Rum is really hot right now and Ron Diplomático rum is some of the best you can get. Tune in and get a primer on rum on a brand new episode of The Speakeasy , as Damon Boelte is joined by Manny Pena, brand rep for Ron Diplomático. Find out what goes into making great rum, how different distillation processes can drastically change the end product and why the potential for rum is still mostly untapped domestically. Whether you like Tiki drinks, daiquiris or just plain old rum n coke’s – tune in...
Oct 15, 2014•34 min•Ep. 140
The “Rye Girl” is back! Damon Boelte welcomes Abigail Gullo back to The Speakeasy this week for a discussion on whisky, cocktails and New Orleans. Abigail recently left NYC for NOLA and reflects on the differences between the two places while teaching listeners about some great cocktail and spirit history. This program was brought to you by Michter’s . “Rye whiskey would have gone extinct in the 80’s and 90’s if people in New Orleans weren’t drinking their Sazeracs.” [06:00] –Abigail Gullo on Th...
Oct 08, 2014•31 min•Ep. 139
Hear from the authors of Brooklyn Spirits: Craft Distilling and Cocktails from the World’s Hippest Borough on a brand new episode of The Speakeasy . In the popular tradition of farm-to-table cookbooks, Brooklyn Spirits: Craft Distilling and Cocktails from the World’s Hippest Borough , is the first distillery-to-glass cocktail book. Organized into chapters focused on these distilleries, each chapter will take an in-depth look at the distillery’s story and the spirits they offer, and will present ...
Oct 01, 2014•33 min•Ep. 138
The tables get turned this week on The Speakeasy as producer Jack Inslee interviews host Damon Boelte! Hear Damon’s incredible story – from a small farm in Lone Wolf Oklahoma to the big lights of New York City. Find out how he discovered cocktails at an early age and what made him want to pursue bartending as a serious career. This program was brought to you by Michter’s .
Sep 24, 2014•40 min•Ep. 137
Aaron Polsky, formely of Amor Y Amargo, is one of the best bartenders in New York City and a good friend of The Speakeasy . He drops by this week to chat with Damon Boelte about his new gig bartending at FC Gotham in the Meat Packing District, his thoughts on seasonal produce and how it relates to cocktails and jail tattoos – amongst other things. Welcome the fall season with a great look into the wonderful world of bartending on The Speakeasy . This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods ...
Sep 17, 2014•29 min•Ep. 136
Han Shan is the new brand ambassador for Tuthilltown Spirits and Hudson Whiskey and he’s also the guest this week on The Speakeasy with Damon Boelte. Han had his first sip of whiskey at three months old (really) and now finds himself rooted deeply in the whisky industry. He and Damon discuss the state of American whiskey, the differences in styles of whiskey and current trends in the industry. From grain to glass – get the inside scoop on America’s spirit. This program was brought to you by Mich...
Aug 27, 2014•35 min•Ep. 135
Brad Goocher and Ken Ho are bartender’s bartenders. Tune in as they talk shop with Damon Boelte on a brand new episode of The Speakeasy . The three beverage professionals kick back and discuss various aspects of the industry – from service to style. Brad tells the fascinating story on how he got his unlikely start in bartending and Ken elaborates on how his palate changed depending on where he worked. Listen as Damon, Brad and Ken share their thoughts on what good service should be and why the r...
Aug 20, 2014•38 min•Ep. 134
Humans have been perfecting the science of alcohol production for ten thousand years, but modern scientists are only just beginning to distill the complex reactions behind the perfect buzz. In Proof: The Science of Booze , a spirited tour across continents and cultures, Adam Rogers puts our alcoholic history under the microscope, from our ancestors’ accidental discovery of fermented drinks to the cutting-edge laboratory research that proves why—or even if—people actually like the stuff. Tune...
Aug 13, 2014•29 min•Ep. 133
Almost a year ago, popular Williamsburg bar Donna was forced to close due to an electrical fire. Now – they are back and stronger than ever. Tune in to a fun episode of The Speakeasy as Damon Boelte is joined by the crew at Donna who have brought a kegged cocktail to the studio with them. Yes, you read that right, they are pouring draft cocktails on-air in the studio! Learn about the advantages of cocktails on tap and why carbonation almost always makes a drink better. Hear why architecture is s...
Jul 30, 2014•30 min•Ep. 132
Find out how to become the best home bartender you can possibly be on a brand new episode of The Speakeasy as Damon Boelte chats with David Solmonson and Lesley Jacobs Solmonson, the husband-and-wife authors of The 12 Bottle Bar: A Dozen Bottles. Hundreds of Cocktails. A New Way to Drink, and publishers of the popular blog 12bottlebar.com. Mr. Solmonson has written for both film and television, while Ms. Solmonson, spirits and wine writer for L.A. Weekly, is also the author of Gin: A Global Hist...
