The Speakeasy

How is New York City like 19th century Japan? There might be more similarities than you think and Shige Kabashima wants to show them to you. An alumnus of Manhattan’s legendary Angel’s Share, Shige went on to found ROKC, a beloved ramen and oyster spot in Harlem, and NR, it’s spiritual successor on the Upper East Side. He sits down with the band to discuss how food influences his cocktails, drawing inspiration from Japan, and what it’s like to close down one iconic bar while simultaneously making plans to open a new one.

PLUS, the founder of Maine Beer Co is running for senate and… maybe we don’t want the people who run our tap rooms running the country. Greg weighs in on whether or not he feels those skills translate.

Follow NR on Instagram at @nr_nyc

Follow Love Thy Neighbor at @lovethyneighbornyc

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars

For resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance

The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast

Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIBE and RATE the show if you can. 

🔥🔥Join us each week as industry leaders, Damon Boelte and Sother Teague, sit down with a wide range of hospitality and spirits experts from around the world to discuss everything that impacts our business. 

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

Damon Boelte @DamonBoelte

Sother Teague @CreativeDrunk

Greg Benson @100ProofGreg

Speakeasy Podcast @SpeakeasyPodcast

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:

Sother Teague @CreativeDrunk

SpeakeasyRadio @SpeakeasyRadio

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Speakeasy by becoming a member!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

22 years ago the minds behind Dale’s pioneered good beer in a can. Today they’re taking it one step further and serving those cans with a side of Jorts! Aaron Baker and Evan Butteris from Dale’s sit down with Greg and Damon to talk about educating drinkers that IPAs can in fact come in cans, why denim just felt like the right brand move, and what they’re doing with the US curling team. They also talk about the current state of microbrewing, and what to make of the last few years of lower sales and brewery closures.

PLUS is an orderly single file line at a bar a bad thing and why is the answer yes? Greg has a theory about why we built the chaos that way.

Follow Dale’s on Instagram at @drinkdales

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars

For resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance

The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast

Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIBE and RATE the show if you can. 

🔥🔥Join us each week as industry leaders, Damon Boelte and Sother Teague, sit down with a wide range of hospitality and spirits experts from around the world to discuss everything that impacts our business. 

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

Damon Boelte @DamonBoelte

Sother Teague @CreativeDrunk

Greg Benson @100ProofGreg

Speakeasy Podcast @SpeakeasyPodcast

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:

Sother Teague @CreativeDrunk

SpeakeasyRadio @SpeakeasyRadio

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Speakeasy by becoming a member!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We talk a lot about how whiskey is made, mixed, marketed and just generally talked about. But not how it’s distributed. Fortunately Angela Bosco is here to pull back the curtain on the often murky, sometimes deliberately opaque distribution system for alcohol in this country. She sits down with the band to talk about the three-tier system, building a brand, what a brand needs to do to get acquired, as well as some straight whiskey talk. What are people doing to keep this storied category innovative. And did the industry really make progress towards equity with the MeToo movement? Or did it just look like it did? Angela weighs in on what it’s like to be a woman in what can often be the boys club of rye and bourbon

PLUS it’s our first show of October and you know what that means. It’s time for pumpkin spice everything! But is it also time for a redemption arc for this much maligned gourd? Greg makes the case that pumpkin is poised for a comeback.

Follow Whiskey Row on Instagram at @whiskeyrowbourbon

Follow Angela at @garnish_and_gown

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars

For resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance

The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast

Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIBE and RATE the show if you can. 

🔥🔥Join us each week as industry leaders, Damon Boelte and Sother Teague, sit down with a wide range of hospitality and spirits experts from around the world to discuss everything that impacts our business. 

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

Damon Boelte @DamonBoelte

Sother Teague @CreativeDrunk

Greg Benson @100ProofGreg

Speakeasy Podcast @SpeakeasyPodcast

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:

Sother Teague @CreativeDrunk

SpeakeasyRadio @SpeakeasyRadio

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Speakeasy by becoming a member!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why drink a gin that clocks in at only 20% ABV? That’s the question Sharelle Klaus wanted to answer with Second Sip Gin, a gin that isn’t full strength or full NA, but directly in the middle. She sits down with Greg and Damon to talk about designing a gin that still packs a punch at half the strength (with the help of two giants in the industry) the power and the point of freezer door martinis, and how low ABV drinks are the future because, sadly, we’re none of us as young as we used to be.

