The Modern Bar Cart Podcast

In this fruity, fermented conversation with Crag Cavallo and Dan Pucci, authors of American Cider , some of the topics we discuss include: How each of these gentlemen fell in love with apples and cider through their shared experiences in the New York hospitality scene and their happy proximity to the Hudson Valley - one of our nation's most prolific apple hubs Why cider developed differently in Am...

In this interview with Professor Brian Connors of Florida International University, some of the topics we discuss include: His travels through the world of hospitality and education, including stints at Cornell, and Johnson & Wales, time spent in Ireland and at Michelin star restaurants in France, and even a little bit of chef work on private yachts. How Brian thinks about generalists and speciali...

In this mailbag episode, Eric answers questions from listeners concerning many bar-related topics, including: At-home, DIY bar cart builds The history of crystal spirits decanters and the woes of sourcing them affordably How to play around with smoked cocktails without a fancy smoking gun And much, much more.

In this Aquavit-driven conversation with Christian Krogstad, creator of Krogstad Aquavit, some of the topics we discuss include: What differentiates Aquavit from other botanical spirits like gin and genever How Christian noticed an impending gap in Aquavit imports and used it as an opportunity to develop and launch his own brand. The place that this Nordic spirit holds in Scandinavian cuisine and...

In this Bar Cart Foundations Episode, we take a deep dive into Geographical Indications - you know - those things that verify where your booze comes from. Some of the guests who share their wisdom in this compilation format include: Melanie Asher, founder of Macchu Pisco Effie Panagopoulous, founder of KLEOS Mastiha RB Wolfensberger, distiller of Grey Wolf Spirits Matt Pietrek, Rum Wonk Lou Bank &...

In this first themed bottle tasting of 2021, we focus on Jamaican style rum, with two mass market bottles and two very special limited releases. The bottles we taste, in order, are: Appleton Estate 8 Reserve Smith & Cross Traditional Jamaica Rum Forsyth's WP Single Jamaican Rum 2005 (Barrel Aged for 10 years) Forsyth's WP 502 Single Jamaican White Rum from 2015

In this year-in-review episode, we put the final nail in the coffin of 2020 so that hopefully it doesn't rise from the dead to haunt us. Some of the topics we covered include: A bitter featured cocktail ("Eeyore's Requiem") Podcast downloads and milestones by the numbers Top trends and new legislation in 2020 What to look forward to in 2021 A holiday message from Eric

Eric is joined for this Modern Bar Cart LIVE episode by co-founder Ethan Hall to discuss the best gifts to give (or request) for home bartenders and mixology fans. Some of the gifts they discuss include: Boozy advent calendars Engraved and local spirits Cocktail mixer gift sets and variety packs New and holiday-themed cocktail mixers Clear ice solutions Cocktail smoking devices Fun and fancy glass...

In this inaugural bottle review episode of Modern Bar Cart LIVE, Eric, Ethan, and Russell review four bottles from two craft brands. In order, they are: Humboldt Distillery Organic Vodka (40% ABV) Humboldt's Finest Hemp Infused Spirit (40% ABV) Ten to One White Rum (45% ABV) Ten to One Dark Rum (40% ABV) Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook @modernbarcart for full reviews and bottle shot...

In this delicious interview and spirits tasting with Bertha González Nieves of Casa Dragones Tequila, some of the topics we discuss include:   How Bertha came to small batch Tequila by way of a company we've all heard of: Groupo Jose Cuervo. She talks about her time working with the one of the world's largest purveyors of agave spirits and how it launched her into her current venture. What it mean...

In this convivial and wide-ranging chat with drinks writer Aaron Goldfarb, author of Gather Around Cocktails , some of the topics we discuss include: Aaron's experience writing for major publications in the drinks space beginning in the early 2000s straight through the cocktail renaissance to today, including his recent Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for "Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing." Th...

In this inaugural Modern Bar Cart LIVE episode, Eric teams up with Modern Bar Cart Co-Founder Ethan Hall and live stream producer Eric Holtzman to bring you a comparative tasting of rare Chartreuse! Some of the topics we discuss include: The history of Chartreuse, including its origins as a medicinal elixir, its ties to the Phyloxera plague that killed all the grapes in France, and its rise to not...

