Kevin Diedrich is Tales of the Cocktail’s 2020 American Bartender of the Year. He’s also at the helm of the American Cocktail Bar of the Year – Pacific Cocktail Haven in San Francisco.

These days, PCH’s reputation precedes it. But four years ago, when Kevin was in the process of re-imagining the existing neighbourhood bar that would become PCH, a bunch of regulars were asking why he was ruining their favourite venue. He says it was like getting punched in the stomach, over and over again.⁣

On this week’s podcast, Kevin shares how a focus on “warm welcomes and fond farewells” has now seen PCH become the Best American Cocktail Bar, in the same year he was named Best American Bartender.⁣