Speaking Easy - A Cocktail Podcast

It’s been a year (to the day), but the Speaking Easy Podcast is coming to you live through the airwaves again! First, Merry Christmas to those who celebrate. To those who don’t but still have the day off, a merry day of drinkin’ to you! To those of you who … The post Episode #107 – We’re Back – A Year Older, Not Wiser appeared first on Speaking Easy.

It’s the conclusion of another great year of the Speaking Easy Podcast, and we got into what’s become an annual tradition—having a one or two too many (which, believe it or not, is not our normal “being a better drinker” and having a conversation to ramble off our favorite episodes of the year, what we learned, and what we’re looking forward to. The post Episode #106 – Year Two in Review (Plus a Major Announcement) appeared first on Speaking Easy.

This was a fun one for us to record, and it was the first time we recorded with a live audience! We had Jeff on our show the first time fairly early and he trusted us enough to a) hang out with us off the air and b) come back on the show. The post #105 – Jeff Cioletti and The Drinkable Globe appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Well, it must be of great surprise that we’d willingly and not compelled by a court somewhere submit ourselves to a vodka tasting, based on how we’ve typically treated vodka on this show. But when our good friend Eric Kozlik, the Chief Executive Officer and Supremely Cool Dude of the Modern Bar Cart, invites us along for a tasting of vodkas of strange origins, we’re at least game to play nicely for a little bit. The post #104 – Vodka Tasting with Modern Bar Cart appeared first on Speaking Easy.

This week Alex & Jordan answer a question we’ve gotten for our entire 2 years, and only ever answered in spurts: what bottle should I pick up? And we try to answer that question with a few of our favorite recurring bottles from our bars. The post Ep #103 – Stocking a Home Bar – Bottle Recommendations appeared first on Speaking Easy.

We know, we know—we haven’t done a wine episode. And this still isn’t it. But we felt that we owed our listeners some version of an episode dedicated to the fruit of the vine, in addition to our Sangria episode, and so we hope we came through with winetails. The post Episode #102 – Winetails or Wine Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

While Alex really wanted to call this “Holiday-Drinkin’ #2 – Festive Boogaloo” in honor of the best movie about dancing ever (Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo), here is our second edition of Holiday cocktails. Seasons drinking! The post Episode #101 – Holiday Cocktails – Second Edition appeared first on Speaking Easy.

We’re turning 100! No, that’s not about our age, but this is the Speaking Easy Podcast’s 100th episode! We’re so glad to have made it here, so we are celebrating—with dessert! Dessert cocktails can be a great punctuation to a great meal or a momentous occasion. The post Episode #100 – Dessert Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Blair Reynolds is a devoted drink aficionado and an innovative bartender and a well-loved bar owner based in Portland, Oregon. His dedication to sharing his passion for tropical libations and tiki culture is unmatched. The post Episode #099 – Interview with Blair Reynolds appeared first on Speaking Easy.

notes The post Episode #098 – Salt and Pepper Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

It’s the SPOOKIEST time of the year—and we’re throwing parties! Classing it up a bit can be a bit of a task, but we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeve. The post Episode #097 – Halloween Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Amaretto is a sweet, almond-flavored, Italian liqueur associated with Saronno, Italy (thus the name for one of the most popular brands, Disaronno). Most well-known versions are made from almonds but some are made from a base of apricot pits. The name comes from the Italian “amaro” (which is also a liqueur) meaning “bitter,” thus, amaretto is a “little bitter.” And for any chemists reading this, yes, the cyanide is processed out of the almond prior to being included in the liqueur. The post Episode #096 – Amaretto Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

notes The post Episode #095 – American Gin appeared first on Speaking Easy.

While we don’t always suggest mixing caffeine and alcohol (Red Bull & Vodka is on the permanent “no way” list), coffee offers an intriguing flavor partner to many drinks. From vermouth to Amari, to all sorts of brown liquors, there’s a lot to offer. The post Episode #094 – Coffee Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

There are a few times when our podcast has allowed us the opportunity to meet someone we've followed and admired for a number of years, whether it's an author, a distiller, or a bartender. To close our group of episodes during Bourbon Heritage Month, we were able to record one of those conversations for this week's episode, a conversation with Michael Veach, one of bourbon's foremost historians and a legend in Bourbon Country. The post Episode #093 – Interview with Bourbon Historian Michael Veach appeared first on Speaking Easy.

In this week’s episode: We chat with Newman Miller, Chef-Owner of Star Hill Provisions at Maker’s Mark Distillery. Newman was born and raised in central Kentucky,  and went to culinary school in Louisville. After several years of cooking in Indiana, Scotland, and Chicago he returned to Kentucky to open his … The post Episode #092 – Interview with Chef Newman Miller appeared first on Speaking Easy.