Jul 24, 2014•37 min•Ep. 131
On a casual and insightful episode of The Speakeasy , Damon Boelte chats with bartender Tim Miner of Long Island Bar, a Brooklyn landmark, serving food and drinks for almost 55 years. Tune in for thoughts on everything from bourbon to bar design as Damon and Tim talk shop. Find out why you shouldn’t chug your craft cocktail and why sometimes the drink isn’t all that matters at a bar. This program was brought to you by Michters “I hate when people slam a cocktail in a quicker amount of time than ...
Jul 16, 2014•30 min•Ep. 130
Get some great insights and go deep into the world of craft cocktails on a brand new episode of The Speakeasy , as host Damon Boelte is joined by bartender/drink impressario and author, Greg Seider. His latest book, Alchemy in a Glass: The Essential Guide to Handcrafted Cocktails is full of original, ingredient-driven recipes for cocktails, mixers, garnishes, and bitters, this book by a cocktail expert for master chefs shows readers how to transform spirits and flavors into inspiring, mouthwater...
Jul 02, 2014•33 min•Ep. 129
Tune in to a fun, friendly and informative episode of The Speakeasy as host Damon Boelte is joined by Jeffrey Morgenthaler, bar manager at Clyde Common and Pepe Le Moko in Portland, Oregon and author of The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique . Damon and Jeffrey talk shop and discuss the importance of technique over recipes, subjectivity in cocktail tasting and the state of drinks in 2014. Tune in and get some serious insight into the world of cocktails on another awesome episode of The Spe...
Jun 25, 2014•30 min•Ep. 128
This week on The Speakeasy , Damon brings on Natasha David who talks about how she got into the bar industry, from her humble beginnings as a cocktail waitress to restaurant manager to eventually a Co-Owner and Head Bartender of Nitecap in the Lower East Side. Natasha discusses her specific approach to making amazing drinks that happen to have low alcohol content. She goes on to explain that patrons should be able to taste many profiles in cocktails without quickly feeling the effects of the alc...
Jun 18, 2014•32 min•Ep. 127
Any good tradesman needs good tools. Bartending is no different. Tune into a thematic episode of The Speakeasy as Damon Boelte chats with Ethan Kahn of Cocktail Kingdom. Cocktail Kingdom offers a full spectrum of professional and custom barware, artisan bitters and syrups fit for the most discerning bartender. With knowledge as a bartender’s most valuable tool, Cocktail Kingdom provides books of remarkable recipes and bar know-how spanning from pre-Prohibition era publishing to the world’s most ...
Jun 04, 2014•34 min•Ep. 126
The summer is here and that means one thing. Well, maybe more than one thing, but it definitely means Gin & Tonics are back in style. This week’s episode of The Speakeasy is about.. you guessed it.. gin! Tune in as Damon Boelte is joined by Steven DeAngelo of Greenhook Ginsmiths, a small, artisan distillery located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Tune in and learn everything you want to know about gin – tasting notes, distillation techniques, pairings and more. This program was sponsored by Rolling...
May 28, 2014•30 min•Ep. 125
Fresh off their James Beard Award for best Bar Program, welcome some of the team from The NoMad Hotel on this week’s episode of The Speakeasy ! Damon Boelte is chatting with bartenders Jessica Gonzalez and Karen Fu and together they talk shop, dish dirt and complain about vodka zombies. Tune in and get an inside look at some of the ladies behind the best bar program in the country. This show was brought to you by Rolling Press . “A silencer is a generous helping of….wine….white…rose…something co...
May 07, 2014•39 min•Ep. 124
This week’s guests on The Speakeasy are the guys behind The Dead Rabbit. The Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog embodies the conviviality of Old New York and the Irish-American tradition. They are dedicated to advancing the art and practice of hospitality, as it was understood then and as it is understood now, for all residents of and visitors to this great metropolis. Tune in and learn the story behind the name and find out how Jack and decided to combine the pub and cocktail bar concept into an awar...
Apr 30, 2014•30 min•Ep. 123
The Old Fashioned is the ultimate cocktail. Not because it’s the biggest, baddest or most inventive but because it represents what a cocktail is . A cocktail in its most original form is comprised of some combination of spirit, syrup and bitters. The Old Fashioned has gone through many makeovers, missteps and revivals and today’s episode of The Speakeasy is dedicated to the prototypical cocktail. Hear from Robert Simonson, author of The Old-Fashioned: The Story of the World’s First Classic Cockt...
Apr 23, 2014•34 min•Ep. 122
Whiskey is everywhere. Whereas once most people ordering booze at bars wanted vodka soda’s, now the whiskey revolution is in full effect. This week on The Speakeasy , Damon is chatting with friend Amanda Womack, who now is the spirit buyer at Cask in San Francisco. They have an in depth conversation about whiskey – proof, style, finish, bottling and more. Whether you’ve just tried your first bourbon or you’re a connoisseur – this episode’s got something for you. This program was sponsored by Of ...
