The Speakeasy

Today on The Speakeasy, we round out book month with a visit from Robert Simonson, the author (most recently) of 'A Proper Drink'. Simonson tells us all about cocktails, bar spoons, and the Internet.

Five years after his first appearance on The Speakeasy, book author Brad Thomas Parsons is back in the studio (with photographer Ed Anderson) to talk about his new book: Amaro. Research on the liqueur took him to Italy, where amaro was born but now belongs to the older generation. After the break, Parsons pours a few amaros and tells us all about their backstory (and flavor profiles).

Today on The Speakeasy, we're joined in the studio by serial tiki bar entrepreneurs Martin and Rebecca Cate. They tell us all about their collection of West Coast watering holes (plus one in Chicago) as well as their new book, Smuggler's Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of Tiki.

Today on The Speakeasy, we're joined in the studio by Vanessa Brown and Vincent Favella. Vincent is one of host Sother Teague's oldest friends in the city of New York, while Vanessa Brown has the sweet job title of "director of fun" over at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (and okay, Vincent works there too). The theater chain invites viewers to order food and drink from stealthy waiters while they watch anything from the latest comedy to indie classics. That doesn't mean they tolerate any texting, but even if you get kicked out, there's always the bar.

Today on the Speakeasy, it's episode number 200! Damon Boelte and Sother Teague talk Japan and the evolution of bar tools with Cocktail Kingdom's Greg Boehm. But before that, we also hear from a special guest calling in to wish Damon the very best.

Today on The Speakeasy, Ilegal Mezcal's Kayla Mata joins us in the studio to pour a few glasses of their Joven, with "hints of green apple, citrus and white pepper." Mata tells us about her start in bartending, Ilegal Mezcal's namesake, and an ad campaign at the expense of a certin Donald J. Trump.

Today in the studio, Chris Lowder takes a break from the bar in Seoul, South Korea to tell us all about traveling widely and the constants of good bartending.

Today on The Speakeasy, Ryan Maybee joins us in the studio to pour us some Kansas City Whiskey, a name that J. Rieger & Co. pitched to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, and got the thumbs up. Rieger's whiskey blends corn, malt, and straight whiskeys with a bit of 15-year-old Oloroso Sherry from the Williams & Humbert bodega in Jerez, Spain.

On this week's episode of The Speakeasy, Damon and Sother are joined in the studio by Captain Kelli Farwell, owner of The Water Table, a New England tavern on the water. While cruising through New York Harbor on their intimate and historic WWII ship, guests enjoy focused New England fare with craft beer, cocktails, and wine along with spectacular views of the city.

Today on The Speakeasy, barman Danny Neff joins us in the studio to talk about the revived Holiday Cocktail Lounge, and his favorite meal last week at New Orleans' Tales of the Cocktail.