The Cocktail Guru Show

Join Jonathan and Jeffrey Pogash, the dynamic father-son duo, as they dive into the world of cocktails, spirits, and hospitality trends in this special episode of The Cocktail Guru Show, recorded live at the WSWA Access Live Convention in Denver, Colorado! We had some incredible conversations with industry trailblazers including basketball super start Al Harrington, Morgan Weinstock of Jackson Morgan Southern Cream, Neal Cohen from...

On this episode of THE COCKTAIL GURU SHOW, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash talk generational hospitality with culinary lifer Charles Baum. Watch, listen, and learn how Charles, the son of legendary New York restaurateur Joe Baum, grew up in a notoriously all-consuming industry, became GM at Manhattan's famed Rainbow Room and a partner in the tragically late-great Windows on the World, and founded Cool Culinaria, an online r...

In this episode of The Cocktail Guru Show, Jeffrey Pogash and Jonathan Pogash, had the pleasure of diving deep into the world of wine with a very special guest, Manuel Lozada, CEO of Viña Almaviva. They began by reminiscing about Jeffrey's early career in the wine industry, including his transformative experience in Paris where he met Jonathan's mother and developed a lifelong passion for wine.

Manuel Lozada shared his fascinating j...

On this episode of THE COCKTAIL GURU SHOW, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash talk hospitality and acclaimed bartender, author, host, and educator Alba Huerta's singular commitment to excellence in it. Watch, listen, and learn how the Mexican-born and Texas-raised entrepreneur has racked up a raft of honors for both herself and Julep, the James Beard Award-winning bar that's played a leading role in transforming Houston...

On this episode of THE COCKTAIL GURU SHOW, the premiere installment of Season 4, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash deep-dive the whiskey world with serial entrepreneur Raj Alva and veteran whiskey maker Ari Sussman, who, together with country music superstar Eric Church, founded JYPSI Whiskey. Watch, listen, and learn how this team of unlikely partners launched a new whiskey brand, formulated an innovative whiskey-making process—...

On this edition of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash talk accounting, life insurance, and real estate—oh, and rum and rum cocktails!—with CPA, insurance executive, real estate developer, and rum entrepreneur Steven Gubb, Founder, President & CEO of Boston-based Paradise Imports, suppliers of all-natural, organic Gubba Rum. Plus Jonathan & Jeffrey go "On the Road" to Bar Convent Brookly...

On this edition of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash talk comfort food that sticks to your ribs—and the pot!—with entrepreneur Nadia Liu Spellman, co-author of Dumpling Daughter: Heirloom Recipes from Our Restaurants and Home Kitchens and founder of Boston's Dumpling Daughter, the ever-expanding culinary empire inspired by Nadia's mother, co-author, and celebrity chef Sally Ling. All brought to ...

On this edition of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash deep-dive into coffee, discovering how an abiding passion for it prompted Kelly Abbott to leave behind 20 years of teaching K-12 students and seize the opportunity to become Owner, CEO & Roaster at Unleashed Coffee in Vacaville, California. All brought to you by Unleashed Coffee and The Cocktail Guru Shop, now selling fine spirits!

THE COCKTAI...

The Cocktail Guru Podcast: A Tribute to Steven Spurrier

Join Jonathan Pogash, the Cocktail Guru, and his father, Jeffrey Pogash, as they dive into the fascinating world of wine and spirits. In this special episode, they pay tribute to the legendary Steven Spurrier, the man who revolutionized the wine industry.

Jeffrey shares personal anecdotes about his mentor, Steven Spurrier, and how a simple wine class in Paris changed the cours...

On this edition of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash talk cocktail speed, style, and substance with hospitality legends Lynnette Marrero and Ivy Mix, co-founders of Speed Rack, a global all-women bartending competition that has raised over $1.5 million for charities supporting breast cancer research, and coauthors—with Megan Krigbaum—of A QUICK DRINK, a new book that elevates home cocktailing while adva...

In this episode of the Cocktail Guru Podcast, we had the pleasure of interviewing Zach Young, a renowned pastry chef and television personality known for his appearances on various food shows. Zach shared his journey from culinary school to working with David Burke and eventually creating the famous Piecaken dessert. He discussed the evolution of Piecaken and its popularity during different holidays.

During the episode, Zach shar...

On this edition of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, live from Libertine Social at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip, Jonathan Pogash talks the look of life from behind the stick with Chris Leavitt—bartender, social media sensation, and creator of Not Just a Bartender. Plus, from just around the corner at Caesars Forum, we talk the look of cocktails with Natalie Migliarini—creator of Beautiful Booze and a competitor who left a memorable...

On this edition of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, live from Libertine Social at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip, Jonathan Pogash talks organizing bartenders—no, it's not like herding cats—bar designing, beverage engineering, and more with Livio Lauro, the living hospitality legend responsible for reviving and expanding the United States Bartenders' Guild, designing the EuroBar Station, and authoring or co-authoring several ...

On this edition of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, live from The Vault, the ultra-exclusive bar inside the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, host Jonathan Pogash talks bartending, chasing challenges, and embracing opportunities—plus a fair bit of whiskey wonkery—with Duane Fernandez Jr. and Pamela "The Wiz" Wiznitzer, two leading hospitality professionals who personify the episode's themes. All brought to y...

Join Jonathan Pogash, the Cocktail Guru, and his father Jeffrey as they delve into the fascinating history of Smirnoff vodka and the iconic Moscow Mule in this episode of the Cocktail Guru Podcast. Special guest Rachel Kling from Diageo discusses the educational programming and partnership with the US Bartenders Guild. Discover the evolution of vodka in the US, the marketing genius behind Smirnoff, and the creation of the Moscow Mu...

On this episode of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, host Jonathan Pogash talks film, television, and tequila with acting great Joe Mantegna, co-owner of Señor Rio, a very special agave spirit born of business, love, and shared passion—and created by fellow guest Debbie Medina—in the Mexican state of Jalisco. We will also speak with Paul Imbesi about his roll at Barritt's Ginger Beer. All brought to you by Monin Gourmet Flavored Syrup...

On this episode of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash go behind-the-scenes at some of the world's legendary restaurants and bars with intrepid foodie and world traveler Shari Bayer, founder of Bayer Public Relations, host and producer of All in the Industry, and author of Chefwise: Life Lessons from Leading Chefs Around the World. All brought to you by Cierto Tequila and The Perfect Purée of Napa Val...