Apr 02, 2014•30 min•Ep. 121
The 2012 American Bartender of the Year has seen it all. JoaquÃn Simó has poured drinks at some of the best bars in the country and now is the partner/bartender at Pouring Ribbons, a new bar in the East Village featuring cutting edge cocktails and a much-talked about matrix style menu. Hear host Damon Boelte talk shop with Joaquin on another awesome episode of The Speakeasy . This program was sponsored by Edwards VA Ham . “I don’t need this wannabe startender as part of my staff – this isn’t a...
Mar 26, 2014•35 min•Ep. 120
Stephanie Ridgeway is the Brand Ambassador for Highland Park, a whiskey distillery located on the Orkney Islands off the northern coast of Scotland. She tells us about how unique this distillery is because of it’s unique location so far north on the globe, and the effects that has on whiskey production. Damon and Stephanie talk about all the many ways to drink whiskey, and Stephanie insists that there is no wrong way to do it. This program has been sponsored by The International Culinary Center ...
Mar 19, 2014•38 min•Ep. 119
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon interviews Franky Marshall from The Dead Rabbit, an Old New York bar that celebrates the Irish-American tradition. Franky talks about the inequalities faced by female bartenders, and after the break they discuss why simple cocktails often sell much better than innovative cocktails which may be over the top. This program has been sponsored by The International Culinary Center . Today’s music provided by Cookies . Image from The Hooch Life “We have to prove oursel...
Mar 12, 2014•33 min•Ep. 118
Damon Boelte chats with Ryan Fitzgerald of Del Maguey Mezcal and the forthcoming ABV bar in San Francisco on this week’s installment of The Speakeasy! Damon and Ryan start off the show by talking about the processes involved with opening bars, and the trend in no-frills, no-gimmicks watering holes! Later, tune in for discussions regarding agave harvesting, and why large tequila companies need to consider the security of the agave supply in Mexico when churning out their product. What makes a gre...
Feb 19, 2014•30 min•Ep. 117
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon talks to Scranton Twohey, owner of a bar called Whisler’s in Austin Texas. Scranton explain’s his commitment to serving the best drinks in the city in a casual environment, and tells us a little about the craft scene in Austin. This program has been sponsored by Whole Foods . Today’s music provided by Plexophonic . Image from Whisler’s...
Feb 12, 2014•29 min•Ep. 116
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon welcomes Jay Zimmerman, owner of Ba’Sik bar in Williamsburg, to the studio. Jay tells us all about his recent trip to Japan, Cambodia, Laos, and how he almost got kicked out of Singapore for good! After the break, Jay and Damon discuss a curious new law in California imposed on bartenders. Tune in to hear more! This program has been sponsored by S Wallace Edwards & Sons . Today’s music provided by Brothers NYC . “Are people really putting on rubber gloves an...
Jan 29, 2014•32 min•Ep. 115
Bartenders and cocktail nerds, pay attention! New World Spirits has introduced a new base spirit called Solbeso, made from the fermented fresh juice of the cacao fruit. Solbeso is certainly a landmark in the spirits industry; it is believed to be the first new category of spirit to be introduced in approximately two hundred years. But perhaps more important than its role behind the bar is Solbeso’s agricultural considerations. We spoke with Clay Gordon, Culinary Ambassador for New World Spirits ...
Jan 22, 2014•37 min•Ep. 114
Woodford Reserve is a super-premium Kentucky small batch bourbon crafted at the Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Ky. Woodford Reserve is the Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby and its distillery is the oldest bourbon distillery in America. As just the seventh Master Distiller in Brown-Forman Corporation’s 140-year history, Chris Morris is responsible for maintaining the award-winning taste of Woodford Reserve. He crafts the yearly Master Collection with different handcrafted distil...
Jan 15, 2014•30 min•Ep. 113
The Catskill Provisions Honey Whiskey is the result of a collaboration between two small-batch New York producers. This week on The Speakeasy, Damon Boelte talks with Claire Marin from Catskill Provisions about the origins of her company, and how she linked up with Finger Lakes Distilling in order to produce a tasty honey whiskey using local ingredients! Tune in to hear Claire talk about her experiences keeping bees, and why the process can be so emotional. How does Claire’s honey whiskey stack ...
Jan 09, 2014•29 min•Ep. 112
Extra Fancy has quickly become one of the most beloved bars in Brooklyn by bartenders and laymen alike. This week on The Speakeasy, Damon Boelte invites Rob Krueger into the studio to talk about the inspiration for the bar. Why did Rob deviate from the speakeasy style to make an open but cozy space? Tune into this episode to hear Damon and Rob talk about the phenomenon of guest bartending, and why the new cocktail movement has allowed the trend to catch on. How have guest bartenders taught Damon...
Nov 20, 2013•30 min•Ep. 111
