.On Part 2 of Whiskey Groups, we have a happy hour chat with Chad Cadden and Bill Varnell, co-founders of Whiskey, Bourbon, and Scotch Enthusiasts, ("WBSE"), who turned their love for whiskey into a group boasts
-Total members: ~39k
-Active members: 29k+
-Average posts daily: 4,000+
It spans across all continents (including Antarctica) and while members generally interact online, they have been known to meet up in person with recent events in New York, Maryland, and Kentucky to name a few. The Group focuses solely on their shared love for whiskey

Posts prohibited include sales and spam promotions, in addition to no disparaging political or religious posts as well as no talking down to other members; a diligent team of Administrators and Moderators strictly enforce this policy. 
Members post questions, comments, and share beauty shots of their drams, bottles and whiskey experiences including celebrations of personal milestone such as graduations, birthdays, and anniversaries. 
Bill and Chad encourage regular member participation through themed nights such as Ladies' Night on Saturdays and Sippin' Sundays.

Additionally, Members enjoy a weekly Barrel Report Newsletter that features informative and anecdotal articles, whiskey news, and recent TTB approvals.
WBSE boasts a lifestyle magazine, whisk(e)y network, This month's edition features friend, of the Podcast, Chelan Finney for the Women in Whiskey column, celebrating industry women, penned by Bartender Journey's own, Hazel Alvarado.
Read the interview here!

Recently, WBSE has started interviewing industry figures live on Facebook. This week, they will chat with Chris Morris from Woodford Reserve, live on Friday, June 12 at 8 pm ET.
Whether you're a whiskey enthusiast looking to join a like minded community or an industry person looking to reach a , click here to join and learn more!

The revenue for the Worldwide Whiskey Market is estimated to reach $84 billion by 2025 as reported by the Global Market Insights, Inc. 
The combination of a growth of distilleries - there are at least 2,000 distilleries in the United States -(Esquire, 2019) and the shift of the "older men" whiskey drinker to "young men and women who start out in a bar drinking Manhattans, Old Fashioneds and those types of drinks"  (Eddie Russell, Market Watch, 2017) have led not only to more people drinking whiskey but to more people wanting to learn about whiskey.
While the internet abounds with information, people still crave that personal connection with like minded folks. Whisk(e)y clubs fulfill that need for community. 

On Bartender Journey Podcast Episode 301, we begin the first of a two part series featuring three whisk(e)y clubs that have been experienced firsthand by Bartender Journey team member, Hazel Alvarado.
First we chat with Peter Grasso of the Monmouth Whisky Club , based out of Monmouth, New Jersey, United States.
After a trip to Scotland inspired by his first whiskey, Glenlivet 25, Peter was inspired to gather a group of his friends to share and chat about whiskey. It's 5 years later and that group of friends have transformed to a whiskey community that meets monthly, supporting local businesses. and providing their own Glencairns, especially at Old Glory Kitchen & Spirits.

When COVID-19 required quarantine, Peter immediately pivoted and worked with members and brand ambassadors to host virtual tastings with samples being distributed to enjoy at home as the brand ambassador leads the event.
Members pay a joining and annual fee and a treated to special events beyond straight tastings including a Glenfiddich blending seminar, a group trip to a glass making facility where they made their own glasses, and a whiskey book author spotlight, such as the one featuring our friend, Robin Robinson and his book, The Complete Whiskey Course.. 
Peter's group was recently featured in a 2020 Special Issue of Whisky Advocate, Whisky with Friends and their next virtual event is Saturday, June 6th with  Rabbit Hole Whiskey.
To learn more about the Monmouth Whisky Club, visit their official site here. or visit their social media sites on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  ​

Then we chat with Julia Ritz Toffoli, founder of Women Who Whiskey. 
While many people boast of being introduced to whiskey by a doting grandfather, Julia's household was more likely to have wine or champagne.
It wasn't until she attended college in Montreal (where the minimum drinking age is 18) that she had her first taste. While other college kids were doing keggers, Julia was introduced to Rye. 
But it wasn't until Julia moved to New York City that she began to geek out. At the time, she found that the idea of a woman drinking whiskey was still a mystery to many people.

