The Speakeasy

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The Speakeasy episodes

October 08, 2014 Episode 140: Abigail Gullo Returns!
The “Rye Girl” is back! Damon Boelte welcomes Abigail Gullo back to The Speakeasy this week for a discussion on whisky, cocktails and New Orleans. Abigail recently left NYC for NOLA and reflects on the differences between the two places while teaching listeners about some great cocktail and spirit history. This program was brought to you by Michter’s.

“Rye whiskey would have gone extinct in the 80’s and 90’s if people in New Orleans weren’t drinking their Sazeracs.” [06:00]
–Abigail Gullo on The Speakeasy
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32 min
October 01, 2014 Episode 139: Brooklyn Spirits: Craft Distilling and Cocktails from the World’s Hippest Borough
Hear from the authors of Brooklyn Spirits: Craft Distilling and Cocktails from the World’s Hippest Borough on a brand new episode of The Speakeasy. In the popular tradition of farm-to-table cookbooks, Brooklyn Spirits: Craft Distilling and Cocktails from the World’s Hippest Borough, is the first distillery-to-glass cocktail book. Organized into chapters focused on these distilleries, each chapter will take an in-depth look at the distillery’s story and the spirits they offer, and will present half-a-dozen cocktail recipes. Within these chapters, there will be sub-sections on several varying topics: a look at the bars and restaurants serving the Brooklyn-produced spirits; highlights on the work of local mixologists; and subsections on the history of distilling in Brooklyn. This program was brought to you by Michters.

“One of the reasons its easy to promote a book like this is we’re promoting really cool work other people are doing. I’m hoping we did a good job capturing it. [06:00]\
“This is a yearbook in a sense. It’s capturing what’s happening right now.” [14:00]
–Peter Thomas Fonatale on The Speakeasy
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33 min
September 24, 2014 Episode 138: Damon Boelte
The tables get turned this week on The Speakeasy as producer Jack Inslee interviews host Damon Boelte! Hear Damon’s incredible story – from a small farm in Lone Wolf Oklahoma to the big lights of New York City. Find out how he discovered cocktails at an early age and what made him want to pursue bartending as a serious career. This program was brought to you by Michter’s.

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42 min
September 17, 2014 Episode 137: Aaron Polsky Returns!
Aaron Polsky, formely of Amor Y Amargo, is one of the best bartenders in New York City and a good friend of The Speakeasy. He drops by this week to chat with Damon Boelte about his new gig bartending at FC Gotham in the Meat Packing District, his thoughts on seasonal produce and how it relates to cocktails and jail tattoos – amongst other things. Welcome the fall season with a great look into the wonderful world of bartending on The Speakeasy. This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA.

“You really want to capitalize on the end of summer thing. Really the end of August/early September has the best produce.” [18:00]
“Old Fashioned’s and Manhattan’s are incredible fall drinks.” [24:00]
–Aaron Polsky on The Speakeasy
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32 min
August 27, 2014 Episode 136: Han Shan
Han Shan is the new brand ambassador for Tuthilltown Spirits and Hudson Whiskey and he’s also the guest this week on The Speakeasy with Damon Boelte. Han had his first sip of whiskey at three months old (really) and now finds himself rooted deeply in the whisky industry. He and Damon discuss the state of American whiskey, the differences in styles of whiskey and current trends in the industry. From grain to glass – get the inside scoop on America’s spirit. This program was brought to you by Michters.

“It’s a very exciting time for American whiskey in a general and its a dream come true for me to be working in whiskey.” [04:00]
–Han Shan on The Speakeasy
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35 min
August 20, 2014 Episode 135: Brad Goocher & Ken Ho
Brad Goocher and Ken Ho are bartender’s bartenders. Tune in as they talk shop with Damon Boelte on a brand new episode of The Speakeasy. The three beverage professionals kick back and discuss various aspects of the industry – from service to style. Brad tells the fascinating story on how he got his unlikely start in bartending and Ken elaborates on how his palate changed depending on where he worked. Listen as Damon, Brad and Ken share their thoughts on what good service should be and why the role of the bartender is a unique one in the hospitality business. This program was brought to you by Edwards VA Ham.