Follow Sharelle on Instagram at @sharelle.klaus

Follow Second Sip Gin at @secondsipgin

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars

For resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance

The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast

Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIBE and RATE the show if you can. 

🔥🔥Join us each week as industry leaders, Damon Boelte and Sother Teague, sit down with a wide range of hospitality and spirits experts from around the world to discuss everything that impacts our business. 

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

Damon Boelte @DamonBoelte

Sother Teague @CreativeDrunk

Greg Benson @100ProofGreg

Speakeasy Podcast @SpeakeasyPodcast

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:

Sother Teague @CreativeDrunk

SpeakeasyRadio @SpeakeasyRadio

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Speakeasy by becoming a member!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Greg and Sother sit down with David Page, creator of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives to talk about his new podcast “Culinary Characters Unlocked.” The conversation goes out of our usual wheelhouse and all over the place as they discuss obscure regional dishes, the flattening of American culture, and how cooking is surprisingly like television… in that everyone kind of thinks they can do it.

Plus, Espresso Martini Week is upon us! Does this mean the wave has finally crested? Tune in to find out where Greg and Sother stand.

Follow the podcast on Instagram at @culinary_characters_unlocked

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars

Check out the craft beer episode of Back Bar: heritageradionetwork.org/episode/microbrew-killed-the-macrobrew-star/

For resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance

The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast

Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIBE and RATE the show if you can. 

🔥🔥Join us each week as industry leaders, Damon Boelte and Sother Teague, sit down with a wide range of hospitality and spirits experts from around the world to discuss everything that impacts our business. 

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

Damon Boelte @DamonBoelte

Sother Teague @CreativeDrunk

Greg Benson @100ProofGreg

Speakeasy Podcast @SpeakeasyPodcast

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:

Sother Teague @CreativeDrunk

SpeakeasyRadio @SpeakeasyRadio

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Speakeasy by becoming a member!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you scale a molecular mixology program up from one property to several dozen? The first step is to love being busy and fortunately Mariena Mercer-Boarini fits that bill. The master mixologist for Wynn Resorts North America talks through her thought process for running beverage programs from Boston to Macao, the intense infrastructure she’s built in her hometown of Las Vegas to keep all her locations humming, and an upcoming street festival featuring a number of Speakeasy alumni. She also gets into her side projects highlighting buzz buttons, a naturally occurring compound that does a number on your taste buds. We can not fully endorse trying it while on air.

Plus, it’s Curbside Dining Week! Or at least… it was. Greg and Sother process their feelings about this relic of the pandemic and how sometimes even if you love something, you have to let it go.

Follow Mariena on Instagram at @mariena_the_wanderlush_

Follow Electric Dust at @_electricdust_

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars

Check out Electric Dust: electricdust.shop

For resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance

The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast

Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Speakeasy by becoming a member!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If people know one thing about Sherry, they usually think they don’t like it. But Daniel Azarkman likes it so much he opened El Lopo, a San Francisco tapas bar dedicated to sherry and its equally underappreciated cousin, vermouth. Daniel sits down with Greg and Sother to talk about introducing guests to unfamiliar ingredients, the guided tours he leads to Spain, and a program he runs for select regulars, who trust Daniel enough to just pour and serve them whatever he wants.

Plus, Greg and Sother have been traveling the country and might have a bead on a new trend: cheese in cocktails. Is this a thing, how should we treat it, and can we blame the whole thing on a friend of the pod? Tune in to find out.

Follow El Lopo on Instagram at @elloposf

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars

Check out Fern Bar: https://www.fernbarkc.com/

For resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance

The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast

Love The Speakeasy but wish there was more? Become one of our Regulars on Patreon! Join now for sponsor-free listening, drink recipes from all our guests, and free kits every month from our friends at Shaker & Spoon. Higher proof and aged to perfection, check it out now at patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars

Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIBE and RATE the show if you can. 

🔥🔥Join us each week as industry leaders, Damon Boelte and Sother Teague, sit down with a wide range of hospitality and spirits experts from around the world to discuss everything that impacts our business. 