​Julia channeled her frustration into creating a group focused on events, education, community building, and advocacy.
​Women Who Whiskey has over 25 chapters with thousands of members across the world; larger US chapters are based in cities such as New York and Los Angeles with smaller ones such as Western Massachusetts and Hudson Valley (NY) and international chapters include Nairobi (Kenya, Africa), London (England, Europe), Geneva (Switzerland, Europe), Waterloo (Ontario, Canada), and Toronto (Ontario, Canada).
Her favorite whiskey bars in NYC include Little Branch, the former Char No 4., and On the Rocks.. Julia and her group was also featured in the Whisky Advocate Special issue and has been featured on CBS News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and named one of Food & Wine's 2018 Women in Whiskey to Watch. 
Their upcoming events include a Vermouth 101 and a tasting with Starward Whisky.
To RSVP and learn more about Women Who Whiskey, including starting a chapter in your area visit their official site or their social media sites on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Be sure to join us next week as we chat with the co-founders of Whiskey, Bourbon, and Scotch Enthusiasts along with two of their members including Sam Green, Whisky Sommelier!

Co-authors of Cocktails Made Simple, Brian Weber and Amin Benny give their top recommendations for Bartender reading during quarantine.  

Brian’s Picks:

• Jeffrey Morgenthaler’s The Bar Book, Elements of Cocktail Technique This is always my #1 recommendation. (He was a guest on Episode 113.)
• Esquire Drinks, An Opinionated & Irreverent Guide to Drinking - David Wondrich (out of print, but is available used on Amazon for as little as $2.81!) An old book - 2002 -but a goodie.  Mr. Wondrich, who is the end all authority on cocktail history wrote this book for Esquire Magazine.  If you ever want the definitive answer on the history of a cocktail, just google the name of the drink and "Wondrich". (He was a guest on Episode 110.)
• The Joy of Mixology The Consummate Guide to the Bartender's Craft - Oh Gaz....I miss you. Originally published in 2003, there is an updated version of this book.  (He was a guest on Episode 175.)
• The Curious Bartender,  The Artistry and Alchemy of Creating the Perfect Cocktail - Tristian Stephenson.   Smart guy.  I love how in this book he presents a classic cocktail, gives the classic specs, and then his interpretation of an improvement on the recipe. (He was a guest on Episode 122.)
• Regarding Cocktails - Sasha Petraske (Foreword by Dale DeGroff), Sasha changed everything in the Bartending industry. (He's NOT been a guest on the show, he unfortunately passed away in 2015... I never had the opportunity to meet the man, but he influenced so many).
  
  

Benny’s Picks:

• Liquid Intelligence, The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold.  The Science of Cocktails?  Who would have thought?  A great and well thought out book.
• Smuggler’s Cove, Exotic Cocktails, Rum,and the Cult of Tiki by Martin and Rebecca Cate (He was a guest on Episode 186 .) A beautiful book full of great information and beautiful tiki drinks.
• Beach Bum Berry Remixed, Gallery of Tiki Drinks by Jeff Berry.  A real tiki book, full of old school tiki recipes.
• A Proper Drink: The Untold Story of How a Band of Bartenders Saved the Civilized Drinking World by Robert Simonson.  A narrative history of the craft cocktail renaissance, written by a New York Times cocktail writer and one of the foremost experts on the subject.
• PDT Cocktail Book, The Complete Bartender’s Guide From the Celebrated Speakeasy by Jim Meehan (He was a guest on Episode 77.) Meehan is a true gentleman who created a perfect Speakeasy.  Every Bartender should own this book.

Also mentioned in this episode:

• Meehan’s Bartender Manual by Jim Meehan (Featured on Episode 89.)  If you ever even considered owning your own bar, you must read this book from cover to cover.
• The Flavor Bible, The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America’s Most Imaginative Chefs by Karen age and Andrew Dornenburg.  An outstanding book on flavors - what goes with what.
• Cocktails Made Simple: Easy & Delicious Recipes for the Home Bartender by Brian Weber and Amin Benny.  What to make cocktails at home, or get a foundation for becoming a professional Bartender?  This book is authored by host of Bartender Journey, Brian Weber and co-author Amin Benny.

On Bartender Journey Episode  No. 298, we chat with President and CEO, Chris Swonger on how the Distilled Spirits Council  has been  working with fellow industry partners, government agencis and NGOs in response to the Covid-19 Crisis including Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), the Food Industry Association (FMI), Consumer Brands Association, American Bakers Association, and the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA). 
To date, over 700 distilleries in the United States have pivoted to making hand sanitizer.

• March 18 - DISCUS (Distilled Spirits Council of the United States) sends letter to Senators McConnell and Schumer with recommended policy proposals along with American Craft Spirits Association, Kentucky Distillers' Association, and New York State Distillers Guild. View the letter here.

