Cole Weiland
Warehouse District, Minneapolis
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a touring musician swaps the green room for the back bar, Collin Gorman Weiland (you can call him Cole) the Bar Lead at Berlin in Minneapolis has all of the answers. Equal parts cocktail craftsman and underground music sage, Cole brings a thoughtful, unpretentious energy to everything from Navy Grogs to kickboxing B-movies. We sat down with him across the bar to chat clean kitchens, rum blends, and what makes Berlin such a perfectly intimate outing.
Full Name, Age and Where are you from?
Collin Gorman Weiland, but friends just call me Cole. I am 37 years young, and I'm from Minneapolis Minnesota.
What is your title at Berlin?
Bar Lead here at Berlin in Minneapolis.
What inspired you to get into this industry?
I feel historically bartending is a solid gateway industry if you're already associated within the music industry. Personally, I was playing shows and touring and it just made sense on a social, active, and scheduling perspective to get into doing cocktail (as were a lot of other friends of mine). Hence what makes Berlin such a special place, blending both worlds and industries into an intimate fun club.
What is your most blissful culinary moment?
My most blissful kitchen moment is doing the dishes! Especially with someone. It acts like a denouement to a meal to me. Someone dear to me once said a clean kitchen always means you'll most likely make a mess in it again very soon, which is a great kind of blissful anarchic way of looking at.
What, to you, is the best city for food (or cocktails!) right now?
Minneapolis is definitely on the up and up and probably the best I've seen it ever in the industry in it's current state. And doesn't really seem to be slowing down! A lot of friends are in their 30s and 40s now and are growing up and starting incredible restaurants or bars here. But, to be real Mexico City and New Orleans are and personally always have been some of the best places for food and cocktail.
Are there any cocktails you're hoping to introduce to your menu in the future?
At Berlin, we tend to stick to the classics and have at least one unique cocktail on rotation. We're making the music first, which is a departure from other bars I've been behind, but at the same time it's something I'm deeply passionate about doing here as a process.
It's dope to have it be like you know that the cocktail you're going to have is maybe something you've experienced in the past, yet at the same time it'll be elevated due to my crew's amazing knowledge and experience so then it'll elevate your listening experience as well if that makes any sense haha. That being said! I just put a Navy Grog on the menu which in a lot of ways, is a lost classic I've noticed.
Just a great take on a Daiquiri with honey, rum blend and citrus. I just love blending rums and seeing different outcomes you can end with, it's like playing Yahtzee but with sugar flavors and you get a large straight or something.
If you could shout out a colleague or friend in the industry who would it be and why? This is probably obvious to anyone that lives here but I'd shout out Bennett Johnson, who is current owner and barkeep at Little Tijuana Neighborhood Lounge. We've just been main homies, working in bands and bars for 10-15 years now I guess. He taught me up along with another local bar head, Tim Leary, on how to make craft and the rest is history.
What restaurant, cafe, or bar do you find yourself frequenting most within the Twin Cities?
If I want a cocktail or a nice mezcal I go to Meteor. If I want a beer and a burger I go to Dusty's Bar. Both are watering holes for industry folks and a model for great teams behind a bar.
How do you relax outside of work?
I rarely do the relaxing, but if I do need to unwind I go up to the cabin, which is located in the Iron Range area of Minnesota. Fishing, hiking, there's nothing better. It's about an hour or so south of Canada, and truly a peace of heaven on Earth. But if that's out of the question due to either scheduling or season I'll read, listen to records or watch a terrible B-movie haha. I love complete trash 80s/90s horror and action and am currently trying to watch like every bad kickboxing action movie? There are so many out there it's pretty amazing.
If it's my first time stopping into Berlin, what's your order recommendation right now?
Well first thing's first you buy a ticket for a dope show you're about to see, then definitely roll up and get that Navy Grog I was talking about if you're feeling citrus, but get that Mezcal Negroni if you're feeling more sipping style. If you're feeling food as well, grab that Tellegio & Pine Honey Pizza if you're up for a meal. Or if you're thinking more of a snack the Chilled Chop Salad is a banger.
