The Speakeasy

Birmingham or Bust

26 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

⭐️2 Time @Tales_of_the_Cocktail Award Nominated Podcast⭐️ This week on the Speakeasy, Laura Newman @laurafallsdown and Mudd Townley @muddatqp...

Whiskey Methods

19 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week Sother and Greg sit down with Bar Methods @BarMethods founder Chris Bidmead and Woodford Reserve Brand Ambassador, Michael Toscano @themicha...

Ducks on the Water

05 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

At last year's Tales of The Cocktail in New Orleans, Sother had the opportunity to sit down with Tyler Hudgens @tylerhudgens, a member of an elite tea...

Mexican Chardonnay

29 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

⭐️2 Time Award Nominated Podcast⭐️Join us today as we sit down and talk With North America Tequila Cazadores Ambassador Alan Ruesga Pelayo @Al...

Mixed Up

22 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jordan Silbert, founder of Q Mixers @QMixers takes the time to talk to us about his Spectacular line of products from origin to realization. He discus...

Bailey Pryor

16 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

100 years ago this week, The Eighteenth Amendment went into effect on January 17, 1920. On this episode, documentary filmmaker and founder of Real McC...

Episode 359: Master Blender

18 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Alexandre Gabriel is the Master blender at both Maison Ferrand Cognac as well as Plantation Rums. Growing up on a farm gave him insight as to how taki...

Episode 358: A Real Live Wire

11 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Sother has the opportunity to sit with noted New York bartender turned LA nightlife guru, Aaron Polsky to discuss how the music industry can be a mode...

Episode 357: Getting the band back together.

04 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Damon is back in the studio with Sother today and we’re joined by some old friends of the Speakeasy. Bridget Firtle of Owneys Rum @OwneysRum , Austi...

Episode 356: Sold by the drop

20 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Greg Robles co-founded @thebitterqueens , a small-production, San Francisco based bitters business raising the bar through the creation of unique, han...

Episode 355: Tiki Royalty

06 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

She got her start in tiki with her husband who introduced her to Trader Vic’s Beverly Hills on their first Valentines Day together.Marie helms the s...

Episode 354: Whiskey River

30 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Native Kentuckian, Senior Whiskey Ambassador at Deutsch Brands and, Honorary Kentucky Colonel Joe Riggs (@Drinkswithjoe ) sits down to talk and taste ...

Episode 353: Covert Cocktails and Clandestine Conversations

23 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s episode features Matt Levy of Covert Cocktail Club @covertcocktailclub in Brooklyn. A Native Brooklynite, Matt Levy is a self-taught bartend...

Episode 352: Kicking the ball around

16 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week we sit down former professional soccer player and current Director of Trade Advocacy for the London Essence Co. Justin Noel @jjnoelllc . ...

Episode 351: It’s all Greek to me

09 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s guest is Effie Panagopoulos CEO and Founder, Kleos Mastiha Spirit @drinkkleos . A competitive natural bodybuilder and longtime spirits indus...

Episode 350: Nickel and Dime

02 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Up next, Sother talks to longtime bartender, traveling brand ambassador and, owner of Nickel City @NickelCityATX Travis Tober @TheTober. The action is...

Episode 349: Whiskey and olive oil

25 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In another episode from New Orleans, Sother sits down to talk everything travel and whiskey with Nicola Riske. With her position as European Brand Amb...

Episode 348: She B Mo

18 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for another episode recorded at this years @Tales_Of_The_Cocktail this one featuring Mo Herms @SheBMo proprietor of @TheMermaidLA a destinatio...

Episode 347: It’s Martini time!

11 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist and raconteur Robert Simonson ( @RobertOSimonson ), joins Sother and Greg to talk about all things Martini. He’s been a spirits contribut...

Episode 346: Sean Mother F#%>ing Kenyon

04 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re airing another episode from the road featuring Denver’s legendary hospitalitarian and third generation bartender Sean Kenyon @Sean...

Episode 345: Still got it!

14 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This installment of The Speakeasy Roadshow features Seattle’s Chris Elford @ChrisElford owner of James Beard @beardfoundation nominated beer bar No...

Episode 344: Midnight Club

07 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Episode 343: Sam Nelis

31 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Episode 342: Southern Fried Hospitality

24 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week Sother talks with Drew Schenck and Kevin Barrett owners of North Carolina’s Dram and Draught! @DramAndDraught Bartenders Ian @ian_murray a...

