The Speakeasy
Episodes
Doomtown
11 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Indigenous visibility advocate and Doom Tiki co-founder Chockie Tom sits down with the band to talk about the troubled past of tropical drinks, what c...
Can’t Wait For Sally
04 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Industry veterans and long time friends Matt Friedlander and Zak Snyder are finally realizing their dreams of Midori laced Miami Vice’s, Cubano sand...
Branding Brandy
27 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jennifer Querbes of Brandy Sainte Louise dials in with Greg and Sother to talk about launching a brand to 19th century specs, women in distilling and ...
Mountain Dews and Mountain Don'ts
20 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tad Carducci of Gruppo Montenegro sits down with the band to talk amaro, Italian spritz culture and the endless quest to discover the secret recipes b...
The Queen of Queen's Park
14 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Laura Newman joins the band live from Birmingham, Alabama! The US World Class presented by Diageo winning bartender talks building a brand in a smalle...
A Little Turkey
07 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Greg, Sother and Damon finally find a spirit that shuts them up, courtesy of Roberto Rosa and Maestro Dobel’s new Pavito pechuga tequila. Listen in ...
Off-Centered
30 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Brewer, innovator and creative ADD enthusiast Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head sits down with the band to talk about the future of craft beer, pumpkin sp...
Cleopatra, and Other Famous Party Animals
23 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Author, screenwriter, historian and the best kind of nerd Mallory O’Meara sits down with Greg and Damon to talk about her new book “Girly Drinks,”...
Easy Like Monday Morning
17 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Boyd of Drink Monday joins the band to talk about the rise of nonalcoholic spirits, the market for healthy choices and how many distillers you h...
It Means "Really Good"
08 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tetsuro Miyazaki of Iichiko Shochu joins the band to talk about the history of this wonderful and unique spirit, how hard it is to get Americans to dr...
Still Teaching, Still Learning
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Grab some sunscreen and join us as founder of Bahamian craft cocktail bar Bon Vivants, Kyle Jones, joins us from the islands! We discuss the slow ri...
Bitters n' Eggs
26 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren Mote, the Diageo Global Cocktailian and founder of Bittered Sling, joins the band all the way from Amsterdam to talk martinis, bitters, dating ...
Shawnathon
12 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Shawn Soole takes some time off of being a podcaster and TikTok celebrity to talk mental health, fighting burnout and how you can make money making dr...
The World's Your Oyster
04 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Georgette Moger-Petraske sits down with the band and talks oysters. Did you know a single oyster can filter 40 gallons of water over its lifetime? Did...
Well, Here We Go Again
28 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On a special bonus episode of the Speakeasy Greg, Damon and Sother sit down to talk about some breaking news in the industry. As cases rise again and ...
Rum If You Want To
22 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Marc Farrell, founder and CEO of Ten to One Rum sits down with the band to talk rum culture, what he has in common with Tony Stark and the future of c...
The Farm(house) Report
08 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Beer writer and homebrewer extraordinaire Mandy Naglich geeks out with Greg about farmhouse styles, subtlety and the future of brewing. Plus a quick c...
Bikes, Bees and Martinis Please!
01 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Gin fan and certified New Yorker Lacy Hawkins joins the band to gab about bees, bikes, the best way to beat the heat with a martini and the benefit of...
Bikes n Brews
23 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Showerman of Athletic Brewing joins the band to discuss their new N/A Blood Orange IPA, how brands can change the world and that classic summer l...
Moonshine and Rainbows
17 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Aubrey Slater and David Suk of Saint Luna spirits regale the band with tales of launching a brand, working in the world of spirits as members of the L...
Bitter Times call for Bitter People
10 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Amaro distiller and unwittingly vegan meat producer Louis Catizone sits down with Greg and Sother to talk innovation, adventuring into the RTD market ...
Much Anu About Nothing
03 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Seattle’s Anu Apte sits down with Greg and Sother to talk about flipping concepts, non-stop education and designing a cocktail for a 200-year-old fl...
Make Lemonade!
28 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In a world where RTDs are everywhere, Bronya Shillo, founder and CEO of Fisher’s Island Lemonade, was one of the first to think ‘huh, this is pret...
Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
21 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sign language interpreter, absinthe maven, ukulele hero, and all-around ray of sunshine, Jessica Graves, sits down with the band to talk makin’ absi...
25 Years of Amaretto Sours
13 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jeff Morgenthaler, 25 year veteran of the bartending world talks with Greg and Sother about how bars have changed, how people stay the same and what i...
School's In For Summer
29 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Barrett of Diageo Bar Academy sits down with Greg and Sother to talk education, how we can make the most of our now extremely online lives and wh...
All in the Family
22 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Oaxaca returns! Carlos Moreno and Txomin Alcorta join Greg live from Mexico to talk mezcal (and rum, and gin, and whiskey, and vodka) as well as what ...
Appetite for Creation
15 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Aaron Polsky and Erin Hayes sit down with the band to talk Livewire drinks, a new line of canned cocktails with the heart of rock n’ roll. What can ...
Together through the rubble
08 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sother sits down to talk with Mark Schettler of Bar Tonique in New Orleans. Mark is a longtime advocate of the hospitality, tourism, service and night...
Tales, Cocktails and Community
04 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The one and only Caroline Rosen joins the band for the Speakeasy’s first semi-live recording in over a year! Cocktail conferences have changed forev...
For the Trees
24 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Cachaça pioneer and sustainability beacon Dragos Axinte joins the band to talk distilling, going carbon negative and how Novo Fogo is saving the plan...
The Luck of the Irish
17 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a very special pandemic St. Patrick’s Day! Again! Jillian Vose of Dead Rabbit joins Greg and Sother to talk about the big day last year, what...
A Song of Ice and Drinking
10 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Live from Reykjavik Teitur Riddermann Schiöth joins the band to talk traditional Icelandic spirits, (mmm, aquavit!) building an iconic bar on the edg...
Just Go For It
03 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The band sits down to talk about life, the shit it throws at you and the joys of living boldly with industry luminary Chris Patino. As well as foundin...
Little Book, Big Ideas
24 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Eight generation Beam Distiller Freddie Noe joins the band to talk about growing into the family business and how his Little Book series lead to exper...
Tricky Methods, Smooth Juice
17 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Bertha González Nieves, co-founder and CEO of Tequila Casa Dragones talks about crafting a unique and inspiring tequila by doing things the hard way....
Presenting Back Bar: Bottomless
16 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Bottomless: The Bloody Mary, and the curiously counter-culture history of brunch. This is a special presentation of Back Bar, hosted by our very own ...
Chocolate Covered Bourbon
10 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Elizabeth McCall, Assistant Master Distiller at Woodford Reserve joins the band to talk, what else, whiskey and chocolate AKA the perfect Valentine’...
Entrepreneurial Spirits!
03 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Italicus founder Giuseppe Gallo talks about his journey from making lemoncello beside his mother as a child to speaking to his grandmother about Rosol...
A Volley of Ideas
27 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Chris and Camila of Volley Tequila Soda join Greg and Sother to talk natural flavors, the natural world, and how sneakily often one doesn’t come fro...
You Put the Rum in the Coconut
21 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Entrepreneur, rum pioneer and former coconut smuggler Dani Zig joins Greg and Sother to talk about innovation in spirits, respecting your ingredients ...
Breakfast Whisky
13 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
David Vitale of Starward in Melbourne, Australia joins the band to talk eating, drinking and finding a sense of place in a world of whisky. Don’t f...
Hindsight is 2020
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Damon, Greg and Sother look back on the past ten years of bartending, and a year that felt like a decade. Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIBE and RATE ...
Reinvent
09 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Jordis Unga, the metaphorical and literal rock star of Katana Kitten talks service, music, the need to perform and reinventing yourself. Don’t forg...
The Bishop Wears a lot of Hats
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From chef to critic to bartender to farmer Eugene Nyaundi has seen a lot and he sits down with Greg and Sother to talk Rhum, botanicals and cultivatin...
Animals > People
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Natalie Bovis of The Liquid Muse sits down with Sother and Greg to talk about getting started in the bar blogosphere, her latest steps with her new br...
Upstate Update!
