The Charlie Tonic Hour

The Charlie Tonic Hour podcast started almost seven years ago, in January 2012. Since then we have recorded 349 episodes with countless guests. We have grown and evolved from an “alcohol-infused culture podcast” to an all alcohol focused show. But now the time has come for Ginny Tonic and Charlie to evolve in a different direction. This episode, number 350 of Charlie Tonic Hour, will be the last. We invite you to join us and enjoy one last Ginny and Charlie cheers. It has been a beautiful ride and now you can hear how it all draws to a close.

After catching you up on some cool things in Cincinnati and Indianapolis, Charlie and Ginny Tonic explore the pop-up Miracle Bar experience happening in the US and internationally. They look at the origins of the experience and then focus on Cincinnati's own Miracle happening at the Overlook Lodge in Pleasant Ridge. They are joined by bar owner Jacob Trevino discussing his bar's transformation, what the experience of hosting a pop-up bar is like and we even cover Santa Con a bit before we're done. After the chat, Ginny and Charlie share a couple event recommendations and call it a show of shows once again!

This week on the Charlie Tonic Hour, Ginny and Charlie talk about everything from birthday karaoke to beautiful cocktails at Please in Cincinnati. Then they sit down with the owners of Western Reserve Distillery. This new distillery in the Lakewood neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio is the first and only certified organic distillery in Ohio and one of only three in the United States. Join Ginny and Charlie as they try some of their first products and talk about their future plans for whiskey!

This week Ginny Tonic and Charlie talk about their recent trip to Charleston, SC for the wedding of a couple of good friends. It was a weekend of beach, beauty, and more than a few cocktails. For the main topic they tackle the Liquor.com article "Distillery Etiquette: How Not to be a Jerk on a Distillery Tour". Since Ginny has been a tour guide for New Riff Distillery and Charlie now works in production there, they feel they are uniquely qualified to share their opinions on this topic. For the drinks segment Ginny makes two cocktails using the Botany Bay Smoked Sea Salt that they picked up in Charleston. 

On this week's episode we load you up with Cincy stories, a new bartender profile plus cocktails and history that dig deep in the world of bitters. Our profile features Trey of Wiseguy Lounge OTR as he shares his story as an up and coming bartender full of enthusiasm for his craft. After that we reference a book, share the knowledge you need and sip a few cocktails that really feature the beauty of bitters. We leave you with a couple event recommendations and call it a show.

Your dynamic duo of tonic returns once again distilling down the stories, drinks and fun from the wide world of alcohol and spirits culture. This time there is a band with an anniversary, a dinner in the woods, an outstanding tequila and drinking considerations as they relate to not drinking. What does all this mean? Join us and find out.

It has been a solid two weeks filled with events and the stories that follow them. Join us as we run through all the latest adventures then turn our attention to the largest distillery you’ve never heard of; MGP Distillery. They are the juice you’ve drank more often than you know but they are a distillery shrouded in mystery and we were given the golden ticket to walk inside and explore with a great mix of hosts. It’s a distillery with history, stories and new tales to tell. Join us to learn so much more with special guest Patrick “Pops” Garrett (founder and chief drinking officer at Bourbon & Banter).

This week Ginny and Charlie are joined by their close friend and Real House Wives expert Kristen Race to discuss the hit reality TV show and how alcohol and drinking play into the events, drama, culture, and monetization of the show. For the drinks segment they make the original recipe for a "Skinny Girl" margarita that Bethany ordered in the first season of Real Housewives of New York and compare it to the bottle of "Skinny Girl Margarita" that we bought at CVS for $10.99. All that and of course our recommendations for Cincinnati Events and the latest happenings in the lives of Ginny Tonic and Charlie!

This week there are fireworks, alcohol events, breweries, summer parties and a new bartender profile. After we run down the latest events, we turn our attention to a profile of bartender Peter Lusher of the Woodhouse Kitchen + Bar. We start with his story then turn our attention to cocktails before closing with a few event recommendations. Welcome to the latest installment of the Charlie Tonic Hour!

This week Ginny was off recording without Charlie for much of the week. But don't worry, they are still together for the discussion of events and adventures around Cincinnati, including an epic day on a boat and an amazing dinner at Woodhouse Kitchen + Bar for a birthday celebration. In the next installment of their industry spotlight series, Ginny interviews Emmy Friedrichs, General Manager at The Mercer OTR about her unique perspective on wine and cocktails plus how her love of dogs got her back into the industry. Next she talks with Carus Waggoner of Second Sight Spirits about a recent Carriage House Farm dinner that featured four cocktails with Second Sight Rum. We try the drinks and talk about the inspiration behind them throughout the dinner. Enjoy!