In this episode of The Cocktail Academy Podcast, Damian Cole sits down with Leandro DiMonriva — better known as The Educated Barfly — to explore what it really takes to combine bartending, content creation, and cocktail education at the highest level.
Leandro shares his journey from LA’s bar scene to YouTube success, how he uses technique to elevate even the simplest cocktails, and why authenticity and consistency matter more than chasing trends. They also discuss his upcoming book Home Bartending Mastery and what sets it apart from today’s crowded cocktail book shelf.
Whether you're a bartender, bar owner, or drinks educator, this episode is loaded with practical insights and hard-earned wisdom.
🧠 Topics Covered:
- Leandro’s transition from bartender to YouTube creator
- Why technique makes or breaks a cocktail
- The problem with original recipes and the myth of complexity
- What makes Home Bartending Mastery different
- The reality of creator burnout and staying inspired
- Navigating brand partnerships and setting your value
📘 Leandro’s Book
Home Bartending Mastery – Coming October 2025
A beginner-friendly book that teaches how to make pro-quality drinks at home, with an emphasis on technique and balance.
🔗 Connect with Leandro
📺 YouTube: The Educated Barfly
📸 Instagram: @theeducatedbarfly
🎙️ Podcast: The Good Spirits Project (YouTube only)
🔗 Connect with Damian & The Cocktail Academy
🌐 Website: www.thecocktailacademy.com
📸 Instagram: @welovecocktails
📱 TikTok: @welovecocktailsx
📘 Facebook: @welovecocktailsx
🎙️ Patreon: patreon.com/thecocktailacademy
📧 Email: sayhello@thecocktailacademy.com
🎙️ Enjoyed the episode?
Leave a review, hit follow, and share it with your crew. Want more? Join us on Patreon for bonus episodes and deep-dive "Lock-In" sessions with hospitality's best and brightest.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.