Gin has been a bartending fixture for hundreds of years and stars in countless famous cocktail recipes. On this special episode of Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk about gin’s roots and how the spirit has evolved and kept current for centuries—including during the modern cocktail renaissance. Sebastien Derbomez, manager of brand advocacy for William Grant & Sons, joins in on the discussion to explore where gin might head next and what parts of the world will h...
Dec 31, 2021•32 min•Ep. 100
The launch of Grand Marnier in the late 1800s helped to establish a new standard for luxury liquor brands. The Cognac-and-orange liqueur also inspired the creation of several delicious cocktails, including the original version of the Bijou. On this special episode of Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the origin of Grand Marnier, why citrus was so sought-after at the time, and the important role Paris played in creating global trends. This discussion is inspired ...
Dec 31, 2021•19 min
Everyone has heard at least one story about how the Margarita came to be—at last count, there were seven credible origin stories. On this special episode of Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum explore the possible stories behind the Margarita’s invention, as well as a groundbreaking advertising campaign by José Cuervo that made the drink a household name. This discussion is inspired by entries in Wondrich and Rothbaum’s brand-new book, The Oxford Companion to Spirits &...
Dec 31, 2021•21 min•Ep. 101
The Negroni and the Americano are perennial favorites of professional and amateur bartenders around the world. But when were these classic cocktail recipes created? And how did Italy’s bar culture become a sensation? On this special episode of Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum delve into the backstory of these drinks and the important cocktail connection between America and Italy. Their discussion was inspired by entries in their brand-new book, the Oxford Companion to ...
Dec 24, 2021•24 min•Ep. 99
For nearly ten years, Life Behind Bars co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum have been working on a special project: The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails . A few weeks ago, the nearly 900-page book debuted with more than 1,100 entries from 150 contributors. On this special episode, Wondrich and Rothbaum take you behind the scenes of this massive book to talk about how it came to be and how they put it together. This kicks off a short mini-series of episodes inspired by the Oxford ...
Dec 24, 2021•11 min•Ep. 98
Rye whiskey beguiles the palate with a range of slow-to-reveal flavors. The same could be said of the spirit’s long and complex history, which continues to delight (and frustrate) modern distillers, historians and journalists. On this special live episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum assemble a panel of rye-whiskey luminaries: Nicole Austin, general manager and distiller for Cascade Hollow, home of George Dickel; Todd Leopold, co-founde...
Nov 17, 2021•30 min•Ep. 97
The rebirth of the cocktail started in big cities, including New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. But over the last few years, smaller markets have arguably made the biggest bartending strides. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by chef Cheetie Kumar and bartender John Gertsen from the acclaimed restaurant Garland in Raleigh, North Carolina. Kumar and Gertsen share their fascinating life stories and how...
Oct 22, 2021•41 min•Ep. 96
People have been writing about drinks as long as they’ve been enjoying them. And with the rebirth of the cocktail during the last 20 years, prices for vintage drinks books have risen dramatically and bargains are much harder to find. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by two experts—antiquarian bookseller Lizzy Young and Oxford-educated sociologist and Pomp & Whimsy Gin Liqueur founder Dr. Nicola Nice—to talk ab...
Sep 30, 2021•37 min•Ep. 95
Single malt Irish whiskey is in distiller Darryl McNally’s blood. His ancestors made the historic spirit for centuries in Ireland. Now he’s trying to rebuild his family’s Limavady distillery at the northern tip of the island. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by McNally to talk about his project and his new sherry cask–finished single malt Irish whiskey that just launched in the United States. The trio also chats a...
Sep 22, 2021•27 min•Ep. 94
From bartenders to craft spirits brands to liquor behemoths, everyone seems to be launching a new canned cocktail these days. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by acclaimed Half Full columnist Wayne Curtis to discuss the historic roots of these pre-mixed beverages. (Spoiler alert: They’ve been around in some form for about 150 years.) The trio also talks about some of their favorite canned cocktails, the ground rul...