In this episode we chat with Dave Scheurich, Former Distiller at Woodford Reserve and Whisky Advocate Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, and Lisa Wicker, owner and principal at Saints and Monsters Distillery Consulting. The conversation was a lively one. Maybe even more lively than Alex and Jordan’s debates on simple syrup … The post Episode #091 – Interview with David Scheurich and Lisa Wicker appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Happy Bourbon Heritage Month from the Speaking Easy Crew! We're going full bourbon this month, bringing you several episodes based on our favorite native spirit. Toast with us all month with episodes, amazing guests, and other features. The post Episode #090 – Bourbon Heritage Month appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Where has all the rum gone?! Also, how did it take us until episode 89 to do a pure rum episode? We apologize. The post Episode #089 – Rum and Rum Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

We talk with Emma Janzen, author of Mezcal. Emma is a journalist, photographer, and editor based in Chicago, where she currently works as the digital content editor at Imbibe Magazine. The post Episode #088 – Interview with Emma Janzen appeared first on Speaking Easy.

While a slushie machine is *probably* impractical for the home bartender, frozen drinks are fantastic for hot summer days. The great thing about Frozen cocktails for the home bartender is that you can experiment/hide mistakes easily. The post Episode #087 – Frozen Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

This week on the Speaking Easy Podcast, Alex and Jordan head south for the border, to South America, to visit with one of the great unaged spirits of the globe, Pisco. The post Episode #086 – Pisco Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

While you may know of St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, there are many other excellent brands to explore and more than enough cocktails to try them in. The post Episode #085 – Elderflower Liqueur Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Put on your best sundress or pastel colored slacks and grab a cold Pimm's Cup, before joining us out on the croquet field. No, not a pimp cup, a Pimm's Cup. What is a Pimm's Cup you ask? Let us tell you. The post Episode #084 – Pimm’s Cup Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

This is a bit of a different episode, where Alex and Jordan turn one of their trademarked* phrases, “Research & Drinkin’,” to tackle a little about their process for finding inspiration. The post Episode #083 – The Research of Drinking appeared first on Speaking Easy.

The Gimlet may not make the headlines in terms of gin cocktails, but we think that's undeserved. The post Episode #082 – The Gimlet Cocktail appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Our friend Eric Kozlik started his own podcast, Modern Bar Cart, and asked us to speak on the joys of home bartending and more. He’s been one of the best friends of the podcast that we’ve had, and we’ve enjoyed a few drinks outside of recording. The post Episode #081 – Speaking Easy Gets Interviewed on the Modern Bar Cart Podcast appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Alex and Jordan talk with Matt Seigel, a well-known bartender who got his start at Eleven Madison Park and The NoMad. Now, he is the owner of In The Spirit Of Hospitality. The post Episode #080 – Interview with Matt Seigel appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Are you a good bar-attender? There are a few unofficial (and sometimes official) rules to be a good bar patron. We gathered these from friends who have worked as bartenders and servers in all ranges of bars, from fine craft cocktail establishments to dive bars. The post Episode #079 – Being a Better Bar Patron appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Do you like vodka? No? Neither do we, but it is America's most popular spirit (accounts for approximately one-third of all spirits sales by volume), so we felt obliged to finally talk about it on the show. The post Episode #078- Vodka, Really? appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Negroni Week is a week-long celebration of a great cocktail and an effort to raise money for charities around the world. Learn more about this three-part classic and the many variations. The post Episode #077 – Negroni Cocktail Week and the Many Variations appeared first on Speaking Easy.

The Mai Tai debuted in the 1940’s, as Trader Vic helped Tiki take off in the U.S. and remains one of the most popular tiki drinks. Throw on a Hawaiian shirt and mix yourself a Mai Tai cocktail. The post Episode #076 – Mai Tai Cocktail and Variations appeared first on Speaking Easy.

