Lush Life

It takes a certain courage and a fair bit of conviction to build a whisky distillery that dares to do things differently. Luckily, today’s guest is genetically predisposed to have both. Today I’m sitting down with Gareth Moore, CEO of the Virginia Distillery Company . With his father’s dream as the blueprint, Gareth has transformed an idea into one of the most exciting names in American whisky. He...

You just can’t help falling in love with a town that gave us both the King of Rock n Roll and the Queen Bee. Today’s episode brings us the delights that can only be found in Tupelo, Mississippi. Sponsored by Tupelo CVB , we’re diving into the history, restaurants, drinks, and experiences that make Tupelo on your go-now list. First up, we have Jennie Bradford Curlee, the Deputy Director of the Tupe...

There is only one place to experience the sunset over Venice with a cocktail in hand. Our guest today is the one behind the drinks that make it unforgettable. Let me introduce Valentina Mircea, the Bar Manager of The Skyline Bar at the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice. She has spent over ten years in this industry, from London to Brighton to Venice. Whether she’s guiding her team to create a zero-waste...

At the St Regis, it’s two, two bars in one. Our guest is well aware of that fact - preparing a perfectly executed Negroni at noon on a sun-drenched terrace… and then later that evening a Warhol-worthy cocktail set in a bespoke glass. Today I’m sitting down with Ludwig Negri, Manager of The St. Regis Bar and the Arts Bars at the St Regis Venice. He’s been there since it was reopened in 2019, after...

Paris has taken Venice by storm but this time round, unlike Napoleon in 1797, they’ve arrived with shakers not soldiers. Our guest today is leading the charge! I’m sitting down with Pietro Lorefice, Bar Manager of Experimental Cocktail Club Venice, one of the bars that changed the cocktail conversation in this city. Experimental Cocktail Club conquered Paris in 2007 with its innovative ideas, spar...

In music, most of us are attracted to a song’s continually repeated musical rhythm, "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones, or "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes, but once those were new to us. Our guest today is here to remind us of the pleasure we get when discovering a new riff. Sponsored by Visit Cincy , I am thrilled to introduce you t...

Some birds sing at dawn to wake us up, but today we’re celebrating the birthday of a certain nocturnal songbird whose award-winning cocktails, wonderful hospitality, and sultry nightly soundtrack have been keeping London warbling for 15 years. Today we’re turning our attention to Nightjar , the Shoreditch bar that rewrote London’s late-night playbook. Joining me are the brilliant duo behind it: Ro...

Our guest has ventured from the Arctic Circle to Kentucky’s rickhouses to Scotland’s distilleries in pursuit of one singular spirit. Now he’s sharing his wisdom with the world. This week, the legendary Noah Rothbaum joins me to crack open The Whiskey Bible and pour out the secrets and stories of one of the world’s greatest spirits. Noah is not only a leading authority on cocktails and spirits, but...

Add a splash of bourbon, a hint of hops, and a generous pour of local pride, and you’ve got the perfect backdrop for today’s episode. Sponsored by Visit Cincy , we’re diving into the drinks, history, and experiences that make Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky a true destination for cocktail lovers. First up, we have Maija Zummo, the Senior Communications Manager for Domestic and International Commu...

How does someone from Brittany end up in Britain, only to return to Paris and open—of all things—a pub? Don’t be surprised, though: this pub comes with a touch of oh là là . I’m joined by Hyacinthe Lescoët, whose journey began in France, where his love for hospitality was first sparked while helping out in his mother’s pizzeria at just 12 years old. After earning his master’s degree in advertising...

I’m not the only one who can’t resist a good hotel bar—London’s are bursting at the seams most nights. Now, thanks to our guest today, Barcelona’s stepping into the spotlight with 25 of its best great hotel bars teaming up for the first-ever Barcelona Hotel Bar Week from September 22nd - 28th! The brains behind it all is Bianca Grisolia, who decided it was high time Barcelona’s hotel bars got the...

How can it be that this is my 10th Season? Did all that time really go by?  Yes, next Tuesday, I will bring you the first episode of Season 10 of Lush Life .  As the year before, this season, we’ll have even more great conversations, enjoy more great cocktails, and visit a few more great places to enjoy a sip or two. Just a note if you are new to Lush Life - you can find out more informa...

