The Speakeasy

This week we sit down former professional soccer player and current Director of Trade Advocacy for the London Essence Co. Justin Noel @ jjnoelllc  . Justin is also the owner of NYC’s Sweetwater Social and a 20 year veteran of bartending. We talk about the evolution of the bar industry in terms of culture, current drinking trends towards a lower abv/no abv as well as Wondering what happened to the...

Today’s guest is Effie Panagopoulos CEO and Founder, Kleos Mastiha Spirit @ drinkkleos . A competitive natural bodybuilder and longtime spirits industry veteran, Effie has a drive to succeed and the dedication to accomplish her goals. She’s open and outspoken about breaking into the spirit production sector of the industry. In this episode we also touch on the controversy hanging over our business...

Up next, Sother talks to longtime bartender, traveling brand ambassador and, owner of Nickel City @NickelCityATX Travis Tober @ TheTober . The action is fast and the topics are numerous on this episode so be prepared to hear about flair bartending, guest shifts and, tactics involved to make a welcoming bar. #HRN10Years #DrinkingOnTheRadio Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIBE and RATE the show if you ca...

In another episode from New Orleans, Sother sits down to talk everything travel and whiskey with Nicola Riske . With her position as European Brand Ambassador for The Macallan and Edrington Malts Nicola combines her unquenchable thirst for knowledge with her desire to explore the world. She’s also an olive oil sommelier! #HRN10Years #DrinkingOnTheRadio Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIBE and RATE the...

Join us for another episode recorded at this years @ Tales_Of_The_Cocktail this one featuring Mo Herms @ SheBMo proprietor of @ TheMermaidLA a destination for tropical inspired drinks in downtown LA. She’s also the host of her own podcast @ Music_And_Booze that draws lines connecting the world of bartending with the world of booze. #HRN10Years #DrinkingOnTheRadio Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIBE an...

Journalist and raconteur Robert Simonson ( @ RobertOSimonson ), joins Sother and Greg to talk about all things Martini. He’s been a spirits contributor to the local paper The New York Times ( @NyTimes ) for over a decade and has his finger on the pulse of drinks and drink culture. Hear what he has to say about the iconic drink and it’s curious history. He also reads a few excerpts from his book wh...

This week we’re airing another episode from the road featuring Denver’s legendary hospitalitarian and third generation bartender Sean Kenyon @SeanKenyon13 . Sother caught up with Sean as he and the team from Liquid Productions @Liq_Pro were preparing for a huge party at the 2019 @Tales_of_the_Cocktail . They talk about Sean’s philosophy of bartending and hospitality as well as his popular Denver b...

This installment of The Speakeasy Roadshow features Seattle’s Chris Elford @ChrisElford owner of James Beard @beardfoundation nominated beer bar No Anchor @noanchorbar , @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award winning tiki inspired Navy Strength @navystrengthseattle and newly opened natural wine and oyster den @vinniesrawbar. He’s also the creator of the modern classic cocktail Sharpie Mustache! 🔥...

Join us for a very special episode of The Speakeasy on the road recorded at Cane and Table (@CaneAndTable) in New Orleans during Tales of the Cocktail (@Tales_of_the_Cocktail). We were lucky enough to sit down with Alex Thomas, she’s one of the very few female master blenders in the Irish Whiskey market and oversees production of The Sexton Single Malt Irish Whiskey. We also sat down with several...

Join us today as we chat with Sam Nelis- @sam_nelis the Beverage Director at Caledonia Spirits- @barrhillgin , where he curates all cocktails for the company, from the menu at the on site cocktail bar at the distillery to the website, to cocktails created for nationwide events. He’s also in charge of educating the company on cocktail culture and is responsible for supporting relationships with key...

This week Sother talks with Drew Schenck and Kevin Barrett owners of North Carolina’s Dram and Draught! @DramAndDraught Bartenders Ian @ian_murray and Jake @the_bitter_barman chime in as well. These gents are bringing a true sense of cocktail culture and genuine hospitality to the south with their lively and comfortable bars. Listen in as we talk about what it means to run multiple locations of th...

After a long career in pub-bartending while pursuing degrees in Art History and Graphic Design, Amanda Elder joined the opening team of cocktail bar Pouring Ribbons in 2012, and subsequently also began bartending at the East Village agave haven, Mayahuel. As former Creative Director at Pouring Ribbons, Amanda was responsible for designing the bar’s initial thematic menus (Route 66, Silk Road, Mood...

Manhattan native and long time New York City bartended Allegra Vera (@AllegraVera) joins us to discuss gender dynamics in the workplace, methods to maintain a healthy body and mind while tending as well as how social media can affect the very flow of business. All this and more as we sip on Aperol Spritzs.  Meanwhile, Gregg tries on the the red-green colorblindness correcting glasses and we talk a...

