The Speakeasy

A packed studio this week! Father daughter Robin and Rose Robinson sit in to talk to us about what it’s like to have a family member in the same industry and their perspectives from a millennial and boomer standpoint. Plus we get to drink some delicious whiskies and a new sour cherry gin from Luxardo . Playing the part of co-host, Greg Benson joins us again from NYC’s The Rochard . Plus fans of th...

Join us as we chat about easier entertaining with Maggie Hoffman ( @MaggieJHoffman ). Formerly the managing editor at Serious Eats where she created spinoff Serious Eats: Drinks. Maggie is a San Francisco-based food and drink writer. She also wrote One Bottle Cocktails and is currently touring to promote her new book Batch Cocktails for Ten Speed Press ( @TenSpeedPress ). Dear friend of the show,...

Jessica Leigh Graves (@VioletCrownSpirits ), Austin, Texas native, freelance American Sign Language interpreter, award-winning songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and booty shaker turned distillery owner making the first absinthe in the Lone Star State joins us to talk about bitter sweet liquors. Find her products at http://www.violetcrownspirits.com/ Or on https://libdib.com/ Plus surprise guest G...

On today’s episode of @SpeakeasyPodcast were joined by author, spirits educator and, consultant Shannon Mustipher ( @ShannonMustipher ). We talk about how her early interest in art shaped her desire to work behind the bar. She also shares her thoughts regarding the fundamentals of the craft, finding and cultivating your own voice and of course, r(h)um! Her first book ‘Tiki: Tropical Cocktails’ deb...

Sean Muldoon (@SeanJMuld) and Jack McGarry (@JackMcGarry) and Rebekkah Dooley (@RebekkahDooley ) of Dead Rabbit (DeadRabbitNYC) and Black Tail (BlackTailNYC) sit down with us this week to discuss what it means to them to operate an authentically Irish bar in lower Manhattan. We'll also learn how serious they are about Irish breakfast and of course their world famous Irish Coffee featuring Bushmill...

This week we're hosting Allison Marlar and Sean McKenzie from Archives (@thearchivesbar) in Burlington Vermont. Archives is a craft cocktail and beer bar as well as a full service arcade featuring new and vintage pinball and video games. We discuss the issues with balancing craft bartending with arcade games, the scene in Burlington and, fitting into an ever changing industry. The Speakeasy is pow...

Brendan Casey of Parlour Wine and Spirits ( @ParlourWines ) in Greenpoint sits down to talk about the fundamental differences between selling and mixing individual drinks and selling bottles at the retail level. He also introduces us to Little Wolf Whiskey ( @LittleWolfWhiskey ) and discusses the challenges of fatherhood in the spirits business. The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast . See Privacy...

On this weeks episode Sother welcomes Kristopher DeSoto and David Osher, the founder and cofounder of Hiatus Tequila ( @hiatustequila ). They chat about luxury helicopter sales, the music industry and, of life filled with travel to exotic lands. But after all that travel, Kris ended up not far from his Texas home in Jalisco where he reignited an old interest in tequila that compelled him to take a...

Mark Maynard - a 26 year veteran of the Union Square Hospitality Group , Mark started the trail as host of Union Square Cafe. From there he rose to General Manager and then launched a string of the popular bbq joint Blue Smoke. Extensive visits to America’s south east inspired Porchlight bar.  Now he’s the Director of Operations for all of USHG. Mark has also written a book The Next Frontier of Re...

Our dear friend and favorite Francophile miss Franky Marshall ( @Drinking. Violet ) schools us all on Cognac, pineau de charentes and all things France. She also talks about the issues we all face being in the Hospitality field. She’s a force to be reckoned with and made mostly of determination and magic. Plus, friend to the show, Matt Friedlander took the co-host chair and he brought along the ad...

Tune In to hear how Angel achieves her dreams of traveling by using her camera to capture bartenders all over the world making cocktails. Her popular Instagram account has garnered over 200,000 followers. Follow her at @TheCocktailPortal and @BartendersPortal The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/p...

Simon Ford (@Simon_Tge86Co) is often credited with the creation of the spirits Brand Ambassador position as we know it. This week we talk to him about all things gin, his extensive world travels and, how to gracefully grow irrelevant.  Special guest Ed Rudisell of the popular Shift Drink Podcast (@ShiftDrinkPodcast) in Indianapolis sits in to sip gin and tequila with us.  The Speakeasy is powered...