18 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Industry luminaries Lynnette Marrero and Jessica Gonzalez join Greg and Sother to talk about their latest adventures upstate with Wonderbar Beacon and...
Making Bitter Ends Meet
16 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Patrick Miller of Faccia Brutto sits down with Greg and Sother to talk about tasting, experimenting, and what it takes to move your bitters-making ope...
Sweet, then Salty
11 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The one and only Joaquin Simo descends through the maelstrom of the past week and the past year to discuss what bars, clubs and venues bring to their ...
How D'ya Like Them Apples?
10 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s Cider Season! Ryan Burk, Head Cider Maker at Angry Orchard joins Sother and Greg to talk history, fermentation and the not-so-humble apple. #H...
Good Job!
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tristan Willey, spirits polymath and co-founder of Good Vodka talks creativity, sustainability, and the contours of his truly unique career.#HRN10Year...
Where the City Meets the Beach
28 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Bridget Firtle of Owney’s Rum and Rockaway Seltzer joins Sother and Greg to talk about running a distillery, starting a health-focused brand, and st...
A F.E.W. Good Ideas
25 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Whiskey, Cheezits and Rock n’ Roll! Paul Hletko of F.E.W. sits down with the band to talk guitars, distilling, and when it’s the right time to bre...
We've All Gotta Chip In
22 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The band sits down with Allison Varone from Belvedere Vodka and talks about what it means to innovate, both inside and out of a mixing glass. #HRN10Y...
Got Any Gregs?
18 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Greg Benson - the Dewar’s brand ambassador for India - joins Greg Benson - the podcast host - and Sother to talk distilling, highballs and what it i...
Virtually Tangible
14 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Missing cocktail festivals this year? Us too. Good thing we’ve got Carlos Rodriguez here from Global Bar Week to talk about building a hands-on comm...
The Art of Hospitality
09 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Extra, Extra! The band sits down with Mark Sansom of World’s 50 Best to talk re-imagining awards in the age of COVID and for a breaking announcement...
How to Make 400 Old Fashioneds
07 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On the 400th episode of the Speakeasy Aaron Goldfarb and Janee Nyberg join the band to talk going viral, telling your side of the story and what a tru...
All Roads Lead to Rhum
30 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Live from Haiti Rhum Barbancourt CEO Delphine Gardere joins the band to talk the history of rhum, making spirits as a woman and what the history of Ba...
Wouldn't It Be Nice
24 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you didn’t know that a higher percentage of spirits are sold to women than men you’re not alone - they certainly aren’t marketed that way. So...
There Oughta be a Law!
17 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why is Kahlua stronger in Ohio? Why is beer warmer in Indiana? Why do drinks look like they’re being made behind a weird, blurry pane of glass in Ut...
Left Coasting
10 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Speakeasy’s back and the world’s still a mess! We’re all juggling reduced capacity, outdoor dining and to-go cocktails and today Matt Davids...
Presenting Agave Road Trip #8 : Wrap Up
23 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week we wrap up the Agave Road trip with Lou Bank and Chava Periban. They discuss some of their favourite aspects of agave and the community arou...
Presenting Agave Road Trip #7 : Aging
16 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week we're presenting another episode of Agave Road Trip. On this episode, Lou Bank and Chava Periban talk about the aging process. How long af...
Get Canned!
13 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What’s better than old friends and cold drinks? When the drink is a well-balanced RTD Gin & Tonic and the old friends are Tom Macy and Julie Rei...
Presenting Agave Road Trip #6 : Distillation
09 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week we're presenting another episode of Agave Road Trip. On this episode, Lou Bank and Chava Periban talk about the distillation process. Thou...
Presenting Agave Road Trip #5: Fermentation
02 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week we're presenting another episode of Agave Road Trip. On this episode, Lou Bank and Chava Periban talk about the fermentation process. The ...
Zero to Hero
31 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Allen Hemberger, Sarah Hemberger and Micah Melton from the team behind The Aviary sit down to talk about Zero, their new cocktail book that’s 100% a...
Presenting Agave Road Trip #4: The Grind
26 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week we're presenting another episode of Agave Road Trip. After you cook your agave, you’ve gotta mill it – make tiny, little pieces of tho...