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

Damon Boelte @DamonBoelte

Sother Teague @CreativeDrunk

Greg Benson @100ProofGreg

Speakeasy Podcast @SpeakeasyPodcast

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:

Sother Teague @CreativeDrunk

SpeakeasyRadio @SpeakeasyRadio

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Speakeasy by becoming a member!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is the world ready for a mesquite-smoked Aguardiente? John Campbell sure seems to think so, which is why he’s bringing his Warbringer Aguardiente to a face near you! John sits down with the band to discuss his time as a distiller for Laphroaig, building a mesquite-smoked whiskey for Sespe Creek Distillers, and why they even called it that in the first place.

PLUS, Ice Week is coming! This month while the regular show is on break Greg, Sother and Damon are bringing on special guests just for their regulars for a deep dive into all things Ice. Proceeds go to support our favorite type of ice, abolished.

Follow Warbringer on Instagram at @warbringerwhiskey

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/BottledinBond

For resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance

The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast

Love The Speakeasy but wish there was more? Check out Bottled in Bond, our new Patreon podcast exclusively for you, our best regulars! Join now for sponsor-free listening, drink recipes from all our guests, and free kits every month from our friends at Shaker & Spoon. Higher proof and aged to perfection, check it out now at patreon.com/BottledinBond

Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIBE and RATE the show if you can. 

🔥🔥Join us each week as industry leaders, Damon Boelte and Sother Teague, sit down with a wide range of hospitality and spirits experts from around the world to discuss everything that impacts our business. 

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

Damon Boelte @DamonBoelte

Sother Teague @CreativeDrunk

Greg Benson @100ProofGreg

Speakeasy Podcast @SpeakeasyPodcast

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:

Sother Teague @CreativeDrunk

SpeakeasyRadio @SpeakeasyRadio

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Speakeasy by becoming a member!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Are we loving mezcal to death? That’s just one of the questions Tim McKirdy set out to answer when he began working on a mezcal docuseries for his ongoing podcast Cocktail College. Airing now after two years in the making, Tim sits down with Greg and Sother to discuss his trip to Oaxaca, what he learned about agave farming and distilling, a possible espadin conspiracy, and the challenges of converting such an in-depth story into a three-part podcast.

Plus, Tales of the Cocktail 2025 is in the history books! Greg and Sother talk highs, lows, regrets, and where Greg wound up crashing the whole time he was there.

Follow Steve at @mightyschneidy

Follow Sip & Guzzle at @sipandguzzlenyc

LINKS

Listener Survey

Cocktail College’s Mezcal Series

Greg’s Brewery Article for Vinepair

Tim’s email to RSVP for Vinepair After Hours: [email protected]

For resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance

The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast

Love The Speakeasy but wish there was more? Check out Bottled in Bond, our new Patreon podcast exclusively for you, our best regulars! Join now for sponsor-free listening, drink recipes from all our guests, and free kits every month from our friends at Shaker & Spoon. Higher proof and aged to perfection, check it out now at patreon.com/BottledinBond

Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIBE and RATE the show if you can. 

🔥🔥Join us each week as industry leaders, Damon Boelte and Sother Teague, sit down with a wide range of hospitality and spirits experts from around the world to discuss everything that impacts our business. 

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

Damon Boelte @DamonBoelte

Sother Teague @CreativeDrunk

Greg Benson @100ProofGreg

Speakeasy Podcast @SpeakeasyPodcast

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:

Sother Teague @CreativeDrunk

SpeakeasyRadio @SpeakeasyRadio

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Speakeasy by becoming a member!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In our final Boomerang! from Tales of the Cocktail Greg and Phil sit down with Amir Babayoff, beverage director at Ophelia in NYC. The conversation takes a number of twists and turns around well-crafted martinis about the creative process, the chaos that is New Orleans in July and how this whole crossover series with the Philip Duff show might just come back next year.

LINKS

Listener Survey

For resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance

The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast

Love The Speakeasy but wish there was more? Check out Bottled in Bond, our new Patreon podcast exclusively for you, our best regulars! Join now for sponsor-free listening, drink recipes from all our guests, and free kits every month from our friends at Shaker & Spoon. Higher proof and aged to perfection, check it out now at patreon.com/BottledinBond

Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.