Today’s episode features Donny Clutterbuck @DonnyClutterbuck runs the well known @cure_bar in Rochester New York. He’s also the creator of @pourcostapp He took time out to celebrate his birthday with us on the air and share some wit and wisdom about his career in the bar industry. He brought along a delightful bottle to share as well, Ange Vert from Alpine Distilling in Park City Utah. 🔥🔥Join us...

On this episode, Damon catches up with longtime friend of The Speakeasy Thomas Waugh. Thomas spent time behind the bar at Death and Company before becoming the bar director for Major Food Group and has recently moved in to a sales position. Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIBE and RATE the show if you can. 🔥🔥Join us each week as industry leaders, Damon Boelte and Sother Teague, sit down with a wide r...

Justin Shapiro, founder of JustRight Consulting, and currently serving as Director of Operations for Ward Hospitality , and is co-owner of soon to be opened Palo Vivo (in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY). Justin was the operating partner at renowned agave centered bar Mayahuel. He joins us to talk about his past in the music industry, his difficulties dealing with ongoing court cases to protect Mayahuels n...

Jesse Vida of Atlas! @jessejvida Previously part of the award-winning teams at Booker + Dax and Dead Rabbit @deadrabbitnyc , Jesse also led BlackTail @blacktailnyc to No. 31 on the World’s 50 Best Bars @50bestbars and “Best New Opening”, while also being awarded “Best New American Cocktail Bar” at The Spirited Awards at Tales of the Cocktail @tales_of_the_cocktail . In 2017, he was named New York...

Todays episode features Laura Newman @LauraFallsDown from Birmingham Alabama! We talk about what it’s like opening a bar in a smaller market, winning big competitions and being a thought leader in our industry. We had a sporadic technical issue during recording but really wanted to bring you this interview, so please pardon the unusual format. A Brooklyn native, Laura worked at NYC bars and restau...

Joining us in the studio today is former brand ambassador Erik Trickett @erik_trickett . Erick moved to New York from sunny LA a few years ago and landed a gig at Holiday Cocktail Lounge where he’s now the head bartender. We discuss his humble beginnings and what it’s like to operate one of the most raucous sing along bars in NYC! 🔥🔥Join us each week as industry leaders, Damon Boelte and Sother...

Steve Olson!!!! @Akawinegeek Today’s guest has been helping to shape the beverage industry for over 40 years. Getting his start in restaurants, he’s gone on to be a writer, consultant, educator, and lecturer, and is particularly known for his pioneering work with Sherry, Spanish and Greek wine, Sake, Gin, and Agave spirits. He’s opened nearly 50 restaurants and bars to date, including Gramercy Tav...

t’s not often that we have bar patrons as guests on the show but today’s episode features just that. Valerie Franco @SeeValDrum is a regular patron at some of the best bars in the country. Her job as a touring drummer (currently with Hayley Kiyoko @HayleyKiyoko ) takes her to every corner of the country. I caught up with her while she was visiting NYC to sit in as guest drummer on Late Night with...

"On today’s show, longtime friend and colleague Philip Duff ( @PhilipSDuff ) stops by to talk about his career as an educator in our industry and real Dutch Genever. He created and manned the position of education director for Tales of the Cocktail ( @Tales_of_the_Cocktail ) , travels the world lecturing on all things bar and brand related, runs Liquid Solutions, his own consulting company and cre...

On this episode we're joined by Trevor Schneider ( @CocktailNinja ) to talk about his longstanding role as the Reyka Vodka ( @Reyka_Vodka ) national brand ambassador. A former actor, his high energy and quick wit have played a major role in his continuing success. Tune in to hear his thoughtful insights about working in such a dynamic role. #HRN10Years #DrinkingOnTheRadio 🔥🔥Join us each week as...

On today’s show, we’re sitting down with the fascinating Bailey Pryor of The Real McCoy rum from Barbados! Bailey has worked as a writer, producer and director in the film and television industry for over 25 years. He has produced seven feature films and over 150 television programs. In his career, Bailey has received 16 Emmy Award nominations, winning 7 Emmy awards for his recent work on PBS. Bai...

On today’s show we talk with Chicago native Austin Hartman. He’s a 9 year veteran of the bar scene in NYC. Where he’s posted up behind bars like Hotel Delmano, and Montana’s Trail House. Now he’s the proprietor of Paradise Lounge in Queens, a rum focused casual neighborhood bar. He’s also the co-founder of the educational collective called Cane Club Co preaching the gospel of rum to anyone willing...