Sep 02, 2021•33 min•Ep. 93
Forget wine. Forget vodka. Forget tequila. Celebrities are starting American whiskey brands. Over the last few years, quite a few professional athletes, actors and musicians began selling bourbon or rye. Is a whiskey brand the new ultimate celebrity status symbol? On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by retired tennis champion Andy Roddick and master blender Marianne Eaves from Sweetens Cove Tennessee Bourbon. The bra...
Aug 26, 2021•30 min•Ep. 92
Whether you love it or hate it, it’s hard to escape the Long Island Iced Tea. The enduringly popular guilty pleasure—which calls for a potent combination of white spirits, triple sec, sweet and sour mix, and cola—was invented in a bar on New York’s Long Island for a cocktail competition. It first became a sensation in clubs and bars around the area and then across the country. Ultimately, it become one of the signature drinks of the 1970s On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind ...
Aug 19, 2021•24 min•Ep. 91
It’s hard enough to make a round of four delicious classic cocktails on a slow night for a couple of regulars. Now imagine trying to make them on stage in front of a screaming crowd for a group of prestigious judges prepared to critique them—out loud. This scenario, which is the stuff of nightmares for many, describes the global and charitable all-female cocktail competition Speed Rack. It’s not all about creating perfectly crafted cocktails in record time: The efforts of the bartenders competin...
Aug 09, 2021•36 min•Ep. 90
Nick Offerman should not be confused with Ron Swanson, the character he played on the hit show Parks and Recreation . But the two share at least one thing in common: A love for Lagavulin Single Malt Scotch Whisky. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, Offerman joins co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum to talk about the latest Offerman Edition of Lagavulin, the possibility of a whiskey barrel project on his crafting show Making It and how he has Chris Pratt to thank...
Jul 22, 2021•31 min•Ep. 89
It’s been one hell of a year for bartenders and bar owners. Now that America is starting to reopen, bars are trying to navigate this new post-COVID world while dealing with industry burn-out, labor shortages, evolving business plans and changing drink trends. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the changing landscape for the bar industry with Robin Nance, portfolio trade engagement manager for Beam Suntory, and Jeffrey ...
Jul 08, 2021•36 min•Ep. 88
Can the flavor of a whiskey reflect the place where it’s made? How about the people who produced it? Distillers around the globe are exploring the idea of terroir, experimenting with locally grown heirloom grains, and making barrels from regional species of oak. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss this movement and its feasibility with Half Full columnist Lew Bryson and Westland Whiskey’s co-founder and master distiller...
Jun 24, 2021•40 min•Ep. 87
The Martini is the most famous drink. Its signature glass is equally iconic and perhaps even more ubiquitous. But the world of cocktail glassware is vast and there are all kinds of supposed rules for using each style and type. So where did all of these traditions and customs come from? And does it actually matter if you use an elegant coupe or a jam jar for your Daiquiri? On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk about the histo...
Jun 14, 2021•24 min•Ep. 86
Love it or hate it, the Piña Colada is one of the most popular cocktails in the world. But it’s been largely forgotten by craft bartenders. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by tropical drinks expert Jeff “Beachbum” Berry from acclaimed New Orleans bar Latitude 29. The three talk about the history of the Piña Colada, its rise in popularity and Berry’s recipe for it. So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this epi...
Jun 01, 2021•26 min•Ep. 85
Nobody has ever accused Milk Street founder Christopher Kimball of being indifferent. Viewers of his acclaimed PBS television show and readers of his newsletter and books are accustomed to his strong opinions on cooking and ingredients, as well as his fascinating stories of eating and drinking around the world. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, Kimball joins co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum to give his pointed takes on his favorite drink the Old-Fashioned an...
May 20, 2021•26 min•Ep. 84
From important still designs to the real reason why distillers began charring barrels, many important details of bourbon history are often missing from modern accounts of the spirit. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk about some of the most interesting American whiskey discoveries they have made over the years—including six varieties of so-called “Kentucky whiskey” made back in 1870 that are no longer available today—and ...
