Highball Politics

Rob and David interview Matt Johnson, Co-Founder of IMBĪB Custom Brews, about expanding their business in Reno, why Nevada is a notorious swing state, and what it takes to make a great sour beer.

This week's specialty drinks:

"Jarbidge"

Bourbon barrel aged Belgian Strong Ale named after a famous town, wilderness area, and controversial community in Nevada

Bonus Cocktails:

“Harry Reid" AKA "Picon Punch"

1 1/2 oz Amer Picon

1/4 oz grenadine

Club soda

1/2 oz brandy

lemon peel garnish

"Joe Lombardo"

Beer float with Jarbidge and raspberry syrup

Check out IMBĪB Custom Brews:

https://imbibreno.com/

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David and Rob interview Caitlin McDougall of Simona's at the Colton House Hotel about the ever-evolving city of Austin, tensions between the red state's capital and its blue residents, and some music-themed craft cocktails.

This week's specialty cocktails:

"Blowin' Smoke"

Served in a rocks glass turned upside down over a lit rosemary sprig, holds the smoke while you build in a shaker:

2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon

.25 oz blood orange cordial

.25 cinnamon simple syrup

.5 oz lemon juice

2 dashes peach bitters

Shaken with ice, strained into smoked rocks glass, fresh ice to liquid height, garnish with smoked rosemary sprig, flamed expression of orange peel

Bonus Cocktails:

“Ken Paxton" AKA "Little Lies"

2 oz Drambuie Scotch Liqueur

1 oz lemon juice

.75 oz honey-chamomile simple syrup

Shaken with ice, strained into rocks glass, top with fresh ice

Add .75 oz Redemption Rye Whiskey, garnished with flamed expression of the lemon peel 

"Greg Abbott" AKA "Cold as Ice"

Layered in a rocks glass, you first add:

.5 oz blue curacao

Ice

In shaker combine:

.5 oz lime juice

.5 oz coconut cream

2 oz Rumhaven Coconut Rum

Shake vigorously with ice and strain slowly over the ice

Now float .5 oz Campari

Luxardo maraschino cherry to garnish

(starts off looking like the nostalgic "firecracker" ice pop then slowly melts to an icy blue) 

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Rob and David interview John Cooper, Co-founder of Dad's Hat Rye, and its Marketing Director as well as the Chief Mixologist of The Mill Tasting Room, Len Boris, about life and politics in Buck's County and how Dad's Hat is returning rye whiskey to its pre-Prohibition roots.

This week's specialty cocktails:

"Dad’s Hat Manhattan"

2.5 oz Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey

1 oz Sweet Vermouth

1 dash Angostura Bitters

1 dash Cherry Bitters

Rinse glass with Luxardo Maraschino

Stir all ingredients together with ice, then strain.

Garnish with a cocktail cherry

"Weekend Warrior"

1.5 oz Dad's Hat Rye Whiskey

.75 oz honey simple syrup

.75 oz lemon juice 

5 mint leaves, smacked

Shake together with ice, strain into glass with ice. 

Top with half iced tea and half lemonade

Garnish with lemon wheel

Bonus Cocktails:

“Mehmet Oz" AKA "Deep Roots in Jersey" (Vieux Carre riff)

.75 oz Dad's Hat Rye

.75 oz Laird's Apple Brandy

.5 oz Sweet Vermouth

.25 oz Benedictine

2 dashes Peychaud Bitters

2 dashes Lavender Bitters

Stir all ingredients together with ice, then strain

Garnish with a expressed lemon peel

"John Fetterman" AKA "Body Double" (Alter Ego riff)

1.5 oz Dad's Hat Rye

.75 oz Cynar

.75 oz Ancho Reyes Chile Liquor

2 dashes Chocolate Bitters

Stir all ingredients together with ice, then strain

Garnish with a expressed orange peel

Check out Dad's Hat Rye:

https://dadshatrye.com/

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In this "special emergency episode," David and Rob unpack a wild weekend in Des Moines, Iowa, where Ron DeSantis made a big impression after Donald Trump canceled a rally.

What the hosts are drinking:

David: "Old Fashioned" with 10th Mountain Spirits Alpenglow (peach-vanilla cordial)

Rob: "Ranch Water "(tequila-soda) with Casamigos Reposado tequila

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David and Rob interview Jared Rider of Verse about how the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike is impacting LA's broader economy, what it's like working with creatives and celebrities, and what's next for this triple threat.

