Yorkshire is known for its turbulent weather and wildly romantic hills and dales, which influenced not only the Bronte sisters but our guest today. We have Richard Thompson, Co-Founder of Sing Gin, with me today on the program. When his father brought home a still, they were not sure what would come of it. Throwing caution to the wind, he and his family produced an award-winning gin that comes from and is tied to the Yorkshire landscape. He is here to tell us what transpired. In the words of Emi...
Nov 30, 2021•26 min•Season 6Ep. 199
This is a pre-Thanksgiving quiz. What American Revolutionary War hero said, “I have not yet begun to fight?” and has a rum named after him. No, it’s not Hamilton! We have Finnian Gill, Co-Founder - Master of Flavors for...wait for it...for John Paul Jones Rum here to answer every question you might have on how the two that is American Revolutionary war hero John Paul Jones and rum came together, plus even more on the not-so-secret ingredient that makes their rum different from every rum out ther...
Nov 23, 2021•28 min•Season 6Ep. 198
So I have one question for you before I begin: Are you Team Bach or Team Coward? Bach said: “Without my morning coffee, I’m just like a dried-up piece of a goat.” While Noel Coward asked, “Why do I drink champagne for breakfast? Doesn’t everyone?” So how do you wake up in the morning Sponsored by Tanqueray Gin, I was joined at the final Lush Life Book Club at Oriole bar in London by Pippa Guy, the Brand Ambassador of Tanqueray Gin, and Jason Clark, Brand Ambassador of Talisker whisky. Both forme...
Nov 02, 2021•47 min•Season 6Ep. 197
London is one of the most popular cities to visit - great restaurants, bars, hotels, but it wasn’t always that way. One man’s vision changed everything when he opened a hotel that would become one of the most influential in the world. Our guest today introduces us to that man. For those of you who haven’t guessed already, that hotel is the Savoy in London, and that man is Richard D'Oyly Carte. Sponsored by Bulleit Bourbon and Kentucky Tourism, our guest Olivia Williams introduces us to the three...
Oct 26, 2021•55 min•Season 6Ep. 196
James Bond might be famous for drinking the Vodka Martini, shaken, not stirred, but his creator Ian Fleming had him drinking way more than that. What else, you may ask? Our guests today hold the answers. Sponsored by Ketel One, I welcomed Mia Johansson, Bobby Hiddleston & Edmund Weil at the second Lush Life Book Club at Oriole Bar in London to discuss their book, Shaken: Drinking with James Bond and Ian Fleming. Mia began her cocktail career in London, working at prestigious venues, includin...
Oct 19, 2021•45 min•Season 6Ep. 195
We’re back with the Lush Life podcast, and I am thrilled to be here to tell you that the original London Dry Gin, way back when, was pink! I didn’t believe it either until our guests presented me with a taste. Sponsored by Sipsmith, I welcomed Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown to join me at the launch of the first Lush Life Book Club at Oriole Bar in London to discuss their new book, The Distiller of London. Jared Brown is the co-founder and master distiller of Sipsmith, as well as a multi-award-...
Oct 13, 2021•54 min•Season 6Ep. 194
Welcome back! I missed you. How did the summer fly away so quickly? Here we are in the middle of September already, but there is so much fun on the horizon. I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is Lush Life Podcast, where every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. The most exciting news of the year so far is that I will be live at Oriole, one of the best bars in the world, to launch Lush Life Book Club. Every week during London Cocktail Week, which is actual...
Sep 21, 2021•5 min•Season 193Ep. 6
Although the city of New Orleans is home to many classic cocktails, there is only one that has the honor of being its official cocktail, and that is the Sazerac. Sponsored by Louisiana Tourism , our episode today is all about the Sazerac cocktail and how it found its way to being THE official cocktail of New Orleans. What better time to be joined by Rhiannon Enlil, an Experience Team Lead at the Sazerac House in the city of New Orleans, than in the middle of Sazerac Cocktail Week. Yes, a whole w...
Jun 22, 2021•43 min•Season 192Ep. 6
It’s a big day for gin lovers this weekend - it’s World Gin Day on June 12, and how am I celebrating? With a completely Indian Gin and Tonic. Even though the G and T originated in India until just recently, there had never been a truly Indian gin. Now that has all changed. Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin is a tour of India in one sip, and my tour guide today is Kunal Madan, AVP of International Business for Jaisalmer Gin. He’s actually the first guest on my new How To Drink season to talk gin and jus...
