Life Behind Bars

Gin has been a bartending fixture for hundreds of years and stars in countless famous cocktail recipes. On this special episode of Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk about gin's roots and how the spirit has evolved and kept current for centuries—including during the modern cocktail renaissance. Sebastien Derbomez, manager of brand advocacy for William Grant & Sons, joins in on the discussion to explore where gin might head next and what parts of the world will help lead the category. This chat is inspired by entries found in the brand-new book The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails, which features more than 1,100 entries from 150 expert contributors. So fix yourself a gin cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full's editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 and the 2021 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The launch of Grand Marnier in the late 1800s helped to establish a new standard for luxury liquor brands. The Cognac-and-orange liqueur also inspired the creation of several delicious cocktails, including the original version of the Bijou. On this special episode of Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the origin of Grand Marnier, why citrus was so sought-after at the time, and the important role Paris played in creating global trends. This discussion is inspired by entries in Wondrich and Rothbaum's brand-new book, The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails, which features more than 1,100 entries from 150 expert contributors. So fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full's editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 and the 2021 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Everyone has heard at least one story about how the Margarita came to be—at last count, there were seven credible origin stories. On this special episode of Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum explore the possible stories behind the Margarita's invention, as well as a groundbreaking advertising campaign by José Cuervo that made the drink a household name. This discussion is inspired by entries in Wondrich and Rothbaum's brand-new book, The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails, which features more than 1,100 entries from 150 expert contributors. So fix yourself a Margarita and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full's editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 and the 2021 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Negroni and the Americano are perennial favorites of professional and amateur bartenders around the world. But when were these classic cocktail recipes created? And how did Italy's bar culture become a sensation? On this special episode of Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum delve into the backstory of these drinks and the important cocktail connection between America and Italy. Their discussion was inspired by entries in their brand-new book, the Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails, which features more than 1,100 entries from 150 expert contributors. So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full's editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 and the 2021 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For nearly ten years, Life Behind Bars co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum have been working on a special project: The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails. A few weeks ago, the nearly 900-page book debuted with more than 1,100 entries from 150 contributors. On this special episode, Wondrich and Rothbaum take you behind the scenes of this massive book to talk about how it came to be and how they put it together. This kicks off a short mini-series of episodes inspired by the Oxford Companion. So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full's editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 and the 2021 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rye whiskey beguiles the palate with a range of slow-to-reveal flavors. The same could be said of the spirit's long and complex history, which continues to delight (and frustrate) modern distillers, historians and journalists. On this special live episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum assemble a panel of rye-whiskey luminaries: Nicole Austin, general manager and distiller for Cascade Hollow, home of George Dickel; Todd Leopold, co-founder of Leopold Bros. Distillery; and Allen Katz, co-founder of the New York Distilling Company. Listen to this rye-whiskey summit to learn about the spirit's fascinating history, the rebirth of heritage rye grains, and the new George Dickel & Leopold Bros. Collaboration Blend, which revives the tradition of blending rye whiskey made on a three chamber still with rye whiskey made on a column still. So pour yourself a glass of rye whiskey and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full's editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 and the 2021 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The rebirth of the cocktail started in big cities, including New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. But over the last few years, smaller markets have arguably made the biggest bartending strides. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by chef Cheetie Kumar and bartender John Gertsen from the acclaimed restaurant Garland in Raleigh, North Carolina. Kumar and Gertsen share their fascinating life stories and how they came to live and work in the Tar Heel State. So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full's editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 and the 2021 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

People have been writing about drinks as long as they've been enjoying them. And with the rebirth of the cocktail during the last 20 years, prices for vintage drinks books have risen dramatically and bargains are much harder to find. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by two experts—antiquarian bookseller Lizzy Young and Oxford-educated sociologist and Pomp & Whimsy Gin Liqueur founder Dr. Nicola Nice—to talk about cocktail book collecting and some newly discovered and undervalued volumes. (Yes, drinks books exist that even Dave and Noah haven't read) So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full's editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 and the 2021 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Single malt Irish whiskey is in distiller Darryl McNally's blood. His ancestors made the historic spirit for centuries in Ireland. Now he's trying to rebuild his family's Limavady distillery at the northern tip of the island.On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by McNally to talk about his project and his new sherry cask–finished single malt Irish whiskey that just launched in the United States. The trio also chats about the McNally family's long and spirited history, the state of Irish single malt and his plans for the Limavady brand.So pour yourself a dram of whiskey and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full's editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From bartenders to craft spirits brands to liquor behemoths, everyone seems to be launching a new canned cocktail these days. