─ Our Story ─

What happens when two longtime friends and respected industry professionals Matt Lindner and Charles Joly join forces? A really great party, and award-winning craft cocktails that represent them - authentic, classic and fun. That is a Crafthouse Cocktail - the ready-to-serve cocktail bringing true craft bar quality to cocktail lovers wherever they happen to be.

─ Our Founders ─

Matt Lindner

Hi, I’m Matt and I have been in the food and beverage industry since age 16, serving yogurt and salads in the suburbs of Chicago at Love’s Yogurt. I opened my first bar, Bird’s Nest, in Chicago in 1995 at the age of 23. The name Bird’s Nest originated because my nickname is Bird, but most people thought it was because of our amazing chicken wings. Ironically, I also owned a bar named Big Wig that most people thought was because of my huge curly hair but it was because it was originally an old hair salon. When I started in the bar business, I literally lived in the back of Bird’s Nest, sleeping on the couch and showering at a nearby health club. I acted as a bartender, the cook and the cleaning crew (although often my friends would often help in return for a few beers). Since then I went on to open 14 other unique and successful venues. I love the restaurant business.

I consider myself a service industry junkie, with a deep understanding of hospitality, customers and their needs. Not to overstate, but I feel like I have always been on the forefront of emerging trends. Outside of Bird’s Nest and Big Wig was Cans Bar and Canteen in 2001 which served canned beer and had a retro 80’s type theme. The concept was so popular that I opened a Cans in Milwaukee and one in Charlotte. Next up was Salud Tequila Lounge (Chicago) which exclusively used 100% agave tequila in all the cocktails long before agave was a household name. I modeled that concept from the acclaimed Tommy’s Tequila Bar in San Francisco, and the owner Julio helped introduce me to several great tequila producers. The restaurant that hopefully will forever change my life was The Drawing Room (Chicago), where we served classic and crafted cocktails and where Charles and I got the inspiration for Crafthouse Cocktails (late night after a long shift and while enjoying a few libations ourselves) .

My bars and restaurant concepts received numerous accolades but the most gratifying thing for me was just to stand and watch people enjoy themselves in a venue my team and I created -- I like people having fun around me! When I’m not working, I am hanging out in Colorado with my wife Kathy, our two amazing kids, and our rescue dogs Buddy and Bones.

Charles Joly

A global bartending champion, James Beard Award winning beverage designer, and guest experience guru, Charles Joly is a leader in the international craft cocktail and spirits movement. With over 20 years in the hospitality industry, it isn’t too much to say that Charles helped to usher in the modern age of the cocktail.

Now in his fifth year of creating and serving signature cocktails at the Oscars and Emmys, he is a go-to hospitality industry personality for outlets ranging from People, E!, and Access Hollywood to US Weekly, The Today Show, and Rachel Ray and others. He is consistently sought out for his refined palate, creativity and no-nonsense approach to hosting.

As one of the most respected authorities in the beverage field, Charles regularly shares the stage with his celebrity counterparts from the culinary world. He’s had the honor of creating cocktail pairings alongside Dominque Crenn, Stephanie Izard, Jose Andres and other visionaries. He was recently part of a judging panel with Andrew Zimmern and Emeril at Eric Ripert’s Cayman Cookout, because even bartenders need to eat.

His cocktail shakers have many miles on them, having been employed at marquis events ranging from the Grammys, the Kentucky Derby, and Jimmy Kimmel’s after parties to quieter affairs like the Scott Brother’s 40th birthday, Oprah’s 25th anniversary, celebrity weddings and private performances. But no matter the venue, Charles never strays from his light-hearted, direct take on cocktails. His motto: respect your guest, respect your craft, be present, use honest ingredients and have fun along the way!

Charles is the only American to ever win World Class by Diageo, the largest and most prestigious bartending competition on the planet. Charles’ other awards include NBC’s On the Rocks reality series, where he took home top honors. He has received James Beard Award nominations on four separate occasions, appeared on Bon Appétit’s list of 10 Most Influential Bartenders, and been voted US Bartender of the Year by Tales of the Cocktail.

Charles’ passion for culture, history, tradition and the people behind the cocktails and spirits we love has taken him to more than 50 countries where he conducts master classes for cocktail professionals and enthusiasts, and visits spirit producers.

Visit Charles at CharlesJoly.com

LIQUID ALCHEMIST

Liquid Alchemist creates premium cocktail syrups made from all-natural ingredients, designed to make professional-quality drinks easy to craft at home or behind the bar. Founded by a bartender, the brand is rooted in a passion for flavor and simplicity. Their syrups are a go-to for mixologists seeking bold, authentic taste with no artificial shortcuts.

La Cofradia

La Cofradia has been producing and bottling Tequila for over 50 years. Their experience in the Tequila industry has made of them one of the best and finest in the market, always adapting and responding to needs in the global market.

BROVO SPIRITS

Brovo Spirits is a woman-owned distillery based in Washington, known for crafting botanically driven liqueurs that celebrate complexity and balance. They collaborate with bartenders to develop innovative recipes that elevate classic cocktails. Focused on quality ingredients and small-batch production, Brovo’s lineup adds depth and character to any bar.

PlantERAY Rum

Planteray rums express the flavors of the terroirs of rum in fascinating expressions whose double-aging technique has become a trademark. Thanks to its originality and quality, the Planteray range has won the hearts of rum lovers all over the planet.