Jamie Fleming discusses the five-year anniversary of Alba Bar & Deli and the key pillars that have shaped its identity: Sherry, jamon, and hip hop. He emphasizes the importance of creating a unique and memorable experience for guests, going against the grain, and standing out in a competitive industry. Fleming also highlights the challenges faced during the Covid pandemic and the opportunities that arose from adapting to the circumstances. He credits the longevity of Alba to taking advantage of opportunities, being part of the conversation, and building strong industry connections. The conversation covers topics such as the reception of the bar in the Brisbane scene, the evolution of the menu and offerings, the focus on Sherry, and the key elements of a great bar. The conversation ends with a discussion about the upcoming fifth anniversary celebration of the bar.

Bartenders' Weekender — early bird tickets to the better Bars Summit are now live at bartendersweekender.com.

I’m talking to Jordan Bushell, the global brand ambassador for Hennessy — perhaps you’ve heard of this plucky, young upstart cognac brand that has only been around for — oh, 259 years?

Hennessy of course is a well-known brand, one that for many people is synonymous with cognac, and for some people that’s all they know of the spirit. Obviously I think I know a fair bit more about cognac than that, but in talking to Jordan, I got to understand that there is so, so much more to learn about cognac than I realised. I really enjoyed this chat.

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A quick note too: this episode is sponsored by Hennessy, because they want to let you know about Jordan’s upcoming visit to New Zealand and Australia this month in support of the Hennessy MyWay 2024 Challenge. It’s the fourth year for this global competition, and the’re launching in Australia and New Zealand for the first time.

Jordan will join the Australian and New Zealand Hennessy ambassador Alex Zanarini for five masterclasses starting from Monday 15th April in Auckland, in Brisbane on Tuesday 16th, Melbourne on Wednesday April 17th, over in Perth on Friday the 19th, before finishing in Sydney on Monday April 22nd.

Bartenders are invited to come along to an event and participate in Hennessy MyWay, a quest to discover the most innovative and sustainable cocktail creations paired with spectacular serving rituals. On offer are cash prizes of €1000 for top 50 finalists with the top 10 invited to Paris and Cognac to compete in the live final in October.

To enter the competition visit myway.hennessy.com, and RSVP to Jordan’s events at https://www.eventcreate.com/e/hennessymyway/

Gin Palace owner Ben Luzz talks about the recent renovations of the bar, the wear and tear that comes with running a bar for almost 30 years. Ben also talks about becoming the custodian custodian of Gin Palace after the passing of Vernon Chalker, and how he keeps a balance between preserving the bar’s legacy and embracing the future. Ben also talks about adding Bijou and Black Kite Commune to his portfolio, the challenges of managing multiple bars on the same street. He also shares his thoughts on the business climate for hospitality in Melbourne, and what makes a great bar.