The Modern Bar Cart Podcast

In this episode, we give you some updates about upcoming product releases, catch up with Modern Bar Cart co-founder Ethan Hall, and offer an in-depth book review of Thad Vogler's book,  By the Smoke & the Smell.

In this Bar Cart Foundations episode, we answer a listener-submitted question about the difference between brandy and eau de vie. Everything you need to know about eaux de vie from around the world, including a detailed inventory about what these special spirits are called in their various countries of origin.

In this interview with James Boicourt and Hillary Harris, some of the topics we discuss include: The most common varieties of mead you'll come across, from the renaissance faire to your local supermarket How Charm City Meadworks grew from a kitchen countertop operation to one of America's biggest and fastest growing mead producers. A few ways you might begin incorporating mead into your home barte...

In this episode, we pull up a mic with gin expert David T. Smith, author of  The Gin Dictionary .  In this interview, some of the topics we cover include: The fascinating world of spirits judging and awards - essentially, all those cool medals your favorite distillers keep winning. How David fell in love with gin, and became the author of this gin-driven reference guide. A stroll through the most...

In this episode, we chat with Brian McGahey of the Neighborhood Restaurant Group (NRG) about how bars develop and price their cocktails. Some of the specific topics Brian and I discuss in this interview include: What you're actually paying for when you go out to a nice bar or restaurant How a bar prices out their cocktails and creates a balanced and profitable beverage program The ways in which a...

In this Bar Cart Foundations episode, we delve deep into the history and execution of two low-ABV giants: Summer Cup & Sangria. Some of the topics we discuss include: The rise of Pimms No. 1 Cup from an oyster house digestif to an international force (and Wimbledon mainstay). The difference between a Summer Cup and a Sangria The rise of the Sangaree as a single-serving punch Why people still look...

This episode is an interview with sommelier and Madeira expert Michael Scaffidi. Some of the things we discuss in this wide-ranging conversation include: How Michael changed his career aspirations from music mogul to wine expert, which led him to become a sommelier at some of the most influential restaurants in the country. Why Madeira has such a special place in the world of fortified wines - inc...

In this episode, we interview author and etymologist Mark Forsyth on why and how people have been getting drunk from the very beginning of human history. Some of the things we discuss include: Why Hitler is partially responsible for spam email One important reason why you shouldn't challenge a Malaysian Tree Shrew to a drinking competition Why the "drunken monkey hypothesis" explains a lot about h...

In this episode, we talk with Taka Amano of New American Spirits and producer of Umai! Shochu. Some of the  topics we cover include: How Taka used his experience traveling and working within the Japanese biotech space to become an ambassador for Shochu here in the US. Shochu base grains and production methods, including the use of...ASPERGILLUS...that's right. Black mold. The history of Shochu dis...

In this episode, we chat with Modern Bar Cart co-founder Ethan Hall about how to get your cocktail on when you're not at home or at the bar. Some of the things we discuss include: Cocktails on trains and planes Flasked and batched cocktails A rundown of my mobile cocktail command center to give you some ideas about the tools we use to make drinks when we take Modern Bar Cart on the road at events....

In this episode, we take a deep dive into homemade cocktail syrups, teaching you everything you need to know to make your own delicious cocktail mixers. We discuss: Popular sweeteners Instructions for stovetop syrups How to stabilize your syrups to avoid spoilage And much, much more  

In this episode, we pull up a chair in The Petworth Citizen and Reading Room to interview bartender and Sherry buff Chantal Tseng. Some of the topics we cover include: The popular types of sherry, and what sets them apart from one another The production methods and terroir unique to the sherry producing communities in southern Spain Sherry vocab terms en espanol, as well as a quick crash course in...

In this second episode of our two part chat with Bourbon aficionado Jordan Wicker of the Speaking Easy Podcast, we sample five very different bourbons and discuss some great bourbon cocktails to try at home.

In this Episode, we talk Bourbon with Jordan Wicker of the Speaking Easy Podcast.

In this episode, we chat with illustrator and architect Melissa Wood about her iconic recipe book,  The Architecture of the Cocktail .

In this episode, we chat with cocktail author and beertail expert Jon Yeager, who runs a Nashville-based beverage consulting company alongside his wife Lindsay. The two have co-authored the upcoming book,  The Ultimate Guide to Beer Cocktails , forthcoming from Skyhorse Publishing. In this episode, we discuss: The vast sweep of beer history, zooming in and out to identify key moments in the develo...

In this episode, we cover the most essential elements of good tasting notes, including how to do a wine, beer, or spirits tasting in the first place, as well as how to articulate your thoughts in a way that advances conversations and adds value.

In this episode, garden designer and cocktail architect Leeann Lavin pulls up a mic to talk garnishes. We give you the low-down on so many different types of garnishes, as well as how to improve your garnish game at home. And of course, we talk about her upcoming book,  Finishing Touches: The Art of Garnishing the Cocktail .

In this episode, we hang out with Ben Wiley, ower-operator of Archipelago here in Washington, DC. It's a great Tiki bar with a lot of personality, and Ben takes us through some of the essentials that every Tiki enthusiast needs to know.    

In this Bar Cart Foundations episode, we walk you through the traits and habits of cocktail snobs and cocktail slobs, and then we present some useful tips for how not to be either one!  

In this episode, we chat with Robin Miller of Espita Mezcaleria. He gives us a crash course on agave spirits like tequila, mezcal, sotol, and bacanora.

In this episode, we chat with Kat Hamidi of Capitoline Vermouth. She gives us a rundown of this important cocktail ingredient, and we sample some vermouths that she produces to get a sense of what the category can offer.

In this episode, we chat with cocktail writer Maggie Hoffman , author of  The One-Bottle Cocktail . Some of the topics we cover in this episode include: How Maggie came up with the concept for the One-Bottle Cocktail , and who she wrote it for The essential bottles to have on your bar if you're looking to make a one-bottle drink. Which fresh ingredients to have on hand if you want to up your home...

In this episode, we talk about barrels, which are one of the most important parts of the distilling, aging, and blending process. No barrels, no brown spirits. Let that sink in for a minute. Our guest is Alice Blayne Allard from Free State Cooperage, which is a company that handcrafts locally-sourced barrels right here in the Mid-Atlantic, working with distillers who care deeply about the quality...

In this Bar Cart Foundations episode, we delve into the concept of "terroir," which refers to the effects of landscape and climate on the flavors of the wines and spirits we drink. We examine the key aspects of terroir and then investigate whether this concept can extend to spirits and cocktails, as well as wine.