In this episode, Damian is joined by Slovak bartender, author, and mentor Stanislav Harciník, the creator of The Cocktail Balance and The Cocktail Balance 2.0. Broadcasting from Mirror Bar in Bratislava, Stan shares the unexpected beginnings of his hospitality career, the philosophy behind his writing, and his firm belief in the power of hospitality done right.
This conversation dives deep into what it means to be a modern bartender , not just in terms of technique and creativity, but as someone who understands flavour, business, and guest experience in equal measure. From the theory sections of his book to how he trains new team members at Mirror Bar, Stan’s holistic approach is a blueprint for the future of bartending.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
- How Stan went from hating bar work to finding real purpose in hospitality
- The moment he discovered the magic of connecting with guests
- Why his love of cooking and flavour memory shaped his bartending style
- The origin story of The Cocktail Balance, written during lockdown
- Why the first edition was released only in Slovak — and the deeper reason behind it
- What The Cocktail Balance 2.0 set out to do — and why theory comes before recipes
- Why hospitality is more than just service, and how pricing tells a story
- How Stan’s recipes act as creative blueprints, not rigid instructions
- His take on hospitality as “selling love” — and why that’s what guests really pay for
Key Quotes:
“Being a modern bartender isn’t just about what’s in the glass. It’s about what you deliver, how you connect, and how you grow others.”
“You’re not just selling a drink — you’re selling an experience, a feeling, a piece of yourself.”
“We’re in the business of love. Hospitality is how we show it.”
P.S. The bonus Lock-In session with Stanislav Harciník — where we go deeper into bartender training, creativity, and his “Learn. Grow. Pass it on” philosophy — will be available soon for free at thecocktailacademy.com.
Connect with Stanislav Harciník:
Instagram: @stan_harcinik
Website: thecocktailbalance.com
Contact Damian:
Website: www.thecocktailacademy.com
Email: sayhello@thecocktailacademy.com
Instagram: @welovecocktails
TikTok: @welovecocktailsx
Facebook: @welovecocktailsx
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