SOUTHERN GLAZER’S WINE & SPIRITS OF NEVADA ANNOUNCES BRIAN VAN FLANDERN AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MIXOLOGY, SPIRIT EDUCATION AND SPECIAL EVENTS
“America’s Top Mixologist” and award-winning author joins the leading beverage distribution company with over 25 years of expertise
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits of Nevada announced today Brian Van Flandern as the new Executive Director of Mixology, Spirit Education and Special Events. The award-winning author and mixologist brings the leading beverage distribution company over 25 years of expertise in mixology and spirits.
Prior to joining Southern Glazer’s, Van Flandern was the president and founder of his own mixology consulting firm, Creative Cocktail Consultants, where he focused on spirits education, innovating cutting-edge cocktail lists and training professional bartenders in the art of mixology, comprehensive spirits education and Michelin three-star hospitality dining and beverage standards. He also designed and implemented successful cocktail programs for luxury properties and prestigious clientele, such as famous chefs Thomas Keller, Geoffrey Zakarian and more.
“Brian Van Flandern’s reputation proceeds him and we are humbled to have him as our newest addition,” said Ian Staller, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits of Nevada. “His thorough knowledge of the industry will truly allow our company to continue to grow our beverage education programs and inspire the next leading mixologists in Las Vegas.”
Throughout his extensive career, Van Flandern has been awarded numerous honors, including “America’s Top Mixologist” by The Food Network, “One of the Top Ten Hotel Bartenders in the World” by Travel + Leisure Magazine and “Top Ten Cocktail Books of the Year” at Tales of the Cocktail for his second book “Craft Cocktails.” Among these distinguished accomplishments, he was also appointed by Diageo, the world’s largest producer of spirits, as their first-ever Global Brand Ambassador and is a certified Spirits Professional by the United States Bartending Guild, of which he is a founding board member for their New York Chapter, which is now the largest chapter in the country.
No stranger to the spotlight, Van Flandern has been featured on Spike TV’s “Bar Rescue,” The Food Network’s “The Barefoot Contessa,” CBS’s “The Early Show” and The Cooking Channel’s “Foodography,” as well as “The Wall Street Journal Live” and “Market Maker” on Bloomberg Channel. He has also been included in The Wall Street Journal and Food Arts Magazine for his innovative and unique cocktail recipes. Van Flandern has written over four award-winning books with his fifth book, Whiskey Cocktails, set to be released Fall 2018. In addition to his books, his libation recipes can be found in fine restaurants, resorts and cruise lines in over forty countries worldwide.
As part of his responsibilities in his new role, Van Flandern will oversee Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits Academy, where industry professionals are invited to learn from master mixologists, spirits experts, master sommeliers and cicerones. The program focuses on elevating the local beverage program while inspiring and educating bartenders and mixologists across the valley.
About Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits of Nevada
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits of Nevada is the state’s leading beverage distribution company. Founded in 1968 as Southern Wine & Spirits and headquartered in Miami, Florida, the organization later expanded to Nevada, where it later expanded to Nevada, where it operates in Las Vegas and Reno – strategic positioning that allows the distributor to meet customer demand statewide. In 2016, Southern Wine & Spirits completed its merger with Glazer’s, becoming North America’s largest wine and spirits distributor.
For more information, visit www.southernglazers.com/location/nevada.
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