This week on The Speakeasy, Damon Boelte returns to the airwaves with the man behind The Dutch’s Spirits, Jonathan Forester. Tune in and learn more about their sugar wash moonshine, aged peach brandy and other old school spirits. Learn about the history of prohibition, small distilleries, the importance of forgotten spirits and the effectiveness of well made bitters. This program was sponsored by Whole Foods Market . “Every peach brandy was different in the 1700’s and 1800’s. I wanted to make a ...
Feb 22, 2012•35 min•Ep. 50
What does Tiki mean to you? Damon Boelte is joined by “The Tiki All-Stars” on a deliciously rummy episode of The Speakeasy. Tune in as they talk about Tiki Mondays at Lani Kai, make drinks on-air, discuss Tiki culture and elaborate on some of the classic beachy cocktails invented by pioneers such as Dom the Beachcomber and Beachbum Berry. Get in that summer state of mind as the snow falls this winter – listen immediately! This program was sponsored by Hearst Ranch . “Tiki drinks come out of the ...
Feb 08, 2012•47 min•Ep. 49
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon sits down and chats with friend Robert Newton of Seersucker in Carroll Gardens. Hear why he thinks it’s important to feature American foods and wines at his restaurant and how Southern cuisine plays such an integral role in his menu. From catfish to moonshine, Seersucker should be a destination spot for anybody in the area. Tune in and learn more about his cocktail list and the seasonal ingredients that are at the base of all of his dishes. This episode was spon...
Jan 25, 2012•30 min•Ep. 48
What’s the difference between blended whiskey and spirit whiskey? What are the origins of rye whiskey? If you’re at all interested in the history of whiskey, this episode of The Speakeasy is for you. Tune in as Damon Boelte sits down and chats with friend of the show Nick Jarrett over some 1951 Old Overholt Rye Whiskey. Learn more about bonding regulations, excise taxes, the bottled-in-bond act and more history as it relates to rye whiskey. Bottoms up! This episode was sponsored by Cain Vineyard...
Jan 18, 2012•39 min•Ep. 47
This week on The Speakeasy Damon Boelte welcomes Time Out New York’s infamous food and drink editor, Jordana Rothman. Jordana shares her defining, imbibing “a-ha” moment and gives listeners some insight into likely trends for 2012. Tune in to hear how she came around on challenging spirits like cynar and why she thinks nobody should be excluded from the cocktail movement. Damon & Jordana also discuss what makes food at cocktail bars successful and why small plates and communal dishes are usu...
Jan 11, 2012•32 min•Ep. 46
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon sits down and chats with Selena Ricks-Good, the woman behind the popular blog, The Dizzy Fizz. Tune in to hear how she’s trying to make high end cocktails more accessible through the blog and the events that she throws such as The French Spirits Soirée. Hear why Selena thinks some cocktails have too much sugar these days, what place novelty drinks have in cocktail culture and which trends she thinks will take off in 2012. This episode was sponsored by Fairway Ma...
Jan 04, 2012•29 min•Ep. 45
On the year-end episode of The Speakeasy, Damon Boelte is joined by Allen Katz and Nate Dumas, partners in the New York Distilling Company. Tune in to hear how the distillery went from fantasy to reality and what the guys have in store for 2012. Find out how they are re-imagining gin and trying to introduce some fresh idea into the world of spirits. Learn more about The Shanty, a bar inside of the distillery, and listen in as the guys taste some gin on-air. This episode was sponsored by Heritage...
Dec 21, 2011•42 min•Ep. 44
Trust your barender! Especially if his name is Frankie Cocktails. Tune in to a friendly episode of The Speakeasy as Damon speaks with Frank Cicneros, aka Frankie Cocktails, about his latest venture, The Bourgeois Pig. Learn about his sherry based cocktails and how carbonated cocktails are generally trending. Don’t be that guy at the bar who constantly asks for drink modifications, trust the expert behind the bar! This episode was sponsored by Fairway Market . “People forget that proof and water ...
