The Speakeasy

This week on The Speakeasy, Damon brings on Natasha David who talks about how she got into the bar industry, from her humble beginnings as a cocktail waitress to restaurant manager to eventually a Co-Owner and Head Bartender of Nitecap in the Lower East Side. Natasha discusses her specific approach to making amazing drinks that happen to have low alcohol content. She goes on to explain that patrons should be able to taste many profiles in cocktails without quickly feeling the effects of the alcohol. Damon and Natasha talk about drinks throughout the city and how the popularity of well-crafted cocktails have changed in the past few years. This program was sponsored by Michter’s . “What inspires me to keep doing what I’m doing is that customers are so much more savvy now and it’s inspiring that people are demanding a good product.” [10:02] “I like the idea that I’m helping create memories for people.” [15:52] — Natasha David on The SpeakeasySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Any good tradesman needs good tools. Bartending is no different. Tune into a thematic episode of The Speakeasy as Damon Boelte chats with Ethan Kahn of Cocktail Kingdom. Cocktail Kingdom offers a full spectrum of professional and custom barware, artisan bitters and syrups fit for the most discerning bartender. With knowledge as a bartender’s most valuable tool, Cocktail Kingdom provides books of remarkable recipes and bar know-how spanning from pre-Prohibition era publishing to the world’s most modern concoctions. Tune in for an in-depth discussion on all the things that go into a delicious drinks that are not immediately obvious. This program was sponsored by Fairway Market Photo by Alice Gao “We’re not beholden to anybody so we can really sit there and experiment – stir water for an hour and figure out what it takes to get it to proper temperature” [13:00] –Ethan Kahn on The SpeakeasySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The summer is here and that means one thing. Well, maybe more than one thing, but it definitely means Gin & Tonics are back in style. This week’s episode of The Speakeasy is about.. you guessed it.. gin! Tune in as Damon Boelte is joined by Steven DeAngelo of Greenhook Ginsmiths, a small, artisan distillery located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Tune in and learn everything you want to know about gin – tasting notes, distillation techniques, pairings and more. This program was sponsored by Rolling Press. “The reason I’m making gin is because that’s always what I’ve loved to drink.” [05:00] “Gin and tonic is one of the few cocktails that pairs well with food because it’s dry.” [12:00] –Steven DeAngelo on The SpeakeasySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fresh off their James Beard Award for best Bar Program, welcome some of the team from The NoMad Hotel on this week’s episode of The Speakeasy! Damon Boelte is chatting with bartenders Jessica Gonzalez and Karen Fu and together they talk shop, dish dirt and complain about vodka zombies. Tune in and get an inside look at some of the ladies behind the best bar program in the country. This show was brought to you by Rolling Press. “A silencer is a generous helping of….wine….white…rose…something cold.. and you chug it fast. It’s kind of like the wine equivalent of shotgunning a beer.” [22:00] —Jessica Gonzalez on The Speakeasy “There’s very much still a romanticized angle to hotels in New York.” [28:00] —Karen Fu on The SpeakeasySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week’s guests on The Speakeasy are the guys behind The Dead Rabbit. The Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog embodies the conviviality of Old New York and the Irish-American tradition. They are dedicated to advancing the art and practice of hospitality, as it was understood then and as it is understood now, for all residents of and visitors to this great metropolis. Tune in and learn the story behind the name and find out how Jack and decided to combine the pub and cocktail bar concept into an award winning establishment. This program was sponsored by Rolling Press. “We both came with a very clear idea in our head – to create an amazing pub and an amazing cocktail bar.” [04:00]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Old Fashioned is the ultimate cocktail. Not because it’s the biggest, baddest or most inventive but because it represents what a cocktail is. A cocktail in its most original form is comprised of some combination of spirit, syrup and bitters. The Old Fashioned has gone through many makeovers, missteps and revivals and today’s episode of The Speakeasy is dedicated to the prototypical cocktail. Hear from Robert Simonson, author of The Old-Fashioned: The Story of the World’s First Classic Cocktail. This program was sponsored by Rolling Press. “I noticed Old Fashioned popping up on bar menus around 2009. Mixologists love this cocktail and the love to make it right. I was stunned to learn that it sold so well.” [18:00] –Robert Simonson on The SpeakeasySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Whiskey is everywhere. Whereas once most people ordering booze at bars wanted vodka soda’s, now the whiskey revolution is in full effect. This week on The Speakeasy, Damon is chatting with friend Amanda Womack, who now is the spirit buyer at Cask in San Francisco. They have an in depth conversation about whiskey – proof, style, finish, bottling and more. Whether you’ve just tried your first bourbon or you’re a connoisseur – this episode’s got something for you. This program was sponsored by Of a Kind. “If people like the whisky and it’s being consumed – who cares how people are drinking it.” [28:00] –Amanda Womack on The SpeakeasySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 2012 American Bartender of the Year has seen it all. Joaquín Simó has poured drinks at some of the best bars in the country and now is the partner/bartender at Pouring Ribbons, a new bar in the East Village featuring cutting edge cocktails and a much-talked about matrix style menu. Hear host Damon Boelte talk shop with Joaquin on another awesome episode of The Speakeasy. This program was sponsored by Edwards VA Ham. “I don’t need this wannabe startender as part of my staff – this isn’t an ego trip it’s about serving the guest. If you have an issue with carrying a tray, if you think that makes you “less-than”, than I don’t need you on my staff.” [22:00] –Joaquin Simo on The SpeakeasySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stephanie Ridgeway is the Brand Ambassador for Highland Park, a whiskey distillery located on the Orkney Islands off the northern coast of Scotland. She tells us about how unique this distillery is because of it’s unique location so far north on the globe, and the effects that has on whiskey production. Damon and Stephanie talk about all the many ways to drink whiskey, and Stephanie insists that there is no wrong way to do it. This program has been sponsored by The International Culinary Center. Today’s music provided by Cookies. Image from Highland Park “When you burn our peat, it’s so aromatic…it smells like incense.” [11:30] “[Whiskey is] just like wine, there’s something for everybody!” [16:00] “There is no wrong way to drink whiskey.” [17:15] –Stephanie Ridgeway on The SpeakeasySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on The Speakeasy, Damon interviews Franky Marshall from The Dead Rabbit, an Old New York bar that celebrates the Irish-American tradition. Franky talks about the inequalities faced by female bartenders, and after the break they discuss why simple cocktails often sell much better than innovative cocktails which may be over the top. This program has been sponsored by The International Culinary Center. Today’s music provided by Cookies. Image from The Hooch Life “We have to prove ourselves so much more just to be considered kind of medium-high, whereas there are all these gents out there who are just ok…and it’s ok for them to be just ok. ” [9:30] “In my experience, it’s usually the simpler drinks that do get ordered more.” [19:45] –Franky Marshall on The SpeakeasySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.