The Modern Bar Cart Podcast

In this episode, where we mop up all the tasty bits - all the gravy and delicious dribblins, that didn't quite make it into the other episodes from the Modern Bar Cart LA road trip. In particular: Bryan Davis regales us with some of the more obscure and interesting stories related to Navy Strength rum and the British fleet, Then we catch up with Chris Olds, who runs the beverage program at Guild H...

Some of the things we discuss during this home bartender spotlight interview with Sam Vieira include: How Sam made his way to spirits & cocktails via the wide world of fermented beverages, even dipping his toes into the world of brewing. Which experiments, bottles, and equipment buys made the greatest impacts on his home cocktail game early on. Best practices for cobbler shaker and boston shaker u...

In this post-distillery-tour interview with Bryan Davis of Lost Spirits Distillery, some of the topics we discuss include: Bryan's thoughts on the impact his accelerated approach to barrel aging has had on the spirits industry at large. How Lost Spirits uses innovation as a way to contribute meaningfully to the global conversation that all distillers and consumers are currently engaged in. Thought...

What's shakin, cocktail fans?  Welcome back to another episode of The Modern Bar Cart Podcast! This time around, we enjoy Part I of a Two-Part Episode featuring Bryan Davis of Lost Spirits Distillery in Los Angeles, CA. Bryan takes us on a tour of his Wonka-esque distillery, where we meet his sidekick, TESSA, taste lots of rum, brandy, and whisky, and learn all about accelerated barrel aging, Brit...

This is a crossover episode with our friends at the Spirit Guide Society Podcast, led by Pedro Shanahan and based in the Seven Grand whiskey bar in Los Angeles, CA. This episode is a tasting led by Tomatin brand rep Scott Fraser. The bottles we'll taste through are: Tomatin Dualchas Tomatin 12 Year Tomatin 14 Year Tomatin 15 Muscatel Tomatin 18 Cu Bocan Tomatin 36 If you enjoy this episode, please...

Pedro Shanahan is the host of the Spirit Guide Society Podcast. He is a pioneer in the Los Angeles spirits scene, a member of 213 Hospitality, and a passionate facilitator of  the Seven Grand Whiskey Society, Las Perlas' Mezcal Collective, and the Rum Society at Caña Rum Bar Some of the things we cover in this bourbon-punctuated conversation about flavor and hospitality include: How a yoga teachin...

In this interview with bartender, Instagram icon, and hospitality guru Paul MacDonald, some of the things we discuss include: How Paul approaches a hospitality situation with different types of customers. He walks us through some of the questions and decision paths that he follows to create an excellent cocktail experience that's personalized to each customer who walks in the door. Which house-mad...

What's shakin, cocktail fans? Welcome to this special year-end episode of The Modern Bar Cart Podcast! In this show, we give you a rundown of 2018 by the numbers and hit a couple of the most memorable clips from our interviews over the past year.

In this conversation with Brittany and Joe from Wight Tea Co., we cover a broad range of tea-related topics, including: How a sibling joke in the midst of a recession kicked off a decade-long collaboration to create delicious tea blends for home consumers The agricultural origins of tea, which share many things in common with the way we think about wines and spirits as agricultural and human-proce...

In this episode, we provide a special rundown of the best holiday cocktail gifts for 2018. We cover gifts in the low budget range ( $100). And we segment our recommendations for cocktail novices, enthusiasts, and experts. In the end, we have great cocktail gift recommendations for one and all.

This episode is all about homemade liqueurs, which are becoming a more and more popular hobby and gift item as people learn more about home bartending. As it happens, we were able to furnish a case study on the subject. In this interview with Eric's Mom, Sue Rose, some of the topics we discuss include: How we picked our homemade liqueur project and sourced the initial ingredients What logistical s...

This episode has two important updates: We just launched two cocktail scented soaps in collaboration with our partners over at Savage Soaps in Frederick, MD. So, first we're going to have a chat with Misti Morningstar, who partnered with us to create our awesome new Shower Negroni & Shower Mule body bars - available now on ModernBarCart.com . We give podcast listeners a special sneak peak into The...

