Season 3, Episode 6 · Monday, 19 October 2026
Justin McKenzie of Hawthorn Lounge on the discipline behind a great cocktail bar
with Justin McKenzie
Hawthorn Lounge was only ever meant to last two years. Twenty years later, Justin McKenzie is still behind that black door on Tory Street, serving some of…
Listen on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube
About Justin McKenzie
Justin McKenzie is the longtime owner of Wellington’s Cuckoo Emporium, and the iconic Hawthorn Lounge, where he’s spent 20 years perfecting the art of the cocktail and creating one of the city’s most distinctive drinking experiences.