The Speakeasy

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 @be...

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. 

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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 ...

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, ...

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 t...

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 surprisingl...

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 a...

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.

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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 Jim...

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...

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, ...

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...

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,...

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...

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.

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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...

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...

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 th...

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 ...