How To Be A Better Drinker

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Matt James & Justin Freet talking all things Booze related from the perspective of a Bartender.

The lush life has it's twists and turns, let Matt James and Justin Freet show you How To Be A Better Drinker. It's cocktail culture from the inside.


    • Oct 12, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 39m AVG DURATION
    • 239 EPISODES

    4.7 from 43 ratings Listeners of How To Be A Better Drinker that love the show mention: alcohols, cocktail, booze, spirits, drinks, drinking, cheers, knowledgeable, informative, entertaining, feel like, every episode, enjoy, different, hosts, guys, great, always, information, new.



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    Latest episodes from How To Be A Better Drinker

    Ep. 235 - A Tribute to Norm MacDonald with Super Fan Riley!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2021 46:00


    The boys are knocking back beverages with Riley aka the Norm MacDonald Super Fan, and discussing Norm's legacy, the I'm Not Norm Youtube channel, and the upcoming celebration of Norm at Gasworks Park in Seattle!

    Ep. 234 - Maker's Mark Private Select

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2021 49:33


    The fellas are sipping Maker's Mark Private Select, and sampling a selection of Arizona beers, courtesy of last week's guest!

    Ep. 233 Dogfish Head Gin!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2021 32:02


    Matt & Justin are joined by Social Distance Drinking Club's Yousef Hawash to contemplate Dogfish Head's gin, the remains of last week's Jeppson's Bourbon, talk mid-week weddings and to bestow an amazing gift on an old friend.

    Ep. 231 - Jeppson's Bourbon

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2021 26:45


    Did you know Jeppson's, makers of the infamous Malort, also made bourbon? Neither did we, until Matt James pulled one out of his bag. It's an interesting little tipple from an unexpected source. Bottoms up!

    HTBABD Ep. 231 - Return Of The Spritzes

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2021 39:09


    The boys are drinking spritzes, giving each other positive affirmations, and wondering why their producer is obsessed with Funco.

    Ep. 230 - Fast Penny Spirits' Adam Fream

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2021 47:45


    The guys are joined by Seattle distillery Fast Penny Spirits rep Adam Fream to talk expressions, tipples, the biz of being a startup and more!

    Ep. 229 - Absinthe Redux

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2021 40:55


    The boys are revisiting an old friend, the oft-misunderstood and oft-maligned absinthe. No ears were lost in the making of this episode.

    Ep. 228 - The Liquor Biz with Andy McClellan

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2021 70:06


    The boys are tipping back some tasty adult beverages with one of the Seattle bar industry's stalwarts, Andy McClellan, a man who has worked behind the bar, behind the scenes and a few other places. He's talking his history with Matt, his history in the biz and all the stories that go with it.

    Ep. 225 - Roquette's Eric Hakkinen

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2021 48:08


    The fellas are tipping back a few with the owner of one of America's best bars (according to GQ), Erik Hakkinen of Seattle's Roquette!

    Ep. 224 - A Revue Of New Gins

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2021 34:12


    With Justin on a secret mission to bring back the head of Jared Leto, Matt and Producer Keith review some new gins.

    HTBABD Ep. 225 - Peanut Butter Whiskey

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2021 32:45


    We've decided to suffer so you don't have to: the boys are sampling Peanut Butter Whiskey. Thank us later.

    HTBABD Ep. 224 - Maker's Mark 101

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2021 39:47


    As the world starts to open up, the fellas are starting to venture back out into the world, and what better way to get back in the groove than the surprisingly tasty and respectable Maker's Mark 101.

    Ep. 223 - Freeland Gin!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2021 40:56


    The fellas are sitting down with a bottle of gin from one of the few women-led distilleries in the region. Freeland Gin tastes like feminism, delicious, delicious feminism. We're kidding. It tastes like gin. A quite good gin. Dig find out why you should be sipping something progressive.

