Bartender Journey - Cocktails. Spirits. Bartending Culture. Libations for your Ears.

Latest Episodes:

Drinking a Negroni with Gaz May 12, 2015

Show notes

Gaz Regan produces an awesome Bartender education event called Cocktails In The Country. 10 students are treated to a two day intensive training with the legendary Gaz Regan.
The public is invited to be "guinea pigs" for the students. This week, we visit Cocktails In The Country and enjoy some cocktails produced by the students AND a very special finger-stirred Negroni, made by the one and only Gaz!
Gaz's book The Joy of Mixology is required reading for Bartenders.
If you are looking for a fabulous online bartender training course, take a look at A Bar Above for an extremely in depth course from Chris Tunstall.
For high quality spirits, including exclusive Tasting Packs, try Flaviar.

Interview with Jesse. Berkshires Bartender who shares some stories from behind the bar. Apr 28, 2015

Show notes

Interview with Jesse - Bartender who works in the Berkshires who shares some great stories from behind the bar.
Plus, The Water of Life is a whisky tasting event to benefit charity which will be held in downtown Manhattan on May 6, 2015. This is the first annual event and its for a great cause. All the proceeds will be donated to the Life Raft Group which is dedicated finding a cure for a specific type of cancer - GIST.
The gentleman who founded this event - Dr. Mattew Lurin is a whiskey aficionado whose stepfather is a GIST patient.
The word whiskey comes from the Gaelic phrase for 'water of life' which became the word "whiskey".
This is going to be a great event and its for an awesome cause and we encourage you to attend!
The format of the tasting will be very unique. It's basically like speed dating with Whisky Ambassadors to find your whisky to love. Each whisky brand will have a table that seats up to 5 guests at a time. They will share drams and stories for 12 minutes.
Then, the group will move on individually to their next of many 'whisky dates'...13 in total, with built in breaks for dinner and dessert.Over the course of this event, guests will have the opportunity to try over 25 whiskies, accompanied by food pairings at each table, passed hors d'oeuvres, buffet dinner and desserts.
All proceeds raised go to the charity, The Life Raft Group whose simple focus is to cure a form of cancer — Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST). – and to help those living with it.
Use the code RAFT1550 to get an additional $50 off the ticket price, which is a charitable donation, (legal disclaimer - double check that with your account please!)
You can buy tix at lrgwateroflife.org and get more info on the charity at liferaftgroup.org.Remember to use the discount code RAFT1550.
Next item of business -- a bit of industry news. The Manhattan Cocktail Classic was canceled! The event was passed to new management this year, and apparently they just couldn't sort out the details in time, so they just canceled it. What a shame...it was such an amazing event. Well, TOTC is coming up!
Book of the week its: All About The Guest -- such a great title! Author Steve Difillippo bought his first restaurant when he was just 23 years old and now owns lots of restaurants up and down the East Coast.
Steve makes some great points in this book, here is a favorite -- Steve says every decision he makes he asks himself, "is this going to make things better for the guest?" ... an awesome philosophy.
He also talks about how you can't let demanding guests distract you from the others --that is, the easy going guests, who are really who you want coming back anyway! He says you need to make sure you give all your guests the attention they deserve. This is good to keep in mind while you are behind the bar!
Toast of the Week:
I like beer. On occasion, I will even drink beer to
celebrate a major event such as the fall of communism
or the fact that the refrigerator is still working.
--Humorist Dave Barry

Bitters & Shrub Syrup Cocktails Apr 23, 2015

Show notes

On the Bartender Journey Podcast #107 its great conversation with Mr. Warren Bobrow, the author of several amazing cocktail books. Warren's new book offers 75 traditional, yet newly-created cocktails. The cocktails in this book are delicious, soothing and unique.
Shrubs require time and careful preparation. This fascinating ingredient creates cocktails that are truly different, uncommon and delectable.
Show Notes. Mentioned in the the podcast this week:
Warren Bobrows books:
◦ Bitters and Shrub Syrup Cocktails: Restorative Vintage Cocktails, Mocktails, and Elixirs
◦ Whiskey Cocktails: Rediscovered Classics and Contemporary Craft Drinks Using the World's Most Popular Spirit
◦ Apothecary Cocktails: Restorative Drinks from Yesterday and Today
• Greg Seider book: Alchemy in a Glass: The Essential Guide to Handcrafted Cocktails
• Bartender Journey Podcast #99 with Dale DeGroff
• Leave a comment and rating for Bartender Journey on iTunes
• Previous Bartender Journey interview with Warren Bobrow

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Take a listen with the player below or subscribe on iTunes or Sticher Radio. Cheers!