Jun 07, 2021•30 min•Season 6Ep. 191
It’s made in nine different states of Mexico from over 30 different agave species, and each different agave species in each different state tastes different. Thank goodness, our guest is here to teach us how to drink Mezcal. Eduardo Gomez is not only the Director of Mexgrocer, the place to find the widest range of authentic Mexican groceries and ingredients in the UK and Europe, but also the Founder of the Tequila & Mezcal Fest and co-creator of Ojo de Dios Mezcal . If he doesn’t know mezcal...
May 25, 2021•50 min•Season 6Ep. 190
Where in the world does an hour turn into the whole day. Every Saturday and Sunday from 12 - 3, the Barcelonians, surrounded by their friends and family, spend the entire afternoon sipping vermouth before lunch even begins. Today’s guest is gunning for the whole world to embrace La Hora del Vermut! Exporting cultural traditions is not an easy task; it is made slightly simpler when that tradition revolves around drinking. Alex Virgili, General Manager of El Bandarra , had me longing for La Hora d...
May 10, 2021•37 min•Season 6Ep. 189
Combine bourbon, mint, and sugar and then stir in the most famous horse race in the world, and you have a tradition that goes back years and our first cocktail to be given its very own episode. Sponsored by Kentucky Tourism , our episode today is all about the Mint Julep and how it found its way to being THE official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby. I am joined by Stacy Yates, the Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the city of Louisville, the home of the Kentucky Derby and a city ...
Apr 27, 2021•31 min•Season 6Ep. 188
Have you all become 100% agave snobs? Will the likes of a mixto tequila never touch your lips again? Well, get over it, there’s a new tequila in town, and it’s guaranteed to blow your mind. I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. Paul Hayes, co-founder of El Sueño mixto tequila, is no stranger to 100% agave tequila. He makes one already. El Sueño came about when he was looking to create an afford...
Apr 20, 2021•42 min•Season 6Ep. 187
Described as the “liqueur of the virtues” by one of the most famous 19th C. Italian authors Gabriele D’Annunzio, it’s no wonder that Amaro Montenegro is Italy's #1 Premio Amaro. It’s full of secrets too, which also might be why it’s so successful. Can one spirit be virtuous and secretive at the same time? We’ll have to ask its Master Herbalist and Global Brand Ambassador? I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cock...
Apr 13, 2021•43 min•Season 6Ep. 186
Is it possible to fulfill this brief: to create a brand that every single Italian, who lives in Italy and abroad, when they see the bottle and read the name, is going to make them proud? Our guest not only fulfilled his own brief but also has the whole world wanting it. I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. Giuseppe Gallo is a drinks industry legend, from overseeing the place to be, the Sanders...
Mar 30, 2021•40 min•Season 6Ep. 185
What is the word for when you discover that one thing and then everything else makes sense and the doors to everything open up, inviting you to walk in? For some, it’s kismet. For my guests, it’s Avallen. I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. Stephanie Jordan and Tim Etherington-Judge had no idea that it would be Calvados that they would be producing when they had the idea to make the first pla...
Mar 23, 2021•55 min•Season 6Ep. 184
Would you be surprised to learn that the liqueurs you love might be over 400 years old? I mean the recipe. Bols Distillery in Amsterdam has been producing liqueurs since the 16th C, so how perfect to have the Bols Brand Experience Manager teach us how to drink liqueurs! I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. My friend Jamie Campbell was a guest on Lush Life previously, but that was before he don...
Mar 16, 2021•36 min•Season 6Ep. 183
Welcome to Lush Life Season 6. Today we’re starting our How to Drink season by talking about the most subjective of topics: flavor. What you might like, I might hate, and vice versa. So, how do you even begin talking about flavor? By inviting the King of Zing on the program! I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. As the founder of World of Zing , Pritesh Mody is renowned as one of the UK’s leadi...
Mar 09, 2021•34 min•Season 6Ep. 182
Daffodils are my favorite flower, and it seemed that last year’s lockdown began, just as the daffodil season ended. What does that mean? I don’t know, but this year, as the daffodils begin their new season, well, so am I! I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. Next Tuesday, I bring you Season 6 of Lush Life. Out of necessity, lockdown made me a home bartender. As I sat there sipping my handmade G...
