NOLADrinks Show – 9-10-18 – Anu and Chris Elford of Navy Strength

On this edition of The NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias, we chat with the owners of Navy Strength, Rob Roy and No Anchor in Seattle, Anu and Chris Elford. We discuss their operations, the recent award at Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards for “Best New American Cocktail Bar,” and the importance of inclusion and diversity with their staff. We also cover some news from the beverage world.

NOLADrinks Show – 9-10-18 – Anu and Chris Elford of Navy Strength

We start things off talking about this week’s show as well as next week’s show that will feature Aaron Selya, head distiller with the Philadelphia Distillery. We then cover some news from the beverage world including the Scottish Gin Society being sanctioned for improper (though funny!) Facebook posts, a bottle of 1805 Cognac that went for over $260,000, and some changes in the way wine from Burgundy is being sold.

Then, we have our featured interview where we chat with Anu and Chris Elford, proprietors of Navy Strength, Rob Roy, and No Anchor in Seattle. Navy Strength was recently honored at the Spirited Awards during Tales of the Cocktail as the “Best New American Cocktail Bar.”

We get Chris’ and Anu’s stories, how they came together as both business partners and as a married couple. We talk about Navy Strength’s program as a “proto-Tiki” bar, often rotating the focus of their cocktails to feature flavors and influences from a specific region or country. We also talk about their other establishments, Rob Roy, No Anchor, and their coffee shop adjacent to Navy Strength.

At left – Anu Elford of Seattle’s Navy Strength, Rob Roy, and No Anchor.

Anu and Chris stick around for our podcast-only extended conversation, “Another Shot with NOLADrinks.” We discuss the importance of inclusion and diversity among their staff as well as talking a bit about Anu’s journey as a woman of color working in the industry, purchasing her first establishment (Rob Roy, before meeting Chris), and how this all matters so much to them now.

We close things out with our “Parting Shot” where we talk about a new report citing threats to sour beer production in Belgium due to climate change.

You can subscribe to, stream, and download The NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias podcast using the player and links at the top of the post. The map below shows the locations of Navy Strength, Rob Roy, and No Anchor in Seattle.

Cheers, You All!

~ Bryan