The Speakeasy

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.

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 hiatus from from his corporate job and enter the field of agave spirits. Find them here. Riding shotgun in the studio is our friend Jake Zimmerman @Pineapple_Jake92 from Lolito bar (@Lolitostillwater) in Minneapolis

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 Restaurant Management and is s regular lecturer at Cornell, NYU and, The Institute of Culinary Education.  The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast.

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 adorable @Sally.Puppy !! À votre santé! The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast.

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.

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 by Simplecast.

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.

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 “Golden Spirit Award”. Claire will continue to explore green bar initiatives at her upcoming bar, Hunky Dory, opening soon in Brooklyn. The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast

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

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. Ho ho ho! The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast