What We're Drinking with Dan Dunn

On this episode, Dan sits down with Charles Braastad , ninth-generation member of the Delamain family and Cellar Master for Delamain Cognac , one of the oldest and most revered houses in the region. They dig into the intricate relationship between time and quality in Cognac, why Delamain works exclusively with Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie, and how climate change is reshaping the ripening curve and...

On this episode of What We’re Drinking with Dan Dunn , comedian Jonas Garvin drops by to promote his new stand-up special, Somewhere Over the Rainbow . Things go hilariously sideways as Dan and Jonas go “Full Old Man Mode,” griping and laughing their way through a boozy grab bag of topics, from the rise of non-alcoholic beer and outrageous drink prices to the plague of QR code menus, the overuse o...

It’s a feast for the senses on this week’s What We’re Drinking , as Dan uncorks a true liquid treasure, Cognac. He takes listeners through the rolling vineyards of western France to uncover how this legendary brandy is born, from grape to glass. Expect equal parts history, craft, and hedonism as we explore what makes Cognac one of the world’s most revered spirits. Joining the conversation are thre...

In this episode of What We’re Drinking , we say goodbye to the fruity porch-pounders of summer and raise a glass to the cozy, soul-warming bottles that feel like a fireplace in liquid form. It’s the season of sweaters, roasted meats, and stuffing, and the wines we’re diving into are built for exactly that. We feature standout bottles from six stellar American wineries— Stonestreet Estate Vineyards...

On this episode, Dan is joined by Silver Oak CEO David Duncan , who takes us deep into the world of wine. David shares how he and his family built Silver Oak into one of the most iconic names in Napa and Sonoma, and what it takes to maintain excellence across generations. From vineyards to cooperages, from cellar decisions to family traditions, this is a fascinating peek behind the label of one of...

Renowned cocktail historian David Wondrich joins the show to talk about his brand-new book,  The Comic Book History of the Cocktail: Five Centuries of Mixing Drinks and Carrying On . We dig into the myths that refuse to die, the bartending legends, past and present, who shaped the craft, and the painstaking research process that’s made Wondrich the industry’s most trusted voice. Along the way, he...

On this week’s edition of “3-Minute Bartender," we take a decadent detour into dessert-cocktail territory with the  Irish Mudslide . Legend has it the original Mudslide was born in the 1970s at the Wreck Bar on Grand Cayman, when a bartender swapped Baileys Irish Cream into a White Russian after running out of cream. A happy accident, and history was made. Dan spins the tale forward with his Irish...

On this episode, Dan welcomes two whiskey powerhouses and adds his own poetic flair to the mix. First up is Noah Rothbaum, acclaimed spirits authority and author of  The Whiskey Bible: A Complete Guide to the World’s Greatest Spirit . Noah breaks down why whiskey remains a global obsession, offering insights, history, and a few surprising stories you won’t find anywhere else. Then, Dan sits down w...

Recorded on-site at Baby Blues BBQ in Venice Beach, this episode of  What We’re Drinking —titled  “The Audible: Calling Smarter Game Day Pours” —focuses on the art of tailgating done right. Host Dan Dunn is joined by actor  Oliver Cooper , Baby Blues pitmaster  Rick McCarthy , spirits expert  Joe Brooke , and wine authority  Geoff Whitman  for a lively roundtable that covers everything from perfec...

On this episode of  What We’re Drinking , Dan shares the story of getting called in for jury duty and, let’s just say, not exactly rising to the occasion. We’ve also got a brand-new installment of our enormously entertaining and egregiously neglected segment  What’ll It Be , featuring a major Hollywood star as the guest in our bar—served, of course, by Lloyd, the creepy bartender from  The Shining...

In this episode, Dan takes you inside one of the best dinners of his life—an omakase feast at Asakura in Los Angeles, where legendary chef Makoto Okamoto ( La Bombance , Tokyo) was behind the counter. We dive into the artistry of omakase, the history of sake, and a remarkable story from brewmaster Takafumi Sumikawa , whose family’s Sumikawa Brewery nearly collapsed after a devastating flood in 201...

It’s hotter than the hinges on the gates of hell, so we’re cooling down with the neon, tropical legend that is the  Blue Hawaii. Born in 1957 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village thanks to bartender Harry Yee and a bottle of Windex-colored booze, this drink became Hawaii’s unofficial liquid postcard. We’ll shake it up, spill some wild Elvis trivia (including questionable Hollywood casting choices and ag...

This week on  What We’re Drinking , Dan heads to the heart of Napa Valley for a sit-down with Rob Lloyd, the powerhouse winemaker behind Lloyd Cellars . Recorded on location among the vines, the conversation covers Rob’s journey from UC Davis to becoming one of the most respected names in California Chardonnay, his winemaking philosophy, and why he thinks wine should be fun, not fussy. Plus, Dan g...

