Julie Reiner joins The Cocktail Academy Podcast for a candid conversation on what it really takes to build a lasting career in hospitality.
A true legend of the modern cocktail world, Julie is the force behind iconic New York bars including Clover Club, Milady’s and the former Flatiron Lounge. In this episode, she talks about hiring for hospitality over skill, why warmth matters more than technical knowledge, and how great bars create opportunities for people to grow.
Julie also reflects on how the cocktail world has changed since the early days of the modern cocktail revival, from the rise of social media and awards culture to the impact of batching on bartender education. She shares honest thoughts on burnout, mentorship, women in bartending, Speed Rack, and why young bartenders need to slow down, learn the classics and put the time in.
This is a conversation about longevity, leadership and the kind of hospitality that actually makes people feel better than when they walked in.
In this episode:
• Why Julie hires for personality first
• What makes someone naturally suited to hospitality
• How Clover Club and Milady’s develop staff
• The impact of awards culture on modern bars
• Why bartenders need to understand the classics
• How batching has changed bartender training
• The importance of mentorship and women-led networks
• What good hospitality really means
Follow Julie Reiner:
Instagram: @mixtressnyc
Bars: @cloverclubny, @miladysnyc
Follow The Cocktail Academy:
Instagram: @welovecocktails
TikTok: @welovecocktailsx
Website: www.thecocktailacademy.com
For bonus content, resources and more from the show, visit thecocktailacademy.com.
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