PJ Renaud

After dropping out of med school in 2016, I moved to Canada and started working behind the bar at a ski resort. After coming back from Canada, I started working at a small craft beer and cocktail bar, before moving to Parasol and Swing to hone my cocktail skills. I launched Peej’s Potions, a small cocktail Instagram page, to explore new techniques and flavour combinations, which has gained the attention of New Zealand bartenders. These silly experiments have led to my drinks winning several cocktail competitions, including the Auckland finals for the Cardrona Cup, and the Roots “Show Us Your Roots” competition. In 2022, I won the Lewisham Award for Outstanding Bartender, which I like to attribute to my capacity to push boundaries and put science into all my potions. Nowadays, I’m studying spirits and distilling, and living on Waiheke Island.