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We pull up with Gran Coramino Cup Champion Joel McKenzie, tracing his come-up from a gatekept bar scene in San Jose to standing tall on a national stage. This conversation is a masterclass in perseverance, purpose, and pouring from the soul.

Joel keeps it all the way real about navigating the early days, finding mentorship and brotherhood through Camp Runamok, and repping identity behind the bar with pride and precision. From hitting walls to building bridges, this one is about craft, community, and claiming space.

What we chopped it up about:
• Breaking through early barriers in San Jose
• Mentorship, brotherhood & those Camp Runamok connections
• Showing up unapologetically Black behind the stick
• Craft vs. volume — teaching guests what flavor really means
• How bartenders shape brands and culture
• The inside scoop on the Gran Coramino Cup format & judging
• Strategy, free-pour precision & pressure moments in Vegas + LA
• Winning on taste, not trends
• Building a lane for bartenders of color in San Jose
• Legacy, pride & pouring into the next generation

Follow Joel: @Joeweezy25

This episode is brought to you by Josh Davis, otherwise known as Mr. Mixologist

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