In this episode, we talk about the various incarnations of Milk Punch, both historical and contemporary. Some of the topics we discuss include: The earliest proto-milk punch: Scailtin, and the historical and cultural forces responsible for this beverage being created in medieval Ireland. How milk punch came to be clarified when citrus became available due to the sudden availability of citrus in th...

This time around, we had the pleasure of speaking with Hakim Hamid, who's the beverage director of a really excellent speakeasy-style cocktail bar called "Nocturne" here in DC. We spoke about a new, globe-trotting menu he's recently developed, really taking our time to explore that process. So whether you're contemplating creating a menu for an event you're hosting at your home, or if you're just...

This episode, we talk with my friend Nikki Blank about one of the world's most ubiquitous and time-tested drinks: switchel. This is a cocktail mixer and functional beverage that falls somewhere between a shrub and a tea, and we learn all about the wonders of switchel as we explore its history, its various incarnations around the world, and how to use it in cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. In th...

In this episode, we sit down  with author and historian Garrett Peck to discuss the causes, proximal effects, and long-term ramifications of Prohibition, AKA The Volstead Act, which is a piece of legislation that still affects the way we make, consume, and talk about spirits and cocktails in the United States. Some of the topics we discuss include: How Garrett evolved from a casual weekend tour gu...

In this episode, we sit down with Halloween cocktail connoiseuse, Carolyn Kozlik. She and Eric go back and forth to assess your best options for both crafty and classic halloween cocktail options. Some of the topics discussed include: Fall-themed ingredients for your autumnal cocktail pursuits Service methods and creative garnishes for Halloween cocktail parties of all sorts - including how to mak...

This episode is all about the art and science of fat washed spirits and how to use them in cocktails. First, we walk you through what fat washing is, and how it's different from other types of "washing" you can do with spirits. Next, we go over the steps you should take to effectively complete a cool DIY fat washing project at home, as well as the tools you'll need. Then we identify some of the mo...

In this episode, we examine three iconic 20th century films through the lens of the cocktail with film buff Eric Holtzman. They are: Casablanca (French 75) The Big Lebowski (White Russian) Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas  (Singamore Sling) This is a great episode for cocktail nerds and film buffs alike!

In this conversation with Shanna Farrell, some of the topics we discuss include: The Creation of the book Bay Area Cocktails and how Shanna used her experience as a professional interviewer to learn from some of the most impressive names in the cocktail world, including Dale DeGroff and David Wondrich. The early history of the cocktail renaissance in the bay area, and how a few sparks kindled the...

In this episode, we follow a group of mixologists from Northern Virginia through a harrowing, three-round cocktail competition hosted by Catoctin Creek Distilling Co. in Purcellville, VA. They must create three original cocktails using the Catoctin Creek spirits as a base, while also featuring a secret ingredient that is reavealed at the beginning of each round. The contestants are: Phil Duong - A...

In this episode, we chat with Emily Farris of The Boozy Bungalow - a cocktail, recipe sharing, and DIY crafts blog. Some of the topics we discuss include: How The Boozy Bungalow brings a shot humor and reality to the recipe sharing and lifestyle blogosphere and the overly-precious Instagram landscape. Why Emily sometimes enjoys using low brow ingredients in her cocktail creations, and why she does...

In this episode, we talk with Brainy Belly founder Janalee Redmond about bone broth and how to use it in cocktails. Some of the things we cover include: How bone broth is made, and what separates an excellent bone broth from a mediocre one. The difference between collagen and gelatin, and how these foundational compounds play an important role in the healthy body. How to think about and use bone b...

In this Bar Cart Foundations episode, we talk about the history and science of cork and cork products. Some of the topics we discuss include: The history of cork and how it's produce The four main types of bottle closures you'll encounter in wine and spirits today. A few tips on how to identify and avoid a common flaw called "cork taint" in your wine and spirits. Tips for opening corks (or rescuin...

In this episode, we hang out with New York cocktail author Amanda Schuster, who demystifies the mixological evolution and influence that makes NYC such an important cocktail locus in the United States.