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Artwork for The Buildout

The Buildout

VinePair
Cocktail Culture
Cocktails
Bartending
Mixology
Mezcal
Vinepair
Rye Whiskey
New York City
Tequila
Cocktail History
Rum
Gin
Negroni
Cocktail Techniques
Martini
Manhattan
Bourbon
Craft Cocktails
Old Fashioned
Tequila Sunrise

Every great bar has a story. We’re going behind the scenes with the people who built them: the founders, dreamers, and industry legends shaping the world’s most inspiring drinking destinations. From Maison Premiere to The Dead Rabbit, Long Island Bar, Schmuck, and beyond — this is how the world’s best bars get built. Hosted by VinePair Co-Founder Adam Teeter

A podcast from The VinePair podcast net... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes245Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessFoodArtsEntrepreneurship

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Buildout

Latest Episodes

At a time when many new cocktail bars are chasing acclaim with high-tech techniques and elaborate presentations, Jen Murphy went in the opposite direction: perfectly poured Guinness, ice-cold martinis, and the kind of easy hospitality that makes a ba... more

Amor y Amargo was only supposed to be a six-month pop-up. Instead, it became one of the most influential bars of the modern era—a place with a distinct philosophy, a fiercely loyal audience, and a legacy that still matters.

On this episode of The Bu... more

Jeff Bell may be best known for PDT, but as much as the bar reflects his influence, it wasn’t something he built from the ground up. That bar is Kees. A deeply personal project, Kees gave Jeff the chance to create something entirely his own—and to do... more

People come up with bar names and cocktail ideas in all kinds of ways, but for Josh Harris, inspiration often comes from memory, art, and whatever happens to spark something bigger. That creative instinct helped turn Trick Dog into one of the most in... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Jeff Bell
Bartender, owner with PDT background and founder of Mixology ventures discussed in episode
PDT / Krift Dogs / Mixteca Keys / Kees
Episode: Kees
Josh Harris
Owner of Trick Dog, bar innovator
Trick Dog (San Francisco)
Episode: Trick Dog
Kenta Goto
Bar owner and head bartender turned founder of Bar Goto
Bar Goto, Niban
Episode: Bar Goto
Neal Bodenheimer
Founder of Cure, New Orleans
Cure, Vals, Canine Table
Episode: Cure
McLain Hedges
Co-owner of Yacht Club, beverage director
Yacht Club (Denver)
Episode: Yacht Club
Mary Allison Wright
Co-owner of Yacht Club, wine program lead
Yacht Club (Denver)
Episode: Yacht Club
Alex Francis
Co-owner, De Vie; former Little Red Door bartender
De Vie, Little Red Door
Episode: De Vie
Barney O'Kane
Co-owner, De Vie; former Little Red Door bartender
De Vie, Little Red Door
Episode: De Vie
Shingo Gokan
Co-owner of Sip & Guzzle; partner in SG Group
Sip & Guzzle / SG Club
Episode: Sip & Guzzle

Host

Adam Teeter
Host of The Buildout, connected to VinePair, with a background in food and beverage media and industry storytelling.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 726 ratings
  • Love this as a Non-New Yorker

    I’m not in the industry at all but I love this podcast and will listen to each one! I started listening when this transitioned to The Buildout and have listened to each episode. I don’t live in New York but the stories they tell make me want to buy a plane ticket every week. It’s so fun to have a peak behind the curtain on some amazing cocktail bars, their owners or managers, and the background on those people.

    I think it’s easy to see a glamorous / outstanding cocktail bar and forget the whol... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kathryn131295
    United States3 months ago
  • Love this show!!

