{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/65fdb820b5218f001713c89b/68ddab3946a2532cddfd6baa?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Emma Janzen: Translating Bartender Brilliance into the Written Word","description":"<p>This week Damian is joined by <strong>Emma Janzen</strong>, an award-winning journalist and drinks writer whose byline has become a fixture in the cocktail world. What started as a happy accident — cocktail classes in Austin, Texas, and a story pitch at her local newspaper — turned into a decade-plus career exploring drinks, design, and the culture surrounding them.</p><p>Emma shares how she transitioned from multimedia work at a paper into drinks journalism, eventually becoming digital editor at <em>Imbibe</em> magazine before striking out on her own to focus on spirits, cocktails, and book projects. Along the way, she became a trusted collaborator for some of the biggest names in bartending, including Julia Momose (<em>The Way of the Cocktail</em>), Toby Maloney (<em>The Bartender’s Manifesto</em>), and Jim Meehan (<em>The Bartender’s Pantry</em>).</p><p>In this conversation we cover:</p><ul><li>Emma’s unconventional path into the industry — from design writing to drinks journalism.</li><li>The cocktail classes and first visit to Tales of the Cocktail that sparked her passion.</li><li>Lessons from seven years at <em>Imbibe</em> and how that shaped her perspective on drinks writing.</li><li>Moving into co-authoring books with leading bartenders and how her role flexes from writer to editor to project manager.</li><li>Behind the scenes of <em>The Bartender’s Manifesto</em> and the challenge of translating Toby Maloney’s teaching into a book format.</li><li>Why <em>The Bartender’s Pantry</em> feels like a pattern interrupt in cocktail publishing — with its focus on ingredients, culture, and ethics.</li><li>Emma’s philosophy on what makes a book worth writing (and worth reading) in an industry full of recipe collections.</li><li>Advice for bartenders and operators thinking about writing a book — from finding your niche to doing the research, and the realities of time, money, and motivation.</li><li>Her favourite drinks books that continue to inspire her writing and thinking.</li><li>What styles of cocktail books she’s ready to see less of.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Emma also talks honestly about the craft of writing — how she bridges the gap between a bartender’s knowledge and what readers actually need — and why books in this space are best viewed as a service to the community.</p><p><br></p><p>📲 <strong>Connect with Emma</strong>: Instagram <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/emmajanzen/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">@emmajanzen</a></p><p> 🎧 <strong>Listen to more episodes &amp; Lock-In sessions</strong>: <a href=\"thecocktailacademy.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">thecocktailacademy.com</a></p><p> 📩 <strong>Get in touch with Damian</strong>: sayhello@thecocktailacademy.com</p>","author_name":"Damian Cole"}