Scotch tasting with Simon Brookings Apr 09, 2015

Show notes

Its a fun and educational tasting of ‪ with Simon Brookings. We learn exactly what makes a Scotch a “Single Malt”. Plus some history and the process of making Scotch Whisky. Why is some Scotch “peatier” than others? What exactly is peat anyway?

Also, a report from Paul Pacult’s Rum Authority event at Keen’s Steakhouse in NYC.

In the news: David Wondrich has released an update to his great book Imbibe.

Take a listen with the player below or subscribe on iTunes or Sticher Radio. Check out the Bartender Journey web site here. Cheers!

Wine Knowledge for Bartenders 2.0 Apr 02, 2015

Show notes

Wine knowledge is an important part of Bartending. This week on Bartender Journey its a "joint podcast" with the Wine For Normal People podcast!
We chat with Elizabeth Schneider - a professional speaker, wine industry consultant and trainer.
Elizabeth gives us a fresh, honest look at wine and great advice on how to serve our wine drinking guests.
Also a brief review of the book: Death & Co – Modern Classic Cocktails.
As mentioned in this week’s podcast, we previously did a show called The Secret Language of Bartenders which you can find here.
Pour a nice glass of wine and take a listen! Use the player below, or subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio.

America Walks into A Bar Mar 25, 2015

Show notes

In colonial America, Taverns were the de facto courtroom, post office, library, news center, town hall, community center and sometimes: church. Sometimes even jail! Taverns were the birthplace of the Revolution and Independence.

As the USA matured, bars and Taverns were still essential to our society. Even prohibition couldn’t get rid of them as the Speakeasy came into existence.

This week on the Bartender Journey Podcast, we speak with author Christine Sismondo about her book: America Walks Into a Bar - A Spirited History of Taverns and Saloons, Speakeasies and Grog Shops.

We talk about a Rockstar Bartender who pre-dated Professor Jerry Thomas. Plus, the evolution of “bar etiquette”. It’s the history of bars from Colonial times all the way up to the modern “cocktail movement”.

Listen with the player below or subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio. Cheers!

Bartender Journey Web Site

What to expect-first time at Tales of the Cocktail Mar 17, 2015

Show notes

A review of Greg Sidders book: Alchemy in a Glass.
Plus, what should first time visitors to the New Orleans festival Tales of the Cocktail expect?
Listen to the show with the player below or subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio.
Click here for $10 off a great selection of spirits and tasting packs from Flaviar!
Find the Bartender Journey web site here.

Dad's Hat Rye Whiskey Mar 11, 2015

Show notes

Rye whiskey has a wonderful spiciness and depth. Dad's Hat Rye Whiskey is doing great things with whiskey in Pensilvania. We talk to one of the founders - John Cooper - about this great brand. Also, a tasting of the Dad's Hat whiskeys. Plus we mix up some cocktails with friend of the show - Mr. Mike! We'll drink some Manhattans and chat about spirits & cocktails! Cheers!Listen with the player below or subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio.Find the Bartender Journey web site here.Click here for $10 off a great selection of spirits and tasting packs from Flaviar!

Wine Knowledge for Bartenders; Cocktail tour of New Orleans & an interview with Julie Reiner. Mar 03, 2015

Show notes

Its a jam-packed episode of Bartender Journey!

Wine Knowledge for Bartenders. Its a very informal & simplified discussion about wine, but should be useful to many of our listeners. For a podcast dedicated to wine, check out Wine for Normal People.
Listen in on a Cocktail Tour of New Orleans run by Joe Gendusa.
A great interview with Julie Reiner.

Take a listen to the show with the player below or subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio.

Bartender Journey Podcast #100! Feb 18, 2015

Show notes

Its a big milestone for the show! 100 episodes of Bartending, Cocktail & Spirits.
To celebrate, Bartenders Chris Tunsdale & Ozeal come on the show and talk about drinks, the bar business, management, and the great yearly Tales of the Cocktail conference in New Orleans.
Join us in celebrating 100 episodes!
Listen with the player below, or subscribe on iTunes or S titcher Radio. Cheers!