Bardtenders

Bardtenders

You’re listening to Bardtenders! A Dungeons & Dragons Podcast where a group of bartenders escape their lives behind bars and trade in their shakers for dice. Join us each episode as we put liquids in cups, discuss the world of hospitality and bartending, and whomp monsters along the way! You can check us out on social media @bardtenders or at https://www.bardtender.com/ to check out our shows, explore new content, snag some food & beverage education, and so much more! 

  1. The Mixing Glass | Heard House 2026 | Guest Shift - Molly Cummings

    15 Jun

    The Mixing Glass | Heard House 2026 | Guest Shift - Molly Cummings

    Live from Fort Worth, Texas!  The Bardtenders head to Fort Worth for the third annual Heard House to bring you live episodes with some amazing hospitality professionals. The Bardtenders had the chance to stay at the Heard House sponsored by Heard Card Game where bartenders from around the country came together to share their stories, gain access to education opportunities, and create some amazing memories along the way. Join us over the next several weeks as these bartenders share their experiences in the hospitality industry! In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Molly Cummings talks about her choice to leave the world of academia behind to pursue opening a distillery with her family. We also take a deep dive into the main ingredients in gin - Juniper! Molly shares her stories in foraging local Texas Juniper and how to work with botanicals when developing your own spirits.  ------------ While being a Biology Professor at the University of Texas in Austin, Molly Cummings founded WildGins Co. —makers of the only gins in the world featuring native Texas Junipers.  Of the 8 native Texas juniper species, Molly found the best two for gin in West Texas. WildBark West Texas Dry Gin features the Alligator Juniper—a juniper that grows above 5,000 ft in the West Texas Mountains— and is a bold Texas take on the classic London Dry.  WildJune Western Style Gin features the Redberry Juniper—a juniper that grows only in the high plains of West Texas—and offers a wildly unique Texas spin on gin. WildGins honors our trees by putting the batch-specific tree names on their side labels—making them the world’s first single-origin gin.   WildGins Co. also preserves the lands that give us these unique Texas junipers by giving proceeds to the West Texas chapter of The Nature Conservancy with their ‘Give a Wild Buck’ campaign. They invite you to ‘Take a Sip on the Wild Side’ and Celebrate Texas Biodiversity with WildGins! ---------- Don't miss out on any of the action!  Head to www.bardtender.com to stay up to date with all of the Bardtender content, find resources for mental and physical well-being, get access to education materials, and check out what all of our bards are up to! Support the show

    55 min
  2. The Mixing Glass | Heard House 2026 | Guest Shift - Tobias Steeves

    1 Jun

    The Mixing Glass | Heard House 2026 | Guest Shift - Tobias Steeves

    Live from Fort Worth, Texas!  The Bardtenders head to Fort Worth for the third annual Heard House to bring you live episodes with some amazing hospitality professionals. The Bardtenders had the chance to stay at the Heard House sponsored by Heard Card Game where bartenders from around the country came together to share their stories, gain access to education opportunities, and create some amazing memories along the way. Join us over the next several weeks as these bartenders share their experiences in the hospitality industry! In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Tobias Steeves discusses his journey in the world of hospitality, building a customer base in a small community in South Dakota, and The Flying Spaghetti Monster.  ------------ Tobias Steeves grew up as a Military Brat across the country with his 8 siblings, but started his hospitality and bartending journey in downtown Colorado Springs, CO, at The Archives (an underground cocktail bar) where he cut his teeth as a barback/bartender and was there for several years. Tobias has worked at several other bars over the years and is a member of the US Bartenders' Guild.  He has competed in numerous cocktail competitions and won the 2021 Fernet Branca Barback Games. He was also the runner up in 2022’s Patron Perfectionist, 2021’s Hampton Water Rocking Rose by Bon Jovi, and has had multiple World Class by Diageo top 10 /and top 30 placements.  In 2021 Tobias moved to Spearfish, South Dakota, and after 6 months of living there he took ownership of a small local Italian restaurant where he began building up the local cocktail and beverage scene through the restaurant.  In July of 2025 he built and opened his first cocktail lounge in the basement of the building where my restaurant is located. Tobis is also a self-proclaimed massive nerd and loves Fernet! ---------- Don't miss out on any of the action!  Head to www.bardtender.com to stay up to date with all of the Bardtender content, find resources for mental and physical well-being, get access to education materials, and check out what all of our bards are up to! Support the show

    1hr 6min
  3. The Mixing Glass | Heard House 2026 | Guest Shift - Kolby Howard

    4 May

    The Mixing Glass | Heard House 2026 | Guest Shift - Kolby Howard

    Live from Fort Worth, Texas!  The Bardtenders head to Fort Worth for the third annual Heard House to bring you live episodes with some amazing hospitality professionals. The Bardtenders had the chance to stay at the Heard House sponsored by Heard Card Game where bartenders from around the country came together to share their stories, gain access to education opportunities, and create some amazing memories along the way. Join us over the next several weeks as these bartenders share their experiences in the hospitality industry! In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Kolby Howard shares his knowledge for creating special moments for guests, what it's like working for a well-known brand, and how to acquire the often sought-after Fernet Coin!  ------------ Kolby Howard started in the service hospitality industry straight out of school. He went from dishwasher to managing kitchens to the front of the house where he found his 1st love: the bar.  He honed his craft by attaining varied certifications and reading every book possible.  After a number of years “behind the bar”, he joined the original Hide Bar in Deep Ellum area of Dallas.   Kolby worked under one of the best bar mentors in the country where he dedicated his efforts to the craft and strived to continue his knowledge acquisition.  Kolby and the beverage team at Hide won countless awards.  He and the staff were also able to define & share their sensory experiences with the guest by redefining the idea of what a “good cocktail” tasted like. Kolby then narrowed his focus on one thing.  He wanted to work directly for a manufacturer.   Not any manufacturer would do.  He wanted one with an incredible brand, culture, and a history that he could stand behind as an Industry Professional.  After many years behind the bar, Kolby now gets to share his love for cocktails by representing one of the most iconic, historically significant spirit brands in the world - Fernet Branca. ---------- Don't miss out on any of the action!  Head to www.bardtender.com to stay up to date with all of the Bardtender content, find resources for mental and physical well-being, get access to education materials, and check out what all of our bards are up to! Support the show

    1hr 19min

About

You’re listening to Bardtenders! A Dungeons & Dragons Podcast where a group of bartenders escape their lives behind bars and trade in their shakers for dice. Join us each episode as we put liquids in cups, discuss the world of hospitality and bartending, and whomp monsters along the way! You can check us out on social media @bardtenders or at https://www.bardtender.com/ to check out our shows, explore new content, snag some food & beverage education, and so much more!