it took on his mental health, the isolation and stress, and the moment he had to confront whether walking away meant losing himself entirely. This episode is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship is often messy, lonely, and brutal, far from the highlight reels we usually see on social media. But it's also a story of resilience, offering hard-won lessons on survival, humility, and the slow, painful path back from the edge. Tune in for one of the most honest conversations we've ever had about the real price of chasing a dream.

This episode produced in association with J. Rieger & Co.

____________________________________

Join us every Monday as acclaimed bartender, Erick Castro, interviews some of the bar industry's top talents from around the world, including bartenders, distillers & authors. If you love cocktails & spirits then this award-winning podcast is just for you.

SUPPORT US ON PATREON: Get early access to episodes, exclusive bonus episodes, special content and more: https://www.patreon.com/BartenderAtLarge

WATCH OUR VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/bartenderatlarge

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:
Erick Castro: www.instagram.com/HungryBartender
Bartender at Large: www.instagram.com/BartenderAtLarge

FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK:
Erick Castro: https://www.tiktok.com/@hungrybartendert=ZT-8uBekAKOGwU&r=1
Bartender at Large: www.tiktok.com/BartenderAtLarge

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:
Erick Castro: www.twitter.com/HungryBartender
Bartender at Large: www.twitter.com/BartendAtLarge

What does it take to build a multi-state bar empire while staying true to your roots? Join us for a masterclass in hospitality entrepreneurship with *ravis Tober, the bartender-turned-owner behind Texas's beloved Nickel City chain, Murray's Tavern, Old Pal, and a growing portfolio of distinctive concepts.

Travis shares the hard-won wisdom from opening his first venue in 2017 to now operating over a dozen properties across Texas and beyond, all while maintaining a "neighborhood bar" ethos.

He reveals his philosophy that "we're in the entertainment business, not the bar business," explaining how he approaches hiring like casting a film and trains teams to create genuine human connection. From implementing corporate-style systems without losing soul to the strategic discipline of knowing your numbers cold, Travis offers an unvarnished look at the grind behind the glamour.

Tune in for a candid conversation on balancing profitability with accessibility, building staff longevity, and why the world needs more bars opened by actual bartenders, not just millionaire investors.

This episode produced in association with J. Rieger & Co.

____________________________________

Join us every Monday as acclaimed bartender, Erick Castro, interviews some of the bar industry's top talents from around the world, including bartenders, distillers & authors. If you love cocktails & spirits then this award-winning podcast is just for you.

SUPPORT US ON PATREON: Get early access to episodes, exclusive bonus episodes, special content and more: https://www.patreon.com/BartenderAtLarge

WATCH OUR VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/bartenderatlarge

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:
Erick Castro: www.instagram.com/HungryBartender
Bartender at Large: www.instagram.com/BartenderAtLarge

FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK:
Erick Castro: https://www.tiktok.com/@hungrybartender?_t=ZT-8uBekAKOGwU&_r=1
Bartender at Large: www.tiktok.com/BartenderAtLarge

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:
Erick Castro: www.twitter.com/HungryBartender
Bartender at Large: www.twitter.com/BartendAtLarge