Dan is in Napa Valley with three heavy hitters: Braiden Albrecht of Mayacamas, Kristy Melton of Freemark Abbey, and Matt Crafton of Chateau Montelena. These wineries aren’t just legends, they helped put Napa on the map at the 1976 Judgment of Paris. Nearly 50 years later, they’re still setting the standard for California wine. We talk history, tradition, and what it takes to keep making world-clas...

It’s the dog days of summer, and Dan’s teaming up with drinks expert Brad Japhe to help you chill out in style. We’re talking frosty, flavor-packed cocktails like the Watermelon Mint Cooler and the Cucumber Basil Gimlet—perfect for turning any scorcher into a poolside paradise. That’s just the tip of the ice cube… there’s plenty more frozen magic waiting for you in this episode. Hit play, cool dow...

This is an  encore presentation  of “The 3-Minute Bartender,” because Dan is currently on vacation celebrating his birthday—and by vacation, we mean drinking professionally in a different zip code. In about the time it takes to jot down a grocery list or purge your social media feed, he’ll tell you everything you need to know about  The Last Word, a classic, gin-based Prohibition-era cocktail that...

On this episode of  What We're Drinking , Dan unloads on the worst spirit he's ever tasted, calling it nothing short of “Chernobyl in a bottle.” We also debut a brand-new segment,  History at Work , kicking things off with a deep dive into Rum Row, the floating lifeline that kept Americans buzzed during the buzzkill that was Prohibition. And in  Drinks of the Week , we’re shouting out Kleos , the...

In this festive installment of 3-Minute Bartender, we’re trading stars and stripes for a splash of green with a bold, Irish-inspired cocktail: the Shamrock Sour . Sure, it sounds like a St. Paddy’s Day special, but Dan makes the case for celebrating America’s birthday with a nod to the 33 million proud Irish-Americans who helped build (and booze up) this country. Dan mixes up a modern riff on the...

It’s a very special caffeinated edition of the show, as Dan turns his attention to his other liquid obsession: coffee. Joining him is none other than Maynard James Keenan . Yes, that Maynard—vocalist for bands you’ve definitely cranked up loud, and also the man behind Caduceus Cellars, Merkin Vineyards… and now, Queen Bee Vinyl Cafe , a kickass coffee roaster in Arizona. But wait, there’s more: Da...

On this installment of the Nobel Prize–snubbed (but emotionally validated) “3-Minute Bartender,” Dan dives headfirst into the Chuflay , Bolivia’s national cocktail and perhaps the only drink in history that sounds like a command to swat insects. That’s right, it’s Chuflay (pronounced “shoo-fly”). Our intrepid host was first introduced to this oddly named but downright delightful drink by none othe...

On this episode of  What We’re Drinking , Dan is joined by JoJo Fletcher and Mallory Patton , the dynamic duo behind Saint Spritz , a ready-to-drink cocktail brand that’s clean, crisp, and free of Red 40, artificial sweeteners, and all the other crap we’ve been pretending not to notice in our drinks. You might also recognize JoJo from her time on  The Bachelor  and  The Bachelorette , where she br...

It’s officially summer, and that means one thing: it’s time to drink like it. In this sun-soaked episode of  What We’re Drinking , Dan is joined by world-renowned spirits savant Brad Japhe for a spirited showdown of the season’s most essential cocktails. Recorded on-location at the culinary wonderland that is Hatchet Hall in Culver City, this episode is part tasting session, part expert masterclas...

It’s the big 3-0-0 on  What We’re Drinking with Dan Dunn , and we’re popping metaphorical (and literal) bottles to celebrate! Joining Dan for this milestone episode is cocktail royalty  Dale DeGroff , the godfather of the modern bartending movement, who mixes up wisdom and wit in equal measure. Also pulling up a barstool: ace horse racing handicapper  Pete Fornatale , who shares some Belmont Stake...

On this episode of What We’re Drinking , Dan welcomes back an old friend and true titan of the tipple: James Beard Award-winning bartender Charles Joly . If you’ve ever watched the Oscars or the Emmys and wondered who’s responsible for keeping Hollywood’s elite well-lubricated, look no further—Charles has been crafting cocktails for the stars on the industry’s biggest nights for years. Beyond red...

He’s baaaack! Actor, director, and spirits entrepreneur Matthew Lillard returns for a long-overdue second round, exactly one year after his first visit, because clearly, we’re creatures of habit (and good taste). This time around, Matthew dives even deeper into his wildly entertaining acting career—from Scream to Scooby-Doo to Five Nights at Freddy's and beyond—and gives us the latest on his fast-...