About me
Derek Brown is a mindful drinking advocate, NASM-certified wellness coach, and beverage consultant. Formerly the owner of Columbia Room in Washington, D.C.—named Best American Cocktail Bar at the 2017 Spirited Awards—he was celebrated as one of the nation’s top bartenders. He now hosts The Mindful Drinking Podcast and leads conversations on mindful drinking and social wellness.
Brown is the author of "Spirits, Sugar, Water, Bitters: How the Cocktail Conquered the World" (2019), which earned him the 2020 Author of the Year title at the Nightclub & Bar Show Awards, and "Mindful Mixology: A Comprehensive Guide to No- and Low-Alcohol Cocktails" (2022). His work has shaped the beverage industry, earning recognition in Drinks International’s 2020 Bar World 100 and Imbibe’s 2023 Imbibe 75 list of the most influential voices in drinks. In 2024, he received the Industry Impact Award at the Bar & Restaurant Expo, and in 2025, he was named a Presidential Leadership Scholar.
