For far too long, hot cocktails have been lumped in with dessert drinks and made increasingly sweeter with honey, sugar, cider and even ice cream. But the classic recipes for these steaming concoctions are, in fact, not overly sweet—and quite delicious. So delicious, in fact, that it’s time to give hot cocktails another shot. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the origins of these warming cocktails and how they have ev...
Nov 22, 2020•26 min•Ep. 72
Once upon a time, there were bourbon drinkers and there were rye whiskey drinkers. You couldn’t be both. When the rye industry fell apart in the second half of the 20th century and its distilleries, located in the mid-Atlantic states, faltered and ultimately disappeared, an unexpected savior stepped in: bourbon distillers. As a result, rye has been made in the heart of Kentucky bourbon country for decades. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and...
Nov 10, 2020•40 min•Ep. 71
Dale DeGroff is a storyteller, teacher, mentor, bon vivant and consummate host. He is also responsible for changing how people around the world drink by starting the modern golden age of cocktails. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by DeGroff to talk about the new edition of his seminal book, The Craft of the Cocktail , and what’s next for cocktails and spirits. So fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of...
Oct 23, 2020•36 min•Ep. 70
The coronavirus pandemic has managed to affect nearly every facet of life in America. Bars are certainly not exempt and the industry will find itself dealing with the repercussions of the pandemic for years to come. So how will this unprecedented period change the layout of bars and how they function? On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Alexis Brown from Chicago, Ivy Mix from New York, and J...
Sep 16, 2020•28 min•Ep. 69
During times like these, how are bars across the country changing their drinks menus? Is it better to go with tried-and-true classics or to offer innovative and creative concoctions? On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Claire Sprouse from New York, Erick Castro from San Diego and Omar Yeefoon from Dallas—about what folks want to drink now and how the pandemic has changed the thought process ...
Sep 09, 2020•31 min•Ep. 68
If hiring, training and managing a staff is one of the hardest parts of running a bar, try doing it during a pandemic. On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Ryan Fitzgerald from San Francisco, Anu Apte from Seattle and Derek Brown from Washington, D.C.—about their experiences during the coronavirus pandemic and how their roles and management styles have evolved. So mix yourself a drink and lis...
Sep 03, 2020•39 min•Ep. 67
If there was ever a time to have a glass of bourbon, now is it. Back in 2007, Congress passed a resolution declaring September National Bourbon Heritage Month. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Trey Zoeller, founder of Jefferson’s Bourbon, to talk about why the month-long holiday was created and how to properly celebrate it. So fix yourself a glass of bourbon and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheer...
Sep 03, 2020•30 min•Ep. 66
Thanks to coronavirus closures, cities across the country have now allowed bars and restaurants to offer customers to-go drinks. On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Karl Franz Williams from New York, Christine Wiseman from Los Angeles, and Andrew Volk from Maine—about this important change in the bar industry. They discuss the new-found skills required to create to-go cocktails, as well as w...
Aug 28, 2020•33 min•Ep. 65
Bartenders and bar owners are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. And one of the greatest challenges facing them today is getting their customers to wear face masks. On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Neal Bodenheimer from New Orleans, Alex Jump from Denver and Masa Urushido from New York—about this important issue. They discuss how patrons have reacted to wearing masks in their...
Aug 28, 2020•28 min•Ep. 64
The Martini and the Manhattan are two of the bedrock drinks that hold up the entire world of cocktails. While both have their own lore, mythology and fans, they in fact may be essentially the same drink. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the origins of both drinks and how they evolved into distinct recipes. So mix yourself a Manhattan or a Martini and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bar...
Aug 19, 2020•23 min•Ep. 63
On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Garrett Oliver, the head brewer at the Brooklyn Brewery. He recently became the founding board chair of the new Michael Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling, which is named for the late legendary beer and whiskey writer. They discuss with Oliver his organization’s scholarship and mentorship program for black, indigenous, and people of color, and how he hopes these gra...
Aug 05, 2020•32 min•Ep. 62
The coronavirus has the potential to decimate bars across America. Already a number of well-known establishments have announced that they won’t reopen and many others are struggling to stay afloat during these challenging times. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Nate Whitehouse, co-founder of Thirst, to talk about his organization’s efforts to get insurance companies and the federal government to help bars stay ...
Jul 22, 2020•23 min•Ep. 61
David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, the co-hosts of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, share the bars they wish were still open: From a pioneering 18th-century punch house to Jerry Thomas’ legendary New York bar to Dale DeGroff shaking up drinks in the Rainbow Room to the recently closed Pegu Club. Their virtual bar crawl across centuries and continents covers the establishments that they have long dreamt of visiting, as well as some modern personal favorites that are no more. Which bars ...
Jul 09, 2020•27 min•Ep. 60
After months of sheltering in place, David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, co-hosts of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, are daydreaming about visiting their favorite bars around the world. Listen in as they plan a bar crawl for the ages, which will hit New York, New Orleans, Detroit, Miami, Havana, Tequila, London, Paris and spots in between. Did they miss your favorite establishment? Let the hosts know on Twitter what bar you’d like to visit right now. So fix yourself a cocktail and list...
Jun 25, 2020•27 min•Ep. 59
After weeks of being closed for a mandatory coronavirus shutdown, bars in New Orleans have begun to reopen with limited capacity. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Neal Bodenheimer, owner of James Beard Award-winning Nola bar Cure, to talk about his recent experiences reopening and the challenges that he’s had to overcome. So fix yourself a Sazerac and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Beh...
Jun 10, 2020•31 min•Ep. 58
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, liquor store sales are up across the country with many folks fixing cocktails at home. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the return of America’s nightly cocktail hour and what people are mixing up. They also discuss the long-term effects of the coronavirus on the bar industry and how it might change after this pandemic is finished. So mix yourself a drink and listen to this episo...
