Andrew Friedman runs one of the best bars in Seattle, Liberty, with a thoughtful selection of over 600 craft and global spirits. In addition to opening Liberty in 2006, Andrew is founder and president of the Washington State Bartender’s Guild, and a founding member of the Washington Distiller’s Guild. He understands the operations and concerns of bar managers, bartenders and distillers alike. He’s a family man, dedicated to sharing discovery of quality spirits through each cocktail or pour with his customers and his staff.
How did you get into spirits and cocktails initially.
Interestingly enough, I really was not a drinker, nor had any interest in distilling when I opened Liberty. Something though clicked for me as I watched people’s interest grow as the cocktail culture grew, which culminated in our founding the Washington Distillers’ Guild and Washington State Bartenders’ Guild.
What is your philosophy on deciding what brands to stock at your bar? What mix do you prefer of large and small brands?
At Liberty, we have over 600 bottles. That’s a lot of liquor, and I try to stock only quality brands with a balance for the smaller, more crafty. That’s what we love, and that’s what our customers love.
What is your process for creating cocktails at Liberty?
We train our bartenders to each develop their own palates. That said, Liberty is known for its creativity. We make many of our own cocktail ingredients (bitters, liqueurs, etc.), and our 50-drink cocktail menu shows this.
How much are you able to utilize craft spirits in your bar?
As much as possible. We have a quite large collection of craft spirits from around the country. We use them in flights and as examples as we taste through different categories for trainings or events.
Do you prefer to feature local distillers, national, international, a mixture?
While we prefer local distilleries, we have quite a mix of products from all over the world. For instance, since we’re not making mezcal here in WA… But, that said, when there’s a personal connection to the spirit’s creator, that goes far with us.
What are some US craft brands that are exciting you right now?
A few of my favorite craft brands are those made with the foresight and care of the on-premise and cocktail creation in mind — for instance, The 86co., a brand that was created by bartenders, for bartenders. What’s noteworthy about this brand is that they don’t make any of their own product, yet they are celebrated because of their solid connection to our industry. Also interesting to me: mezcal brands that are owned by gringos, since I’m a big fan of mezcal. Many of the top mezcal brands are owned by Americans who have a history in Mexico, such as Pierde Almas, Sombra or El Buho.
What is the best approach for a spirits producer to take in possibly getting their product in your bar?
Concentrate on two things: 1) Get a good distributor that understands who you are and what you need, not just the distributor that is the biggest — the big guys will just lose you. 2) On-Premise. On-Premise leads sales. There’s little chance (unless you have a huge budget) that you will be able to market directly to the consumer in any meaningful manner, but you CAN spend your time and money talking bars into selling your product. There’s a science to it, but it’s not only a lot easier, but also less expensive and far more productive.