In this third installment of the "Breaking Bloody" series, we investigate the fifth flavor,  umami by way of a hard-to-pronounce Bloody Mary ingredient: Worcestershire sauce. Guests include: Brinda Ayer, the editorial lead at Food52, a digital publication and community platform designed to bring cooks together from all over to exchange recipes and to support each other in the kitchen. Kate Quartar...

In this audio essay, Modern Bar Cart CEO Eric Kozlik walks you through the recent outrage in the spirits industry regarding sexist language in whisky expert Jim Murray's spirit reviews. This is a serious problem for people in all segments of the spirits and cocktail world - from producers to consumers - and it's important to come together and acknowledge the transgression this behavior represents...

In this fascinating conversation and tasting with Melanie Asher of Macchu Pisco, some of the topics we discuss include: Melanie's journey as an entrepreneur - from hustling flowers in Peru at the age of 6, to mergers and acquisitions for international spirits companies, to founding her own Pisco brand. How Pisco is unique from other un-aged fruit brandies from around the world, including which gra...

In this wide-ranging and incredibly revelatory interview with Jarrett Dieterle, booze policy wonk and author of Give Me Liberty and Give me a Drink , some of the topics we discuss include: How Jarrett fused his career in alcohol policy with his passion for great drinks to generate a text that questions the inconsistencies of our fragmented nation's alcohol purchasing and consumption policies. Why...

In this bloody interesting conversation with author, bartender, and bar owner Brian Bartels, some of the topics we discuss include: A little briefing on the state of the industry from Brian's viewpoint, having launched his bar and eatery, Settle Down Madison in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The history of the Bloody Mary Cocktail - including a lengthy discussion of the two key players in its...

Some of the topics we discuss in this lively conversation with bartender-turned-entrepreneur Effie Panagopoulos include: How Effie's career took her from being an east coast bartender to a west-coast spirits rep for some of the biggest brands in the world and what she learned by watching the cocktail renaissance unfold in San Francisco. The way a chance bar visit in Greece transported her back to...

In this Bar Cart Foundations Episode, we go well off the beaten path to learn about a few cocktail ingredients that you've probably never heard of. These include: Fassionola POG Juice Ambergris Lambanog Pandan Acid Phosphate Aromatic Spirit of Ammonia And Mummified Human Remains

In this flavorful conversation with Ivy Mix, author of Spirits of Latin America , some of the topics we discuss include: Ivy's background in the bar world, including her philanthropic work as a co-founder of Speed Rack. How Spirits of Latin America is tied intimately to Leyenda - a pan-Latin bar that Ivy designed in partnership with Julie Reiner of Clover Club. Why this book is as much a travelogu...

In this timely conversation with Caroline Rosen, executive director of the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, some of the topics we discuss include: The history of Tales of the Cocktail - from its humble origins as a walking tour soaked in history and booze, to its current status at the cutting edge of international spirits and cocktail conferences. How Tales of the Cocktail actually operates - and...

Eric interviews Ricky Miller, founder of the House of Carbonadi (makers of Carbonadi Vodka). S ome of the topics we discuss include: Ricky's journey through the entrepreneurial landscape, beginning in the supplement space, and then evolving into a passion for beverages and the liquid medium. Why he chose the premium spirits space as his business arena and how Ricky thinks about the differences bet...

Eric chats with spirits expert and Copalli Rum Global Brand Ambassador Elayne Duff about a new Belizian cane spirit she's helping to bring to the US spirits and cocktail scene. Some of the topics we discuss include: The story of Copalli Rum as a philanthropic project by marine conservationist Todd Robinson - and how he teamed up with Chef Anya Fernald to create Copal Tree Lodge. How Elayne and her...

Eric fields a question about the difference between two iconic cocktail categories: the Fizz and the Spritz. To get to the bottom of this issue, we revisit Jerry Thomas' 1887 Bar Tender's Manual, the occupation of Northern Italy by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the advent of the iconic aperitivo Aperol.

Eric is joined by a pair of agave warriors - pyromaniac distilling engineer Salvador Peribán (aka Chava) and Lou Bank, founder of SACRED , a US-based agave non-profit organization. They're the hosts of the hit podcast, Agave Road Trip , which debuted earlier this summer on Heritage Radio Network. In this interview, we put all our pinas on the table talking about mezcal, direct fire distillation, a...