The Speakeasy

Damon and Sother are joined in the studio by Angus Winchester, the Global Director of Education for the Bar Convent Berlin and Bar Convent Brooklyn and is curating over 100 training slots at these two significant trade events helping to educate and inspire Hospitality staff from around the world. Winchester’s contacts and knowledge have been built up over nearly 30 years of engagement with the best bars and bartenders in the world. As founder member of one of the first global bar consultancies, and now with Alconomics Asia in Hong Kong, Angus has provided on- premise consultancy, profit enhancement advice and training to trend setting outlets from Washington D.C. to Hong Kong, including the multi-award- winning Salvatore at Fifty (RIP, alas) and Trailer Happiness in London, Mandarin Oriental Hotels in Hong Kong, Hainan and Bangkok, the Fontainebleau Resort in Miami Beach, the luxury Nimb Hotel in Copenhagen and Intercontinental Hotels globally. The Speakeasy is powered by SimplecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From a young age, William Elliott had a fascination with taste and memory, and sharing the experience. Though he grew up in a “dry” household, his obsession with liquor and food sprang from elicit sips of pastis from his parent’s cupboard and busted attempts at bouillabaisse. During a stint playing music around California and the desert Southwest, Elliott realized a new obsession, and transitioned full-time into the realm of beer, wine, and spirits. He has been an integral part of the critically-acclaimed Maison Premiere since its opening in 2011, serving as its Head Bartender for the three years it was nominated for a James Beard Foundation Awards. After MP won the JBFA for Best Bar Program in 2016, Elliott, now as Bar Director, conceptualized the bar at Sauvage as an strong-headed sibling to Maison Premiere; in an age of multi-national brands and marketing campaigns, the liquor selections and cocktails speak to nativity and so honor the producers and regions from which they hail. Within months, the bar at Sauvage was lauded with glowing reviews, including NY Time’s Pete Wells enjoying many treasured bottles on the back-bar and the “exemplary” cocktails. The Speakeasy is powered by SimplecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Damon and Sother are joined by Jeffrey Morgenthaler, the bar manager at Clyde Common in Portland, Oregon. His newest book is Drinking Distilled: A User's Manual, an opinionated, illustrated guide for cocktail beginners, covering the basics of spirits plus making and drinking cocktails. The Speakeasy is powered by SimplecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Damon and Sother are joined by the husband and wife team of Jackson Stamper and Tonia Guffey-Stamper, of Employees Only and Highland Park Distillery, respectively. Tune in for hiccup cures, beef tartare, and some pretty outstanding Scotch.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Eric Medsker is a New York City based photographer and content creator working on a variety of commercial, publishing, and personal projects centered around food and beverage. Some notable projects include Wylie Dufresne's WD~50 cookbook, Brian Bartel’s The Bloody Mary Cocktail Book for Ten Speed Press, and the social media for Death & Co. The Speakeasy is powered by SimplecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In her own words, Melissa “Mellie” Wiersma is just a girl who giggles a lot, makes lots of drinks, has a lot of love for Boston, and has started falling in love with New York. She's worked in every type of joint, from buttoned-up cocktail bars to roofs and dives, and has enjoyed every moment of it! She is also a contributor to the forthcoming book Drinking Like Ladies, which is dedicated to the proposition that a woman’s place is behind the bar. . . or in front of it. . . or really any place she pleases. The Speakeasy is powered by SimplecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Originally from the Finger Lakes, NY, Lauren Corriveau moved to NYC at the age of 17. After graduating college with a degree in Merchandising and Business Management, Lauren went on to work in the fashion industry for almost 10 years. Although she worked in bars and restaurants while in college, hospitality didn't factor into her career path until 2013, when she was hired as a member of the opening team for Battery Harris in Brooklyn. The process of opening a new space resonated with her experience in retail and design and sparked Lauren's passion for hospitality and menu development. Shortly thereafter, she started working at Donna, where she was fully introduced to the cocktail industry. Upon receiving a job offer from Natasha David in 2015, Lauren left fashion for a full time career in hospitality, becoming Head Bartender of Nitecap just one year later. During her time with the company, Lauren has been an integral part of running the business and shaping the brand alongside David. Lauren’s cocktails have been featured in multiple publications including Punch, Eater, Grub Street, Supercall, NY Post, and Sous Vide Magazine. The Speakeasy is powered by SimplecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Giancarlo Mancino is a gifted bartender and entrepreneur hailing from Pignola, Italy. Famous for his amazing hospitality, he has literally traveled the globe progressing the world of cocktails with his own Giancarlo BAR Ltd., a Hong Kong based bar and beverage consultancy firm. Giancarlo is also the creator of the Mancino line of artisanal Vermouths and the Aperitvo Rinomato. He recently launched his own glassware "the Wormwood Collection" in collaboration with Italesse. The Speakeasy is powered by SimplecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Damon is joined in the studio by Nate Dumas, a Prime Meats alum, premium account specialist for the Campari portfolio of brands, and Wild Turkey connoisseur. The Speakeasy is powered by SimplecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steva Casey is a bartender at The Atomic Lounge in Birmingham, AL. She also works on numerous projects including International Cocktail Karaoke and Tiki By The Sea. Her cocktail recipes and ideas about building drinks have been published in Cosmopolitan, Men’s Journal, and on CNN . When asked to explain her job, she quickly responds that it's mainly about being a good host. She owns more bottles of Scotch than dresses. Also sitting in this week is Greg Benson, co-host of the podcast Bar None, which focuses on one drink per episode as a lens through which to examine a particular era of history. The Speakeasy is powered by SimplecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.