Max Reis of Mirate wants us to look at what he’s doing and we’re all too happy to oblige, especially when it’s so sustainable and oh-so-tasty. The director at the Mexico-centric LA bar talks about the experience of introducing gringo guests to new flavors and ingredients, his decision to use “nogave” syrup, popping down to Tijuana for a little “research”, and where you can find pulque on the streets of Los Angeles. Follow Max at @beerghost Follow Mirate at @mirate.losangeles Love The Speakeasy b...
Apr 19, 2024•48 min•Ep. 549
Damon sits down with Al Laws from Laws Whiskey House in Colorado to talk about micro-distilling, the Colorado whiskey scene, and what it’s like to transition from the world of finance to the world of booze. Love The Speakeasy but wish there was more? Check out Bottled in Bond, our new Patreon podcast exclusively for you, our best regulars! Join now for sponsor-free listening, video podcasts, access to pre-sales and drink recipes from all our guests. Higher proof and aged to perfection, check it ...
Apr 12, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 548
If two thirds of all cocktails are made at home, how come we only ever read about people who make cocktails in bars? That’s the question that Dr. Nicola Nice tackles when she returns to the Speakeasy to talk about her new book “The Cocktail Parlor: How Women Brought the Cocktail Home.” Together, she and the band talk about the often invisible and overlooked efforts of female pioneers that shaped the cocktail - and more importantly hospitality - into what it is today and discuss what we can do ab...
Mar 29, 2024•54 min•Ep. 547
A non-alc portfolio you say?? Yuna Asriyan sits down with Greg and Sother to talk about the consumers driving this trend - for once! - and what they want. That includes why they’re choosing to drink and not to drink, what they’re after in the world of mocktails and zero proof beverages, and why they’re making those choices in the first place. And of course, what it’s like to manage a brand portfolio with no booze whatsoever. Plus, why are working class folks so sour on the economy? Greg has a fe...
Mar 22, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 546
The bottles may be dusty but the conversation sure isn’t! Aaron Goldfarb, author of the new book " Dusty Booze: In Search of Vintage Spirits ”, sits down with the band to talk about the wild paths you wind up on when you write a book about spirits that can be over a hundred years old, and the people who collect them. Learn why some things don’t taste like they used to and why some things never change, and what drives people to seek these relics out in the first place. Plus, Icelandic prohibition...
Mar 15, 2024•53 min•Ep. 545
Tiffanie Barriere , the drinking coach herself sits down with Greg and Sother to talk about her long and storied career behind - and in front of - many different bars. From the iconic “One Flew South” in Atlanta’s airport to helping empower folks who want to change the world, Tiffanie has been in lots of different situations and she’s been unapologetically herself in every single one. Tune in for a conversation that gets surprisingly deep about self-worth, the challenge of elevating black voices...
Mar 08, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 544
The one and only Ms. Franky Marshall sits down with the band to talk about a singular career in the drinks industry. Cognac, events, behind the bar, in front of the bar, she’s done it all and tells all on an episode that’s very fun and very (sorry about this) frank. Plus, are there too many or too few agave? Journalists can’t seem to agree, even though whatever the answer, it’s bad. And, Sother’s check from Anheuser-Busch finally arrives. Tune in to hear how justice sounds in real time. Photo Co...
Mar 01, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 543
Aaaaand we’re back! You are listening to The Speakeasy on Heritage Radio Network where Greg, Sother, and Damon have all gathered for the first time in almost four years! It’s a great big love fest as the three of them catch up, talk about what they’re drinking these days and discuss what, if anything, will be the next mezcal. Plus, what, exactly, is that table doing? Tune in to find out. Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIBE and RATE the show if you can. 🔥🔥Join us each week as industry leaders, Damo...
Feb 25, 2024•55 min•Ep. 542
Elliott Clark , you’ve made it to eighty thousand followers! What are you gonna do now? That’s the question on everyone’s mind as Elliott, aka Apartment Bartender sits down with the band to talk building a personal brand, surviving the attention economy, and becoming a dad. He also talks about the process of writing and putting together his new book “ Let’s Do Drinks ” which is out in April and available for preorder now. Plus, is Jimmy Fallon trolling us? The band talks about a new sketch with ...
Feb 18, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 541
Blending. Distilling. What does it mean to “make” whiskey? Eboni Major joins Greg and Sother live from Birmingham, Alabama, to break down a day in the life of a whiskey blender (spoiler alert, there are a lot more spreadsheets than you might think), discuss her often winding path through the world of food and beverage, and open up about what it’s like as a Black woman in the bar community to hold a former employer accountable. Plus, real life vs. VR. Greg and Sother talk about what it was like f...