Dec 14, 2011•32 min•Ep. 43
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon chats with childhood friend and owner of Ba’sik Bar in Wiliamsburg, Jay Zimmerman. Hear what made him want to expand to Williamsburg and find out what challenges come along with opening a new bar in New York. This episode was sponsored by Roberta’s
Nov 30, 2011•30 min•Ep. 42
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon has a great conversation with friend and bartender Jim Meehan, author of “The PDT Cocktail Book: The Complete Bartender’s Guide from the Celebrated Speakeasy”. Jim discusses his experiences at PDT and elaborates on the bartender vs customer wars. Why do people always ask for vodka? Does vodka have a place in high-end cocktails? Tune in to hear about what it’s like working on cocktail books and how the classics helped inspire Jim to get to where he is today. This...
Nov 23, 2011•39 min•Ep. 41
This week on the Speakeasy, Damon welcomes an old duo to the studio: Avery and Janet Glasser, the founders of Bittermens . They talk about their revival and re-envisioning of new spirits and liqueurs such as Hiver Amer Cinnamon, Amère Sauvage, Commonwealth Tonic Liquer, and more. From the formulation of the perfect gin and tonic to Avery’s trials and tribulations of trying to make an American Frenette, tune for an informed and expert conversation from the people who know bitters best. This epis...
Nov 16, 2011•36 min•Ep. 40
This week on the Speakeasy host Damon Boelte is joined by Rennaissance man Mayur Subbarao . Not only is Subbarao a cocktail afficianado, a bartender, and a spirit crafter at Bittermens , but he also works by day as an environmental lawyer helping with green energy and building. Tune in for a panoramic discussion on extreme bartending, starting DIY cocktail clubs, and one of Damon’s favorite subjects: bitters. Learn how Mayur has been recreating his own bitters such as Amer Picon and bringing bac...
Nov 09, 2011•28 min•Ep. 39
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon takes a break from the bar songs and speaks with Brad Thomas Parsons, the author of “Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All, with Cocktails, Recipes, and Formulas”. Tune in to learn more about one of the components of the original definition of “cocktail”; bitters. Find out how all the different variations are related and why it’s so hard to get your hand on artisanal bitters. Learn how you can make your own bitters at home and discover why novelty an...
Nov 02, 2011•30 min•Ep. 38
Back by popular demand! Damon Boelte continues the Bartenders Playlist, a selection of great drinking songs for great drinking times. Press play, pour yourself a drink, sit back and relax. This episode was sponsored by Roberta’s .
Oct 26, 2011•32 min•Ep. 37
On a special episode of The Speakeasy, Damon takes a moment to highlight some of his and his bartender friends favorite drinking songs. Tune in for a very unique Bartenders Playlist and vibe out to some booze-related tunes! This episode was sponsored by Roberta’s
Oct 19, 2011•33 min•Ep. 36
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon is joined by Jim Ryan, brand ambassador for Hendrick’s Gin. Learn more about the popular spirit brand and which cocktails best utilize its many different botanicals. Learn what an “unusual Negroni” is and find out how to best enjoy warm gin on a Wednesday afternoon. This episode was sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons .
Oct 12, 2011•31 min•Ep. 35
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon is joined by none other than the “Rye Girl” herself, Abigail Gullo. Abigail talks about her experience working with Chairman’s Reserve Rum and Bitter Truth and how she fell in love with both products. She also explains how she was introduced to the cocktail world and what. she enjoys most about spirits, bars and bartending. This episode was sponsored by Heritage Foods USA’s No Goat Left Behind Project .
Oct 05, 2011•30 min•Ep. 34
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon drinks some 50 year old cognac and eats oysters with Dana Hale of Island Creek Oyster Farm. Tune in to learn more about the popular and sensual raw seafood that has New York City buzzing. Find out how oyster mating affects taste and how farming is one of the most safe and sustainable ways of raising shellfish and seafood. This episode was sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery .
Sep 28, 2011•33 min•Ep. 33
Leslie Pariseau, New York Brand Ambassador for Pernod Ricard & Ria Soler, Bar Smarts Manager join Damon Boelte on this week’s episode of The Speakeasy. Learn about some common misconceptions surrounding absinthe and learn more about some of the other products Pernod Ricard has in its portfolio including Pastis. Also find out how the Bar Smarts program is helping educate people in the bar industry all across the country. This episode was sponsored by [ ](http://www.HearstRanch.com)...
