Pre-Batch #10 - François Monti

Episode #10 is live on Pre-Batch Podcast. In this episode, host Gavin Wrigley sits down with François Monti, legendary drinks writer, vermouth historian, and the 50 Best Bars Academy Chair for Spain and Portugal. They dive into real, behind-the-bar conversations around: The Michelin vs. Tortilla Trap: François breaks down the economic flaw of the modern cocktail renaissance, comparing high-margin, high-volume local "tortilla places" to low-margin, hyper-complex Michelin-style operations where bars focus entirely on technical flexing instead of profitable execution. The Shampoo Salesmen Paradigm: A blistering look at the major corporate disconnect where trade marketing executives manage legendary spirit brands like commercial shampoo, relying on flawed Nielsen polling data to advance their personal careers instead of acting as true custodians of the product. Awards, Lobbying, and Vote Trading: The unfiltered reality behind international awards lists, the hidden politics of vote-trading cliques where peers trade favors behind the scenes, and why expensive guest shifts can alienate your neighborhood regulars. The Gen Z Sobriety Metric Illusion: Dismantling the media panic around younger generation sobriety, revealing how early metrics completely failed to factor in underage demographics, and why modern consumption shifts are driven entirely by inflation and the rising cost of living. Trend Saturation and Over-Engineering: Why François is entirely done with the obsession over technical trends, calling out bars that double-clarify spirits just to show off, when consumers really just want a well-made classic drink they can smash. Cocktails discussed: Vermouth Cassis: A historic, balanced French cafe classic built with vermouth, fruit liqueur, and soda, which François highlights as an incredible, refreshing hangover savior. Ron Collins: A dynamic Cuban spin on the classic Collins formula where the rich depth of rum completely alters the traditional drink structure. Dry Martini: François's personal go-to choice and what he considers the absolute fastest, most cost-effective spec for guests looking to drink higher-quality volume for less money. Subscribe and follow for weekly conversations on bartending, mixology, spirits education, and hospitality industry insights. 🎧 Watch the full episode also on: Youtube → ⁠⁠⁠⁠   / @prebatchpodcast   ⁠⁠⁠Follow us for more behind-the-bar conversations: Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠⁠  / prebatchpodcast   ⁠⁠⁠ TikTok → ⁠⁠⁠⁠  / prebatchpodcast   ⁠⁠⁠ Facebook → ⁠⁠  / prebatchpodcast