#155, Tobin Ellis, veteran bartender, author of “Bar Design Essentials", champion flair bartender, principal of Barmagic design studios (Las Vegas & New York) 30 March 2026

About this episode

Philip Duff interviews veteran bartender Tobin Ellis about his career and insights into bar design.

God help me, I've known Tobin for thirty years now, having met when we both competed in flair bartending contests, starting with the legendary Quest for the Best in Orlando many moons ago. Tobin went on to co-found the Flair Bartenders Association (FBA) and later moved to Las Vegas, where he still (mostly) hangs his hat. He went all-in on bar design decades ago, and has completed a book, "Bar Design Essentials" that he started writing in 2007, and which is as seminal and definitive for ...

People in this episode

Host: Philip Duff

Guest: Tobin Ellis

Topics covered

• bartending
• bar design
• flair bartending
• cocktail culture
• hospitality industry

Keywords

• bartender
• flair bartending
• bar design
• hospitality
• cocktails
• Tobin Ellis
• Philip Duff

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Flair Bartenders Association

Books & works: Bar Design Essentials

Places: Las Vegas, New York

More episodes of The Philip Duff Show

• Brian Maxwell, owner & beverage director, Vieux Carre, Pittsburgh · June 10, 2026 · 2h 1m
• Aarón Díaz, founder, Carnaval (Lima), beverage director Super Group, chef & mixologist · June 2, 2026 · 56 min
• Mike Paladini and Danny Polise, founders, Penelope Bourbon · May 25, 2026 · 1h 49m
• Rakshay Dhariwal, founder, Maya Pistola Agavepura Indian agave spirit, co-founder Passcode Hospitality and India Cocktail Week · May 20, 2026 · 1h 27m
• #158, Drew Schenck, owner, Dram & Draught bar group,(North Carolina), founder, Moonbird Gin & GOATz Rum · May 5, 2026 · 1h 7m
• #157, Eric van Beek, co-founder, Handshake Bar (Mexico City, #1 W50BB ‘24) & Shakerato (Amsterdam) · April 27, 2026 · 1h 13m