Bar & Restaurant recently chatted with the co-hosts and co-producers of Prime Video's The Three Drinkers series: Helena Nicklin and Aidy Smith.
The Three Drinkers is all about the love of drinks, food, and travel. Each episode, Helena and Aidy are joined by a revolving cast of "third drinker" guests as they take a deep dive into the drinks culture of different countries and regions—creating an approachable and inviting space where viewers from any background can learn more about the drinks world.
The first season saw the co-hosts and their third drinkers embark on a trip through Scotland. In season two, the cast traveled to Ireland, and in season three debuting this month, The Three Drinkers will travel to the French region of Cognac.
Helena is an award-winning freelance wine and spirits writer, broadcaster, wine consultant, and drinks influencer. She uses her influence to champion women in the drinks business by slashing through the male-dominated competition with wit, tact, and an undeniable talent for all things boozy.
Aidy is an award-winning TV presenter, broadcaster, and journalist. Also known as the go-to LGBTQIA+ drinks expert and one of the world’s only TV hosts with Tourette Syndrome, Aidy proudly sheds light on diversity empowerment as a keen LGBTQIA+ and Disability Diversity spokesperson.
We spoke with Helena & Aidy about inclusion, trends, and what to expect in season three of The Three Drinkers. Read on for the full Q&A!
Bar & Restaurant: What can viewers expect from Season 3 of The Three Drinkers? Any sneak peeks into who will be featured as the third drinker?
Helena Nicklin (HN): Viewers can expect a lot of sunshine, delicious food, and generally, a fantastic itinerary for a long weekend in Cognac! It's the French Idyll.
This time round, we welcome two 'third drinker' guests. In episodes one and two, we are joined by Virgin Radio DJ and music legend Eddy Temple-Morris. Eddy also has his own pop-up restaurant and loves to cook dishes that take in his Persian heritage. Eulanda Shead-Osagiede is an award-winning food culture and lifestyle writer and content creator who joins us in episodes three and four.
What are some of your favorite bars/restaurants you’ve visited with the show?
HN: We absolutely loved La Ribaudière for high-end food and drink on the banks of the stunning Charente River. We also had some excellent food pairings with lovely wines at the luxury spa hotel Chai Monnet. Their jazz-themed bar is fantastic for a late-night sidecar cocktail. We also filmed in a very cool little bar called Bar Luciole that has an excellent range of spirits.
You both help to create inclusivity in the drinks space by championing groups often on the margins of the industry like women, LGBTQIA+, those with disabilities, etc. What is the importance of including these groups in the conversation?
Aidy Smith (AS): As one of the only TV presenters in the world with Tourette Syndrome and someone who wears their disability and waves the flag for LGBTQIA+ with pride, I’ve noticed a distinct lack of representation in the drinks industry. While the spirits world is catching up quickly, the wine industry is still fairly archaic, and in some cases, has a total unwillingness to change.
We’re lucky enough to work in such a vibrant and creative industry, but years of exclusivity have resulted in people from these communities feeling like they’re not welcome—that’s how I felt when I first joined. The importance of inclusivity is colossal in helping shape a world where people drink quality over quantity, and the only way we can do that is by bringing diverse cultures and communities into the fold so they too can be a part of this incredible world. It’s no wonder that most people who buy spirits are of a certain demographic because those in other communities haven’t been able to look at someone like themselves and familiarize themselves with what is out there to taste and try. More diversity in drinks is essential if this industry ever wants to have a future.
HN: We need a more diverse drinks world to boost creativity and innovation as well as creating a kinder, more welcoming space. If we're all just talking to ourselves, we see the same stories. Opening up the conversation to those with different cultural experiences, challenges, and successes to our own, makes the drinks space so much more interesting and keeps it fresh.
Do you have any advice on how bars/restaurants can create an approachable and inviting space for all groups?
AS: The fact of the matter is, people love to complain these days, and way too much. By placing a friendly flag on your venue to showcase you welcome those communities with open arms, you’re setting an example to the world that you embrace love—and we could all do a little bit more of that right now. Another great idea is to ask your bar teams for a charity they’d like to support.
HN: Having a diverse staff is important at all levels of service. Anywhere there's the chance to theme something—an evening, music, drinks selections—means more chances to do something different.
What are some recent cocktail trends you’ve observed?
AS: What started as a perceived gimmick has slowly and surely become the complete opposite. The fact is, people care more now than ever about what goes into their glasses and mindful drinking is becoming a much more embraced topic. Who would have thought it would become "cool" not to drink? With another 34% increase estimated by 2024, you can expect people to sip on lighter alternatives like hard seltzers, lower alcohol wines, and lower ABV spirits with mixers.
Google searches show margarita searches soaring. We have no doubt that this will be a Summer Serve to embrace across bars, restaurants, and also at home. This refreshing cocktail doesn’t require you to spend a ton of money on a fancy bottle—a cost-friendly bottle does the job just fine. The only question is, to salt the rim or not?
With the sheer number of companies now offering flavored tonics, we will see the country begin to adapt and explore more flavor variations within one of the nation’s favorite drinks. Our personal favorite? Franklin & Sons, who have taken creativity to the next level, creating flavor combos like Pineapple & Almond, Guava & Lime, and even Rosemary & Black Olive.
And of course, the obvious one, COGNAC! With the release of The Three Drinkers in Cognac on Amazon Prime Video in May, we can expect to see people from all corners of the world who watch our series begin to dabble with this world-renowned liquid gold—from simple serves like highballs to cocktails like the sidecar or even sipping neat. We always say that if you’re not quite at the point where you can appreciate whisk(e)y, start with cognac, and you’ll be amazed just how much you get out of it.
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