Imbibe and Jerry Thomas

David summarizes Imbibe, his focus on Jerry Thomas, and bringing 19th-century bar culture alive.

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Episode notes

This is a Vintage Selection from 2008

The Banter

The Guys talk about past, present and future trends in cocktails and Francis makes a prediction of the next great flavor. Was he right?

The Conversation

The Restaurant Guys are joined by cocktail historian David Wondrich. They talk about cocktail glasses (yes, size DOES matter) and his book Imbibe! Spoiler: It won a James Beard Award!

The Inside Track

The Guys and David, who have bent an elbow together, discuss the bartending skills that go well beyond mixing a drink.

“It's not just mixing drinks, that's even the smallest part of it. You have to be a character. You have to be able to talk to people from all walks of life.

You know, I've always admired a great bartender for that social versatility, that sense of dignity behind the bar where you're in charge, and yet at the same time, you're hospitable. And you can handle people in all states of.. sobriety,” David Wondrich on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2008

Bio

David Wondrich is one of the world’s foremost authorities on the history of the cocktail and one of the founders of the modern craft cocktail movement. He is a Drinks Correspondent for Esquire magazine, the author of countless newspaper and magazine articles and five books, including the influential Imbibe!, which was the first cocktail book to win a James Beard award. He completed the enormous Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails (2021).

He is a founding partner in Beverage Alcohol Resource, America’s leading advanced training program for bartenders and other mixologists.

Info

David’s newest book (to be released fall 2025)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/675535/the-comic-book-history-of-the-cocktail-by-david-wondrich-illustrated-by-dean-kotz/

The Rise, Fall, And Rise Again Of Sloe Gin

By Janelle Alberts May 17, 2024

https://www.mashed.com/1582212/rise-fall-sloe-gin/

Subscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regular

https://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/

Magyar Bank

https://www.magbank.com/

Stage Left Wine Shop