Feb 12, 2024•52 min•Ep. 540
It’s a three-on-three pod-off as Rob, Greg, and Ariana from the “ Drinking With Robots ” podcast sit down with Greg, Sother, and Damon from… well, you know. The DWR team is getting ready to launch a second season of their show, which pits human bartenders against chatbots in a battle for cocktail supremacy, but first they come on the show to talk the rise (and pitfalls) of generative AI, what it’s like to compare people with robots, and the unexpected pairing of a bespoke bitters company and Mic...
Feb 03, 2024•55 min•Ep. 539
Live from the future (and Australia) Aaron Trotman sits down with Greg and Sother to talk about Non , his zero-proof… wine? Wine alternative? Liquid? Beyond the failure of the English language to discuss these drinks the convo covers what’s in them, where the inspiration for a non-alc comes from, and whether or not Dry January is a good thing. Plus, James Beard nods are out, and a couple entries from New York made the list - one you’re expecting and one that may surprise you. Don’t forget to cli...
Jan 25, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 538
All the way from South Korea, Bran Hill joins the band to talk about Tokki Soju - what it is, how it’s made and most importantly, how it’s being sold these days to a customer base that’s just getting to know it here in the U.S., and it rediscovering it in its home country. Plus, it’s awards season! A certain restaurant themed show is racking up the trophies this year but what does that mean for those of us who’ve actually lived it, instead of just playing it on TV? Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIB...
Jan 19, 2024•58 min•Ep. 537
Happy New Year Everybody! The band rings in 2024 with very special guests Luis Granier and Steven Soderbergh of Singani 63 . The conversation ranges from what the heck Singani is anyway, to getting it behind bars, to the centuries old tradition of growing these very special grapes high in the mountains of Bolivia to - of course, because it’s Damon - the bottle design. An extra special set of guests and a really unique spirit, what’s not to love? Plus, is New Years Eve getting tamer or is the ban...
Jan 14, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 536
In the return of their multi-platinum end-of-year wrapup show, Damon, Sother, and Greg look back on 2023, the year that… sort of was? From labor trends to increasingly odd spirits to the seemingly inexhaustible longevity of the Espresso Martini, there’s a lot to talk about and a lot to look forward to. Oh yeah, and we made a pretty cool cocktail box and won a pretty cool plate too. Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIBE and RATE the show if you can. 🔥🔥Join us each week as industry leaders, Damon Boel...
Dec 19, 2023•50 min•Ep. 535
From microscopy to distilling and back again, Rox Tiburolobo has had quite the life. This week he sits down with Greg and Sother to talk about the wild, winding path that led him to Corning & Company Distillers (by way of Helsinki) and all the places he’s drawn inspiration from along the way, including the ancestral corn beers made by indigenous communities. A distiller of Chiricahua Apache Nde and Rarámuri descent, Rox talks about how that’s inspired him and how we can do better with indige...
Dec 01, 2023•50 min•Ep. 534
Today Damon sits down with Joe Giildenzopf and Brad Neathery, founders of Texas-based custom whiskey company Oak and Eden , to discuss a new way of thinking about influenced, infused, and inspired whiskey finishes. Damon even created a personal whiskey during their interview on Oak and Eden's website with their amazing Whiskey Customizer! Check them out at their outpost tasting rooms locations in Texas, or on their website to easily buy and customize a bottle of whiskey for yourself or for an in...
Nov 17, 2023•38 min•Ep. 533
Danielle Goldtooth of the Diné nation and her husband Alan Moore sit down with the band to talk about land: what grows there, what can we do with it, and how can we undo some of our ingrained and damaging ideas? The conversation ranges from food sovereignty to foraging, with a detour to talk about some accidental cucumber/melon hybrids along the way. Plus, unions at Death and Co? In the wake of this week’s election the band gets thoughtful about the future of labor unions in craft cocktail bars....
Nov 10, 2023•45 min•Ep. 532
It’s Day 5 of Halloweekend and The Band is holding it together… barely. Fortunately the illuminating Éva Pelczer is in the studio to talk Del Maguey , the rise of mezcal, and dia de los muertos! In the years since this funky Mexican spirit went nuclear a lot has changed in the bar landscape and Éva's here to walk the crew through it. Gently, please. Plus, is the Chartreuse shortage fake news?? Sother’s back from visiting the source and has some reporting to do that may surprise you. And it’s the...
Nov 03, 2023•50 min•Ep. 531
Jordan Hughes , aka the High Proof Preacher sits down with Greg to talk about how exactly a youth pastor winds up publishing a cocktail book in the first place. From photography to a well-traveled instagram to eventually unleashing the Parmesan espresso martini on the world, Jordan’s had quite a legacy in the community and there’s plenty more to come. Plus, are the kids alright? They’re certainly drinking less, but is that necessarily a good thing? If you’re interested in signing up for Jordan’s...