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by acclaimed Half Full columnist Wayne Curtis to discuss the historic roots of these pre-mixed beverages. (Spoiler alert: They've been around in some form for about 150 years.) The trio also talks about some of their favorite canned cocktails, the ground rules for picking new ones to try, and how these drinks will transform the bar world. So pop open a canned cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full's editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Forget wine. Forget vodka. Forget tequila. Celebrities are starting American whiskey brands. Over the last few years, quite a few professional athletes, actors and musicians began selling bourbon or rye. Is a whiskey brand the new ultimate celebrity status symbol? On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by retired tennis champion Andy Roddick and master blender Marianne Eaves from Sweetens Cove Tennessee Bourbon. The brand, which is named for a public golf course in Tennessee that has a cult following, was started by an all-star group that includes NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. So far, Eaves has blended barrels of whiskey to create two batches of Sweetens Cove. Roddick and Eaves talk about the challenges of sourcing high-quality whiskey and their plans for the brand. So pour yourself a whiskey and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full's editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Whether you love it or hate it, it's hard to escape the Long Island Iced Tea. The enduringly popular guilty pleasure—which calls for a potent combination of white spirits, triple sec, sweet and sour mix, and cola—was invented in a bar on New York's Long Island for a cocktail competition. It first became a sensation in clubs and bars around the area and then across the country. Ultimately, it become one of the signature drinks of the 1970s On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum delve into the history and pitfalls of this drink, as well as what the original recipe actually called for. So fix yourself a Long Island Iced Tea (if you dare) and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full's editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's hard enough to make a round of four delicious classic cocktails on a slow night for a couple of regulars. Now imagine trying to make them on stage in front of a screaming crowd for a group of prestigious judges prepared to critique them—out loud. This scenario, which is the stuff of nightmares for many, describes the global and charitable all-female cocktail competition Speed Rack. It's not all about creating perfectly crafted cocktails in record time: The efforts of the bartenders competing in this ultra-challenging test of speed and accuracy help raise funds for breast cancer research. It has raised more than a million dollars in its ten years. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, Speed Rack co-founders Ivy Mix and Lynnette Marrero join co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum to look back on the competition's first decade, how it has evolved and what its future holds. (Mix's twin sister Tess Mix works for the Daily Beast.) So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full's editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nick Offerman should not be confused with Ron Swanson, the character he played on the hit show Parks and Recreation. But the two share at least one thing in common: A love for Lagavulin Single Malt Scotch Whisky. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, Offerman joins co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum to talk about the latest Offerman Edition of Lagavulin, the possibility of a whiskey barrel project on his crafting show Making It and how he has Chris Pratt to thank for his first trip to Islay, Scotland. So fix yourself a Scotch and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full's editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's been one hell of a year for bartenders and bar owners. Now that America is starting to reopen, bars are trying to navigate this new post-COVID world while dealing with industry burn-out, labor shortages, evolving business plans and changing drink trends. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the changing landscape for the bar industry with Robin Nance, portfolio trade engagement manager for Beam Suntory, and Jeffrey Morgenthaler, award-winning bartender, Half Full columnist and author of The Bar Book and Drinking Distilled. So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this important episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full's editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Can the flavor of a whiskey reflect the place where it's made? How about the people who produced it? Distillers around the globe are exploring the idea of terroir, experimenting with locally grown heirloom grains, and making barrels from regional species of oak. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss this movement and its feasibility with Half Full columnist Lew Bryson and Westland Whiskey's co-founder and master distiller Matt Hofmann. So pour yourself a glass of craft whiskey and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full's editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Martini is the most famous drink. Its signature glass is equally iconic and perhaps even more ubiquitous. But the world of cocktail glassware is vast and there are all kinds of supposed rules for using each style and type. So where did all of these traditions and customs come from? And does it actually matter if you use an elegant coupe or a jam jar for your Daiquiri? On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk about the history of cocktail glasses and their evolution. They also weigh in on the veracity of some of the strictest rules drinkers and bartenders have invented about glassware. So pour yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full's editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Love it or hate it, the Piña Colada is one of the most popular cocktails in the world. But it’s been largely forgotten by craft bartenders. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by tropical drinks expert Jeff “Beachbum” Berry from acclaimed New Orleans bar Latitude 29. The three talk about the history of the Piña Colada, its rise in popularity and Berry’s recipe for it. So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars now. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast. Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nobody has ever accused Milk Street founder Christopher Kimball of being indifferent. Viewers of his acclaimed PBS television show and readers of his newsletter and books are accustomed to his strong opinions on cooking and ingredients, as well as his fascinating stories of eating and drinking around the world. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, Kimball joins co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum to give his pointed takes on his favorite drink the Old-Fashioned and the benefits of sticking with just one cocktail, along with where he’ll be traveling this summer. So fix yourself an Old-Fashioned and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars now. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From important still designs to the real reason why distillers began charring barrels, many important details of bourbon history are often missing from modern accounts of the spirit. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk about some of the most interesting American whiskey discoveries they have made over the years—including six varieties of so-called “Kentucky whiskey” made back in 1870 that are no longer available today—and how those findings have changed their view of spirits history. So pour yourself a glass of bourbon and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The greatest bartenders in the world bring disparate ingredients and flavors together to create new cocktails—and they do it seemingly with ease. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk about the art of cocktail creativity and how the pros make it look so easy. They also offer advice and tips from their own lives to help inspire you to experiment with some new drinks. So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Never mind Pappy Van Winkle and Sazerac 18-Year-Old Rye Whiskey: Some of the most sought-after bottles of liquor are the dusty, obscure ones hiding on liquor store shelves and in the back of home liquor cabinets. Over the last few years, bartenders and drinks enthusiasts alike have become increasingly interested in locating forgotten bottles that are like a shot of liquid history. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk about how the trend started and suggest a few notable vintage bottles that might still be out there. They also share some of their favorite experiences drinking decades-old spirits. So fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From the cocktails to the speakeasies to The Great Gatsby, there are few periods in history as celebrated in modern culture as the Roaring Twenties. As we look forward to the end of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s worth exploring how the Roaring Twenties followed the last global pandemic: the 1918 Spanish Flu. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum examine this joyous decade and set the record straight on a number of common misconceptions about it. Spoiler Alert: It was not the golden age for cocktails. So fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You can buy bourbon as young as a few years old and as old as 30 years. But what is the perfect age? Half Full columnist and whiskey authority Lew Bryson tried to answer this question in a recent article he wrote, which went viral. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, Bryson joins co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum to talk about what inspired his piece. The trio also share their own preferred bourbon age and how they ferret out American whiskey bargains. So pour yourself a whiskey and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dan Aykroyd can make you laugh at any moment. His comedic sense of timing, of course, has been honed from his years on Saturday Night Live and his roles in a long list of smash-hit movies, including Ghostbusters, Spies Like Us and the Blues Brothers. But when it comes to his Crystal Head Vodka brand, he’s as educational as he is entertaining. This is no vanity project or fluffy celebrity endorsement. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, Aykroyd joins co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum to talk about the latest release from Crystal Head, the bars he ran with John Belushi in New York and the early days of the House of Blues. So mix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Thankfully 2020 is finally drawing to a close.On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss what they are planning to drink during the rest of the year and the appeal of starting the new year out with a run.They are also joined by Knob Creek® ambassadors Amanda Gunderson and Tim Heuisler to chat about a new jogging program for professional bartenders that they are helping to organize, which starts on February 28 and lasts for 12 weeks.The 100 bartenders from across the country will be split into four teams and trained by a top running coach. The goal is for everyone to be able to run a 9K, a 12K or a 15K distance on May 22. (These distances, naturally, honor the three main ages of Knob Creek® Bourbon.)Bartenders can start signing up for the program on January 3 and can do so by reaching out on Instagram to brand ambassadors Heuisler (@Theuisler), Gunderson (@CaliforniaBourbonGirl), Adam Harris (@MrAdamHarris) and Beth Burrows (@BourbonBella).So fix yourself a whiskey cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We have all certainly earned a decadent treat this holiday season. While you could whip up a big bowl of Eggnog, there’s another traditional (and no-less rich) concoction we recommend: Hot Buttered Rum. This delicious mix of dark rum, hot water and—you guessed it—butter is historic and delightfully appropriate for the season.On this episode of the podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by award-winning Half Full columnist Wayne Curtis to debate the different methods of making Hot Buttered Rum and to discuss why rum has historically played such a significant role in holiday drinks and desserts.So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Scotland has claimed ownership of single malt whiskey for years. But the spirit is now made around the world, including in the U.S., which boasts a thriving industry of its own. Can Scotland maintain its supremacy in the face of ever more competition? On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Matt Hoffman, co-founder, managing director, and head distiller of Westland Whiskey; Becky Paskin, award-winning Half Full columnist; and Iain McPherson, pioneering Edinburgh-based bartender and bar owner. While enjoying a glass of whiskey, the panelists discussed if American single malt could ever rival—or even surpass—Scotch. So pour yourself a glass of single malt whisky and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaumand its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrichas they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast. Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In December of 1935, America’s whiskey industry was on life support.While Prohibition was finally over, the future for distillers was, to say the least, incredibly bleak. After 13 long years of being out of business, would people still want to drink bourbon and rye? Would the Great Depression ever end? Would the temperance movement succeed in getting Prohibition reinstated?In the midst of these turbulent times, entrepreneurs saw an opportunity. The Shapira family, which ran a small chain of five-and-dime stores across Kentucky, took a leap of faith and invested in a nascent whiskey business.On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Max Shapira, president of Heaven Hill, to talk about how his family built one of America’s largest independent whiskey companies and turned Evan Williams and Elijah Craig bourbons and Rittenhouse Rye into best sellers.So pour yourself a glass of whiskey and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It takes courage to create cocktails with older whiskies, but it’s more than worth the effort.To help you overcome your fears of ruining a dram, on this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum share some tips and advice for using mature spirits in mixed drinks along with a chaser of spirited history.They are also joined by Knob Creek® ambassadors Amanda Gunderson and Tim Heuisler who offer insights and their favorite recipes featuring older bourbons.So fix yourself a whiskey cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For far too long, hot cocktails have been lumped in with dessert drinks and made increasingly sweeter with honey, sugar, cider and even ice cream. But the classic recipes for these steaming concoctions are, in fact, not overly sweet—and quite delicious. So delicious, in fact, that it’s time to give hot cocktails another shot.On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the origins of these warming cocktails and how they have evolved over time, as well as share their favorite recipes for the Hot Toddy, Hot Buttered Rum and Irish Coffee.So mix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Once upon a time, there were bourbon drinkers and there were rye whiskey drinkers. You couldn’t be both.When the rye industry fell apart in the second half of the 20th century and its distilleries, located in the mid-Atlantic states, faltered and ultimately disappeared, an unexpected savior stepped in: bourbon distillers. As a result, rye has been made in the heart of Kentucky bourbon country for decades.On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Knob Creek© Bourbon ambassadors Beth Burrows and Adam Harris to talk about this astonishing American whiskey story.So pour yourself a glass of rye or bourbon and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dale DeGroff is a storyteller, teacher, mentor, bon vivant and consummate host. He is also responsible for changing how people around the world drink by starting the modern golden age of cocktails.On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by DeGroff to talk about the new edition of his seminal book, The Craft of the Cocktail, and what’s next for cocktails and spirits.So fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The coronavirus pandemic has managed to affect nearly every facet of life in America. Bars are certainly not exempt and the industry will find itself dealing with the repercussions of the pandemic for years to come. So how will this unprecedented period change the layout of bars and how they function? On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Alexis Brown from Chicago, Ivy Mix from New York, and Jeffrey Morgenthaler from Portland, Oregon—about what the near future holds. So mix yourself a drink and listen to this important episode of Life Behind Bars: What I’ve Learned. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

During times like these, how are bars across the country changing their drinks menus? Is it better to go with tried-and-true classics or to offer innovative and creative concoctions?On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Claire Sprouse from New York, Erick Castro from San Diego and Omar Yeefoon from Dallas—about what folks want to drink now and how the pandemic has changed the thought process behind putting together menus. So mix yourself a drink and listen to this important episode of Life Behind Bars: What I’ve Learned. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If hiring, training and managing a staff is one of the hardest parts of running a bar, try doing it during a pandemic.On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Ryan Fitzgerald from San Francisco, Anu Apte from Seattle and Derek Brown from Washington, D.C.—about their experiences during the coronavirus pandemic and how their roles and management styles have evolved. So mix yourself a drink and listen to this important episode of Life Behind Bars: What I’ve Learned. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If there was ever a time to have a glass of bourbon, now is it. Back in 2007, Congress passed a resolution declaring September National Bourbon Heritage Month. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Trey Zoeller, founder of Jefferson’s Bourbon, to talk about why the month-long holiday was created and how to properly celebrate it.So fix yourself a glass of bourbon and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Thanks to coronavirus closures, cities across the country have now allowed bars and restaurants to offer customers to-go drinks.On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Karl Franz Williams from New York, Christine Wiseman from Los Angeles, and Andrew Volk from Maine—about this important change in the bar industry. They discuss the new-found skills required to create to-go cocktails, as well as which drinks are (and aren’t) selling out.So mix yourself a drink and listen to this important episode of Life Behind Bars: What I’ve Learned. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Bartenders and bar owners are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. And one of the greatest challenges facing them today is getting their customers to wear face masks. On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Neal Bodenheimer from New Orleans, Alex Jump from Denver and Masa Urushido from New York—about this important issue. They discuss how patrons have reacted to wearing masks in their establishments and offer advice on how to conduct these occasionally fraught conversations.So mix yourself a drink and listen to this important episode of Life Behind Bars: What I’ve Learned. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Martini and the Manhattan are two of the bedrock drinks that hold up the entire world of cocktails. While both have their own lore, mythology and fans, they in fact may be essentially the same drink. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the origins of both drinks and how they evolved into distinct recipes. So mix yourself a Manhattan or a Martini and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Garrett Oliver, the head brewer at the Brooklyn Brewery. He recently became the founding board chair of the new Michael Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling, which is named for the late legendary beer and whiskey writer. They discuss with Oliver his organization’s scholarship and mentorship program for black, indigenous, and people of color, and how he hopes these grants will shape the next generation of distillers and brewers in America. So, fix yourself a drink and listen to this important episode of Life Behind Bars. Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The coronavirus has the potential to decimate bars across America. Already a number of well-known establishments have announced that they won’t reopen and many others are struggling to stay afloat during these challenging times. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Nate Whitehouse, co-founder of Thirst, to talk about his organization’s efforts to get insurance companies and the federal government to help bars stay in business. So, fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, the co-hosts of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, share the bars they wish were still open: From a pioneering 18th-century punch house to Jerry Thomas’ legendary New York bar to Dale DeGroff shaking up drinks in the Rainbow Room to the recently closed Pegu Club. Their virtual bar crawl across centuries and continents covers the establishments that they have long dreamt of visiting, as well as some modern personal favorites that are no more. Which bars do you wish you could go back in time to check out? Let the hosts know on Twitter. So, mix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After months of sheltering in place, David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, co-hosts of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, are daydreaming about visiting their favorite bars around the world.Listen in as they plan a bar crawl for the ages, which will hit New York, New Orleans, Detroit, Miami, Havana, Tequila, London, Paris and spots in between. Did they miss your favorite establishment? Let the hosts know on Twitter what bar you’d like to visit right now. So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After weeks of being closed for a mandatory coronavirus shutdown, bars in New Orleans have begun to reopen with limited capacity. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Neal Bodenheimer, owner of James Beard Award-winning Nola bar Cure, to talk about his recent experiences reopening and the challenges that he’s had to overcome. So fix yourself a Sazerac and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, liquor store sales are up across the country with many folks fixing cocktails at home. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the return of America’s nightly cocktail hour and what people are mixing up. They also discuss the long-term effects of the coronavirus on the bar industry and how it might change after this pandemic is finished. So mix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What happens when two committed bar flies can’t go to a bar? Find out on this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars. While sheltering in place at their respective homes, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the history of drinking during plagues and some of the cocktail cures that were created and popularized. (Spoiler alert: Rock and Rye doesn’t actually protect you from tuberculosis.) So fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From the Hurricane to the Hand Grenade to the Shark Attack, some of the world’s most potent cocktails call Bourbon Street home. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the drinking culture of this famous New Orleans street. They are joined by acclaimed Half Full columnist and NOLA resident Wayne Curtis to discuss these infamous drinks and their creators. So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editorNoah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks ColumnistDavid Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast. Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You should really have a whiskey today—but better make it a bottled-in-bond whiskey. Why? Congress enacted the Bottled-in-Bond Act on March 3, 1897, which set a new standard for American whiskey and ushered in a new era of consumer protections. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, discuss the history of these important federal regulations and their modern implications. Wondrich and Rothbaum are joined by Beau Beckman, who runs the single-barrel program at Sazerac and is a descendant of bottled-in-bond advocate E.H. Taylor. So pour yourself a dram of bottled-in-bond whiskey and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast. Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Having trouble figuring out what to order in a craft cocktail bar? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. From exotic ingredients to wildly creative new concoctions, even for drinks experts picking a cocktail can be overwhelming at times. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, discuss the problems of the modern drinks menu and how to fix them. They also talk about how the perfect balance between classic cocktails and new creations is essential for developing the next generation of best sellers. So before you head out to the bar for a drink, listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast. Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Last fall, we lost award-winning drinks writer Gary Regan. He wrote numerous pioneering books, including "The Joy of Mixology," "The Bartender’s Bible" and "The Negroni," in addition to writing a column for Half Full and several other publications. Gary also traveled the globe educating, inspiring and entertaining a whole generation of bartenders, and that’s not to mention finger stirring thousands of Negronis! On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum celebrate Gary’s life and work and share some of their favorite stories about him. They are joined by legendary bartenders Dale DeGroff and Julie Reiner who were some of Gary’s closest friends. So make yourself a Negroni and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast. Edited by Alex Skjong See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.