Journey to the Sunnyside

In this conversation, Derek Brown shares his journey from being a bartender to becoming a mindful drinker. He discusses his personal experiences with alcohol use disorder and the decision to seek help and make positive changes in his life. Derek explains the concept of mindful drinking and how it can be a beneficial approach for individuals who want to reduce or quit drinking. He also provides insights into creating no and low alcohol cocktails, emphasizing the importance of intensity of flavor, piquancy, texture, and length in crafting these beverages. The conversation highlights the growing trend of mindful drinking in the industry and the availability of non-alcoholic options for socializing and enjoying drinks without alcohol. The conversation explores the topics of controlling alcohol consumption, the availability of non-alcoholic options in bars and restaurants, the future of bars, and functional ingredients. Derek Brown emphasizes the importance of having control over one's drinking habits and how mindful drinking and apps can help. He also discusses the growing demand for non-alcoholic beverages and the need for bars and restaurants to offer options for those who don't drink alcohol. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the future of bars and the potential inclusion of functional ingredients.

Takeaways
-Having control over one's drinking habits is essential, and mindful drinking and apps can help in achieving that.

-Bars and restaurants should expand their menus to include non-alcoholic options to cater to the growing demand.

-The future of bars is likely to include a variety of mood-altering options, such as infused psilocybin or cannabis.

-Bars are constantly evolving, and the inclusion of non-alcoholic options and functional ingredients is part of that evolution.


Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Background

02:09
From Bartender to Mindful Drinker

09:17
Recognizing Alcohol Use Disorder

16:22
Choosing a Path of Recovery

18:25
The Inner Conflict and Moving Forward

21:36
The Concept of Mindful Drinking

25:56
The Rise of Mindful Drinking in the Industry

28:26
The Importance of Mindful Drinking During the Holidays

31:46
Creating No and Low Alcohol Cocktails

38:46
The Spectrum of Non-Alcoholic Drinks

44:10
Controlling Alcohol Consumption

45:10
Non-Alcoholic Options in Bars and Restaurants

47:32
The Future of Bars and Functional Ingredients

50:03
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