May 27, 2020•26 min
What happens when two committed bar flies can’t go to a bar? Find out on this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars. While sheltering in place at their respective homes, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the history of drinking during plagues and some of the cocktail cures that were created and popularized. (Spoiler alert: Rock and Rye doesn’t actually protect you from tuberculosis.) So fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! L...
May 20, 2020•22 min
From the Hurricane to the Hand Grenade to the Shark Attack, some of the world’s most potent cocktails call Bourbon Street home. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the drinking culture of this famous New Orleans street. They are joined by acclaimed Half Full columnist and NOLA resident Wayne Curtis to discuss these infamous drinks and their creators. So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind B...
Apr 15, 2020•28 min
You should really have a whiskey today—but better make it a bottled-in-bond whiskey. Why? Congress enacted the Bottled-in-Bond Act on March 3, 1897, which set a new standard for American whiskey and ushered in a new era of consumer protections. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, discuss the history of these important federal regulations and their modern implications. Wondrich and Rothbaum are joined by Beau Beckman, who runs ...
Mar 03, 2020•36 min
Having trouble figuring out what to order in a craft cocktail bar? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. From exotic ingredients to wildly creative new concoctions, even for drinks experts picking a cocktail can be overwhelming at times. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, discuss the problems of the modern drinks menu and how to fix them. They also talk about how the perfect balance between classic cocktails and new creations is ess...
Feb 26, 2020•31 min
Last fall, we lost award-winning drinks writer Gary Regan. He wrote numerous pioneering books, including "The Joy of Mixology," "The Bartender’s Bible" and "The Negroni," in addition to writing a column for Half Full and several other publications. Gary also traveled the globe educating, inspiring and entertaining a whole generation of bartenders, and that’s not to mention finger stirring thousands of Negronis!On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich...
Feb 11, 2020•43 min
From McSorley’s Old Ale House to the Ear Inn to the Nancy Whiskey, New York has no shortage of historic watering holes. On this episode of the award-winning podcast, Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, talk about the extensive history of bars in New York and how the city’s drinking culture has evolved over the last two centuries. They dig deep into their archives for stories about oyster dens, drinking “mild ale” and the variety of speakeasies operating in the five borou...
Jan 17, 2020•26 min
Over the last 12 months, David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum have traveled the globe—from New York to New Orleans to Naples, Italy—visiting dozens of distilleries and bars and tasting countless cocktails and spirits. On this episode of their award-winning podcast, Life Behind Bars, the co-hosts talk about some of the highlights of the year, the spirited fights they got into online (and won), and a few things they’d like to see happen in 2020. So mix yourself a cocktail and toast 2019 by listening t...
Dec 31, 2019•24 min
For the first time ever, Life Behind Bars hosts Noah Rothbaum andDavid Wondrich have taken their award-winning podcast out of the studio to do a live recording in front of an audience in, of course, a bar. On this episode, they’re joined by veteran bartender and Dewar’s North American brand ambassador Gareth Howells and over glasses of whisky (what else did you expect?) they discuss the birth and evolution of blended Scotch and single malts. So fix yourself a Scotch and listen to this episode of...
Dec 11, 2019•45 min
Imagine a world without bourbon or rye whiskey. As terrifying as that scenario sounds, not that long ago, America was heading in that very direction. Only a trickle of rye was being made each year and bourbon brands were struggling to stay relevant and were precipitously losing market share. But just in the nick of time, American whiskey distillers were miraculously able to stage a successful comeback. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noa...
Nov 26, 2019•33 min
When did drinking Scotch get to be so damn complicated? There are rules, myths, legends and half-truths that are, for lack of a better term, absolute and utter shite. They can also unfortunately lead to Scotch shaming, preventing you from drinking what you really want to drink. (Bartender: Please just add a few ice cubes to my dram and hold the sanctimonious lecture about the sanctity of whisky’s purity.) Drinking whisky should, of course, be enjoyable. On this episode of the award-winning podca...
Nov 22, 2019•29 min
Drink trends come and go in America, but seemingly the one constant now is the unprecedented sale of vodka. Just how big is the spirit these days? Three out of every 10 bottles sold in America is vodka and the category is, unbelievably, still growing. It’s even more impressive given that 100 years ago, it wasn’t a contender and struggled to find a market. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, talk about the secret to vodka’s unp...
Nov 07, 2019•28 min
From the Moscow Mule and the Cosmopolitan to the Bloody Mary, it’s hard to find a bar that doesn’t serve at least one vodka cocktail…if not a dozen. While vodka seems like a thoroughly modern drink, it actually gained popularity after Prohibition, when Americans were thirsty for quality liquor after years of drinking alcohol of dubious origin. The spirit went on to reinvent itself for practically every successive generation and vodka continues to anchor best-selling drinks. On this episode of th...
Oct 01, 2019•26 min
Practically since its founding some 300 years ago, New Orleans has had a famous bar scene. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, talk about the city’s rich cocktail history and their current favorite bars in and around the French Quarter. They also share a few stories, offer some drinking advice and reveal what signature Nola cocktails they like to order. If you’re a fan of New Orleans (or its cocktails), you need to listen to t...
Sep 20, 2019•27 min
The Cuba Libre is the king of rum cocktails, but is its reign as a best-seller under siege? On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the recent global popularity of the rum Old-Fashioned and the new rum cocktails popping up on bar menus. Joining Wondrich and Rothbaum is Juan Coronado, category rum ambassador for Bacardi, who has bartended around New York and worked as cocktail innovator for celebrity chef José Andrés’s Think...
Aug 11, 2019•27 min
