“A Return to Ancestral, Holistic, and Intentional Drinking”
Bar & Beverage Consultant · Celebrity Mixologist · Cultural Explorer & Philanthropist
Spiritual Advisor, Bar Magazine · Featured Expert, Bar Rescue · Producer, Drink Masters (Netflix)
Over the past two decades, the cocktail world has experienced a remarkable renaissance. The Craft Cocktail Movement revived forgotten recipes, elevated technique, and reintroduced bartenders as true artisans—reshaping the way the world drinks. Today, the industry stands at the threshold of its next evolution.
Wishka (Russell Davis) helped bring the craft cocktail movement to a global audience as a featured expert on Bar Rescue, and later as a producer and creative contributor to the Netflix competition series Drink Masters. He was also a key figure in building Shaker & Spoon, one of the leading cocktail subscription platforms that expanded public access to craft cocktail culture and education.
In this immersive seminar, Wishka explores how the bar world is evolving beyond technique alone. Across the globe, drinkers are becoming more mindful of what they consume—drinking less, but drinking better—increasingly focused on ingredients, wellness, sustainability, origin stories, and the deeper meaning behind what they choose to enjoy.
If the Craft Cocktail movement taught us how to make drinks better… what happens when we begin asking why we drink in the first place?
Drawing from years of global exploration and work with ancestral traditions, Wishka examines how the next generation of cocktails will integrate holistic ingredients, intentional preparation, ethical sourcing, and ancient beverage wisdom—inviting the modern bartender into a deeper role as a facilitator of experience, keeper of space, and steward of hospitality.
A return to botanicals, natural sweeteners, and functional ingredients that support the body as well as the palate.
The bartender reimagined—not just as a technician, but as a host, guide, and curator of meaningful experiences.
Rediscovering ancient fermentation traditions, ritual beverages, and indigenous knowledge that predate the modern cocktail.
Sustainable producers, indigenous partnerships, and the growing importance of transparency in ingredients.
An educational and experiential session combining storytelling, cultural insight, and a live cocktail demonstration—designed for bartenders, hospitality professionals, brand educators, and curious enthusiasts alike.
#StAugustineCocktailFest
After thoughtful planning and conversations with our partners, we’ve rescheduled to April 2026 to deliver an even more elevated experience.
Thank you for your support we’ll see you this spring!
#StAugustineCocktailFest
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