What We're Drinking with Dan Dunn

This week the booze takes a temporary backseat to something a little more personal. After the sudden loss of his cousin Dennis—more brother than cousin, really—Dan headed back to his hometown of Philadelphia for a celebration of life that became something more: a meditation on grief, family, friendship, and the strange, unsettling way ordinary moments can turn out to be the last ones. Dennis may not have lived what the culture would define as a “big” life, but he lived a meaningful one, rich in community, routine, humor, and the kind of quiet resilience that leaves a lasting mark.

But this isn’t all existential dread and mortality talk. Once Dan finishes emotionally dismantling himself (and, by extension, you), the episode pivots into a love letter to Philadelphia itself. From pints and poignant memories at Brownie’s—the neighborhood pub where Dennis worked until his passing—to standout cocktails at the wildly cool 48 Record Bar, exceptional Polish fare at Little Walter’s, brunch and killer wine at High Street, and a proper vino-fueled sendoff at Steven Starr’s Borromini, Dan eats and drinks his way through a city that helped shape him.

Along the way: thoughts on why hotels are better than staying with insane relatives, why Old City still charms the hell out of him, and why Philly remains one of America’s most beautifully dysfunctional cities. It’s funny, heartfelt, unexpectedly moving, and ultimately a reminder to call the people you love while you still can.

Because sometimes you get another conversation. And sometimes you don’t.

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This week on What We’re Drinking, Dan and roving correspondent Brad Japhe celebrate World Cocktail Day by diving headfirst into a lineup of “Instant Classic Cocktails.” Drinks that may not be household names yet, but absolutely deserve to be. From a Caribbean-leaning spritz built around the newly U.S.-available Rhum Clément V.O. to a bourbon-powered riff on the French 75 featuring Basil Hayden, a honeyed twist on the Bee’s Knees courtesy of brand-new Plymouth Honey, a tequila-forward elevated Paloma with Tequila Ocho Plata, and the modern masterpiece that is the Bourbon Renewal starring Michter’s US*1, this episode is part cocktail masterclass, part spirited argument for why some drinks just have “it.” Plus, Dan and Brad make the case for RTDs finally earning a seat at the grown-ups’ table with Mission Craft Cocktails. Bottom line: if you’re looking for your next go-to drink, this episode may ruin your usual order.

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Dan is joined by winemaker Chase Renton of L’Angolo Estate for a conversation that goes well beyond what’s in the glass. At the center of it is Resilience, a limited-release Willamette Valley Pinot Noir with a powerful mission: 100% of proceeds benefit the Kevin Love Fund, supporting mental health awareness and education.

Renton opens up about his personal journey—battling cancer, navigating burnout, and confronting anxiety and depression—and how those experiences ultimately shaped this project. The result is a candid, grounded conversation about vulnerability, connection, and the role wine can play in bringing people together. They also get into Renton’s path through the wine world, from studying in Italy to working harvests in Burgundy and Oregon, and the philosophy behind L’Angolo’s estate-driven approach in the Willamette Valley.

And because it wouldn’t be What We’re Drinking without a little indulgence, Dan also breaks down some of the most expensive whiskies he’s ever tasted. What sets them apart, what they actually deliver in the glass, and whether they justify the price tag.

It’s a mix of great wine, real conversation, and a little high-end whiskey insanity.

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Dan sits down with Geoff Whitman—Pearl Jam’s official tour photographer and a seasoned pro in the wine world—to talk about his stunning new book, Pearl Jam ReactRespond. The book captures the band on their Dark Matter tour with a level of intimacy and immediacy that only someone embedded in the inner circle could pull off.

Geoff shares what it’s like documenting one of the most iconic bands on the planet night after night—how he anticipates moments, earns trust, and somehow stays invisible while capturing images that feel anything but. They dig into the energy of the Dark Matter tour, the subtle differences between shooting in arenas vs. more intimate venues, and why Pearl Jam continues to evolve while still feeling like Pearl Jam.

Of course, it wouldn’t be this show without a little booze talk. Geoff also gets into his parallel life in the wine world, how the disciplines of photography and winemaking oddly overlap, and what he’s been drinking lately when he’s not chasing Eddie Vedder around with a camera.

It’s a conversation about art, access, obsession, and the rare privilege of having a front-row seat to greatness, and knowing exactly when to click the shutter.

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Dan reunites with his longtime buddy Zane Lamprey, a man who has somehow turned drinking on camera into a multi-decade career and lived to write about it. Zane joins the show to talk about his new book Glass Half Full, a funny, self-aware look at the highs, lows, and hangovers that come with chasing a dream in the booze business. Along the way, he and Dan swap war stories from the road, talk about the brutal reality of keeping shows alive in a fickle TV landscape, and, naturally, get into what they’re drinking now. It’s equal parts nostalgia, comedy, and a reminder that if you can laugh at the chaos, you’re probably doing something right.

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