Naren and Jacob
Go to Leblon Beach.

Naren Young - Host

Naren Young is considered by many industry figureheads to be Australia’s most highly respected authority on cocktails, spirits and mixed drinks, and indeed the bartending profession at large. This recognition has stretched to an international level, with his many skills and extensive experience taking him around the globe in varying capacities. He has judged numerous international cocktail competitions, consulted with bars and spirit companies, been a regular guest on TV, spoken at bar expos and master classes and worked as a journalist in Australia, the UK and US specializing in cocktails, spirits and mixed drinks. He has worked at the most influential bars in Sydney, New York and London and headed up the bar at the Bayswater Brasserie for over four years, which culminated in the brasserie being crowned Australia’s Cocktail Bar of the Year 2005. He is now based in New York City where he drinks for a living and still stays out way past his bedtime.

Jacob Briars - Host

Politics, economics, law and bartending. Only Jacob Briars, or the ‘Vodka Professor’ as he is otherwise known, has been able to mix this combination into a winning recipe to see his career skyrocket over the last six years - from Gin Martinis in Casablanca, to Bellinis at Harry's Bar in Venice. Despite studying law and economics at University and a stint with the New Zealand Labour Party and Ministry for Justice, Jacob found the allure of bartending too hard to resist. The allure led him behind the bar at legendary Wellington cocktails lounges Matterhorn, Chow and motel. His passion and expertise culminated in winning Bartender of the Year in 2002. Never one to miss a good party, the Vodka Professor has been mixing drinks for the rich and infamous for a number of years. His drinks are so memorable that Elijah Wood thanked him in a Golden Globes acceptance speech for Lord of the Rings! Jacob has also lent his expertise to the Hong Kong launch of Fashion and Discovery TV, made cocktails for the very-to-vaguely famous at the Cannes Film Festival, Monaco Grand Prix and Venice Biennale, and has hosted sold out Vodka University sessions at Harvey Nichols across the UK.

Francisco Aliwalas - Director/Editor

Francisco Aliwalas is a Manhattan-based filmmaker. His documentaries, series, and promos have aired on MTV, Discovery Asia, and AZN. He has been the Director, Videographer and Series Producer for three seasons of the Travel Channel series, 5 TAKES. Francisco has made web content for Current TV, Google Travel, Ford Models, Aviation Week, General Electric and Dress for Success. Two of his latest documentaries, as Videographer, have premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and Hot Docs in Toronto. Recently, he won Best Picture, Director, and Editor at MTV World’s 72 Hour Short Film Shoot-Out and his series for Conde Naste’s Concierge.com titled 24 Hours in... won Best Online Video Series as voted by Magazine Publishers of America.

Steve Luttmann - Executive Producer

Steve Luttmann is a lover of everything Brazil: the people, the places, the food, the culture, and especially, the Cachaça. Married to a Brazilian, Luttmann lived in Brazil in the late 1990's, where he quickly became fluent in 'everything Brazil' working for one of Brazil's most beloved food brands, CICA. Luttmann's other passion is wine and spirits, working for LVMH's wine and spirits company on brands such as Grand Marnier, Ruffino, and Casa Lapostolle wine. In 2005, his passion for Brazil and for great wine and spirits culminated in the creation of Leblon Cachaça, which Luttmann created with his Brazilian family and the famous Cognac Master Distiller, Gilles Merlet. Luttmann firmly believes that cane can be as noble as any grape, agave, or grain, and when treated right, can create an even more noble Cachaça. The result is Leblon Cachaça, distilled at Leblon's showcase Alambique distillery, Maison Leblon, located in the heart of Brazil, Minas Gerais. In 2006, Luttmann met Naren Young, and became inspired by Naren's vision for a show about 'cocktails, cultures, and characters - the Happy Hour.' Luttmann quickly recognized the opportunity to create the initial pilot, teaching bartenders about the greatness of Brazil and it's amazing spirit, Cachaça.

Beatriz Pacheco – Producer

Beatriz Pacheco is a multimedia producer. Her broad experience ranges from fashion photo shoot production to music and cultural events. In cultural productions, she has produced music videos, advertising campaigns and the biggest Latin American Animation festival, Anima Mundi. She has also coordinated the official coverage of Tim Music Festival, biggest music festival in Latin America. As an executive producer for fashion photo shoots, she has produced editorials for several clients such as Italian Marie Claire, Vogue, Bergdorf Goodman catalogues and Bacardi World Campaign. Recently, she was stage manager for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Pan American Games held in Brazil. She is also an interpreter and translator in the broadest sense of the word. Her experiences living in Brazil, Canada, England and the US granted her the ability to connect these cultures, and turn the world into her office.