The Speakeasy

Tao Zrafi claims he “broke cocktail menus forever” with his small bar in Illinois that boasts a menu of over 2,500 drinks. And yet it’s far from the wildest idea the Drink Masters star has ever produced. He sits down with Greg and Sother to discuss building replicable formulas that can produce literally thousands of drinks, his venture into entrepreneurship by creating acid powders that can replace citrus juice, are shelf stable, and can be shipped anywhere in the world, and how growing up in Tunisia and cutting his teeth behind the bars of Montreal shaped a truly unique view on the world of cocktails.

PLUS, BrewDog is for sale! Greg catches us up on the latest from the embattled microbrewery. And it snowed in New York, again and the city’s id was on full display… for better and for worse.

Follow Tao at @travelingbartenders
Follow No School Tomorrow at @noschooltomorrow.bar

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
For resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance
Support the Salt Cure Fund at thesaltcurefund.org
The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast
Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a special late night edition of The Speakeasy Hennessy Ambassador Sean Johnson joins Greg and Sother to talk about the historic cognac brand’s legacy, the art of selling a spirit everyone thinks they already understand, and what it was like to start this job in summer of 2020, when not much was happening really. Sean also gets into Hennessy’s roots in Black culture and his recent experience at Bar Five Day, the Navy SEAL training of the bar world.
PLUS, a happy and solemn Lent to all who celebrate. Sother unpacks the surprisingly jovial history of lenten beers and how they made fasting fun. And Greg has officially returned from Las Vegas, albeit a little worse for wear.
Follow Sean at @wellbalancedsean
LINKS
Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
For resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance
Support the Salt Cure Fund at thesaltcurefund.org
The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast
Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Who are better customers, Democrats or Republicans? Nycci Nellis, longtime Washington, DC food and drinks writer, radio host, consultant and more sits down with Greg and Sother to talk about the cocktail scene in the nation’s capital. Together they talk business, branding, wine and which political party is better for local businesses… all while reminiscing about some of their favorite establishments in the DMV

PLUS, Greg was on a different podcast and learned something shocking about one of his favorite bars. Sometimes you really can’t go home and drink a hubcap full of margarita again…

Follow Nycci at @nyccinellis

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
For resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance
Support the Salt Cure Fund at thesaltcurefund.org
The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast
Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is Branded Content the future of journalism? Or put another way, does a news outlet that springs out of a lifestyle brand hold the keys for journalism’s survival? That’s what Rashaun Hall, Editor-in-Chief of The Whiskey Lifestyle is here to discuss. He sits down with Greg and Sother to talk about transforming from a music into a spirits and cocktail journalist and whether retail holds the key to independent news’s future. They also get into diversity in the drinks space and what’s doing alright vs. what needs to improve.
PLUS, if you found a porron of delicious martini buried in one of New York City’s many semi-permanent snowbanks right now… would you drink it? Be honest.
Follow Rashaun at @bartimestories
LINKS
Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
For resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance
Support the Salt Cure Fund at thesaltcurefund.org
The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast
Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Canadian Whisky? Heck yeah. Canadian Gin? I mean sure, why not? Canadian Wine??? Now we’re getting weird. Kristin Rose Pike, Founder of Northern Rose Selections joins Greg and Damon to talk about the delicious drinks made by our neighbors to the north, from gin to amaretto to cold weather wines. She talks about the terroir of the highest tide in the world, the increasingly tense bourbon diplomacy between the US and Canada, and whether or not Canadian Whisky is poised for a massive comeback.

PLUS, let it snow, let it snow, let is snow! Most of the country is frozen in and Greg & Damon compare their blizzard beverages of choice.

Follow Northern Rose Selections at @northernroseselections

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
For resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance
The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast
Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.