Alexandra Kuechler Caffall returned to her hometown of Portland, OR after having been part of the NYC cocktail scene, spending years at Fort Defiance, and now behind the bar at Too Soon. She moved around the music world too, playing several instruments and leading worship groups when she was young, then ditcvhing that to head into opera and direction of musical experiences. We talk the philosophy of music and the craft of the playlist as well as the cocktail in this freewheeling episode. Check out her playlist for mixed company here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7KdTkgBW3qxlI91Z98iw5k?si=TOoE1RluS6Cyn-vKkzXx6A

Judd Finkelstein - known as The Fink, which is also the name of his award winning cocktail bar in Napa Valley - has been a drinks scholar from an early age, digging up classic recipes to try out on friends when they were still more about beer bongs. He even formed the Friends of Ardent Mixology (F.O.A.M.) decades ago, creating a community of like minded folks who enjoyed learning about all things spirit related. And he was a radio DJ by the tender age of 17! There are a lot of fun stories for you in this one, and he selected some great music for you to drink with as well: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0AP6BbezcRO9KGf3qYgYKI?si=l3fqIvfxSUmnd8cOA7snHQ

Cristian Salazar Diaz went from the bar scene in Fresno to combining his culinary training and bartending skills at Trader Sam's at Disneyland, and now can be found at The Lucky Tiki, located in both West Hollywood and Highland Park, CA. He accidentally found himself in the tiki world and went at it with gusto, later applying molecular experimentation into his mixing and enjoying the community and culture that goes along with the lifestyle. It's a long way from his grungy skater days as a drummer, but he still loves that music as much as he loves his tiki life. Check out his playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4qgSWVWG08Ql25BODVQxHV?si=MG88UPseSdixnikATBd-MQ

Cesilia Berumen took the long way to her current role as the general manager at The Golden Tiki in Las Vegas, having a full career and family already in place before relocating to the desert playground about 20 years ago. That major life change also put her in the managerial world of hospitality before she decided to take a step back into bartending, and eventually landed her in an immersive tiki world that is showy in a way that only Vegas can really pull off. Although she doesn't play her flute or violin or banjo anymore, she still loves music and knows how to handle the big names that pass through, like the Backstreet Boys during their Vegas residency! Check out her chaotic sing-a-long playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7wttQNZM85wxuyIhVUZFAQ?si=RV7IBEhNTP67CqVdpTP10w

Ryan Jones is relatively new to the tiki cocktail scene, but he admired it from afar for a long time before he had the opportunity to be a part of it. Growing up in a formerly dry county in Kentucky, he taught himself how to make tiki drinks and drove hours to find specific ingredients. This all paid off when he got a job at the revived Don the Beachcomber bar in Tampa, FL, and then moved on to the tiki speakeasy, Morgan's Cove, after Don's was destroyed in a hurricane. He didn't bring his drum kit with him when he moved, but his band days are not quite behind him! Get to know Ryan and check out his beach punk playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/15AkasmcH69k6U91xHboiR?si=PTVp86cJTuuk-XNHInzwmQ

Suzanne Navarro teamed up with her business partner to open a tiki bar in Maui, Ester's Fair Prospect, after she realized she didn't want to have a boss anymore. Before that, she bounced around Bay Area dive bars, did a stint at Miami's Sweet Liberty, and got her rum education in Chicago at Three Dots and a Dash. But the islands were calling, so she picked up her guitar and crossed the ocean to land in Maui to make her dream of opening a tiki bar come true. They survived the pandemic, have a lovely local following, and have become a stop for tiki aficionados traveling through the islands. Check out her island music here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0OrNAhbfMC9oOhs6r5zowo?si=4w-qqM5rR7WOI8Bri3fQow

Tommy Milburn fell in love with tiki when he was a kid on vacation in Hawaii, and became a bartender to support his other creative endeavors but always checked in with tropical bars wherever he was. A musical theater kid in Canada who played piano and grew up to run off to L.A. to be an actor, he eventually decided to embrace the dream of buying a spot in Gili Trawangan, Indonesia, and open up his bar, Tiki Grove. Authentically decorated in classic tiki decor, he offers traditional tiki drinks as well as home grown aloe to soothe the sunburns of those wandering up from the beach. Now that's hospitality! Check out his tropical tunes playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3UkjLcu5wx9S4IssVvgw4S?si=Lu01VY73QpqqjyjPPgu1VA

Erica Luera brought her witchy tropical vibes to the world renowned Strong Water in Anaheim, CA and is currently serving as their bar lead. She used to visit the legendary tiki palace Bahooka in Rosemead as a kid, about the time she was learning how to play violin. She graduated to working in dive bars and playing the guitar, and during the pandemic, she deeply dug into the craft of tiki drinks which eventually earned her a spot at the James Beard nominated Strong Water. She also crafts a spooky sexy playlist, which you can check out here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7BBNIp9p3de0CUKdY5TEla?si=f_po_im1TAK6Axu214h6ww