Chris Cardone is a beverage consultant, chief mixologist and career bartender who, despite being sober for nearly 10 years, has continued to work in the hospitality drinks industry and help make the bar scene more inclusive for those seeking alternative ways to drink.

He is the winner of Bartender of the Year, a four-time national flair bartending finalist, and has even taught celebrities like Tom Holland how to flair bartend.

From Chris’s terrifying brain chemistry causing terrifying hallucinogenic reactions to even small amounts of alcohol to the naysayers claiming a sober bartender couldn't succeed, this story is incredible.

And, of course, he also shares invaluable insights into what makes quality alcohol-free spirits, the education gap in the industry, why non-alcoholic options deserve their place (and price point) alongside traditional cocktails, and how to make the most of non-alc spirits at home.

WE CHAT ABOUT
0:00 Meeting Chris Cardone
1:54 The importance of hospitality
3:37 Chris' story
5:33 Hallucinogenic episodes
8:08 A life changing question
9:10 Staying in hospitality sober
12:05 A chemical reaction?
14:14 Being a sober career bartender
17:38 People thought I was sick
19:27 They told me to shut the fuck up
23:38 Watching the birth of a culture
27:30 What Chris thinks of Seedlip & Co
29:02 This isn't a trend
30:09 The good, the bad & the ugly of non-alc spirits
33:22 The alcohol-free cocktail experience
35:22 Where brands go wrong
36:47 Excited by Sylva & Ben Branson
38:46 The lack of education around non-alc spirits
42:22 The power of the bartender
43:32 Understanding the value of non-alc
48:31 A call to brands: Teach us!
52:13 Making alcohol-free cocktails at home
53:51 Tip 2: Start with a classic
54:43 Tip 3: Tinker & test
57:41 The Continuous Bev Consultancy
58:49 Creating a balanced cocktail menu
59:37 The cost of NOT having a non-alc offer
1:02:06 Corporate event consulting
1:03:55 Finding Chris
1:04:46 The BBQ-Q

CHRIS ON LINKEDIN // CONTINUOUSBEV.COM

WE ALSO TALK ABOUT:
Bero
Seedlip*
The Pathfinder
Aplos
Seasn
All the Bitter
Lyres
Ritual
Athletic
Peroni 00
Guinness 00
Prima Pave
Tost*

Download your free quick start guide at lownodrinkermagazine.com/freegifts

If you could spare me two minutes to rate and review the show on your podcasting app of choice, you'll make me the happiest little podcaster in all of Low No Nation 😊

===============================

Low No Drinker: The ONLY twice-weekly podcast bringing you closer to the people, places and brands leading the low, no & light alcohol revolution.

Helping you to find, understand and enjoy low, no and light drinks.


DOWNLOAD COOL FREE STUFF FROM LOW NO DRINKER MEDIA

SUBSCRIBE TO LOW NO DRINKER MAGAZINE ONLINE OR IN PRINT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD

*Some links are affiliate links, and if you click through and make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

Why is the word 'Mocktail' so contentious in the low/no space?

IN THIS WEEK’S EPISODE, WE COVER:

0:59 [A very] Brief history of mocktails

2:55 A mockery

3:40 Second-class drinkers

4:46 Not for the kids menu

7:40 What else can we call them?

8:24 Other terrible terms

9:21 AF mixologists to watch

10:49 But... some people still like it

12:04 A good problem to have

BEST EPISODE TO LISTEN TO NEXT:

#29 The rise and rise of Mocktails with Pooja Sharma-Jones

ALSO MENTIONED:

Derek Brown – The Mindful Drinking Podcast

Chris Cardone

Camille Vidal – La Maison Wellness

Dr Cocktail

The Midnight Muddler

Millie Gooch

If you could spare me two minutes to rate and review the show on your podcasting app of choice, you'll make me the happiest little podcaster in all of Low No Nation 😊

===============================

Low No Drinker: The ONLY twice-weekly podcast bringing you closer to the people, places and brands leading the low, no & light alcohol revolution.

Helping you to find, understand and enjoy low, no and light drinks.


DOWNLOAD COOL FREE STUFF FROM LOW NO DRINKER MEDIA

SUBSCRIBE TO LOW NO DRINKER MAGAZINE ONLINE OR IN PRINT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD

*Some links are affiliate links, and if you click through and make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

Oli Genn-Bash is one of the most interesting guests I’ve had the privilege to interview. He’s a fungi fanatic and a mycology maestro; aka he loves mushrooms!

In this deep dive episode into the true role of functional mushrooms in our drinks, Oli doesn’t hold back. He tells us what these fascinating fungi actually do in our bodies, how to identify quality suppliers and the truth about whether they’re actually having any impact when used inside low/no drinks.

This is definitely one of those episodes where I’m inviting you to strap on your listening ears and come along and learn with me.

===============

WE CHAT ABOUT

0:00 Coming up...

2:45 Oli's story

5:20 Historical & cultural use

7:01 Introducing the "Big 5"

7:28 Over-popularisation of Lion's Mane

9:57 Reishi: The mushroom of immortality

11:08 Motivation & energy from cordyceps

14:33 Olympic doping

15:35 Medicinal uses of cordyceps

17:31 How to consume functional mushrooms

20:38 Are there any side effects?

23:00 Are they effective in low/no drinks?

25:35 Zero regulations

26:27 How mushroom powder is made

28:14 Extract ratios

31:29 Will the laws change?

34:06 Turkey Tail: pharmaceutical grade cancer treatment

35:06 Chaga: not a true mushroom

37:04 Magic mushrooms for the psychotropic curious

41:41 Micro-dosing: What is it?

47:31 Why I invited Oli on the pod

48:31 The Fungi Consultancy

50:48 Find Oli

51:30 The BBQ-Q

53:39 Keep mycology alive

FIND OLI

THE FUNGI CONSULTANT.COM // @THE_FUNGI_CONSULTANT // LINKEDIN.COM/IN/OLI-GENN-BASH

WE ALSO TALK ABOUT:

The Bristol Fungarium

jAGA*

BEST EPISODE TO CHECK OUT NEXT

#47 Psychotropic-curious with High & Dry

Download your free quick start guide at lownodrinkermagazine.com/freegifts

If you could spare me two minutes to rate and review the show on your podcasting app of choice, you'll make me the happiest little podcaster in all of Low No Nation 😊

===============================

Low No Drinker: The ONLY twice-weekly podcast bringing you closer to the people, places and brands leading the low, no & light alcohol revolution.

Helping you to find, understand and enjoy low, no and light drinks.


DOWNLOAD COOL FREE STUFF FROM LOW NO DRINKER MEDIA

SUBSCRIBE TO LOW NO DRINKER MAGAZINE ONLINE OR IN PRINT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD

*Some links are affiliate links, and if you click through and make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.