If This Bar Could Talk

Finally, a class we all enjoy! In this episode our friends Ayanna, Bill, Cara and Eric join us for a cocktail class at Echo Distillery in Grandview Heights, Ohio. Learn the basics of cocktail making with Echo's Bar Manager, Derek Reno.

In this episode, Ryan Schumann, Bar Manager at Worthington Tavern, invited us to his home to talk about his journey as a bartender — where he's been and what's to come. His very cozy home was full of plants, a dog named Archer (yes, named after the cartoon series) and 2 cats one of which made her presence known throughout most of the podcast.

In this episode we sit down with Billy Fury who is cutting her teeth and honing her skills at one the city best hidden gems — Soul at the Joseph. Although she has a degree in Environmental Science and is working toward a master's degree in Finance, she plans to stay in the craft cocktail industry.

In this episode we sit down with Theo Lentz, bar manager at MOUTON on High, one of the first craft cocktail bars in Columbus, and chat about creative process, inspiration, and the challenges of managing a bar in the Short North Arts District of Columbus Ohio

In this episode, we learn about the history of Amari from Olivia Cerio, Campari's Italian Spirits Portfolio Ambassador and how it's used in a cocktail with Garry White, Owner and Creative Director at Denmark on High.

In this episode we chat with Jake Parrott, Portfolio Manager, Spirits and Aromatized Wines, at Haus Alpenz, and then we enlist the help of Kyle Strategier, beverage manager of Soul at the Joseph, to learn all about one of our favorite floral liqueurs — Crème de Violette.

In this episode we explore Grand Marnier with Ambassador Xavier Herit, Todd Adam, bartender at Hyde Park Prime Steak House and home bartender, Bill Teets.

In this episode we chat with Jon Spacher, CEO and co-owner (and fifth generation)of family-owned Fee Brothers, and enlist the help of Chris Marek of Light of Seven Matchsticks, to learn how they use Fee Brothers' products.

In this episode we sit down with the crew at the Light of Seven Matchsticks, the original "speakeasy" in Columbus. The thoughtful and supportive owners and management foster an environment of creativity that shines through in their cocktails and events.

This week we spoke with Colette Mihocik and Jordan People, part of the team at Goodale Station.

The debut of our limited series on cocktail modifiers starts off with a classic — Campari! We speak with Daniel Warrilow, with Campari America, bartender, James DeFrance and Fr. Nic Ventura about Campari's history, uses in cocktails and an on-going love affair.

We caught up with Barry Chandler, host of Stories and Sips and the reigning champion of the "I'm Not 'Really' a Bartender" amateur cocktail competition. Sláinte! storiesandsips.com

Alibi by If This Bar Could Talk

In this episode, we chat via Zoom with Jordon Phillips, Bartender at Ghostwriter Public House in Johnstown, Ohio. Ghostwriter is a restaurant, bar, event space and Airbnb in a rural village in Ohio. Jordon, a self-described cocktail nerd, has traveled the country honing his bartending skills and returned to Ohio during the pandemic.

In this episode, we talk via Zoom with two of the three founders of Service!, a relief organization for hospitality workers, Sangeeta Lakhani and Letha Pugh (not present Matthew Heaggans). Despite having to deal with the shutdown of their own businesses (The Table, Bake Me Happy, and Prestons respectively) when the pandemic hit, they banded together to feed and support hospitality workers.

In this episode we chat with Andrew Connelly, Bar Director at Ampersand Asian Supper Club in the Short North. He shares the source of inspiration for some of his favorite cocktail ingredients as well as some bizarre stories from his time behind the stick.

Blair and Leigh Ann interview Brent Carter via Zoom. Brent is the co-founder of Make & Muddle and is a bartender in Chicago. We talk about the challenges of bartending and running a business during the pandemic. Visit their website at www.makeandmuddle.com

Master Mixologist PJ Ford from Light of Seven Matchsticks takes over to interview Leigh Ann and Blair, creators of this podcast and lots of other shit.

Genevieve Johnson with ROOH joins us in the studio to talk about the new world cocktails inspired by the six rasas; sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent.

We hated to see him go but we love watching his growth in the big city. From Columbus to Chicago, Nigal has worked hard to hone his bartending skills.

When Covid-19 shuttered bars, bartenders left the industry. In this episode, we talk to Greg Burnett about returning to construction and forming his company, Cozy Home Services. We also talk about his love of tiki and the return of 614Tiki.

Reilly Robson, bar manager at The Syndicate, stops by to chat about bar life in rural ohio.

World traveler, wine and spirits aficionado, bodega owner, farmer, master of the COVID-19 pivot, Barbara Reynolds, owner of The Bottle Shop does it all. Her cozy and welcoming bar/market has something for everyone. In this episode we catch up with her and chat about what they've done to pivot, and pivot again during COVID and what's next.

In this episode, we sit down with Tommy Householder, bar lead and now sales rep at Watershed Kitchen and Bar. We talk about his background, his love of the industry and the creative process at Watershed.

Blair and Leigh Ann review cocktails crafted by Jordan at Soul Bar inside The Joseph Hotel in Columbus Ohio