    This is my new favorite podcast. I love the range of guests, stories about the buildout of each of the bars and the background of each of the owners. It’s really unique and compelling and makes me want to run to each of them and try the drinks (and food), they reference on the show. The host, Adam, asks excellent questions that you’re likely not going to hear in other interviews with these people. If you’re a fan of learning how people got to where they are and built what they built, this is the... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hah-pah
    United States3 months ago
  • it’s ok

    not as into the new format. the buildout is fine but i really miss cocktail college. the buildout doesn’t have as broad a audience or scope of interest. it seems very industry specific and i find myself bored with the topic after a while each episode. it’s well produced and somewhat interesting but not enough to pull me back in episode after episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    3ir8
    United States3 months ago
  • Too narrow

    Oh cool, some new cocktail media claiming to be about the “world’s best bars” that can’t get itself outside New York City.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    jd60622
    United States4 months ago
  • Fantastic podcast.

    There are several things I enjoy about this podcast, and I generally do not leave reviews, but I feel that Cocktail College is so worth it. Tim’s hosting and interviewing style is so on point. It drives the episodes with beneficial information and interesting banter. It doesn’t meander off topic and take forever to get back to it. As a home bartender that is new to a lot of this, I have learned so much and enjoy the podcast so much.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    shenksnhshahgdf
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans appreciate the host's thoughtful questions and insights into cocktail culture.
Some listeners find the show highly industry-specific but valuable for professionals seeking in-depth how-to content.
Listeners highlight high-quality guests and practical takeaways for bar building and operations.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Kees
Q: What is the core philosophy behind Kees and Mixteca, and how does it reflect where you are in your career?
Kees represents a culmination of two decades of cocktail discipline. It emphasizes foundational classics, streamlined menus, and high-quality hospitality, with leadership and brand integrity intact but not overreliant on a single public persona. It's about delivering consistent guest experiences and a deep appreciation for the craft.
Kees
Q: How did you progress from PDT bartender to owner, and what catalyzed that move?
I focused on being available and building a reputation for reliability and leadership at PDT. The opportunity to own emerged from the network and the chance to take over the PDT brand after leadership departures; a long process of evaluating value, raising money, and aligning with investors led to the ownership transition during the pandemic.
Cure
Q: What advice would you give someone looking to open a bar?
Open with a purpose beyond a personal clubhouse, ensure you are building a lasting experience, be prepared for long timelines, and design a leadership and equity structure that supports sustainable growth.
Cure
Q: What was the biggest challenge early on, and how did you keep going through the tough years?
The founders faced limited financing, a difficult neighborhood, and early cash-flow struggles, but their burning passion for the project, a strong network, and weekends carrying volumes kept Cure afloat until a breakthrough around year three.
Cure
Q: Was Cure always intended to be a cocktail bar, and how did you assemble the opening team?
They started with a classic-forward menu and a single original, then built a team of trusted partners (Kirk Estopanol, Danny Valdez, etc.) who shared a long-term commitment to the brand and hospitality ethos.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Buildout

What is The Buildout about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show goes behind the scenes with bar founders, designers, and operators to explore how notable drinking destinations come to life—from concept and design to staff culture and community impact. Episodes spotlight buildouts, hospitality philosophy, and the creative processes that turn a concept into a destination, with a recurring emphasis on atmosphere, guest experience, and navigating challenges like pandemics and competitive markets. It's especially notable for drawing from a roster of acclaimed, highly knowledgeable guests who bring real-world lessons on opening, growing, and sustaining award‑worthy bars, often with a strong narrative or design angle.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Buildout?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Buildout. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Buildout and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Buildout get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Buildout, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Buildout?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Buildout, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Buildout have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Buildout has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Buildout?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Buildout:

1. VinePair Podcast
2. Wine 101
3. Bartender at Large
4. The Speakeasy
5. Sauced

How many episodes of The Buildout are there?

The Buildout launched 5 years ago and published 245 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Buildout?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Buildout?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Buildout from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Buildout?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Buildout. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Buildout?

Recent guests on The Buildout include:

1. Jeff Bell
2. Josh Harris
3. Kenta Goto
4. Neal Bodenheimer
5. McLain Hedges
6. Mary Allison Wright
7. Alex Francis
8. Barney O'Kane

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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