Thaddeus Vogler
Bar Concept and Design
Thad Vogler has been bartending for almost 20 years. He has worked in the industry in Paris, Ireland, Tokyo, Guatemala, Cuba, Belize, and of course, San Francisco where he worked on the opening team of seven restaurants. Thad is a native of Santa Cruz, California, and a graduate of Yale University.
He helped design, open and manage the bars at Slanted Door, Coco 500, Presidio Social Club, and the newly remodeled Jardiniere. In addition to being an active bar consultant for top restaurants in San Francisco, Thad works as a regular consultant for Francis Ford Coppola Presents. He also worked at Bourbon and Branch, and participates in the Bourbon and Branch Academy, where he is the resident rum specialist.
Thad was the perfect fit for bringing artisan values to the service in the Lounge.. The craft and tradition of making drinks is old, but giving this seasoned activity a place within the food and environmental movements of today was the challenge given to Thad.
What Thad created at Bardessono, is a Napa Valley lounge committed to traditional, excellent drinks. A good bar is run like a good kitchen. Start with simple, traditional recipes, use the best ingredients and make them fresh. There are already plenty of great recipes. The interest is in execution over innovation.
Thad’s approach is to support small and as often as possible, local craft distillers, especially those committed to quality and education. He shies away from products from large scale industries and produce that comes from industrial agriculture, in favor of brands that enhance diversity and regionalism. He also supports quality above variety; offering only a few brands of each spirit, to ensure Bardessono staff knows what they are selling and can speak intelligently about each selection.