“Many times people want to be engaged [at the bar] and that’s a beautiful thing we’re able to do.” [15:00]
“As far as drinks go – my goal is to make them as delicious as possible. At the end of the day I want the drink to taste as good as possible.” [16:00]
–Brad Goocher on The Speakeasy
“The great thing about bartending that’s different from serving is that you can sit down and have a conversation with your customer at a bar. You can’t do that at a table.” [18:00]
–Ken Ho on The Speakeasy
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40 min
August 13, 2014 Episode 134: Proof: The Science of Booze
Humans have been perfecting the science of alcohol production for ten thousand years, but modern scientists are only just beginning to distill the complex reactions behind the perfect buzz. In Proof: The Science of Booze, a spirited tour across continents and cultures, Adam Rogers puts our alcoholic history under the microscope, from our ancestors’ accidental discovery of fermented drinks to the cutting-edge laboratory research that proves whyâ€”or even ifâ€”people actually like the stuff. Tune in to this week’s episode of The Speakeasy as Damon chats with Adam about the book and the science of booze! This program was brought to you by Michters.

“I’m a science writer by training and I try to understand the world through that lens.” [04:00]
–Adam Rogers on The Speakeasy
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31 min
July 30, 2014 Episode 133: The Return of Donna
Almost a year ago, popular Williamsburg bar Donna was forced to close due to an electrical fire. Now – they are back and stronger than ever. Tune in to a fun episode of The Speakeasy as Damon Boelte is joined by the crew at Donna who have brought a kegged cocktail to the studio with them. Yes, you read that right, they are pouring draft cocktails on-air in the studio! Learn about the advantages of cocktails on tap and why carbonation almost always makes a drink better. Hear why architecture is such an important component in bar design and find out how they are making craft cocktails more accessible for everybody. This program was brought to you by The International Culinary Center.
“There’s a psychology to architecture. If you can tweak little tiny things it affects how people move in the space and how they enjoy themselves in it.” [08:00]
“We take our beverage program really seriously but we want it to be fun and accessible. We want people to come in and get a drink quickly and party. That’s what this draft cocktail program is all about.” [25:00]
Leif Huckman on The Speakeasy
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33 min
July 24, 2014 Episode 132: 12 Bottle Bar
Find out how to become the best home bartender you can possibly be on a brand new episode of The Speakeasy as Damon Boelte chats with David Solmonson and Lesley Jacobs Solmonson, the husband-and-wife authors of
The 12 Bottle Bar: A Dozen Bottles. Hundreds of Cocktails. A New Way to Drink, and
publishers of the popular blog 12bottlebar.com. Mr. Solmonson has written for both film and television, while Ms. Solmonson, spirits and wine writer for L.A. Weekly, is also the author of Gin: A Global History and the forthcoming Liqueur: A Global History. 12 Bottle Bar was created with the simple goal of making classic cocktails accessible to the home bartender. Despite having a voluminous liquor cabinet, home bartenders David and Lesley Solmonson were continually frustrated by drink recipes that called for more and more esoteric ingredients. Their solution? Create a fixed list of main ingredients – the twelve bottles – and present hundreds of classic and original cocktails that could be made from them. Unlike other cocktail publications, which cater to the professional or seasoned amateur, 12 Bottle Bar is targeted specifically at the novice home bartender. The primary goals are to engage and excite the reader and generally raise the quality of drinking in the average American home. This program was brought to you by Michters.

“I saw a real divide in what was happening in the craft cocktail movement and the home bartendering scene.” [06:00]
—David Solmonson
“Taste is subjective that’s the whole point of cocktails – we always say drink what you like.” [15:00]
—Lesley Jacobs Solmonson
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40 min
July 16, 2014 Episode 131: Tim Miner
On a casual and insightful episode of The Speakeasy, Damon Boelte chats with bartender Tim Miner of Long Island Bar, a Brooklyn landmark, serving food and drinks for almost 55 years. Tune in for thoughts on everything from bourbon to bar design as Damon and Tim talk shop. Find out why you shouldn’t chug your craft cocktail and why sometimes the drink isn’t all that matters at a bar. This program was brought to you by Michters

“I hate when people slam a cocktail in a quicker amount of time than it took for me to make it!” [17:00]
“Going to Long Island Bar is like walking into a cozy little time machine.” [21:00]
–Tim Miner on The Speakeasy
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32 min

About The Speakeasy

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Award-winning bartenders and co-hosts Sother Teague and Greg Benson sit down to talk cocktails, spirits, wine, beer, tea, coffee, and all the other exciting liquids in the universe. With each…