Behind The Bottle: SoCal Cocktail & Spirits Fest 2026

BEHIND THE BOTTLE – SOCAL COCKTAIL & SPIRITS FEST 2026! Join Host Thomas Howard aka DJ Doc and Co-Host Andre Hobbs for another exciting edition of Behind The Bottle, a featured segment on the Straight Talk with DJ Doc Podcast Platform, as we take you inside the SoCal Cocktail & Spirits Fest 2026, held at the beautiful Gillette House in Irvine, California! During this exciting event, we had the opportunity to sit down with SIP Awards Founder and CEO Pouya "Paul" Hashemi along with several award-winning spirits brand owners and entrepreneurs, hearing firsthand about their journeys, the inspiration behind their brands, the craftsmanship involved in creating their spirits, and what makes their products stand out in the competitive spirits industry. Fast Moving Consumer Goods Owner, Sandro Piancone, was one of the sponsors that made sure these spirit owners had the opportunity to be branded nationally. Attendees enjoyed an engaging atmosphere celebrating the world of cocktails and premium spirits, with opportunities to discover unique brands, experience tastings, connect directly with industry professionals, and learn about the creativity and passion behind the bottle. Behind The Bottle is more than just a conversation about spirits. It's about the people, the passion, the business, and the stories that bring each bottle to life! Host / Producer Thomas Howard: https://poplme.co/djdocsd/share Co-Host Andre Hobbs: http://www.andrehobbs.com Sponsor Fast Moving Consumer Goods Sandro Piancone: fmcgstock.com Guests: SIP Awards Paul Hashemi & Artika Negahdar: Sipawards.com Waterloo Gin Company Jean Marie Sperling: waterloogincompany.com Status Wines Rob Tangipa: status wines.com Wooler Brands Amy Wooler: woolerbrands.us Matiari Tequila Dave Welch: sansws.com San Hagen Tequila Stine Kidemose Jensen: sanhagen.com Nafta Distributors Nuri Alajl: naftadist.com Casa Ajurra Bardia Vahidi PhD: casaAjurra.com High Mountain Spirits Jeffrey Su: highmountainspirits.com Vieroma Cacao Liquer Maria Jose Rojas / Kasha Touloei: vieroma.com Drunken Bean Coffee Whiskey Claudia Hoyser: centerfirespirits.com Bushwood Spirits Matt Bulle: bushwood.com