    Ep. 222 - Don Q Rum & The Willows Inn Article

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2021 41:40


    The fellas are sipping on nostalgic bottle this week, Don Q rum which it turns out is the family well rum from Justin's childhood. Along with the Puerto Rican spirit, the boys are joined by their producer and ex-cook Keith to talk about the recent article in the NY Times that exposed an iconic PNW restaurant as being toxic and creepy AF.

    Ep. 221 - Pivots & Pandemics w. Maxwell Bennett Of Rocco's

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2021 41:17


    Matt sits down with Maxwell Bennett, the bar manager of Rocco's Pizza, one of Seattle's favorite upscale drinks & slices spots. He breaks down what they've been doing to survive the pandemic, takeout food, takeout booze and why being nimble is a learning process.

    Ep. 220 - Moonshine 101 W. Brad Feather

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2021 49:14


    The fellas aren't sipping moonshine, but they have certified smart person and moonshine expert Brad Feather on the podcast to give everyone Moonshine 101!

    Ep. 219 - Fermented Seaweed Fortified Wine

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2021 31:11


    The boys are sipping fermented seaweed fortified wine. Say that three times fast...jump in, it's a weird one.

    Ep. 218 - Argentinian Malbec

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2021 31:11


    The boys are sipping on Argentinian Malbec, talking space wine, Aliens vs. Jeff Bezos, Drizzly's $1 billion acquisition, and an all-time favorite celebrity drinking story.

    Ep. 217 - Drinking With The Devil!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2021 36:37


    This episode guaranteed to bring back bad memories and maybe help you create some new ones! The boys are sipping through a variety of beverages that one might turn to in their lowest moments!

    Ep. 215 - Georgetown Brewing's Reid Spencer!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2021 37:17


    The fellas welcome brewer Reid Spencer of Georgetown Brewing to the show to talk how they navigated the Pandemic, how the Keanu Reeves classic Point Break has influenced the brand and GB evolved out of one of the PNW's iconic microbrew labels.

    Ep. 215 - A Survey Of Sour Beer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2021 38:04


    The fellas are taking a whirlwind survey of the sour beer landscape, sipping on a variety of brews and opining on what makes them tasty, and unique. Bottoms up!

    Ep. 214 - Uncle Nearest Tenessee Whiskey W. Sailor Guevara

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2021 46:48


    The fellas are excited to be joined by 2020 Whiskey Icon of the Year, Sailor Guevara, the PNW brand rep for the coolest whiskey company in Tennessee, Uncle Nearest! Get the backstory on how a Black guy is responsible for not only the Jack Daniels taste, but the Lincoln County Process that every bourbon has to go through to be considered Tennessee whiskey!

    Ep. 213 - Seattle History, Re-Opening & Celebrity Service Stories

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2021 61:10


    Returning guest Eric Hakkinen, the brains behind Seattle's Roquette drops by to tell stories about coming up in the glory days of the Seattle cocktail scene, the challenges of re-opening in the middle of a pandemic, and trades stories with the boys about celebrity service moments.

    Ep. 212 - Roku Gin

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2021 26:43


    The boys are sipping Roku gin and opining on the beauty of Japanese gin and the merits of gin in general.

    Ep. 211 - Olympia Beer w. Andras Jones Of The World Is Wrong!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2021 67:38


    We're joined by actor and podcaster Andras Jones to talk about the death of Oly beer, Oly's IMDB profile, and movies we think the world is wrong about!

    Ep. 210 - Home Bar Pt. 3 - The Conclusion

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2021 56:36


    The fellas are recapping their first two chapters of the Home Bar series, and digging into all the rest of the things any self-respecting booze aficionado should have in a complete home bar!

    Ep. 209 - Old Tub Bourbon, R.I.P. The Standard LA

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2021 35:11


    Matt has managed to get his hands on the recently available, brand new Jim Beam expression Old Tub bourbon, and he and Justin have some very nice things to say about it. And in sadder news, we mourn the loss of a Los Angeles icon as The Standard LA announces their decision to close down for good.

