About Chad Solomon
Chad Solomon is one of the most respected figures in the American craft cocktail movement. He built his foundational career at Milk & Honey in New York City — the legendary speakeasy that changed how serious cocktail bars operated — where he trained under Sasha Petraske and helped establish the service standards and bar culture that would influence an entire generation of bartenders. He went on to co-found Cuff & Buttons, a cocktail consulting and event company focused on elevated cocktail experiences for private clients and hospitality programs. Solomon is recognized for his deep knowledge of cocktail history, classic technique, and the craft of building bar programs that operate at a genuinely high level over time.
Episode Overview
Andre Natera sits down with Chad Solomon for a deep look at what real innovation behind the bar actually looks like — where it comes from, what sustains it, and what it costs. Chad traces his path from Milk & Honey to building programs for some of the most serious cocktail operations in the country, and shares what he has learned about the business of bar culture, the craft of flavor, and the difference between trends and lasting change. This is a conversation about ideas, standards, and what it means to care deeply about what goes in the glass.
What You Will Learn
- What training at Milk & Honey under Sasha Petraske taught Chad about the standards that define a truly great bar program
- How cocktail innovation actually works — where the best ideas come from and how to develop them into drinks that hold up over time
- What the most important elements of building a high-performing bar program are and how most bars get them wrong
- How the craft cocktail movement has evolved since Milk & Honey and what has been lost as it has gone mainstream
- What the business side of cocktail consulting looks like and what it takes to translate craft into a scalable hospitality product
- How to develop a palate and a creative point of view that is genuinely your own rather than a collection of influences
Connect with Chad Solomon
Instagram: @chadsolomon
Listen and Watch
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube
Support the Show
Andre’s book Culinary Leadership Fundamentals is available now on Amazon.