You’ve heard of life hacks. How about Bar Hacks? Host David Klemt goes behind the scenes—and behind the business—with operators, bartenders, founders, chefs, beverage professionals, designers, distillers, and other voices shaping hospitality today. From operations and leadership to cocktails, spirits, concept development, and guest experience, Bar Hacks explores what works, what doesn’t, and what’s changing, with the occasional story you could only hear from someone who lived it. Created and produced by KRG Nightlife.
What happens when an app built to make spirits pricing more transparent joins forces with a marketplace for buying, selling, and collecting rare bottles?
On this episode of Bar Hacks, host David Klemt welcomes Scott Manning, Head of Product at Baxus and co-founder of BoozApp, to discuss the evolution of both platforms.
Scott shares the story behind BoozApp, the decision to join Baxus, and what the unified platform means for spirits enthusiasts and collectors. They explore the challenges of spirits pricing, the value of rare bottles, and how technology can make the secondary market more accessible and transparent.
They also get into Baxus Hunts, a new community-driven feature that rewards users for tracking bottles and prices in the wild, along with the platform's digital vending machine and what's coming next.
Plus, David and Scott swap stories about unusual bottles, collecting versus drinking, and the opportunities for bars and restaurants to uncover value in their existing spirits inventory.
Hit the links below to learn more.
Notes
Baxus website (https://www.baxus.co/)
Baxus IG (https://www.instagram.com/baxus.co)
Baxus LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/baxusco)
KRG Nightlife IG (https://www.instagram.com/krg.nightlife/)
KRG Nightlife website (https://krgnightlife.com)
KRG Nightlife LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/krgnightlife/home/)
29 Sept 2026
Ambassadors Clubhouse: How Do You Open the Most In-Demand Restaurant in New York?
What does it take to open one of New York City's most in-demand restaurants and then make it better after the doors open?
On this episode of Bar Hacks, host David Klemt sits down with Bar Hacks: ReFire co-host Bradley Knebel, general manager of Ambassador's Clubhouse NYC, to talk about the work behind opening and leading a restaurant with enormous expectations from day one.
Bradley traces his path from sommelier to restaurant leadership and the opening experiences that made him fall in love with bringing concepts to life. He shares why no restaurant survives first contact with operating reality unchanged, how to protect a brand's non-negotiables while listening to guests, and why opening leaders need to check their egos at the door.
The conversation gets into the realities behind Ambassadors Clubhouse: overwhelming reservation demand, a massive menu, two-floor service, highly technical culinary and beverage programs, and the prep systems required to make complexity look effortless.
Bradley also breaks down how his team approached hiring roughly 100 people, why he hires the person before the skill set, and how that philosophy helped the restaurant reach six months with 100% voluntary retention among its service team.
Along the way, David and Bradley discuss culture as an operating and financial issue, decision making under pressure, giving GMs clear authority, building consistency without chasing perfection, and Bradley's standard for excellence: get 1% better every day.
Plus, Bradley shares the real family story behind the Ambassadors Clubhouse concept, including the man whose portrait connects the restaurant to the Punjabi mansion parties that inspired it.
Notes
Bradley Knebel IG (https://www.instagram.com/sommfabulousguy/)
Ambassadors Clubhouse NYC IG (https://www.instagram.com/ambassadorsclubhousenyc/)
Ambassadors Clubhouse NYC website (https://ambassadorsclubhouse.com/newyork/)
Ambassadors Clubhouse website (https://ambassadorsclubhouse.com/)
KRG Nightlife IG (https://www.instagram.com/krg.nightlife/)
KRG Nightlife website (https://krgnightlife.com)
15 Sept 2026
Purposefully Different: Whiskey, Cocktails, and New York
What happens when 10 nearly forgotten rye seeds become the foundation for a distinctly New York whiskey?
On this episode of Bar Hacks, host David Klemt sits down with New York Distilling Company founder Allen Katz and creative director Jamie Gordon to explore the intersection of distilling, cocktail culture, creativity, and hospitality in Brooklyn.
Allen shares the remarkable story behind Horton rye—from just 10 seeds to hundreds of acres under cultivation—and challenges one of American whiskey's most familiar shortcuts: that bourbon is sweet and rye is spicy. The conversation gets into what actually gives rye its character, why New York belongs in the American whiskey conversation, and what it takes to build a spirits brand in one of the world's most competitive markets.
Then, the conversation moves behind the bar at Jaywalker, where affordability is intentional, $12 Manhattans push against today's cocktail-pricing trend, and a menu inspired by New York, from bodegas and flower stands to green markets, turns the city itself into a source of flavor.
Along the way, Allen and Jamie share lessons on building something purposefully different, creating hospitality around belonging rather than exclusivity, collaborating without ego, and remembering something the industry can occasionally over-complicate: going to a bar is supposed to be fun.
Notes
NY Distilling Co. IG (http://instagram.com/nydistilling)
NY Distilling Co. website (https://www.nydistilling.com/)
Jaywalker NYC IG (https://www.instagram.com/jaywalker.nyc/)
Jaywalker NYC website (https://www.jaywalker.nyc/)
Allen Katz IG (https://www.instagram.com/nydistilleryman/)
Jamie Gordon IG (https://www.instagram.com/hangoverdiary/)
KRG Nightlife IG (https://www.instagram.com/krg.nightlife/)
KRG Nightlife website (https://krgnightlife.com)
Who has been a guest on Bar Hacks
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Anita Modha
Kyle Jones
Brian Grimsley
Chef Anthony
Maria Littlefield
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
2,167
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.6 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
73
Social presence
91
YouTube
68
Engagement
32
Contact Bar Hacks
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Bar Hacks
Who hosts Bar Hacks?
David Klemt and Bradley Knebel and David host the show. Published by David Klemt and Doug Radkey.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes bi-weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Bar Hacks take guests?
The show does not typically feature guests, based on episode analyses.
Host of Bar Hacks?
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