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With so many (all?) of us Bartenders out of work, now might be the time to put that spark of an idea into action!  Listen for some tips, tricks and the "why" of podcasting for Bartenders.

Message from the Bartender Journey Team:
​Unprecedented times require unprecedented moves. We hope that these  resource links help you during this challenging time, as we ourselves have been personally impacted. 
~Brian Weber & Hazel Alvarado

On Bartender Journey Episode  No. 296, we provide you with an update of COVID-19's impact on Hospitality Industry and review resource links posted on our site.

As a gentle reminder, please read our Disclaimer.  ​

For a link to the general COVID-19 Stats and Timeline, click here. Our numbers are sourced from the Johns Hopkins Dashboard, featuring “Last Updated” clock on the lower left hand corner.

Here in New York, Governor Cuomo’s New York on PAUSE order calls for 100% workforce reduction effective for “nonessential services”. As per the state definition given to us by the State of New York, wine and liquor stores are considered “essential”.
Drive-thru testing sites are now open on Staten Island, in Brooklyn, and Manhattan.
Additional Emergency Measures: The IRS extended the Tax Filing deadline to July 15th. NY State halted collecting medical debt and student loan until April 15th and a 90 day suspension on mortgage payments and foreclosures.
Check your city and state's official government site for news in your area for impact to you.

If you find this information useful and would like to make an immediate impact,
please donate to Brian's Virtual Tip Cup!

HOSPITALITY RESOURCES
As mentioned, we are committed to do our part to help the community by sharing resources in the areas of ​

• Financial and Business Support Assistance: We list charities such as the USBG (United States Bartenders’ Guild), CORE, and who has received donations from Jameson, Diageo, Patron, Molson,Tito’s Vodka, Skrewball Whiskey and private donations from billionaire Mark Cuban and filmmaker Steven Soderbergh (ironically director of the 2011 film Contagion).  THe page also includes their state-by-state list. Each link includes a brief overview (e.g. for charities - who they are, how it works, and where to apply for assistance). ​We have tried to list everything from large foundations to links for Virtual TIp Cups where you can tip an individual bartender in a city of your choice such as Service Industry Tips, an effort led by Jen Collins (El Silencio Mezcal) of Brooklyn, NY and Jen Gregory of Chattanooga, TN built by Bartenders in Chattanooga, TN - @dryan, @DonaldSayers, and @thatgalen, with @MattRyanHanson in Denver
• For easier navigation here are links for NYC Resources as New York State has now been determined to be the “epicenter of the Coronavirus” with 5% of cases worldwide. Both for your reference and to share with non-industry people that want to help out. 
  
• Community: What are people doing now? Links to virtual happy hours (such as  Dani & Jackie’s Virtual Happy Hour - where you can attend, sign up to partner if you’re a brand or showcase your skills with a virtual tip cup), a list of Facebook groups to join such as Tara Fougner’s Thirsty: Industry Discussion Group as well as more personal stories like that of Nick Tango who shared his COVID-19 story on Facebook, which we had shared on our page. We will also continue to update our evolving list of places across the country offering Cocktails to Go.
• General COVID-19 Industry News:These include numbers and links to articles. 
• Professional Development: Our “Skills Pay Bills” page with links to free resources for you such as the Diageo Bar Academy Online, our Personal Branding for Bartenders, LinkedIn for Hospitality by April Wachtel and yes, the FB profile link for one Jason Littrell of Campari Academy who, before COVID-19, has gone out of his way to continue to provide learning resources for Bartenders from Spreadsheets for Bartenders to Photography classes. 
• Be The Change: As fellow industry person, Chris Bidmead, (Founder of BarMethods) pointed out that while important to address immediate financial needs, what is our industry doing about monies towards infrastructure to avoid workers being put in this situation? We include his full initial post and links to petitions for you to consider..

Previous links for COVID-19 will reside on our Updates page mentioned above.

​Tomorrow, we hope to launch the Wellness Page with resource links to industry people that have previously been spearheading the charge to keep Bartenders and other Hospitality workers physically fit and mentally sane.

Most of this information has been aggregated from online research, social media groups and Facebook feed from people stepping up to help. By no means are they finite and we will make a best efforts basis to update these pages as quickly as possible when information is available or given to us.

Please feel free to reach out to us via email or any of our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter) with any resources in your area you’d like to share or how this has impacted you.

Stay safe and strong!

~Brian and Hazel

Pre #socialdistancing