Lush Life

London is one of the most popular cities to visit - great restaurants, bars, hotels, but it wasn’t always that way. One man’s vision changed everything when he opened a hotel that would become one of the most influential in the world. Our guest today introduces us to that man. For those of you who haven’t guessed already, that hotel is the Savoy in London, and that man is Richard D'Oyly Carte. Spo...

James Bond might be famous for drinking the Vodka Martini, shaken, not stirred, but his creator Ian Fleming had him drinking way more than that. What else, you may ask? Our guests today hold the answers. Sponsored by Ketel One, I welcomed Mia Johansson, Bobby Hiddleston & Edmund Weil at the second Lush Life Book Club at Oriole Bar in London to discuss their book, Shaken: Drinking with James Bo...

We’re back with the Lush Life podcast, and I am thrilled to be here to tell you that the original London Dry Gin, way back when, was pink!  I didn’t believe it either until our guests presented me with a taste. Sponsored by Sipsmith, I welcomed Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown to join me at the launch of the first Lush Life Book Club at Oriole Bar in London to discuss their new book, The Dist...

Welcome back! I missed you. How did the summer fly away so quickly? Here we are in the middle of September already, but there is so much fun on the horizon. I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is Lush Life Podcast, where every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. The most exciting news of the year so far is that I will be live at Oriole, one of the best bars...

Although the city of New Orleans is home to many classic cocktails, there is only one that has the honor of being its official cocktail, and that is the Sazerac. Sponsored by Louisiana Tourism , our episode today is all about the Sazerac cocktail and how it found its way to being THE official cocktail of New Orleans. What better time to be joined by Rhiannon Enlil, an Experience Team Lead at the S...

It’s a big day for gin lovers this weekend - it’s World Gin Day on June 12, and how am I celebrating? With a completely Indian Gin and Tonic. Even though the G and T originated in India until just recently, there had never been a truly Indian gin. Now that has all changed. Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin is a tour of India in one sip, and my tour guide today is Kunal Madan, AVP of International Busines...

It’s made in nine different states of Mexico from over 30 different agave species, and each different agave species in each different state tastes different. Thank goodness, our guest is here to teach us how to drink Mezcal. Eduardo Gomez is not only the Director of Mexgrocer, the place to find the widest range of authentic Mexican groceries and ingredients in the UK and Europe, but also the Found...

Where in the world does an hour turn into the whole day. Every Saturday and Sunday from 12 - 3, the Barcelonians, surrounded by their friends and family, spend the entire afternoon sipping vermouth before lunch even begins. Today’s guest is gunning for the whole world to embrace La Hora del Vermut!   Exporting cultural traditions is not an easy task; it is made slightly simpler when that...

Combine bourbon, mint, and sugar and then stir in the most famous horse race in the world, and you have a tradition that goes back years and our first cocktail to be given its very own episode. Sponsored by Kentucky Tourism , our episode today is all about the Mint Julep and how it found its way to being THE official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby. I am joined by Stacy Yates, the Vice President of...

Have you all become 100% agave snobs?  Will the likes of a mixto tequila never touch your lips again? Well, get over it, there’s a new tequila in town, and it’s guaranteed to blow your mind. I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. Paul Hayes, co-founder of El Sueño mixto tequila, is no strange...

Described as the “liqueur of the virtues” by one of the most famous 19th C. Italian authors Gabriele D’Annunzio, it’s no wonder that Amaro Montenegro is Italy's #1 Premio Amaro. It’s full of secrets too, which also might be why it’s so successful. Can one spirit be virtuous and secretive at the same time? We’ll have to ask its Master Herbalist and Global Brand Ambassador? I’m Susan Schwartz, your...

Is it possible to fulfill this brief: to create a brand that every single Italian, who lives in Italy and abroad, when they see the bottle and read the name, is going to make them proud? Our guest not only fulfilled his own brief but also has the whole world wanting it. I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail...

What is the word for when you discover that one thing and then everything else makes sense and the doors to everything open up, inviting you to walk in?  For some, it’s kismet. For my guests, it’s Avallen. I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. Stephanie Jordan and Tim Etherington-Judge had n...

Would you be surprised to learn that the liqueurs you love might be over 400 years old? I mean the recipe. Bols Distillery in Amsterdam has been producing liqueurs since the 16th C, so how perfect to have the Bols Brand Experience Manager teach us how to drink liqueurs! I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail...

Welcome to Lush Life Season 6.  Today we’re starting our How to Drink season by talking about the most subjective of topics: flavor. What you might like, I might hate, and vice versa. So, how do you even begin talking about flavor? By inviting the King of Zing on the program!  I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live...

Daffodils are my favorite flower, and it seemed that last year’s lockdown began, just as the daffodil season ended. What does that mean? I don’t know, but this year, as the daffodils begin their new season, well, so am I! I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. Next Tuesday, I bring you Season 6 of...

Are we living through a cocktail renaissance or a cocktail revolution? Our guest is here to discuss the movement, whatever you want to call it! I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. After realizing a life behind a desk in academia might not be for him, plus having a roommate who decided to make b...

If someone sends you an email inviting you to change the way the world drinks, I bet there is no way you wouldn’t take up that challenge. Our guest did receive that exact email, and three years down the line, she has! I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. Claire Warner, co-founder of  Æcorn...

It is hard to believe it happened to both our guests - but it did. They saw a sign posted on a wall, stopped, wrote down the number for more inquiries, and actually rang that number.  Now, thanks to great signage in Atlantic Canada , on the show today,  we have a Head Distiller for an award-winning distillery in Nova Scotia and the owner of one of the most successful cocktail bars on Pri...

Welcome back to Lush Life. It’s a new year, and Lush Life is back to take on 2021. The next two episodes are sponsored by Atlantic Canada , which is the eastern part of Canada that borders on the Atlantic Ocean and includes the four provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.  Not only is it absolutely gorgeous, but for our purposes today, the...

May I introduce you to my next guest - she has been the host of Lush Life podcast since its launch and is a voice you have grown used to after 176 episodes. She also seems to be speaking about herself in the third person. I think you may have guessed by now...  I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a...

There was a time, and I am so glad that it’s over when all you heard was “Print is dead, it’s all about online now”. As much as I love my blog, there is nothing like holding a book or magazine in your hands and cuddling into the sofa to read it. Thank goodness, my guests felt the same way! I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to li...

There is something about the lyrics to the theme tune of the TV program Cheers that seems particularly applicable to my guest today. For those who might not know them, they goes something like this, and I am not singing:  “Sometimes you wanna go Where everybody knows your name And they're always glad you came You wanna be where you can see  Our troubles are all the same You wanna be wher...

Usually, at this time of year, I’ve gathered together a list of my favorite Christmas cocktails served in bars throughout London. Hopping from bar to bar to try their cinnamony, gingery, gingerbready concoctions is always my late November treat. Alas, as we are all very well aware, this year is unlike any other, but that hasn’t stopped me. I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is,...

If you don’t know our next guest by now, you haven’t really been listening. I quote him all the time, incessantly, because he is the one, the only, James Beard award-winning, for the first-ever cocktail book no less, cocktail historian extraordinaire, the Dean of Cocktails. I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cock...