The Speakeasy

By Heritage Radio NetworkSociety & Culture Arts Food

The Speakeasy episodes

May 09, 2012 Episode 60: Speed Rack
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon sits and chats with the ladies of Speed Rack. Speed Rack is a competition created for and by female bartenders to promote female bartenders. Hear from Ivy Mix, Lynette Marrero & Claire Bertin-Lang as they preview the upcoming competition on May 10th, 2012. Find out how intense the competition gets and what to expect from a room full of the most skilled women bartenders in the world! This program was sponsored by White Oak Pastures.
“This cocktail community spreads across the nation. We can all drop into any city and work with somebody.”
–Lynette Marrero of Speed Rack on The Speakeasy
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36 min
May 02, 2012 Episode 59: Clover Club
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon Boelte sits and chats with Tom Macy & Jesse Wohlers of The Clover Club. Find out what makes bartending such a grueling gig and how they both got to where they are now. Find out how to climb the ranks in a bar and make a career out of the most fun job in the world. Hear their thoughts on everything from social skills behind the bar to mocktails. This program was sponsored by Hearst Ranch.
“[When bartending] I want the customer to feel like I have nothing better in the world to do than talk to them.”
–Tom Macy of The Clover Club on The Speakeasy
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
34 min
April 25, 2012 Episode 58: Makers Mark
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon Boelte is joined by Adam Harris, brand ambassador for Maker’s Mark. Hear about the history of the company and what makes their whiskey recipe so unique. Hear about the companies water renewal program and hear how they utilize the mash that has been used as methane to power their cookers. Learn something new about one of the most popular bourbons in the world on this week’s episode of The Speakeasy. This program was sponsored by White Oak Pastures.
“We don’t put ‘small batch’ on our label, we just stick to what we’ve always done – which is making small batch whiskey.”
–Adam Harris of Maker’s Mark on The Speakeasy
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
27 min
April 18, 2012 Episode 57: Justin Noel
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon hangs out and chats with Justin Noel, bartender at 1534 and rep from Prestige Brands. Damon and Joel talk about everything from changing perceptions around gin & tequila to creating characters at hotel bars. Learn more about overlooked spirits behind the bar and find out how to get over your fear of certain spirits by trying the right stuff! This program was sponsored by White Oak Pastures
“There’s nothing worse than somebody forcing a brand or product down your throat.”
“It’s great seeing people push boarders [with spirits and brands], but it can get gimmicky.”
–bartender Justin Noel on The Speakeasy
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36 min
April 11, 2012 Episode 56: Drunk Diet with LÃ¼c Carl
Who says you can’t lose weight while getting wasted? Not LÃ¼c Carl. Tune in to this week’s episode of The Speakeasy as Damon Boelte chats with LÃ¼c, who’s latest book, aptly titled The Drunk Diet: How I Lost 40 Pounds . . . Wasted: A Memoir, helps people get healthy while maintaining a rock star life. Find out how he went from binge parties to running marathons and what it takes to maintain a balance of health and fun. This program was sponsored by Whole Foods Market.
“I consider the book more like watching Rocky I, when he was smoking and drinking and Mickey was telling him to give it up. It’s like the anti-diet book. I didn’t want to be told what to do and wanted to encourage people to diet while having fun.”
“There’s nothing more rock and roll than going out there busting your ass for four hours and running. That’s what rock and roll is all about – excess.”
–LÃ¼c Carl on The Speakeasy
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
27 min
April 04, 2012 Episode 55: Betto & Kanon Vodka
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon Boelte catches up with Matt Carr and Tom O’Neil of Betto with Johnny Gaffney of Kanon Vodka. Tune in as they celebrate the arrival of spring with a lively discussion on amaros, grappas and delicious refreshing cocktails that can be made with either. Learn how having a bar in a restaurant is convenient when it comes to ingredients and why there’s nothing wrong with a bull shot here and there. Also find out more about Kanon Vodka and their single distilled process. This program was sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

“A little beef stock in a breakfast drink is always good.”
–bartedner Matt Carr on The Speakeasy
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33 min
March 28, 2012 Episode 54: Michael J. Neff
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon sits and chats with Michael J. Neff of Ward III & Rum House. Tune in to hear how he and his journeymen bartender colleagues turned their dreams into reality with Ward III and what it takes to run a successful bar in New York City. Find out why Michael prefers free pouring over jiggers, and how it changes the drink making process. Why is it so hard to get a good cocktail at a sports bar? Why do some “cocktail bars” frown upon people ordering vodka sodas? Hear more about what Damon and Michael think about the “golden age of bartending” and what developments are taking place across the country. This program was sponsored by Hearst Ranch.
“[With Ward III], we wanted to see what would happen if journeymen bartenders opened the bar they’ve always wanted.”
“We’re not trying to be all things to all people, but to me the word bar implies that you can get a cocktail.”
“Free pouring is a very interesting art…it’s a matter of training.”
–Michael J. Neff on The Speakeasy
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
33 min
March 21, 2012 Episode 53: Toby Maloney of The Violet Hour
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon Boelte checks in with celebrated bartender Toby Maloney of The Violet Hour, a pre-Prohibition era-inspired speakeasy in Chicago recently nominated for the Outstanding Bar Program James Beard Award. Learn how Toby found his way to The Violet Hour and what has influenced his style as a bartender. Find out what it takes to run a successful bar and find out what “Malort” is and why it’s popular in Chicago. This program was sponsored by Whole Foods Market.
“The Violet Hour is definitely a group effort. No one person opens a bar.”
“MalÃ¶rt is kind of like drinking a tiger fire. It’s the most bitter thing I can possibly think of.”
–bartender Toby Maloney on The Speakeasy
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
35 min
March 07, 2012 Episode 52: Hospitality & Rum with James Menite
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon sits and chats with James Menite of Don Q Rum. Learn how James went from a normal job to becoming one of New York City’s premiere bartenders. Learn more about why James thinks rum is the next “breakout spirit” and how hospitality is more important than people think when it comes to bartending. This program was sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons.
“If you make it as a bartender/mixologist in New York City, the world is your oyster.”
“We’re in a lucky business. People are winning cash prizes for bartending and traveling across the world. There’s no other profession where you get that luxury.”
“When cocktails are so expensive, people don’t just want a drink they want an experience…[because of that], hospitality driven establishments are doing really well right now.”
–bartender James Menite on The Speakeasy
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
36 min
February 22, 2012 Episode 51: Dutch’s Spirits
This week on The Speakeasy, Damon Boelte returns to the airwaves with the man behind The Dutch’s Spirits, Jonathan Forester. Tune in and learn more about their sugar wash moonshine, aged peach brandy and other old school spirits. Learn about the history of prohibition, small distilleries, the importance of forgotten spirits and the effectiveness of well made bitters. This program was sponsored by Whole Foods Market.
“Every peach brandy was different in the 1700’s and 1800’s. I wanted to make a product that was a blend of all of them.”
“You never get repeat customers by making lousy stuff.”
–Jonathan Forester of The Dutch’s Spirits on The Speakeasy
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
35 min

About The Speakeasy

From the publisher's feed

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…