What We're Drinking with Dan Dunn

In this episode of What We’re Drinking, we say goodbye to the fruity porch-pounders of summer and raise a glass to the cozy, soul-warming bottles that feel like a fireplace in liquid form. It’s the season of sweaters, roasted meats, and stuffing, and the wines we’re diving into are built for exactly that.

We feature standout bottles from six stellar American wineries—Stonestreet Estate Vineyards, Gran Moraine, Matanzas Creek Winery...

On this episode, Dan is joined by Silver Oak CEO David Duncan, who takes us deep into the world of wine. David shares how he and his family built Silver Oak into one of the most iconic names in Napa and Sonoma, and what it takes to maintain excellence across generations. From vineyards to cooperages, from cellar decisions to family traditions, this is a fascinating peek behind the label of one of America’s most beloved wineries.

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Renowned cocktail historian David Wondrich joins the show to talk about his brand-new book, The Comic Book History of the Cocktail: Five Centuries of Mixing Drinks and Carrying On. We dig into the myths that refuse to die, the bartending legends, past and present, who shaped the craft, and the painstaking research process that’s made Wondrich the industry’s most trusted voice. Along the way, he refle...

On this week’s edition of “3-Minute Bartender," we take a decadent detour into dessert-cocktail territory with the Irish Mudslide. Legend has it the original Mudslide was born in the 1970s at the Wreck Bar on Grand Cayman, when a bartender swapped Baileys Irish Cream into a White Russian after running out of cream. A happy accident, and history was made.

Dan spins the tale forward with his Irish twist: ditch the vodka, bring in a pr...

On this episode, Dan welcomes two whiskey powerhouses and adds his own poetic flair to the mix. First up is Noah Rothbaum, acclaimed spirits authority and author of The Whiskey Bible: A Complete Guide to the World’s Greatest Spirit. Noah breaks down why whiskey remains a global obsession, offering insights, history, and a few surprising stories you won’t find anywhere else.

Then, Dan sits down with Blake Johns, the man behind Smokey...

Recorded on-site at Baby Blues BBQ in Venice Beach, this episode of What We’re Drinking—titled “The Audible: Calling Smarter Game Day Pours”—focuses on the art of tailgating done right. Host Dan Dunn is joined by actor Oliver Cooper, Baby Blues pitmaster Rick McCarthy, spirits expert Joe Brooke, and wine authority Geoff Whitman for a lively roundtable that covers everything from perfect barbecue to smart drink choices for game day.

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On this episode of What We’re Drinking, Dan shares the story of getting called in for jury duty and, let’s just say, not exactly rising to the occasion. We’ve also got a brand-new installment of our enormously entertaining and egregiously neglected segment What’ll It Be, featuring a major Hollywood star as the guest in our bar—served, of course, by Lloyd, the creepy bartender from The Shining. And we wrap things up with a small ann...

In this episode, Dan takes you inside one of the best dinners of his life—an omakase feast at Asakura in Los Angeles, where legendary chef Makoto Okamoto (La Bombance, Tokyo) was behind the counter. We dive into the artistry of omakase, the history of sake, and a remarkable story from brewmaster Takafumi Sumikawa, whose family’s Sumikawa Brewery nearly collapsed after a devastating flood in 2013, only to come back stronger than eve...

It’s hotter than the hinges on the gates of hell, so we’re cooling down with the neon, tropical legend that is the Blue Hawaii. Born in 1957 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village thanks to bartender Harry Yee and a bottle of Windex-colored booze, this drink became Hawaii’s unofficial liquid postcard. We’ll shake it up, spill some wild Elvis trivia (including questionable Hollywood casting choices and age gaps that would...

This week on What We’re Drinking, Dan heads to the heart of Napa Valley for a sit-down with Rob Lloyd, the powerhouse winemaker behind Lloyd Cellars. Recorded on location among the vines, the conversation covers Rob’s journey from UC Davis to becoming one of the most respected names in California Chardonnay, his winemaking philosophy, and why he thinks wine should be fun, not fussy. Plus...

Dan is in Napa Valley with three heavy hitters: Braiden Albrecht of Mayacamas, Kristy Melton of Freemark Abbey, and Matt Crafton of Chateau Montelena. These wineries aren’t just legends, they helped put Napa on the map at the 1976 Judgment of Paris. Nearly 50 years later, they’re still setting the standard for California wine. We talk history, tradition, and what it takes to keep making world-class juice in one of the most co...

It’s the dog days of summer, and Dan’s teaming up with drinks expert Brad Japhe to help you chill out in style. We’re talking frosty, flavor-packed cocktails like the Watermelon Mint Cooler and the Cucumber Basil Gimlet—perfect for turning any scorcher into a poolside paradise. That’s just the tip of the ice cube… there’s plenty more frozen magic waiting for you in this episode. Hit play, cool down, and let’s mak...

This is an encore presentation of “The 3-Minute Bartender,” because Dan is currently on vacation celebrating his birthday—and by vacation, we mean drinking professionally in a different zip code. In about the time it takes to jot down a grocery list or purge your social media feed, he’ll tell you everything you need to know about The Last Word, a classic, gin-based Prohibition-era cocktail that’s as ...

On this episode of What We're Drinking, Dan unloads on the worst spirit he's ever tasted, calling it nothing short of “Chernobyl in a bottle.” We also debut a brand-new segment, History at Work, kicking things off with a deep dive into Rum Row, the floating lifeline that kept Americans buzzed during the buzzkill that was Prohibition. And in Drinks of the Week, we’re shouting out K...

In this festive installment of 3-Minute Bartender, we’re trading stars and stripes for a splash of green with a bold, Irish-inspired cocktail: the Shamrock Sour. Sure, it sounds like a St. Paddy’s Day special, but Dan makes the case for celebrating America’s birthday with a nod to the 33 million proud Irish-Americans who helped build (and booze up) this country.

Dan mixes up a modern riff on the classic whiskey sour using Egan’s Iri...

It’s a very special caffeinated edition of the show, as Dan turns his attention to his other liquid obsession: coffee. Joining him is none other than Maynard James Keenan. Yes, that Maynard—vocalist for bands you’ve definitely cranked up loud, and also the man behind Caduceus Cellars, Merkin Vineyards… and now, Queen Bee Vinyl Cafe, a kickass coffee roaster in Arizona.

But wait, there’s more: Dan also serves up hot takes on two of h...

On this installment of the Nobel Prize–snubbed (but emotionally validated) “3-Minute Bartender,” Dan dives headfirst into the Chuflay, Bolivia’s national cocktail and perhaps the only drink in history that sounds like a command to swat insects. That’s right, it’s Chuflay (pronounced “shoo-fly”). Our intrepid host was first introduced to this oddly named but downright delightful drink by none other th...

On this episode of What We’re Drinking, Dan is joined by JoJo Fletcher and Mallory Patton, the dynamic duo behind Saint Spritz, a ready-to-drink cocktail brand that’s clean, crisp, and free of Red 40, artificial sweeteners, and all the other crap we’ve been pretending not to notice in our drinks.

You might also recognize JoJo from her time on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, where she bravely attempted to find love in a house full...

It’s officially summer, and that means one thing: it’s time to drink like it. In this sun-soaked episode of What We’re Drinking, Dan is joined by world-renowned spirits savant Brad Japhe for a spirited showdown of the season’s most essential cocktails. Recorded on-location at the culinary wonderland that is Hatchet Hall in Culver City, this episode is part tasting session, part expert masterclass, and all vibe. Dan and Brad dive gl...