[Mistakes Were Made] Don't Trust the Dream — A 4-State Launch Disaster and the F. Scott Fitzgerald Granddaughter

🎙️ MISTAKES WERE MADE — Special Series on Hospitality Strategy Lab

Two stories about what happens when passion blinds you to business reality.

Eamon Rockey poured every dollar he had — and a lot he didn't — into launching Rockey's Liqueur across four states on the same day. California, New York, Florida, New Jersey. One person. Zero brand recognition. Everyone told him to start small. He didn't listen. He almost lost everything.

Then there's Charles Hardwick, who ran Blue Owl in the East Village during the golden age of NYC cocktail bars. He tells the story of the night a woman claiming to be F. Scott Fitzgerald's great-granddaughter ripped her dress off at his bar to win an argument — and how it taught him the most important lesson about bartender boundaries. Plus: the sweat equity trap that nearly ruined him. Charles was made 'managing partner' on a handshake and sweat equity. It meant nothing. Worse — it almost meant hundreds of thousands in unpaid sales tax liability.

Mistakes were made. Dreams were trusted. Reality hit back.

Featuring: Eamon Rockey (Rockey's Liqueur), Charles Hardwick (Drinkmark / Blue Owl)

🔗 Rockey's Liqueur: rockeysliqueur.com | Drinkmark: drinkmark.co

🔗 Follow Jason: jlittrell.com