    Ep. 208 - What We Want from 2021 w. Bobby Stills & Yousef Hawash

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2021 62:44


    With the dumpster fire of 2020 behind us, Matt and Justin sit down with Producer Keith, the inimitable Bobby Stills and a late appearance from Social Distance Drinking Club's Yousef Hawash to talk about what they hope to see out of the industry in 2021, what they're looking forward to as the industry recovers, and whether "normal" will ever be a thing again.

    Ep. 207 - Jaegermeister w. Bar Manager Extraordinaire Tom Kneeland

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2021 53:27


    We were waiting for the right guest to break out our dark mistress, and bar manager extraordinaire Tom Kneeland fits the bill! One of Seattle's most experienced bar managers, and the guy who introduced Matt and Justin in the first place, Kneeland has had a hand in some of Seattle's most iconic spots. Take a long trip down memory lane with original nightmare fuel!

    Ep. 206 - F*** 2020 w. Mad Dog 20/20 & the Return of Hildenbiddle

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2021 48:12


    There was only one libation fit to send off the dumpster fire that was 2020: The infamous MD 20/20! Plus the return of Hildenbiddle, our fondest wishes for the year ahead, and few spiffy jingles!

    Ep. 205 Pin Hook Bourbon + Home Bar Pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2021 46:40


    Matt managed to find a bourbon Justin didn't have, so tonight they pop his Pin Hook Bourbon cherry! Plus the fellas are on Pt. 2 of their Home Bar Series, this time around, it's focusing on vodkas and its cousins.

    HTBABD 204 - Captain Morgan's + Home Bar Basics Pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 45:08


    The fellas are drinking Captain Morgan's, a perfectly serviceable spiced rum with a shady history. Plus they're breaking down the basics of what you need in a home bar, this week focused on whiskeys. Bottoms Up!

    HTBABD 203 - Hot Buttered Rum!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2020 38:32


    The boys are smack dab in the holiday spirit, so what better way to acknowledge it than a holiday spirit? They're knocking back Matt's signature hot buttered rum mix (Justin's using whiskey, but we forgive him). There's also a holiday bottle guide for those of you in need of ideas, and we've got some news from the Japanese whisky world. Bottoms up!

    HTBABD 202 - Wild Turkey, Drunk w. the Kids and the Del Griffith

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2020 38:15


    Happy Thanksgiving, friends! We're knocking back the most holiday appropriate thing we could find: Wild Turkey! Plus our buddy Yousef from the Social Distance Drink Club is dropping in, find out why the kids are putting tampons in their butts, and find out which Canadian Justin Freet has named his new cocktail after!

    HTBABD 201 - Ezra Brooks Rye, Jay's Manhattan & Booze News

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2020 32:31


    From the depths of the the liquor store's bargain bin, Justin rescued a bottle of Ezra Brooks Rye. Was it a smart choice? Well, it's an interesting story involving Jack Daniels and lawsuits, and the concoction he whips up with it is pretty good, so we'll let you judge. We're also talking Elon Musk's Teslaquila. Bottoms up!

    HTBABD 200 - 4 Pillars Gin, Pandemics and a Toast To A Fallen Friend

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2020 43:00


    We're not saying we're stressed, but the election still isn't over over, the pandemic is roaring back like a drunken whoo girl, the bars are shutting down again, quite frankly it's been challenging week. But we have 4 Pillars Gin. So we'll be alright. Plus Matt James pays tribute to and toasts a fallen industry friend. It's emotional and messy, but that is the world we live in right now.

    HTBABD 199 - Elections, Bill Murray And Hibiki Whiskey

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2020 39:30


    The boys are dealing with election anxiety like responsible adults. They're drinking themselves silly on Japanese whisky, discussing the genius of Bill Murray and his role in making Japanese whisky big in America, and enjoying the dying gasps of a very weird presidency.

    HTBABD 198 - Noah's Mill Bourbon and a Pandemic Plea For The Blue Moon Tavern

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2020 35:27


    The boys are sipping bourbon and talking whiskey, it's short and sweet this week, with a few jokes, a few laughs and plea for help from one of Seattle's most iconic dive bars. Fuck Covid.