Episode 341: It's all in the details

17 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 P...

Episode 340: It’s a real job

10 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Manhattan native and long time New York City bartended Allegra Vera (@AllegraVera) joins us to discuss gender dynamics in the workplace, methods to ma...

Episode 339: What the Clutterbuck?!

03 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s episode features Donny Clutterbuck @DonnyClutterbuck runs the well known @cure_bar in Rochester New York. He’s also the creator of @pourco...

Episode 338: Thomas Waugh

26 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 bec...

Episode 337: Litigation Situation

19 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Justin Shapiro, founder of JustRight Consulting, and currently serving as Director of Operations for Ward Hospitality , and is co-owner of soon to be ...

Episode 336: Holding up the Heavens

12 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jesse Vida of Atlas! @jessejvida Previously part of the award-winning teams at Booker + Dax and Dead Rabbit @deadrabbitnyc , Jesse also led BlackTail ...

Episode 335: Ham it up!

05 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Todays episode features Laura Newman @LauraFallsDown from Birmingham Alabama! We talk about what it’s like opening a bar in a smaller market, winnin...

Episode 334: Singing and screaming!

29 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 lan...

Episode 333: Teaching is Learning

22 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Steve Olson!!!! @Akawinegeek Today’s guest has been helping to shape the beverage industry for over 40 years. Getting his start in restaurants, he’...

Episode 332: Behind the Beat, In Front of the Bar

15 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 patro...

Episode 331: The GOAT

08 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

"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...

Episode 330: Let’s Be Clear

01 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode we're joined by Trevor Schneider (@CocktailNinja) to talk about his longstanding role as the Reyka Vodka (@Reyka_Vodka) national brand...

Episode 329: The Real McCoy

24 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Episode 328: You and me in paradise

17 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Episode 327: Father daughter whisky experts.

10 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 ind...

Episode 326: Batch Cocktails w/ Maggie Hoffman & Kimi Winkler

03 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join us as we chat about easier entertaining with Maggie Hoffman (@MaggieJHoffman). Formerly the managing editor at Serious Eats where she created spi...

Episode 325: De-Louche-ious Texas

27 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jessica Leigh Graves (@VioletCrownSpirits ), Austin, Texas native, freelance American Sign Language interpreter, award-winning songwriter, multi-instr...

Episode 324: Always on the R(h)um

20 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode of @SpeakeasyPodcast were joined by author, spirits educator and, consultant Shannon Mustipher (@ShannonMustipher). We talk about...

Episode 323: Kiss me, I'm Irish

13 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Sean Muldoon (@SeanJMuld) and Jack McGarry (@JackMcGarry) and Rebekkah Dooley (@RebekkahDooley ) of Dead Rabbit (DeadRabbitNYC) and Black Tail (BlackT...

Episode 322: Fun and Games

06 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're hosting Allison Marlar and Sean McKenzie from Archives (@thearchivesbar) in Burlington Vermont. Archives is a craft cocktail and beer ...

Episode 321: Brendan Casey of Parlour Wine and Spirits

28 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Brendan Casey of Parlour Wine and Spirits (@ParlourWines) in Greenpoint sits down to talk about the fundamental differences between selling and mixing...

Episode 320: Hiatus Tequila

20 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On this weeks episode Sother welcomes Kristopher DeSoto and David Osher, the founder and cofounder of Hiatus Tequila (@hiatustequila ). They chat abou...

Episode 319: Hospitality First with Mark Maynard

13 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 Gen...

Episode 318: Franky Marshall

06 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Our dear friend and favorite Francophile miss Franky Marshall (@Drinking.Violet) schools us all on Cognac, pineau de charentes and all things France. ...

Episode 317: Angel Vasquez & The Cocktail Portal

30 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Episode 316: Let the games beGIN

23 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Episode 315: Amanda Whitt

16 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Amanda Whitt is a Brand Ambassador, Bartender, Barista, and all around liquid enthusiast. She talks to Damon and Sother about repping coffee all aroun...

Episode 314: Claire Sprouse

19 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Sprouse has bartended across the United States' at some of the most well-known cocktail institutions, starting in Houston and most recently at ...

Episode 313: Jeff Bell and AK Hada

12 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

Episode 312: It's a Miracle!

