The Buildout

Today, Meaghan Dorman is rightfully considered one of the OGs of New York’s craft cocktail movement—but breaking into the scene wasn’t always so straightforward. Her entry point? Answering a Craigslist ad for a mysterious new speakeasy in Chelsea called Raine’s Law Room. That gig would ultimately lead to Dorman opening an equally—if not more—celebrated bar with her partners a few years later: Dear Irving.From reviving and perfecting the Gibson to setting a new standard for guest experience, Dear Irving became an instant classic, eventually expanding to two more locations and solidifying Dorman’s reputation as one of the city’s great hospitality minds.Meaghan joins Adam in the studio to share how it all started, how the bar evolved over the years, and what she’s learned from building one of NYC’s most beloved cocktail institutions.Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcastDear Irving: https://www.instagram.com/dearirvingMeaghan Dorman: https://www.instagram.com/gingerrickeyVinePair: 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 began as a weekly pop-up inside the now-shuttered Fort Defiance slowly evolved into one of Brooklyn’s most imaginative cocktail destinations. The Sunken Harbor Club charted its own unlikely course—thanks in part to a shortage of decent drinks near the Downtown Brooklyn courthouses (yes, really), and the sudden availability of one of New York’s most visionary bartenders.Adam sits down with St. John Frizell, Ben Schneider, and Garret Richard to unpack the twists of fate, creative risks, and behind-the-scenes hustle that turned a temporary idea into one of the most exciting bars in New York and beyond.Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcastSunken Harbor Club: https://www.instagram.com/sunkenharborclubnycGarret Richard: https://www.instagram.com/garretjrichardSt. John Frizell: https://www.instagram.com/stjohnfrizellBen Schneider: https://www.instagram.com/benisclovisVinePair: 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.

Ask most drinks writers to name their favorite New York City bar, and chances are you’ll hear the same answer: The Long Island Bar. But the story of how Toby Cecchini and Joel Tompkins finally opened this now-iconic spot is far more complicated than its easygoing vibe suggests—complete with notes slipped under doors, late-night window peeking, and a perfectly timed chance encounter.Adam sits down with Toby and Joel to unpack how this beloved Brooklyn bar almost never happened, and what gives it its enduring magic.Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcastLong Island Bar: https://www.instagram.com/longislandbarVinePair: 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.

In 2011, industry veterans Joshua Boissy and Krystof Zizka quietly opened Maison Premiere on a then-sleepy stretch of Bedford Avenue—far from the bustling hotspot it would later become. The bar didn’t stay quiet for long. Its immersive, transportive design and exceptional cocktails quickly drew crowds and set a new standard for New York hospitality. Adam sits down with Joshua to unpack the near-miss funding that almost kept the bar from opening, the rapid rise that followed, and where the Maison Premiere brand is headed next.Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcastMaison Premiere: https://www.instagram.com/maisonpremiereVinePair: 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.

In 2013, two celebrated bartenders from Belfast arrived in New York with a single goal: to open the world’s best bar, proudly rooted in Irish heritage. Adam sits down with co-founder Jack McGarry to unpack how they made that vision a reality—and where this now-iconic brand is headed next.Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/buildoutpodcastThe Dead Rabbit: https://www.instagram.com/thedeadrabbitnyJack McGarry: https://www.instagram.com/jackmcgarry1VinePair: 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.