    HTBABD 197 - The Red Bull Edition

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2020 59:41


    From the back of a Thai taxi, to canoodling with vodka in a glass in your hand, Red Bull is as ubiquitous as any booze in the beverage industry. A marvel of branding and caffeine, Red Bull created their own category in the beverage industry, and through a savvy and relentless marketing campaign, became the go to mixer when you want to get mashed, but still want to be able to run a hundred yard dash in heels.

    HTBABD 196 - Dewar'th

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2020 40:45


    An iconic brand, a mainstay on any shelf, and one whose name begs for a lisp, Dewar's is a classic bottle, and it's about damn time the fellas downed some.

    HTBABD 195 - Cuauhtmoc Moctezuma Beer

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2020 33:48


    Mexican beer. It's what's for dinner. But really, the boys dive in to one of Mexico's biggest brewers, exploring some brands and getting a little tipsy. Bottoms up!

    HTBABD 194 - Surviving The Pandemic W. Brad Feather Of Bradley's Kina Tonics

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2020 48:39


    Brad Feather of Bradley's Kina Tonics drops by the virtual studio for a talk about how he's surviving the pandemic, some spikes in sales related to things our idiot president said, and why he doesn't necessarily have the cure for the corona virus.

    HTBABD 193 - Exploring Bitters!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2020 38:31


    Matt and Justin are diving face first in the world of bitters, running through some of the more popular options and talking about why it is they are so awesome in the first place. Plus, Justin admits he's been shooting straight bitters lately, so we got that going for us, which is nice!

    HTBABD 192 - Beers & Hops Education W. Stoup Brewing's Meg Bragg!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2020 53:09


    The fellas are joined by the inimitable Meg Bragg, brewer's assistant at Stoup Brewing to talk about how she helped shape a young Matt James into the bartender he is today, the wonderful array of tasty beverages available from Stoup Brewing, and she gives us an education on hops!

    HTBABD 191 - Rainier Gin & The History Of Gin Pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2020 50:53


    This week we're wrapping up the History of Gin, and to help lubricate the brain boxes, the boys are sipping on a relatively new gin from a company that you wouldn't ordinarily think of as "Hey, those guys make gin!" And honestly, we're a little surprised by how decent it is, given their main products reputation for being

    HTBABD 190 - Genever & The History Of Gin Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2020 42:27


    Matt went and got all fancy hipster on us this week, digging up a bottle of Genever, which is what gin was before it was something all the cool kids did, and he's got a fascinating history of gin to go along with it as he and Justin quaff drams of historical coolness.

    HTBABD 189 - Remy Martin

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2020 45:53


    The fellas are getting fancy with Remy, discussing it's nuances, it's history, how it relates to armagnac, and why the surprising connection that flavored congac has to the PNW!

    HTBABD 188 - Belgian Beer!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2020 45:27


    The fellas are sipping whiskey and Belgian beer, including some interesting trivia about the history of Belgium, why it exists as it does, and great lengths the Belgians go to to make their tasty beverages. Plus some news about the hardest drinking town in Washington.

    HTBABD 187 - Boodles Gin

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2020 40:23


    It's oodles and oodles of Boodles! The gin we mean. Matt and Justin are swilling gin and shooting whiskey, discussing the peculiar lack of citrus in Boodles and the tonics they love to pair it with. Bottoms up!

    HTBADB 186 - Skol Vodka

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2020 43:51


    Quarantine drinking can be expensive, so the fellas are sitting down with a bottle of the reasonably priced Skol Vodka, to reminisce on how Justin came to fall in love with its humble excellence, play a rousing round of "Is It Real?" and muddle through this week's Booze News!

    HTBABD 185 - Buzz Balls

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2020 35:53


    The boys are slumming it this week, but only a little. Because despite it's humble appearance, the Buzz Ball is actually the story of how one woman earned her MBA. Plus it seems to make the fellas a little loose.

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