05 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 k...

Episode 311: Jack Ferris

28 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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,...

Episode 310: Eamon Rockey

21 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 know...

Episode 309: Hospitality beyond identity

14 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Episode 308: Enrique De Colsa

31 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the Speakeasy, Damon and Sother talk to to Master Distiller Enrique De Colsa from tequila Don Julio. Powered by Simplecast https://simplecast...

Episode 307: La Penultima

24 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the Speakeasy, Damon and Sother talk to Penelope Roussetzki, Stephen Hoppe, Chris Hoppe about beer, working in the food industry and more Pow...

Episode 306: Johnny Schuler & Pisco

17 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Damon and Sother get the opportunity to talk with Johnny Schuler, Master Distiller for Caravedo Pisco and all around Pisco advocate. He has dedicated ...

Episode 305: Healthcare & Hospitality with Paul Finn and special guest William Pineapple

10 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 fea...

Episode 304: Service at Scale with Kevin Beary

03 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 wh...

Episode 303: Rocky Yeh & Danny Ronen

26 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 Unl...

Episode 302:

19 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Aaron Goldfarb is a writer who lives in Brooklyn. He’s written the novels “How to Fail: The Self-Hurt Guide” and “The Guide for a Single Man/W...

Episode 301: MiniBar's Jeremy Allen

13 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Damon sits down with Jeremy Allen, the GM of MiniBar in Hollywood, CA. Allen has done time under James Beard Award winning chefs in both LA...

Episode 300: Nightcaps with Kara Newman

05 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Speakeasy turns 300! Joining Damon and Sother to celebrate is Kara Newman, author of the forthcoming book NIGHTCAP: More Than 40 Cocktails to Clos...

Episode 299: The History of Drinking with Diana Pittet and Scott Rosenbaum

29 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This autumn, Asbury Park resident Diana Pittet, who grew up in Atlantic Highlands, is teaching a pioneering, one-of-a-kind graduate seminar at New Yor...

Cleveland Rocks!

28 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Your hosts travel to the southern shore of Lake Erie to investigate the hospitality scene in Cleveland. Guided by native Stefan Was of the Porco Loung...

Jabin Troth - Founder - Licensed To Distill

27 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Sother went down to this year's Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, armed with a recorder and a dream...a dream to cover the entire festival in-dept...

Episode 298: Salute the Cucumber

15 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

On Today's show Damon and Sother talk with Charlotte Voisey, Director of Advocacy at William Grant & Sons USA. They discuss the rise of gin in Ame...

Episode 297: Rob Morton of Voltaire

08 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Rob Morton spent 17 years in the music business running marketing departments for record labels and Virgin Megastores, and 6 as a production manager f...

Episode 296: Cocktails 201

01 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week Damon and Sother chat with Freddie Sarkis, Chief Cocktail Officer at Liquor Lab in NYC. They chat about his journey from coffee to cocktails...

Episode 295: Gatekeepers

25 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of The Speakeasy, Damon and Sother share their experiences of Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. Then they welcome two NYC gatekeep...

Episode 294: Threesome Tollbooth

18 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today on The Speakeasy we're talking with Jesse Sheidlower, a lexicographer and bar manager of a very small, high-end cocktail bar in Brooklyn called ...

Episode 293: Hospitality with Matt Kourie of NY Cocktail Expo

11 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today on The Speakeasy we talk with Matt Kourie. He's a cocktail enthusiast, turned home bartender, turned guest bartender, who had turned his one bed...

Episode 292: Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David Wondrich

04 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Noah Rothbaum is the editor of The Daily Beast’s Half Full section. He also hosts the podcast Life Behind Bars with legendary cocktail historian Dav...

Episode 291: Julie Reiner and Susan Fedroff

27 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Damon and Sother are joined by Julie Reiner and Susan Fedroff of Clover Club, Leyanda, Flatiron Lounge, Pegu Club...basically some of the most iconic ...

Episode 290: Authentic Cajun with Lauren Myerscough

20 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Damon and Sother are joined in studio by Lauren Myerscough, co-founder of Cocktail & Sons. The company has a line of all-natural hand-c...

Episode 289: Put a F*ckin' Onion In It

13 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Damon and Sother are joined in the studio by Kat Hamidi of Capitoline Vermouth, Washington DC's first commercially available vermouth. Afte...

