Toby Maloney: The Craft, Chaos & Calm of The Violet Hour
Toby Maloney is one of the true architects of the modern cocktail movement — a bartender, author, and hospitality mind whose influence spans from Milk & Honey and Pegu Club in New York to The Violet Hour in Chicago, and now to The Elbow Room in Vancouver, Washington.
In this episode, Damian sits down with Toby for a wide-ranging conversation covering the early chaos of oyster shucking and club bartending, the epiphany of watching Sasha Petraske behind the bar, and the vision and legacy of The Violet Hour — the iconic Chicago bar that helped reshape American cocktail culture.
🍸 Topics Covered
- Toby’s origin story — from pouring his first drink in a dry town at 11, to cooking his way around the world
- The moment that changed everything: his first daiquiri at Milk & Honey
- Sasha Petraske’s influence, mentorship, and legacy
- How The Violet Hour brought New York-style cocktail culture to Chicago
- Why creating a quiet, transportive, guest-focused space was at the heart of its design
- Behind the house rules, the team culture, and the now-legendary drinks
- The next chapter: The Elbow Room and “comfortable craft” cocktails built for real-world speed
📚 Featured Resource
The Bartender’s Manifesto by Toby Maloney & Emma Janzen
A bartender’s book for bartenders — about process, purpose, and hospitality with heart.
→ Available now wherever you get your books.
Stay tuned for Toby’s next book, The Cocktail Sessions, dropping May 2026 — a craftsmanship-first guide to 63 essential classic cocktails.
🔗 Guest Links
📸 Instagram: @tobycocktail
📩 Email: tobymaloney@gmail.com
🍸 Bar: @elbowroom1970
📘 Book: The Bartender’s Manifesto — available now
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