Sometimes, you don't realize that all paths have led you to where you end up. Think about it - it could be true for you. It is for our guest - he’s right where he was meant to be all along. For Tom Chisholm, all those dead ends and missed starts made sense when Buck & Birch was born. Founded in 2016 by Tom and his partner Rupert Waites when they joined forces to share a deep bond created back...

How many cocktail competitions are you doing this year? Our guest has challenged herself to do a number you won’t believe! It’s not as if she has nothing else to do, she is busy at one of the most exciting places in London. Laurie Howells might sound like a Brit, but she don’t let her fool you. She was born and lived in the USA until she was whisked to her new hometown of Bury St. Edmunds. How did...

For someone who is passionate about horses and bourbon there is one position that would be a dream to have and our guest has got it! When you think of horse races, there is only one: the Kentucky Derby. When you think of cocktails at horse races, there is only one - the Mint Julep. And what bourbon do you find in that Kentucky Derby Mint Julep? Woodford Reserve. As Vice President and Master Distil...

Have you been to the small hotel with a wishing well and now a fabulous new bar helmed by today’s guest? I’m pretty certain that if Rogers and Hart had taken even one sip of any of the new cocktails, their famous song may have turned out very differently. If you are a Sinatra fan, you might be aware of his rendition of the song There’s a Small Hotel written in the 1930s by Rogers and Hart for the...

Can you feel the heat on your face? This episode we want to transport you right to the sunny island of Barbados. Anyone’s guess which rum we’ll be exploring?? If you haven’t guessed already, it’s Mount Gay , not only the oldest rum in Barbados, but the oldest rum in the world!! I’m thrilled that Trudiann Branker, the trailblazing Master Blender, is joining us. Starting at the distillery in 2014 as...

We are exploring a very important issue and, even if you aren’t in the drinks industry, it’s something you need to address if you have a business - how are you prioritizing inclusion in your workplace? Vicky Ilankovan, the Executive Director of Equal Measures UK , is with me to help you answer that question. Equal Measures is the award-winning non-profit spearheading the delivery of intersectional...

Most people know that sake is made with rice, but did you know that rice might be grown in California? This is the 250th episode of Lush Life Podcast, every week I have been inspired to live life one cocktail at a time by the guests who have been kind enough to join me and I am sure I will continue to be inspired by those who are yet to be on the program. Thank you everyone for your support, espec...

Yes, we are back with the 9th - how is it possible - season of Lush Life! Where best to begin? Venice, of course! How is it that there weren’t already Venice Cocktail Tours before now? Well, I don’t want to reveal the whole story in this intro, you can now enjoy two different cocktail tours in Venice! Let’s just say that great minds were thinking how best to introduce you to not only the role that...

Philip Duff, a true icon in the industry, is on Lush Life. He is a renowned expert on everything drinks related and has a passion for the craft. Thank goodness our guest was not one of the Skerries-born citizens who kidnapped St. Patrick's goat and was cursed to bleat from then on, cus that would make for an awkward interview. Today we have a true icon in the industry. Philip Duff is not only an i...

Did it ever occur to you to ask your friendly bartenders where they like to drink? Because you know they know the best places in town. Well, don’t worry, our guest has. And lucky for us, he’s sharing that info. Sam Gilani was making Sazeracs when he was at university - that should tell you that he was bound to become The London Boozehound . He is not only a journalist with a massive Instagram foll...

Who doesn’t want to enjoy a tipple or two in a gorgeous setting? Today, I bring you to one of the most historically important homes in London, which held and is still holding some of the best parties the city has ever seen. On today’s episode, you’ll meet a power player in Georgian society, the Lansdowne House, constructed in the 1760s by the celebrated architect Robert Adam.  Not only did it...

Remember a time when asking for a non-alcoholic beverage meant getting a soda or an apple juice? Well, thanks to the brain behind Seedlip, there are now stores filled with No-ABV and Low-ABV spirits. It’s not often one can invent a whole new category of drinking, but our guest did, and now he is coming for bitters, watch out. My friend and former Lush Lifer Ben Branson was on the program more than...

This March, I was blown away by the creativity of some of the best bars in the world. Not only were they making cocktails, but they were saving the planet.  On the 17 and 18th of March 2024, the third edition of the Paradiso Sustainability Summit, organized by Giacomo Giannotti and his team, in partnership with Ketel One Vodka through their Garnished with Good program was held. Giacomo’s bar...