Episode 288: Boats, Bikes, and Bars with Thomas Spaeth

11 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Thomas Spaeth is a bartender at Dear Irving in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of Manhattan. In the summer, you can also find him serving drinks at Gra...

Episode 287: Angus Winchester

06 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Damon and Sother are joined in the studio by Angus Winchester, the Global Director of Education for the Bar Convent Berlin and Bar Convent Brooklyn an...

Episode 286: William Elliott

30 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From a young age, William Elliott had a fascination with taste and memory, and sharing the experience. Though he grew up in a “dry” household, his...

Episode 285: Drinking Distilled

23 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Damon and Sother are joined by Jeffrey Morgenthaler, the bar manager at Clyde Common in Portland, Oregon. His newest book is Drinking Disti...

Episode 284: The Cure for Hiccups Is a Moving Target

16 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Damon and Sother are joined by the husband and wife team of Jackson Stamper and Tonia Guffey-Stamper, of Employees Only and Highland Park D...

Episode 283: Cocktail Photography with Eric Medsker

09 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Eric Medsker is a New York City based photographer and content creator working on a variety of commercial, publishing, and personal projects centered ...

Episode 282: Drinking Like a Lady with Mellie Wiersma

02 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In her own words, Melissa “Mellie” Wiersma is just a girl who giggles a lot, makes lots of drinks, has a lot of love for Boston, and has started f...

Episode 281: Lauren Corriveau and Natasha David of Nitecap

25 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Originally from the Finger Lakes, NY, Lauren Corriveau moved to NYC at the age of 17. After graduating college with a degree in Merchandising and Busi...

Episode 280: Sweet, Sweet Vermouth with Giancarlo Mancino

18 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Giancarlo Mancino is a gifted bartender and entrepreneur hailing from Pignola, Italy. Famous for his amazing hospitality, he has literally traveled th...

Episode 279: Whiskey Tasting with Nate Dumas

11 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Damon is joined in the studio by Nate Dumas, a Prime Meats alum, premium account specialist for the Campari portfolio of brands, and Wild T...

Episode 278: Atomic Hospitality with Steva Casey

04 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Steva Casey is a bartender at The Atomic Lounge in Birmingham, AL. She also works on numerous projects including International Cocktail Karaoke and Ti...

Episode 277: Eryn Reece of Banzarbar

28 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're joined in studio by Eryn Reece, who has tended bar all over New York City, and is now heading up a new bar program at Banzarbar, a ne...

Episode 276: Kate Perry and the Last Rum Crusade

20 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Perry grew up in Maine, and earned degrees in Anthropology/Archaeology & Geography/Geology from the University of Denver. She moved to Seattl...

Episode 275: Rob Dietrich, Head Distiller of Stranahan's Whiskey

07 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Damon is without Sother...which is fine. He's joined in the studio by Rob Dietrich, Head Distiller of Stranahan's Whiskey, which, at tender...

Episode 274: Hospitality Design with Charlie Marshall

28 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Sother is joined by Charlie Marshall, the Design Director and a principal of Parc Office. With a background in industrial design, retail an...

Episode 273: One-Bottle Cocktails with Maggie Hoffman

21 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Damon and Sother are joined by Maggie Hoffman, author of the new book The One-Bottle Cocktail: More than 80 Recipes with Fresh Ingredients ...

Episode 272: Cane Club Co

14 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

On this Valentine's Day edition of The Speakeasy, Damon and Sother are joined by Dani DeLuna, Shannon Mustipher, and Austin Hartman of the Cane ...

Episode 271: The Four Corners of Cointreau

07 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Damon and Sother sit down with Alfred Cointreau, the sixth generation scion of – you guessed it – the Cointreau family, which has been ...

Episode 270: Shaker & Spoon

31 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Sother is back from Miami, where he was named Mixologist of the Year by Wine Enthusiast. He and Damon are joined today by Mike Milyavsky and Anna Goro...

Episode 269: Willy Shine of Mast-Jägermeister U.S.

24 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Willy Shine is a proud and dedicated Spirits & Hospitality Professional. Willy has an affinity towards building spirits brands using unconventiona...

Episode 268: John Tebeau

18 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

On the first episode of 2018, Damon is joined in studio by John Tebeau, a Brooklyn writer, artist, and bartender. He began a series of bar illustratio...