Sep 21, 2011•32 min•Ep. 32
On a very special episode of The Speakeasy, Damon Boelte is joined by artist and author of “Lush Life, Portraits from Behind the Bar”, Jill DeGroff and her husband, “The King of Cocktails”, Dale DeGroff. Jill and Dave tell incredible stories of their travels and experiences in bars across the world and share their passion for the people on both sides of the bar. Learn how the two met, why they were drawn to drinks and what inspires Jill in her portraits of the people who frequent the bar scene. ...
Sep 07, 2011•46 min•Ep. 31
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon is joined by bartender Brian Floyd of The Vanderbilt in Prospect Heights. Damon & Brian talk about making the transition for “anything goes” to high end bartending service. Brian also discusses The Barman’s Fund, which labels itself “A loose association of Dipshit Do-gooders”. The Barman’s Fund encourages those in the service industry to donate one shifts worth of tips a month to charity. This episode was sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons ....
Aug 31, 2011•37 min•Ep. 30
This week on The Speakeasy Damon is joined by Cabell Tomlinson, bar director of Frankies Spuntino. Cabell discusses her philosophy behind the cocktail programs at the various Frankies locations, and how Italian apertif style drinks inspire her. Find out why vermouth is so misunderstood and how bitters can be more than just a small element of a complex cocktail. Damon & Cabell mix up a delicious American Royal on-air and share their distaste for puree based cocktails. This episode was sponsor...
Aug 24, 2011•33 min•Ep. 29
This week on the Speakeasy Damon has on an old friend, Alie Shaper of Brooklyn Oenology . They talk the growing of Greenpoint and Red Hook as well as finding artists for their unique wine labels(they turn into stickers!). Tune is for a refreshing Riesling tasting and more savory wine talk on The Speakeasy. This episode is sponsored by Fairway Market .
Aug 17, 2011•27 min•Ep. 28
This week on The Speakeasy, the studio is packed with the crew from Bushwick Country Club. Tune in for an especially raucous episode of the best cocktail show on the internet as the guys share drinks, explain what a pickleback is, tell ghost stories and have a good time. This episode was sponsored by Roberta’s .
Aug 10, 2011•32 min•Ep. 27
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon is joined by the crew at Maharlika, a Filipino “pop up” restaurant that features traditional cuisine and an outstanding cocktail program. Tune in to learn more about Filipino culture and food traditions and hear about some interesting new projects on the horizon from the Maharlika crew including sari-sari stores and more! This episode was sponsored by Cain Five .
Aug 03, 2011•33 min•Ep. 26
This week’s episode of The Speakeasy sees Damon Boelte sitting down with Steve Schneider of Employees Only, fresh off their award winning weekend at Tales of the Cocktail. Tune in to hear how the crew at Employees Only celebrated being crowned “Best Cocktail Bar in the World”. This episode was sponsored by Whole Foods Market
Jul 27, 2011•35 min•Ep. 25
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon is joined by Avery & Janet Glasser of Bittermens Very Small Batch Bitters Company. Tune in to learn more about the history and functionality of bitters in cocktails as Avery and Janet explain how bitters are inherently medicinal and can be used as more than just a bartender tool. This episode was sponsored by Whole Foods Market .
Jul 13, 2011•44 min•Ep. 24
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon sits down with Romain Guille, brand rep for Combier USA. Tune in to learn the history of the worlds first triple sec and find out how to best utilize the delicious digestif in your cocktails. Learn how triple sec differs from curacao and how citrus migrated its way to our glasses. This episode was sponsored by The Small Holding Festival .
Jul 06, 2011•40 min•Ep. 23
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon is joined by Michael McIlroy and Sam Ross of the world renowned members only bar Milk & Honey. They discuss how they found their way to New York and navigated the “cocktail world” and share some tips to class up any bar program. This episode was sponsored by Camp Bacon .
Jun 29, 2011•35 min•Ep. 22
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon Boelte sits down with St. John Frizell, head of the Red Hook boîte, Fort Defiance. Tune in to learn more about how his personal journey as a bartender and how New Orleans cocktail culture influences John. Also learn what a Sumo Collins is and why David Wondrich approves of it. This episode was sponsored by Just Food .
Jun 22, 2011•36 min•Ep. 21