This week's specialty cocktail: "Malamente"

Hibiscus-infused Patron tequila

Vanilla

Bharat simple syrup

Lime juice

Chipotle tincture

Bonus Cocktails:

“Arnold Schwarzenegger”

"Mezcal Negroni"

Agua Magica Mezcal

Carpano Antico

Campari

“Gavin Newsom”

"Chopin Dirty Martini"

Chopin potato vodka

Olive juice

3 olives

Check out Jared's acting and photography:

https://www.instagram.com/riderjared/

www.jaredriderphotography.com

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Rob and David interview Jose Mallea of Biscayne Bay Brewing in Miami about Florida's central role in the 2024 election, why the state has trended steadily to the right, and what Jose is hearing from San Franciscans who relocated to Miami.

This week's specialty beer: "Tropical Bay IPA"

"Our Miami inspired Tropical IPA is brewed using centennial, mosaic, strata meridian and simcoe hops that gives the beer a refreshing hop crunch with every sip and a bouquet of fresh fruit on the nose."

Bonus Beers:

“Ron DeSantis”

Fruited Sour

“Donald Trump”

Imperial Stout

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David and Rob interview David's son Mason who bartends at Mama Ree's in Grand Junction about his right-leaning patrons and Colorado's role in national politics.

This week's specialty cocktail: "Cucumber Revive"

1.5 oz. Gin

Fresh cucumber

Lemon Juice

Elderflower liqueur

Shaken and strained

Bonus Cocktails:

“John Hickenlooper”

Wynkoo beer

Bailey's Irish cream

Jameson Irish whiskey

“Lauren Boebert”

Bulleit rye whiskey

Bullet ice cube

Gunpowder

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David and Rob interview Marco Argiro of The Blue Room about the recent controversies in Nashville, how locals are responding and what it's like to work at a bar that's deeply connected to Music City.

This week's specialty cocktail: "The Long Way"

2 oz. Mezcal

1 oz. Lime juice

1 oz. Agave syrup

0.5 oz. Pomegranate juice

Shaken, strained and served in a rocks glass

Bonus Cocktails:

“Al Gore”

Blue curaçao

White rum

Seaweed extract

Lime juice

Pinch of Himalayan salt

Salt rimmed shot glass

Pour the entire drink into a shot glass, let it overflow

“Lamar Alexander”

LOTS of vanilla syrup

Sour milk

Dash of radiation

Old stale cognac

Shaken, not stirred

Check out all of Marco's ventures on Instagram:

@theblueroomnashville @mirrormirrornetwork @marcowithlove 

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Rob and David interview Johnny Martinez of Georgia Beer Garden about Georgia's central role in U.S. politics, activism in Atlanta, and Johnny's personal experiences with Newt Gingrich.

This week's specialty cocktail: "Rapturita"

1 pint Rapturous Rasperry Sour Ale (Three Taverns Brewery - a lacto-fermented sour ale, matured on raspberry puree with a wheat and pilsner malt base)

1 shot Tequila

Bonus Cocktails:

“Stacey Abrams”

Tropicália IPA (Creature Comforts Brewing Co. - a hop aroma of citrus and ripe passion fruit leads into a full, fruit-forward hop flavor)

“Marjorie Taylor Greene”

Four Loko USA (sour white cherry flavor dripped out in red, white and blue)

Crushed Adderall

Check out all of Johnny's ventures:

Georgia Beer Garden: https://www.gabeergarden.com/

Mambo Zombi: https://www.instagram.com/mambozombi/?hl=en

Joystick Gamebar: https://www.joystickgamebar.com/

By Weight And Measure: https://www.weightandmeasure.com/

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Rob and David interview Kaylon Sweet AKA Sweets of Osteria Poggio about the New Hampshire primary, Governor Sununu, and that time Sweets pissed off John Kerry.

This week's specialty cocktail: "Best Friend Negroni"

1 oz. Junipero Gin

1 oz. Campari

1 oz. Punt e Mes

Orange peel

Bonus Cocktails:

“The Jed Bartlet”

Bulleit Bourbon

Cold brew coffee

Splash of Licor 43

Splash of half n half

Shaken, poured in coupe glass and wood smoked

“The Sununu”

Cosmo

Grey Goose Vodka

Double splash of Grand Marnier

3 limes

*or*

Manhattan

WhistlePig PiggyBack Rye

Port wine

Toschi Amarena Cherries + drizzle of syrup

Splash of cold brew coffee

Shaken with a mist of citrus bitters

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