Inside Bartender Magazine: Ryan Foley on Legacy, Print Media, and Industry Storytelling
In this episode, we sit down with Ryan Foley—a bartender by trade, magazine publisher, and storyteller for the spirits world. He holds the helm at BARTENDER Magazine and the broader Bartender.com platform. In our chat, he dives deep into how media shapes hospitality, how storytellers serve the craft, and why the bartender voice deserves primetime.
The Mission Behind the Magazine
Ryan shared how his journey—from behind the stick to behind the pages—gave him a unique vantage point: not just what bars do, but what they stand for. With BARTENDER Magazine and Bartender.com, the mission is clear: to capture the energy, innovation, and everyday struggles of bartenders around the world. He emphasizes that media in our space isn’t a luxury—it’s essential to culture, visibility, and respect.
Media Meets the Craft: Why the Story Matters
One of the central threads of our talk: the story behind the pour. Ryan argued that cocktails are no longer just drinks—they’re scenes in the larger narrative of hospitality. The magazine covers cocktails, yes—but also the people, the backgrounds, the challenges, the triumphs. In his words: “If we only cover the result, we lose the human behind the bar.”
He also talked about how media platforms today must adapt—print and digital working together, but both needing to stay relevant in a world of Instagram and TikTok. Publishing isn’t dead—it’s evolving, and for hospitality to maintain its voice, it needs a platform with integrity.
Elevating the Bartender Profession
Ryan’s vision goes beyond content: he sees the magazine as a vehicle for advocacy. Whether it’s the BARTENDER Hall of Fame, bar-industry resources, or spotlighting under-represented talent, he believes in using media to drive change in our field. He emphasizes that for hospitality to thrive, we need to elevate not just drinks—but people, conditions, training, and opportunity.
Navigating Change: Print, Digital & Community
We also dug into the challenge of running media today in hospitality. Print subscription rates are shifting, digital ad models are unstable, and readers’ attention spans are shrinking. Ryan talked candidly about what’s working: high-quality content, strong community engagement, niche focus, and the hybrid of bar culture + business insight. The takeaway: media must serve the audience, not just the headline.
He shared this insight: “You can’t chase clicks if you want trust. You earn trust by first being honest.” That ethos rings loud in an industry full of hype.
What This Episode Means for You
If you’re in hospitality—whether behind the bar, running a venue, building a brand—there are actionable takeaways here:
Look at your story: what’s unique behind your bar, and how do you communicate it?
Recognize the role of media in your space: from local press to niche magazines, how you get covered matters.
Think about your profession: bartenders deserve recognition, support, education—how can you help elevate that?
Adapt to platform change: digital isn’t optional anymore. But authenticity still wins.