It’s been a year (to the day), but the Speaking Easy Podcast is coming to you live through the airwaves again!

First, Merry Christmas to those who celebrate. To those who don’t but still have the day off, a merry day of drinkin’ to you! To those of you who have to work today, cheers to your after-work plan! That should cover everyone, but we hope you’re all well and imbibing responsibly and joyfully.

When we announced a hiatus last December 25, we really didn’t know what the future would hold. And frankly, some of it is still murky (we may need to clean our glassware better

It’s the conclusion of another great year of the Speaking Easy Podcast, and we got into what’s become an annual tradition—having a one or two too many (which, believe it or not, is not our normal “being a better drinker” and having a conversation to ramble off our favorite episodes of the year, what we learned, and what we’re looking forward to.

This was a fun one for us to record, and it was the first time we recorded with a live audience! We had Jeff on our show the first time fairly early (Episode #022 – Interview with Jeff Cioletti, author of The Year of Drinking Adventurously), and he trusted us enough to a) hang out with us off the air and b) come back on the show. We set this date up to talk about Jeff’s newest release, The Drinkable Globe: The Indispensable Guide to the Wide World of Booze, where he merges two of the greatest pursuits of mankind—travel and drinking. Obviously Jeff is who we want to be, and we met up at Café Kindred and Townshend Bar at an event sponsored by One More Page Books to have this lively conversation about the book recently.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

* About Jeff’s travels all over the world in search of thirst-quenching and palate-pleasing drinks

* How drinking cultures vary globally

* The traditions and rituals Jeff took part in during his travels

* What they drink in Antarctica (that was also MADE in Antarctica)

While I’m at it, I will say this—Jeff is a great guy—one of our favorites in the industry—and his previous works have made our list of the best cocktail books (and for good reason). This book follows suit and becomes a bookshelf essential for the home bartender in your life. Go and get it: The Drinkable Globe by Jeff Cioletti on Amazon.

And you should follow Jeff where you can—he’s active on Twitter (@JeffCioletti), he has a blog with the same name as his most recent release book, drinkableglobe.com, and you should also check out some of his other releases: The Year of Drinking Adventurously: 52 Ways to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone, which we reviewed and discussed on a previous episode mentioned above, and Beer FAQ: All That’s Left to Know About The World’s Most Celebrated Adult Beverage.

Well, it must be of great surprise that we’d willingly and not compelled by a court somewhere submit ourselves to a vodka tasting, based on how we’ve typically treated vodka on this show (briefly, we’ve been quite dismissive). I mean, while the reliable Moscow Mule saves vodka from permanent banishment from our bars (well, at least Alex’s), it’s definitely not the first bottle we reach for. But when our good friend Eric Kozlik, the Chief Executive Officer and Supremely Cool Dude of the Modern Bar Cart, invites us along for a tasting of vodkas of strange origins, we’re at least game to play nicely for a little bit. He’s been a part of two of our favorite episodes (Episode #035: Interview with Eric Kozlik of Embitterment Bitters & Episode #081 – Speaking Easy Gets Interviewed on the Modern Bar Cart Podcast), so we know it would be a good time even if we didn’t enjoy the spirit.

The tasting—involving different vodkas from grape, to mixed grain, to whey—was a fun and interesting way to approach this spirit. To be honest, our (historically low) expectations were slightly exceeded, though don’t expect us to start bringing the flavorless liquor into heavy rotation as result. It appears as though even Jordan, whose appreciation for vodka is similar to his appreciation for Alex’s sense of humor (sad), even found something not horrifically offensive. Which is really saying something.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

* A little about how and why vodka is made to have no flavor

* How to properly taste something that doesn’t naturally have a taste

* A few tidbits about selecting an interesting bottle on the shelf

* A few of the goings-on of Modern Bar Cart

* And just how Alex and Jordan fare in dealing with a vodka-based night of delusion

“Clear liquors are for rich women on diets.” – Ron Swanson

 

This week Alex & Jordan answer a question we’ve gotten for our entire 2 years, and only ever answered in spurts: what bottle should I pick up? And we try to answer that question with a few of our favorite recurring bottles from our bars.

We know, we know—we haven’t done a wine episode. And this still isn’t it. But we felt that we owed our listeners some version of an episode dedicated to the fruit of the vine, in addition to our Sangria episode, and so we hope we came through with winetails.

Blair Reynolds is a devoted drink aficionado and an innovative bartender and a well-loved bar owner based in Portland, Oregon. His dedication to sharing his passion for tropical libations and tiki culture is unmatched.

American Gin

Michael Veach was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2006. We talk bourbon, of course, and start to scratch the surface of its deep history.

In this week’s episode:

We chat with Newman Miller, Chef-Owner of Star Hill Provisions at Maker’s Mark Distillery. Newman was born and raised in central Kentucky,  and went to culinary school in Louisville. After several years of cooking in Indiana, Scotland, and Chicago he returned to Kentucky to open his first restaurant. He is now chef-owner of Harrison-Smith House in Bardstown, and Star Hill Provisions at Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto.

These restaurants are intimately connected to the Bourbon industry. Star Hill Provisions sits in the middle of the Maker’s Mark campus, right next to the Distillery’s new Maker’s 46 cave. Bardstown, home to Harrison Smith House, is considered “Bourbon Capitol of the World” and is also home to Heaven Hill, Barton, and Willett Distilleries.

Unsurprisingly, many of the guests to his restaurants are touring the Bourbon Trail. If you’ve been to Kentucky Bourbon Festival in the past few years, you’ll know that Whiskey Pig (now Bourbon Bonanza) at Harrison Smith House is an event you don’t want to miss. Enticing imbibers at this event are Delilah’s of Chicago, Jack Rose of D.C., Willett Distillery, and Harrison Smith House all playing host to Bourbon lovers from around the world.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

* Newman’s career path, and what brought him back to Kentucky

* The food and drink culture in Bourbon Country, and the necessary and very appropriate blending of the two

* Living and working in an area so readily recognized for its spirits production

* About the people and the products that make up Bourbon Country

If you like what you here, you can follow him on Instagram @bourbonandham, and Star Hill Provisions @starhillprovisions.

During September, brown spirits enthusiasts turn to America’s Native Spirit. Previously, we introduced Bourbon Cocktails in Episode #038: Bourbon Cocktails. Here we take a deeper look at the spirit and the culture around it.

Happy #BourbonHeritageMonth from the Speaking Easy Crew! We’re going full bourbon this month, bringing you #30DaysOfBourbon for our favorite spirit. Toast with us all month with episodes, amazing guests, and other features along the way. Cheers to being a better (bourbon) drinker!