Mar 02, 2021•4 min
Are we living through a cocktail renaissance or a cocktail revolution? Our guest is here to discuss the movement, whatever you want to call it! I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. After realizing a life behind a desk in academia might not be for him, plus having a roommate who decided to make bitters in their apartment kitchen, Eric Kozlik found himself happily thrown into the drinks industry...
Feb 09, 2021•46 min•Season 5Ep. 181
If someone sends you an email inviting you to change the way the world drinks, I bet there is no way you wouldn’t take up that challenge. Our guest did receive that exact email, and three years down the line, she has! I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. Claire Warner, co-founder of Æcorn , the non-alcoholic range of aperitifs, was working hard at Belvedere Vodka when she answered that cri de ...
Feb 02, 2021•53 min•Season 5Ep. 180
It is hard to believe it happened to both our guests - but it did. They saw a sign posted on a wall, stopped, wrote down the number for more inquiries, and actually rang that number. Now, thanks to great signage in Atlantic Canada , on the show today, we have a Head Distiller for an award-winning distillery in Nova Scotia and the owner of one of the most successful cocktail bars on Prince Edward Island. I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we ar...
Jan 26, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Season 5Ep. 179
Welcome back to Lush Life. It’s a new year, and Lush Life is back to take on 2021. The next two episodes are sponsored by Atlantic Canada , which is the eastern part of Canada that borders on the Atlantic Ocean and includes the four provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Not only is it absolutely gorgeous, but for our purposes today, the folks there are serving up some great cocktails using some of Atlantic Canada’s best ingredients. I’m Sus...
Jan 19, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Season 5Ep. 178
May I introduce you to my next guest - she has been the host of Lush Life podcast since its launch and is a voice you have grown used to after 176 episodes. She also seems to be speaking about herself in the third person. I think you may have guessed by now... I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. Today, I thought I would turn the microphone around and answer all of those questions that I am alw...
Dec 22, 2020•15 min•Season 5Ep. 177
There was a time, and I am so glad that it’s over when all you heard was “Print is dead, it’s all about online now”. As much as I love my blog, there is nothing like holding a book or magazine in your hands and cuddling into the sofa to read it. Thank goodness, my guests felt the same way! I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. Three weeks ago, Benita Finanzio and Rob Ellison launched The Tonic ...
Dec 15, 2020•49 min•Season 5Ep. 176
There is something about the lyrics to the theme tune of the TV program Cheers that seems particularly applicable to my guest today. For those who might not know them, they goes something like this, and I am not singing: “Sometimes you wanna go Where everybody knows your name And they're always glad you came You wanna be where you can see Our troubles are all the same You wanna be where everybody knows your name” I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every ...
Dec 08, 2020•49 min•Season 5Ep. 175
Usually, at this time of year, I’ve gathered together a list of my favorite Christmas cocktails served in bars throughout London. Hopping from bar to bar to try their cinnamony, gingery, gingerbready concoctions is always my late November treat. Alas, as we are all very well aware, this year is unlike any other, but that hasn’t stopped me. I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. Hotels, restauran...
Dec 01, 2020•34 min•Season 5Ep. 174
If you don’t know our next guest by now, you haven’t really been listening. I quote him all the time, incessantly, because he is the one, the only, James Beard award-winning, for the first-ever cocktail book no less, cocktail historian extraordinaire, the Dean of Cocktails. I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is, Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. If you want to know the history of the cocktail you are sipping right now, David Won...
Nov 17, 2020•44 min•Season 5Ep. 173
My grandmother was the hippiest woman alive - she would have fit in at the coolest cocktail bar in any town. Her drink of choice was the Whisky Highball - which is having its heyday right now. But not just any whisky would do - there was only one, and it had to be Dewar’s . As you can imagine, my guest today loved that story. Why? Because he is Global Brand Ambassador. Needless to say, Fraser Campbell holds my grandmother in high regard, as well as every Dewar's Whisky drinker. He’s on a mission...
Nov 10, 2020•41 min•Season 5Ep. 172
Being the first female senior bartender at the Savoy’s American Bar in over 100 years and now Brand Ambassador for one of the oldest gins in the world - you know that making history comes easily to our guest. Finding good wifi in Cornwall, well, that’s hard! I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is Lush Life Podcast, where every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time. Did I also mention that Pippa Guy is the author of Let’s Get Fizzical, a beginner’s guide to bu...
Nov 03, 2020•27 min•Season 5Ep. 171