May 05, 2021•34 min•Ep. 83
The greatest bartenders in the world bring disparate ingredients and flavors together to create new cocktails—and they do it seemingly with ease. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk about the art of cocktail creativity and how the pros make it look so easy. They also offer advice and tips from their own lives to help inspire you to experiment with some new drinks. So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Li...
Apr 19, 2021•26 min•Ep. 82
Never mind Pappy Van Winkle and Sazerac 18-Year-Old Rye Whiskey: Some of the most sought-after bottles of liquor are the dusty, obscure ones hiding on liquor store shelves and in the back of home liquor cabinets. Over the last few years, bartenders and drinks enthusiasts alike have become increasingly interested in locating forgotten bottles that are like a shot of liquid history. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk about ...
Apr 08, 2021•26 min•Ep. 81
From the cocktails to the speakeasies to The Great Gatsby , there are few periods in history as celebrated in modern culture as the Roaring Twenties. As we look forward to the end of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s worth exploring how the Roaring Twenties followed the last global pandemic: the 1918 Spanish Flu. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum examine this joyous decade and set the record straight on a number of common miscon...
Mar 09, 2021•28 min•Ep. 80
You can buy bourbon as young as a few years old and as old as 30 years. But what is the perfect age? Half Full columnist and whiskey authority Lew Bryson tried to answer this question in a recent article he wrote, which went viral. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, Bryson joins co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum to talk about what inspired his piece. The trio also share their own preferred bourbon age and how they ferret out American whiskey bargains. So pour ...
Feb 14, 2021•31 min•Ep. 79
Dan Aykroyd can make you laugh at any moment. His comedic sense of timing, of course, has been honed from his years on Saturday Night Live and his roles in a long list of smash-hit movies, including Ghostbusters , Spies Like Us and the Blues Brothers . But when it comes to his Crystal Head Vodka brand, he’s as educational as he is entertaining. This is no vanity project or fluffy celebrity endorsement. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, Aykroyd joins co-hosts David Wo...
Jan 12, 2021•27 min•Ep. 78
Thankfully 2020 is finally drawing to a close. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss what they are planning to drink during the rest of the year and the appeal of starting the new year out with a run. They are also joined by Knob Creek® ambassadors Amanda Gunderson and Tim Heuisler to chat about a new jogging program for professional bartenders that they are helping to organize, which starts on February 28 and lasts for 1...
Dec 29, 2020•26 min•Ep. 77
We have all certainly earned a decadent treat this holiday season. While you could whip up a big bowl of Eggnog, there’s another traditional (and no-less rich) concoction we recommend: Hot Buttered Rum. This delicious mix of dark rum, hot water and—you guessed it—butter is historic and delightfully appropriate for the season. On this episode of the podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by award-winning Half Full columnist Wayne Curtis to debate the differ...
Dec 23, 2020•29 min•Ep. 76
Scotland has claimed ownership of single malt whiskey for years. But the spirit is now made around the world, including in the U.S., which boasts a thriving industry of its own. Can Scotland maintain its supremacy in the face of ever more competition? On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Matt Hofmann, co-founder, managing director, and head distiller of Westland Whiskey; Becky Paskin , award-winning Half Full colum...
Dec 21, 2020•54 min•Ep. 75
In December of 1935, America’s whiskey industry was on life support. While Prohibition was finally over, the future for distillers was, to say the least, incredibly bleak. After 13 long years of being out of business, would people still want to drink bourbon and rye? Would the Great Depression ever end? Would the temperance movement succeed in getting Prohibition reinstated? In the midst of these turbulent times, entrepreneurs saw an opportunity. The Shapira family, which ran a small chain of fi...
Dec 11, 2020•31 min•Ep. 74
It takes courage to create cocktails with older whiskies, but it’s more than worth the effort. To help you overcome your fears of ruining a dram, on this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum share some tips and advice for using mature spirits in mixed drinks along with a chaser of spirited history. They are also joined by Knob Creek® ambassadors Amanda Gunderson and Tim Heuisler who offer insights and their favorite recipes featuring ol...
Dec 09, 2020•37 min•Ep. 75
