What We're Drinking with Dan Dunn

This week Dan sits down with Johnny Depp to talk about his newly launched rum brand, Three Hearts. The conversation covers everything from the rich, rebellious history of rum (pirates, privateers, and plenty of bad decisions) to what drew Johnny into the spirits world in the first place. He also makes a compelling case for why dark rum is where the real soul of the category lives—deeper flavor, more character, less of that spring-break-in-a-plastic-cup energy. Along the way, they dip into Johnny’s film career, the strange parallels between storytelling and spirit-making, and how both require a certain tolerance for chaos.

Dan also recaps the Three Hearts launch party... an only-in-L.A. affair where he found himself talking shop with Steven Tyler, Beck, Jerry Cantrell, and a rotating cast of rock royalty. Not a bad night’s work. It’s a little chaotic, a little boozy, and exactly the kind of conversation you hope to overhear but rarely do.

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Dan and Brad Japhe raise a glass to one of the world’s most enduring cocktails in this celebratory deep dive into National Gin & Tonic Day. From its roots as a medicinal mashup of quinine-laced tonic and British gin in colonial India to its modern status as a global go-to refresher, the G&T gets the full treatment—history, technique, and why it still hits like nothing else on a hot day.

Then it’s onto the good stuff: a spirited tour through some of the most compelling gins behind today’s best pours. Dan and Brad break down the botanical fireworks of Monkey 47, the refined elegance of Nolet’s, the cocktail workhorse reliability of Ford’s, the intriguing newcomer Strange Nature, the Japanese precision of Roku, and the timeless, juniper-forward backbone of Tanqueray, which is still setting the standard since 1830.

Whether you’re a die-hard gin nerd or just someone looking to upgrade your next G&T, this episode delivers equal parts education, opinion, and thirsty enthusiasm. Bottom line: better gin, better tonic, better life. Cheers.

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March has not exactly been Dan’s month, so in the interest of preserving what was left of his sanity, he headed south to San Diego for a change of scenery and a stiff drink with Trey Zoeller, the founder of Jefferson's Bourbon. Trey was in SD for a pretty wild reason: Jefferson’s has teamed up with Holland America Line to launch a new ocean-aged whiskey project, which involves loading a barrel of bourbon onto a cruise ship and letting the sea do its thing. It’s part science experiment, part marketing genius, and entirely on brand for a guy who’s built a career on pushing whiskey into uncharted waters.

Dan and Trey post up in San Diego, sip something strong, and get into it: the origins of Jefferson’s, the magic (and madness) of aging whiskey at sea, what happens to a barrel sloshing around the Pacific, and why this partnership could be one of the more interesting collaborations in the spirits world right now. It’s equal parts therapy session, boozy adventure, and deep dive into one of bourbon’s more unconventional minds. Cheers to getting out of town—and back in the game.

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We took the show to Townhouse in Venice Beach for a live recording with the incomparable William H. Macy and, yeah, he more than delivered. Alongside Brad Japhe, we talk through Bill’s decades-spanning acting career, his involvement with Woody Creek Distillers, and the single best nugget of wisdom he ever got from David Mamet. As a bonus, Bill caps off the night with a few original tunes on the ukulele, because of course he does.

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In this episode of What We’re Drinking, Dan is joined by Colm O’Connor, Guinness Brewery Ambassador straight out of the legendary Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. Together, they dive deep into all things Guinness—its rich history, the craft behind the perfect pour, enduring myths, and why it remains one of the most iconic beers on the planet. With St. Patrick’s Day upon us, Colm shares how the holiday is celebrated in Ireland versus the States, along with a few insider tips to help you drink Guinness the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

But it’s not all pints and craic. Dan also takes a moment to pay tribute to a dear friend who recently passed, reflecting on a life well-lived and the kind of friendship that leaves a lasting mark. It’s an episode that balances celebration and remembrance, raising a pint to both.

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