Storytellers
23 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Can a cocktail tell a story that makes the world a better place? AJ Johnson started Back to Black pop-up in DC to prove it can, and she breaks down he...
A Thirst for Change
23 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Maxwell Britten of THIRST is on a mission to educate our leaders... and make sure they keep their promises! He sits down with Sother and Greg to talk ...
Presenting Agave Road Trip #3: Roasting the Agave.
19 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week we're presenting another episode of Agave Road Trip. In episode 3, Lou Bank and Chava Periban talk about roasting agave. This is one of th...
Drink Like an Athlete
15 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Three Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ Fermenting without alcohol? A gym with a bar? A booze- free Gose? All t...
Presenting Agave Road Trip #2: What is Agave?
12 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week we're presenting another episode of Agave Road Trip. In episode 2 our friends Lou Bank and Chava Periban give a nutshell explanation of h...
So no one told you life was gonna be this way
09 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Three Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ Proprietor, beverage director and to-go cocktail wizard Will Wyatt talk...
Presenting Agave Road Trip #1: Jump In!
05 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week we're presenting the first episode of Agave Road Trip. Agave Road Trip is a new series from HRN that provides gringo bartenders with firstha...
Hats Off to Whiskey!
01 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Three Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ The world’s first female master bourbon taster and co-founder of the ...
Coffee Break!
28 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Three Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ All the way from Sydney Australia Tom Baker (and his morning coffee) ch...
114 Years and Counting
24 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Three Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ From the historic West Bank in Minneapolis Tony Zaccardi joins the band...
Wigle Room
21 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Three Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ Wigle Whiskey Co-Founder Meredith Grelli chats about the history of rye...
LP in DC
18 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Three Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ Focus on Health co-founder and Silver Lyan bartender LP swings by the v...
No Corny Jokes Here!
14 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Three Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ Biologist, polymath and Master Distiller of Abasolo Whiskey Iván Salda...
Whiskey Fans and Guinness Vans
10 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Three Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ Global Brand Ambassador Stephanie Shen joins us live from Dublin, Irela...
Where We Go From Here
04 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's been a tough week. Damon, Sother and Greg sit down with Kenneth McCoy of Rum House and Ward III to talk about where we are, where we're going, an...
...And Whiskey For All
31 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Three Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ Rob Dietrich of Blackened Whiskey sits down to talk about rock shows, w...
Don't Worry, the Temperature Check is Free
28 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Three Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️Over the weekend bars in South Carolina opened their doors and let peopl...
The Five Year Plan - Twinning and Winning!
27 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Three Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️The one and only Ivy Mix sits down to talk about, well, just about every...
Oh, The Places Rum Goes!
20 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Three Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ Edouard Beaslay, Global Brand Director for Diplomatico sits down with t...
Down the Rabbit Hole
17 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Three Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ On a special bonus episode the band sits down with Kaveh Zamanian from ...
Hazard Pay
14 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Three Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ Our good friend Johnny Schuler calls in from Peru to talk about what’...
Pantsdrinking!
06 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Three Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ The band sits down with the founders of Long Drink to talk about this c...
BONUS: With the USBG National Charity Foundation
03 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Two Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ On a special bonus episode of the Speakeasy the band sits down with Kim H...
En Route to New Earth
29 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Two Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ The band gets together from their socially distant studios to talk with M...
Reanimated
22 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Two Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ This week we’re getting the band back together through the magic o...
Ready, Aim, Help
16 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Two Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ Damon, Sother and Greg are all back "together" again from their DIY home ...
You Can't Spell "Hospitality" Without "Hospital"
12 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As the crisis nears its apex in NYC Greg and Sother sit down with the team from Ilegal Mezcal to hash out the uphill battle our industry faces and dis...
Going the Distance
29 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Two Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ On a socially distanced episode Sother and Greg talk to Nitecap owner Nat...
This Sucks
22 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's bad out there, and this week Greg sits down with John deBary of the Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation to discuss what we can do about it.P...
On the up & up
11 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Two Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️ This week we’re joined by the team behind Grenwich Village darling...
Making An Experience
04 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
⭐️Two Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Spirited Award nominated podcast⭐️Sean Johnson @johnson_m_sean is an artist both behind the bar and outside ...