Amanda Whitt is a Brand Ambassador, Bartender, Barista, and all around liquid enthusiast. She talks to Damon and Sother about repping coffee all around the country. Plus, Damon shares his own spectacular barista experience. The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Claire Sprouse has bartended across the United States' at some of the most well-known cocktail institutions, starting in Houston and most recently at ABV in San Francisco. In 2014, she co-founded Tin Roof Drink Community , a consulting and education company committed to exploring sustainability in hospitality spaces. For their teachings at the 2017 Tales of the Cocktail , Tin Roof was awarded the...

This week, Damon and Sother report remotely from Blue Quarter in the East Village. Their guests are Jeff Bell and AK Hada of the legendary PDT. Hear all about hot dogs, clandestine entrances last min flights to Hong Kong and American brandy. But, Please Don’t Tell! The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19....

Join us on the Speakeasy for a very festive holiday edition featuring the team from Miracle in Brooklyn. New father Jason Littrell, human Swiss Army knife Chris Bidmead and,ring-leader Dave O’Brien have overdecorated and stocked their bar to be a Christmas holiday wonderland. We also take potshots at our dear friend Giuseppe Gonzales with pumpkin spice coquito and we talk about Bartender Boxing. H...

Jack Ferris is the US national brand ambassador & educator for Bushmills Irish Whiskey . He grew up in as small town called Coleraine in Co. Derry, which is located just 7 miles from where The Old Bushmills Distillery is located. From a young age, he has been passionate about Irish Whiskey. Jack started his whiskey career as bartender at the Bushmills Inn just down the street from the distille...

This week on the Speakeasy, Damon and Sother host Eamon Rockey from the remote studio inside Blue Quarter. Eamon made his mark as a NYC bartender known for making clarified milk punch. Now he's got a bottled version on the market. He’s also helped develop a new generation of bar bag with the workwear brand Tilit as well as being in a leadership role in the newly created beverage program at the Ins...

Today on The Speakeasy, Damon and Sother talk to an activist, a trans woman and a female general manager to discuss hospitality in the new culture of gender fluidity, activism and the #metoo movement. Jackie Summers , Jesse Wohlers and Tyler Beebe . Powered by Simplecast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Today on the Speakeasy, Damon and Sother talk to to Master Distiller Enrique De Colsa from tequila Don Julio. Powered by Simplecast https://simplecast.com [1]https://www.diageobaracademy.com/en_zz/training/meet_our_experts/industry-leaders/enrique_de_colsa/ [2]https://www.donjulio.com/ [3]http://imbibemagazine.com/interview-with-enrique-de-colsa/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and...

Today on the Speakeasy, Damon and Sother talk to Penelope Roussetzki, Stephen Hoppe, Chris Hoppe about beer, working in the food industry and more Powered by Simplecast https://simplecast.com/ [1]https://www.facebook.com/barpenultima/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Damon and Sother get the opportunity to talk with Johnny Schuler, Master Distiller for Caravedo Pisco and all around Pisco advocate. He has dedicated much of his life to setting the standards for excellence in the Pisco industry. And, as Pisco’s ambassador, his travels have taken him throughout Peru, and around the globe, to educate spirits industry professionals and the public alike about the cul...

Today on The Speakeasy, we talk to Paul Finn and special guest William Pineapple. Paul started his career in music and movies, producing his first feature film at age 21 for Kevin Smith’s View Askew Productions. While working on the soundtrack for that film, “A Better Place”, he decided to re-focus on a career in the music industry both as an artist, touring with critically acclaimed bands The Kin...

On Today's Speakeasy Damon talks with Kevin Beary, Beverage Director at Three Dots and a Dash in Chicago. Kevin Beary his first taste of bartending while shaking and pouring colorless liquid as a minor. His first official gig was aboard a Delaware River cruise in Philadelphia, where 500 thirsty passengers would board the ship most nights and drink tickets would start flying. Beary worked in restau...

Rocky Yeh is the Gardien des Chais (keeper of the cellar) at Maison Ferrand and Danny Ronen is the proprietor of Academia in Austin and partner at Unlimited Liabilities. Tune in as Sother chats with these two about travel, New York Brandy Week, subscription cocktail boxes and getting educated at a bar. The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cal...