If you are familiar with sangria, you are most likely most familiar with red wine sangria, but white wine sangria is equally good and worth discovering at home for summer cookouts and mellow Sunday drinking. The post Episode #075 – Sangria appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Oh, Honey! Mead, Drambuie, and other honey cocktails The post Episode #074 – Honey Cocktails and Liqueurs appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Swedish Punsch may sound like the rudest Ikea™ furniture ever, but it's actually a sweet, spicy, savory, rum-like concoction worth having on your home bar. While some of the notes, like caramel, smoke, and toffee, might make you lean towards using it in the fall and winter (which you should), Punsch is just the right ingredient for all seasons with the way it pairs with citrus and other warm weather ingredients. It’s basically a grog that is, traditionally, served warm (a good idea). The post Episode #073 – Swedish Punsch Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Homemade liqueurs can be an easy and inexpensive way to take your home bartending to an entirely new level. With just a few ingredients—the fresher, the better—sugar, and water, you can create ready-to-drink concoctions for your guests, or something more complex and interesting than just straight liquor for a bit more of an elaborate approach. The post Episode #072 – Homemade Liqueurs and Cocktails to Make with Them appeared first on Speaking Easy.

This episode we talk about how to integrate herbs into cocktails. Learn how to incorporate basil, mint, lemongrass, rosemary, and other herbs into your cocktails. The post Episode #071 – Herb Cocktails, Grow a Cocktail Garden appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Beer and a shot go together as classically as peas and carrots, peanut butter and jelly, or lime and ginger. Even with a local, craft microbrew and an ounce of good Scotch, there is something quintessentially blue-collar about the combination of the two. The post Episode #070 – Beer and a Shot Combos appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Love Girl Scout cookies? Love cocktails? This episode we bring two of our loves together as we talk Girl Scout cookie cocktails. *** THIS EPISODE WAS NOT SPONSORED, ENDORSED, CONDONED, APPROVED, OR EVEN REMOTELY COORDINATED BY THE GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA*** The post Episode #069 – Girl Scout Cookie Cocktails and Cocktail Pairings appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Cocktails, like cooking, should be considered a domestic art, a skill for adult life with varied levels of interest and mastery. For the adventurous folks deciding to host and serve others the product of his skill and practice, this episode is for you. The post Episode #068 – How to Host a Cocktail Party appeared first on Speaking Easy.

We are often asked about "easy" cocktails to make, and for cocktails that don't take much up-front investment in new bottles. This episode, we do just that and dial down on three ingredient cocktails. The post Episode #067: Three Ingredient Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

With Fernet Branca measurement is key. When a recipe calls for a bar spoon of it a second bar spoon may make the drink unpalatable to all but the most bitter-loving friends you've got. So be careful. And the recipes--well, we could probably post hundreds of them, but we'll stick to some of our favorites. Our suggestion is to go out and buy a bottle--almost always less than $30--and try it. It's going to be an acquired taste, but we promise, there is a big payoff once you get there. Enjoy! The post Episode #066 – Fernet Branca Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Sherry is a fortified wine made from white grapes that are grown near the town of Jerez de la Frontera in Andalusia, Spain. It is also great for making cocktails. The post Episode #065 – Sherry Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Highball cocktails are mixed drinks made of an alcoholic base spirit and a larger proportion of a non-alcoholic mixer. Think Gin & Tonic or Whiskey Ginger. Simple yet delicious. The post Episode #064 – Highball Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Sazerac Cocktail is a quintessential New Orleans and Mardi Gras cocktail. Its origin is as near to the beginning of American cocktail culture as any other classic you know (even if the recipes first print wasn’t until the early 20th Century). The original Sazerac was born in New Orleans of … The post Episode #063 – The Sazerac Cocktail and Variations appeared first on Speaking Easy.

The Oscars are great for celebrating the great movies of the last year, and whether or not they featured scenes with a brew, a shot, or your favorite Oscars cocktail you should probably have a drink while you watch the awards. The post Episode #062 – Oscars Cocktails, Academy Awards Drinks appeared first on Speaking Easy.

No matter which hue you choose, this centuries-old liqueur can create more depth and complexity to your cocktails. Whether you are adding a dash to a classic cocktail or serving up a Chartreuse forward concoction, these flavors are worth exploring. The post Episode #061 – Chartreuse Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Whether you are celebrating a romantic day with your better half or "Single's Awareness" day, we have a few Valentine's Day cocktails to set the mood. The post Episode #060 – Valentine’s Day Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

This is a show primarily about cocktails, so I’ll get to my recipes shortly, but before I do, I have to say that I think of the parties and social norms of Super Bowl celebrations requires any good host of these events to provide his or her guests with plenty of BEER. But, we have some ideas for cocktails too... The post Episode #059 – Super Bowl Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Sometimes you want to take it easy or mix up a drink for a guest who would like to abstain. Shake up a mocktail, kick back, and enjoy. Cheers! The post Episode #058 – Mocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Alex and Jordan are always working on new cocktail ideas and techniques. Pickles, white rum, creme de cocoa, and popsicles are on their list for 2017. What about you? The post Episode #057 – What We’re Working On appeared first on Speaking Easy.