The Speakeasy

What does it take to get consumers to try Vermouth straight? Not in a Negroni, or a Manhattan or a Martini, but by itself? And would it be any easier if you told them hey, that’s the way they drink it in Barcelona? Raj Nallapothola and Àlex Cardona, the co-founders of LAIE Vermouth join Greg and Sother for the first show of their fall season to discuss the native Catalan ingredients that make this bottle taste like home, why you should really just try vermouth by itself, and why putting it in a cocktail “ruins it.”

PLUS, Greg and Sother catch up on the industry news from their time off the air, including AI in promotional posters and whether or not anyone is impressed with your guest shift.

Follow LAIE at @laievermouth
Follow Àlex at @aborigens
Follow Raj at @rajnallapothola

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
For resources on dealing with cold hard water 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
Learn more about Luxardo at luxardousa.com
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.

We're on summer break this week but we've got an announcement about the community we're building.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The minds behind World Gin Week, Philip Duff and Karl Finegan sit down with Greg and Sother to discuss the inaugural festival which took place this summer in New York City. They discuss the learnings from their first go-round, which was made possible in part by the fantastic staff at Ivory Peacock, their plans for world gin domination, and how to gently change the minds of folks who swear they don’t like gin.

PLUS summer break is upon us and Greg is headed to Iceland. Find out what he’s traveling for and share some of your own summer travel stories with us on Instagram.

Follow Philip at @philipsduff
Follow Karl at @finegk
Follow Ivory Peacock at @theivorypeacock
Follow World Gin Week at @worldginweekofficial

LINKS
Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
For resources on dealing with cold hard water 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
Learn more about Luxardo at luxardousa.com
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.

Nikki McCutcheon started working with Tao Group Hospitality when she was eighteen. Now she's the VP of Beverage in New York and her career has progressed from passing the level two somm exam, to designing cocktail menus, to opening a punk rock sake bar. She chats with Sother and Greg about what’s changed in the world of wine, how she and her team decide which drinks make it onto the menu, and how their tasty instagram snacks and Magnum Mondays work to bring guests (including Sother) through the doors.

PLUS bars around the country are “benefitsmaxxing” by finding clever workarounds for healthcare and wealth inequality. Is it ingenuity, an indictment of a broken system, or both?

LINKS
Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
For resources on dealing with cold hard water 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
Learn more about Luxardo at luxardousa.com
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.

Greg and Sother are live on the red carpet at Bartending’s Biggest Night! They speak to the winners of the 2026 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, including Amanda Gunderson and Travis Nass who took home Best Bar Mentor for their work with Another Round Another Rally, the team from Allegory in Washington, DC fresh off their win for World’s Best Cocktail Menu, Moe Aljaff from schmuck which snagged the plate for Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar, and the inimitable David Wondrich after he was honored with the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award.

PLUS Charlotte’s back to reflect on her time as a judge for the Spirited Awards, and she shares a life hack she wishes more people knew: that you can just nominate yourself!

Follow Tales of the Cocktail at @tales_of_the_cocktail

LINKS
Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
For resources on dealing with cold hard water 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
Learn more about Luxardo at luxardousa.com
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.