What We're Drinking with Dan Dunn

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 ...

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...

It’s the big 3-0-0 on What We’re Drinking with Dan Dunn, and we’re popping metaphorical (and literal) bottles to celebrate! Joining Dan for this milestone episode is cocktail royalty Dale DeGroff, the godfather of the modern bartending movement, who mixes up wisdom and wit in equal measure. Also pulling up a barstool: ace horse racing handicapper Pete Fornatale, who shares some Belmont Stakes picks, pours, and possibly a few ponies...

On this episode of What We’re Drinking, Dan welcomes back an old friend and true titan of the tipple: James Beard Award-winning bartender Charles Joly. If you’ve ever watched the Oscars or the Emmys and wondered who’s responsible for keeping Hollywood’s elite well-lubricated, look no further—Charles has been crafting cocktails for the stars on the industry’s biggest nights for years. Beyond red carpets and gold statues, Charles is ...

He’s baaaack! Actor, director, and spirits entrepreneur Matthew Lillard returns for a long-overdue second round, exactly one year after his first visit, because clearly, we’re creatures of habit (and good taste). This time around, Matthew dives even deeper into his wildly entertaining acting career—from Scream to Scooby-Doo to Five Nights at Freddy's and beyond—and gives us the latest on his fast-growing spirits brand, Find Fam...

On this episode, we’re boldly going where no podcast has gone before... but first, Dan kicks things off with his hotly debated, no-holds-barred list of the Top 5 Drinking Cities of 2025. Did your hometown make the cut? Is it time to move? Tune in and find out.

Then, it's warp speed into whiskey as we beam up a special segment featuring two out-of-this-world Star Trek-inspired expressions—crafted through an intergalactic collabor...

Dan is joined by actor Wyatt Russell and producer Rich Peete, who swing by Baby Blues BBQ in Venice Beach to talk about their fast-growing line of ready-to-drink cocktails, Lake Hour — a delicious tribute to summertime, friendship and carefree afternoons that often turn into epic nights. Wyatt dishes on what it was like growing up with Hollywood royalty Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn for p...

On this episode of 3-Minute Bartender, we’re diving into the Clarified New York Sour, a cocktail that takes a beloved classic and gives it a polished, velvety upgrade. That’s right, it’s your old whiskey sour, if it went to finishing school, got a skincare routine, and started quoting David Sedaris at parties. We’ll walk through the milk clarification process step by step, demystifying what sounds like a science ...

Spring is here, and so is our latest roundup of seasonal standouts: Spring Wines Wonderooski '25! This episode is extra special, as it marks what could be the final in-studio appearance of our longtime wine expert — and dear friend — Claire Coppi, before she heads off to start a new chapter in Idaho. We toast Claire in style with an unforgettable lineup of whites, rosés, reds, and bubbles from Rodney Strong, ...