The Buildout

Shingo Gokan and Steve Schneider may not seem like an obvious bartending duo at first—but that’s exactly why they work so well together. Shingo is rooted in the precise, classic style of Japanese bartending, while Steve comes from the high-energy, hospitality-driven world of Employees Only. After years of friendship and collaboration, the two joined forces to open Sip & Guzzle in New York’s West Village. On today’s episode of The Buildout, Adam Teeter talks with both bartenders about the dynamic that makes their partnership click, how their different styles sharpen each other, and how one of the city’s most talked-about bars also ended up serving one of its most talked-about burgers.Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcastSip & Guzzle: https://www.instagram.com/sipandguzzlenycSteve Schneider: https://www.instagram.com/mightyschneideyShingo Gokan: https://www.instagram.com/shingo_gokanVinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepairHosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeterProduced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What started as a bar opened by some of Mexico City’s most famous party promoters has become one of the world’s great cocktail institutions. On today’s episode of The Buildout, Adam sits down with Limantour founding bartender José Luis to tell the story of the bar’s rise—and to explore how Mexico City became one of the premier cocktail destinations anywhere in the world.Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcastLimantour: https://www.instagram.com/limantourmxJosé Luis Leon: https://www.instagram.com/joseluisleonVinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepairHosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeterProduced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Day, bartender and cocktail-program designer who shaped menus and culture. David Kaplan, hospitality entrepreneur who helped found the East Village landmark and expand the brand. They recount building a landmark bar, recruiting talent, financing and crowdfunding growth, translating the concept into hotels and new cities, and plans for careful expansion and education.

Sam Ross, Melbourne-born bartender who trained at Milk & Honey, and Michael McIlroy, longtime Milk & Honey alum who helped shape modern cocktail culture, tell the story of taking over a legendary room and making it their own. They discuss persuading Sasha to let them keep the space, balancing legacy with a freer vibe, bootstrapping Attaboy, and expanding the concept to new cities.

On this episode of The Buildout, Adam sits down with acclaimed bartender Joaquin Simo to tell the full story of Pouring Ribbons—from the early buildout days and opening buzz to the hard realities of running a modern cocktail bar. Together they unpack what made the place special, what ultimately led Joaquin to close its doors for good, and why he’s not sure he’ll ever open another bar again.Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcastJoaquin Simo: https://www.instagram.com/simojoaquinVinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepairHosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeterProduced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stepping into Shinji’s feels a bit like tumbling down the rabbit hole.Drinks arrive inside hollowed-out oranges. A Ramos Gin Fizz appears in seconds instead of minutes. Plumes of dry ice drift across the bar. It’s playful, theatrical, and a little surreal—yet somehow everything still tastes incredible.The creative force behind it all is Jonathan Adler. On this episode of The Buildout, Adler joins host Adam Teeter to share the story of how Shinji’s came to life and how he designs cocktails that are equal parts spectacle and serious craftsmanship.Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcastShinji's: https://www.instagram.com/shinjisbarJonathan Adler: https://www.instagram.com/jonservesdrinksVinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepairHosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeterProduced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The original idea behind Clover Club was simple: open a great bar closer to home.What wasn’t simple was the execution. When the bar debuted, no one had yet brought a Manhattan-caliber cocktail experience to Brownstone Brooklyn. Clover Club set out to change that—and in the process helped redefine what a neighborhood bar could be.Today, Clover Club is an industry icon. But getting there meant years of challenges, from navigating a split with a business partner to surviving a global pandemic.On this episode of The Buildout, host Adam Teeter sits down with owners Julie Reiner, Susan Fedroff, and Christine Williams to hear the full story behind building one of Brooklyn’s most influential bars.Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcastClover Club: https://www.instagram.com/cloverclubnyVinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepairHosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeterProduced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Perched high above the clouds, Overstory is unlike anything else in Manhattan.Launching a refined, high-end cocktail bar in the heart of the Financial District was a bold bet. The neighborhood has long been defined by dive bars, happy hours, and big screens—not destination drinking. Yet Overstory has defied expectations, becoming one of the most celebrated bars in the country.Co-founder Harrison Ginsberg joins Adam Teeter on The Buildout to share how the idea was born, how the team brought it to life, and why taking a risk on an unconventional location paid off.Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcastOverstory: https://www.instagram.com/overstoryHarrison Ginsberg: https://www.instagram.com/harrison.ginsbergVinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepairHosted by VinePair Co-Founder: https://www.instagram.com/adamteeterProduced and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/dolldoctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Takuma Watanabe, Japanese-born bartender and owner of Martiny's in NYC, turned Ginza precision into a modern cocktail bar. He talks about his journey from barista to bar owner. He describes crafting a one-by-one, meditative cocktail experience, menu seasonality, design and staffing choices, and opening and expanding multiple venues.

Sebastian Tollius, Beverage Director at Eleven Madison Park and co-creator of Clemente Bar, dives into the art of cocktail creation through a fine-dining lens. He shares how his journey from hotel life shaped his craft and led him to New York's culinary scene. Sebastian discusses the unique partnership with Chef Daniel Humm and the innovative design choices at Clemente, including a hidden back bar that emphasizes artistry over branding. He also highlights standout cocktails like the Clemente Martini, revealing the creative processes behind them.