The Speakeasy

This week on The Speakeasy, host Damon Boelte sits down with mixologist and bartender for Amor y Amargo, Sother Teague. Amor y Amargo is part bar and part store; the tiny space showcases interesting cocktail accoutrements like strainers, books and, of course, assorted bitters, making it a prime place to stock up on ingredients for some cocktail-making at home. Together they discuss bitters, old Old Overholt, the definition of an "alcoholic," and why your cocktail doesn't need to be shaken or stirred.

We’re talking Caribbean rum on this week’s episode of The Speakeasy as Damon Boelte is joined by Jason Cousins from Authentic Caribbean Rum & Austin Hartman of Montana’s Trail House. The Authentic Caribbean Rum (ACR) Marque was developed as a symbol of authenticity, provenance and quality for rums within the WIRSPA family. As usage of the marque grows it will act as a visual symbol to help trade customers and consumers identify Authentic Caribbean Rum brands. Already it is being used to promote the development of Authentic Caribbean Rum as a distinct sector within the drinks industry. “My favorite thing about this industry is you can never know it all.” [30:00]

What are the modern classics in the cocktail world? Find out on this week’s episode of The Speakeasy. Damon Boelte is joined by friend of the show and previous guest Robert Simonson, who has just released a new cocktail app called Modern Classics of the Cocktail Renaissance. Modern Classics is the first independent, critical assessment of the original drinks of these recent decades, compiled by New York Times drinks writer, journalist and author Robert Simonson. This brutally honest collection identifies, justifies and presents the authoritative, verified and properly attributed recipes in four categories: the modern classics, the objectively popular drinks that might yet achieve that status, certain drinks identified as critical favorites worthy of more attention, plus a collection of foundational recipes from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s that helped set the stage for today’s cocktail renaissance. “Part of the reason I hang out at Long Island bar is that Toby Cecchini and Phil Ward regularly bartend there and I can ask them directly for the drinks they invented.” [15:00] — Robert Simonson on The Speakeasy

The Speakeasy welcomes very special guest, David Wondrich this week who was born on the banks of the Monongahela and raised mostly in suburban New York City. After working as a house painter, a mattress stuffer, messenger, clerk and process server for a mob lawyer, bass player in more bands than he can count and a dozen other things, he settled down and earned a doctorate in Comparative Literature, specializing in Latin scientific poetry. That led to a job as an English professor, which he didn’t like. What he did like was writing about jazz and ragtime for the Village Voice and the New York Times and about cocktails for Esquire, a job he began in 1999 and is still happily performing today. Imbibe, his 2007 tribute to Professor Jerry Thomas, has become an essential text for bartenders and cocktail geeks alike. It is the first cocktail book to win a James Beard award. Punch, his 2010 follow-up, has helped refill the flowing bowl around the world. Tune in as David shares what he’s working on presently and more! “We don’t know the origin of anything, really, only a few cocktails know their fathers so to speak!” [31:00] –David Wondrich on The Speakeasy  

You think you know Daiquiri’s, but you have no idea. Tune in to a brand new episode of The Speakeasy as Damon Boelte is joined by Bridget Firtle, who established The Noble Experiment NYC to bring the timeless tradition of rum distilling back to New York City. The company aims to produce all natural, premium quality distilled spirits distinctive to New York City through the use of 100% domestic ingredients.  Small batch, hand-crafted spirits were once a thing of the past – our dream is to reinvent this industry once again alongside the continued growth and rebirth of the cocktail.

Tune in as The Speakeasy celebrates its 5th anniversary with guest Lucinda Sterling!  On the precipice of opening the new Red Hook based bar, Seaborne, she and Damon chat about the late Sasha Petraske, a pioneer of the current cocktail revival and his vision when initially dreaming up the bar’s concept.  Simplicity is key!  After the break, the duo discuss Lucinda’s journey through the beverage industry and more details on the opening of Seaborne.

The Speakeasy is back for 2016 with none other than veteran bar man Toby Maloney, Beverage Director at Mother’s Ruin and Lorenzo’s, a new Latin themed restaurant bar in Bushwick.  Talking the evolution of the cocktail scene in the city plus details his latest projects, find out what Toby has been up to since his last sit down with Damon.

https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/heritageradionetwork This week on The Speakeasy , Damon Boelte is in studio with Meaghan Dorman, of the Raines Law Room, Dear Irving, and The Bennett.  In charge of the menu, cocktail development, and staff training at both destinations, Meaghan highlights her early dedication to learning the classic drinks and acknowledges the importance of improvising behind the bar.  What’s it like to be a part of so many iconic places in New York City?  What is going on in the cocktail world these days?  Tune if for a great chat!

This week on The Speakeasy , Damon is on the line with bar industry vet Lucas Plant, a founder at Bull in China located in Portland, Oregon.  Bull in China started as a passion for collecting vintage barware that quickly turned into product development of one of the most prized possessions—the mixing glass. Not aiming to reinvent the wheel, but to instead make better bar products by addressing the issues that we find in the field, Luke explains that Bull in China seeks to move the barware industry forward by rethinking it from the perspective of working bartenders, who let’s face it, know these products best.  In need of a replacement jigger? Julep strainer? How about a muddler?  Tune in for a great conversation!  

New York City is full of history, and no place knows it better than The Brooklyn Inn.  Celebrating the establishment’s 130th birthday, this week on _ The Speakeasy _, Damon welcomes guests Tom Vaught and Joel Shifflet to chat about the bar’s interesting past, how it survived prohibition, as well as details surrounding Brooklyn’s brewing scene in the early 1900s.