581: Justin Elliott on Cafting an Award Winning Cocktail Menu

581: Justin Elliott on Cafting an Award Winning Cocktail Menu

Author: Inspiring interviews with todays most successful restaurateurs 2-days a wee January 18, 2019 Duration: 1:06:26

 


This is Justin Elliott's second time on the show. For Justin's full story head over to www.restaurantunstoppable.com/557.

Having worked in some of the best bars in Austin, Elliott has consistently produced forward-thinking bar programs that have been recognized by Bon Appetit, Playboy, Texas Monthly, Zagat, Southern Living Magazine, Imbibe, Food Republic, Star Chefs and many more.

This past year Elliott joined Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits where he specializes in helping Bars and Restaurant develop their cocktail menus.

Today, Elliot is here to take us through his creative process of designing a cocktail menu.

Show notes…

Favorite success quote or mantra:

"Fight chaos every day!"

In today's episode, Justin Elliott shares:

  • Where the creative process starts: The physical space should be a crucial place to begin.
  • How the physical space ties back to the menu.
  • What signifiers are and how you can use them to make your menu pop.
  • Why you should not feel compelled to list every ingredient on you cocktail menu.
  • Your objective, when writing a cocktail menu, being to entice the guest to drink what you've created; not to show off what ingredients went into the drink.
  • The level of detail that goes into an award winning cocktail program.
  • Understanding what your employees like.  
  • A couple cocktail trends to be aware of going into the future. 

Resources mentioned:

Today's sponsor:

Cashflowtool.com  A simple powerful and predictive cash flow companion for Qickbooks. Simple, because it requires no data entry, is always up to do and works on any device, anywhere. Powerful, because with it's built-in cash flow calendar, activitiy feed and anomaly detector, you instantly know all aspects of your cash flow with no surprises. Predictive, because you'll know your cash flow today and anticipate it tomorrow.

Contact info:

 @jdanelliott

Thanks for listening!

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Huge thanks to Justin Elliott for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

 

Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

Eric Cacciatore sits down with the people who actually run the show in the world of food service. Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore is built on conversations with established restaurateurs and seasoned professionals who have navigated the intense realities of the industry. Twice a week, these interviews dig past the surface, focusing on the tangible details of leadership, team management, and effective marketing that separate a thriving venue from a struggling one. You’ll hear firsthand accounts of what worked, what didn’t, and the often-overlooked decisions that shape a restaurant's path. This podcast serves as a direct line to collective experience, whether you're dreaming of your first opening or steering a multi-location group. The dialogue is practical, centered on the daily grind and long-term strategy needed to build something lasting. For anyone invested in the business of hospitality, these regular episodes compile a vital resource, turning shared insights into actionable knowledge for your own journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 1000

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
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