Summary

In this special birthday episode "Turning 52 and Still Dreaming BIGGIE: Birthday Cocktails with the Director of No Fun," Angel Holmes celebrates turning 52 with her husband Brian behind the bar at The Holmestead, testing cocktail recipes for their upcoming bar venture. This unfiltered, authentic episode captures the real entrepreneurial journey as they mix "The George Bush" (Irish whiskey and ginger ale) and "The Harry and Maude" martini while sharing stories about their advisory team and Charleston connections. From Angel's multiple wardrobe changes featuring her Pig Slayer shirt and tribute to Julian Smith, to Brian's technical bartending skills and concerns about sound quality, this episode showcases the messy, fun reality of building dreams with your spouse. The couple reveals their custom bar setup, discusses their BevCon history, and introduces their growing team of advisors including Jayce McConnell, High Wire Distilling's Ann and Scott, Gary Crunkleton, Chris Finley, and Roy Milner. Angel reflects on authenticity, aging gracefully, and honoring the people who inspire your journey, while proving that entrepreneurial dreams get messier—and more meaningful—when you're building them with the people you love.

FOLLOW US:

Instagram: @neverstopdreamingbiggie and @angelpholmes

Learn more at https://neverstopdreamingbiggie.com

Follow The Holmestead Bar: @theholmesteadbar

The Brighter Side Society: https://sipindipity.com/brighter-side

Takeaways

• The Holmestead Bar features a custom-built wooden bar moved five times and weighing thousands of pounds
• "The Harry and Maude" martini (High Wire Hat Trick vodka with Jack Rudy olive brine) earns an A+ rating
• Quality ingredients matter in both cocktails and business building
• Their advisory team includes bartending expert Jayce McConnell and High Wire Distilling founders
• Angel's tribute shirt honors Julian Smith, former Bridge Run director and inspiration
• The bar will feature unique uniforms, BevCon merchandise, and local Charleston partnerships
• Testing business ideas with your spouse requires patience, humor, and good cocktails
• Brian brings technical precision while Angel brings creative enthusiasm to their partnership
• The Holmestead will combine Caribbean themes with Charleston hospitality
• Age 52 brings reflections on authenticity and the courage to pursue BIGGIE dreams
• Building something meaningful requires both vision and willingness to look imperfect in the process

Chapters

00:00 Birthday Introduction and Technical Challenges

01:45 Welcome to Never Stop Dreaming BIGGIE - Birthday Edition

05:30 The Homestead Bar History and Setup

08:45 Brian Makes "The George Bush" Cocktail

15:20 Angel's Wardrobe Changes and Stories

18:30 Advisory Team Introductions

22:15 Angel's "Harry and Maude" Martini

28:00 Julian Smith Tribute and Co-Pilot Spirit

31:30 Bar Vision and Menu Planning

33:18 Tour of The Holmestead Bar Setup

35:45 Birthday Celebration and Closing

Have ideas, questions, or comments? Email us at angel@neverstopdreamingbiggie.com.