Oct 27, 2023•51 min•Ep. 530
Han Suk Cho has an impressive set of titles. Founder of Zero Proof . Lead bartender of Kato's boozy and non-alcoholic offerings. Punch’s 2023 Best New Bartender of the year. And classical music composer. No big deal. This week she sits down with Greg and Sother to talk transitioning from back of house to the front, establishing her niche in the industry, and building a career that lasts. Plus, what’s Sother spicy about this week? Check out his new kickstarter to find out! Photo Courtesy of Dylan...
Oct 20, 2023•47 min•Ep. 529
Imagine running 6,700 different properties on six continents. Okay, now pick yourself up off the floor and tune in to this week’s Speakeasy where the band sits down with Adam Crocini, the senior vice president and global head of food and beverage brands at Hilton . Yes, that Hilton. Hear about what it’s like to run a company of that magnitude, curate individual experiences and adapt to changing tastes on a global scale. Plus, Greg went down a mine earlier this week and came back with… whiskey? A...
Oct 12, 2023•56 min•Ep. 528
Nicolas O’Connor of Apotheke (say that one out loud) sits down with the band to talk about building a distinctive brand identity, being an OG cocktail bar down an odd little side alley in Chinatown, and the relative merits of lighting your bartop on fire. How do you take someplace iconic and make sure that spirit doesn’t get lost when you move to a new locale? Tune in to find out! Plus, Sother is bitter again! He’s launching a new bitter experience with Shaker & Spoon, check it out here . Ph...
Oct 05, 2023•40 min•Ep. 527
It’s Decorative Gourd Season, Motherfuckers! Kelsey Ramage and Erin Hayes , the creative forces behind the spooky season popup Black Lagoon pop by to chat inspiration, metal bars, franchising a takeover, and where you can find their hell-raising cocktails this autumn! Plus, rivers of wine in Portugal, DUIs on horseback, and Greg finds out in real time that Ron Jeremy is canceled. All that and more on this episode so stay tuned! Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIBE and RATE the show if you can. 🔥🔥Jo...
Sep 22, 2023•54 min•Ep. 526
Kailee and Jason Asher from Century Grand in Phoenix sit down with the band to talk about their recent “Best Cocktail Bar” win at Tales of the Cocktail, building a sustainable (and profitable) bar program and creating immersive experiences. Wanna drink craft cocktails on a train? Better book your flight to Arizona. Plus, Sother’s back from Milwaukee and shares his thoughts on the band’s collaboration on a Speakeasy cocktail box with Shaker and Spoon. Photo Courtesy of Grace Stufkosky. Don’t forg...
Sep 15, 2023•55 min•Ep. 525
It’s a podcollaboration! Anna Gorovoy and Mike Milyavsky of Shaker & Spoon swing by the studio to talk about their latest cocktail box, which just so happens to have been designed by the guys behind the Speakeasy! Tune in as they talk gin, the art of making cocktail kits to ship, and how their business has grown over the years. Plus, what Greg and Damon got up to on their summer vacations. Want to grab a Speakeasy cocktail kit of your very own? Check it out here: https://shakerandspoon.com/p...
Sep 07, 2023•55 min•Ep. 524
Lucky Preksto and Jon Langley from the newly established January Spirits share with us the the path they’ve taken to bring a spirit brand that includes a gin, genepy, and an amaro to market. Photo Courtesy of Chad Arnholt. Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIBE and RATE the show if you can. 🔥🔥Join us each week as industry leaders, Damon Boelte and Sother Teague, sit down with a wide range of hospitality and spirits experts from around the world to discuss everything that impacts our business. FOLLOW ...
Aug 31, 2023•46 min•Ep. 523
In a special on-location dispatch episode from New Orleans, Sother sits down with Karl duHoffmann and Regan Doughty of Preiss Imports to investigate possible alternatives to the now dwindling availability of Chartreuse. Together they sample several examples of Joaquín Simó’s neo classic Naked and Famous as well as the venerable Last Word cocktail. Though they all agree the differences are notable, it’s clear that there are some viable options for substitution as well as avenues for innovation. D...
Aug 04, 2023•53 min
Elayne Duff , Director of Advocacy for Samson & Surrey, founder of the Beverage BA Academy and all around bar all-star (and former rescuer) sits down with the band to talk brand ambassadorship, keeping busy, when to stay humble and when to brag just a little bit. Plus, one of her brands has a new collaboration with Alice In Chains, so you should check it out. Oh, and there’s a little bit of housekeeping news on the show from last week too. You might wanna tune in to check it out :) Don’t for...
Aug 03, 2023•54 min•Ep. 522
Adrian Michalcek joins Greg and Damon live from Norway where he’s the head bartender at Pier 42 to talk storytelling, sustainability and what it means to welcome guests in with your hospitality. Plus, it’s Tales of the Cocktail week everyone! Remember to drink lots of water, get a reasonable amount of rest, and take everything in moderation, including moderation. Have fun out there kids! Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIBE and RATE the show if you can. 🔥🔥Join us each week as industry leaders, Damo...
Jul 28, 2023•54 min•Ep. 521
