Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David Wondrich

The Past, Present & Future of Gin - Life Behind Bars: The Oxford Companion Dec 31, 2021

Gin has been a bartending fixture for hundreds of years and stars in countless famous cocktail recipes.

On this special episode of Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk about gin’s roots and how the spirit has evolved and kept current for centuries—including during the modern cocktail renaissance. Sebastien Derbomez, manager of brand advocacy for William Grant & Sons, joins in on the discussion to explore where gin might head next and what parts of the world will help lead the category. This chat is inspired by entries found in the brand-new book The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails, which features more than 1,100 entries from 150 expert contributors.

So fix yourself a gin cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 and the 2021 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The Birth of Luxury Spirits - Life Behind Bars: The Oxford Companion Dec 31, 2021

The launch of Grand Marnier in the late 1800s helped to establish a new standard for luxury liquor brands. The Cognac-and-orange liqueur also inspired the creation of several delicious cocktails, including the original version of the Bijou.

On this special episode of Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the origin of Grand Marnier, why citrus was so sought-after at the time, and the important role Paris played in creating global trends. This discussion is inspired by entries in Wondrich and Rothbaum’s brand-new book, The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails, which features more than 1,100 entries from 150 expert contributors.

So fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 and the 2021 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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How the Margarita Became a Cocktail Sensation - Life Behind Bars: The Oxford Companion Dec 31, 2021

Everyone has heard at least one story about how the Margarita came to be—at last count, there were seven credible origin stories.

On this special episode of Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum explore the possible stories behind the Margarita’s invention, as well as a groundbreaking advertising campaign by José Cuervo that made the drink a household name. This discussion is inspired by entries in Wondrich and Rothbaum’s brand-new book, The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails, which features more than 1,100 entries from 150 expert contributors.

So fix yourself a Margarita and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 and the 2021 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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La Dolce Vita The Birth of Italian Cocktails - Life Behind Bars: The Oxford Companion Dec 24, 2021

The Negroni and the Americano are perennial favorites of professional and amateur bartenders around the world. But when were these classic cocktail recipes created? And how did Italy’s bar culture become a sensation?

On this special episode of Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaumdelve into the backstory of these drinks and the important cocktail connection between America and Italy. Their discussion was inspired by entries in their brand-new book, the Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails, which features more than 1,100 entries from 150 expert contributors.

So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 and the 2021 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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A Look Inside the Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails - Life Behind Bars: The Oxford Companion Dec 24, 2021

For nearly ten years, Life Behind Bars co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum have been working on a special project: The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails.

A few weeks ago, the nearly 900-page book debuted with more than 1,100 entries from 150 contributors. On this special episode, Wondrich and Rothbaum take you behind the scenes of this massive book to talk about how it came to be and how they put it together. This kicks off a short mini-series of episodes inspired by the Oxford Companion.

So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 and the 2021 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The Past, Present and Future of Rye Whiskey - Life Behind Bars Live Nov 17, 2021

Rye whiskey beguiles the palate with a range of slow-to-reveal flavors. The same could be said of the spirit’s long and complex history, which continues to delight (and frustrate) modern distillers, historians and journalists.

On this special live episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum assemble a panel of rye-whiskey luminaries: Nicole Austin, general manager and distiller for Cascade Hollow, home of George Dickel; Todd Leopold, co-founder of Leopold Bros. Distillery; and Allen Katz, co-founder of the New York Distilling Company.

Listen to this rye-whiskey summit to learn about the spirit’s fascinating history, the rebirth of heritage rye grains, and the new George Dickel & Leopold Bros. Collaboration Blend, which revives the tradition of blending rye whiskey made on a three chamber still with rye whiskey made on a column still.

So pour yourself a glass of rye whiskey and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 and the 2021 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The Next Cocktail Frontier? Smaller Cities - Life Behind Bars Oct 22, 2021

The rebirth of the cocktail started in big cities, including New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. But over the last few years, smaller markets have arguably made the biggest bartending strides.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by chef Cheetie Kumar and bartender John Gertsen from the acclaimed restaurant Garland in Raleigh, North Carolina. Kumar and Gertsen share their fascinating life stories and how they came to live and work in the Tar Heel State.

So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 and the 2021 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The Next Cocktail Book Collecting Obsession - Life Behind Bars Sep 30, 2021

People have been writing about drinks as long as they’ve been enjoying them. And with the rebirth of the cocktail during the last 20 years, prices for vintage drinks books have risen dramatically and bargains are much harder to find.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by two experts—antiquarian bookseller Lizzy Young and Oxford-educated sociologist and Pomp & Whimsy Gin Liqueur founder Dr. Nicola Nice—to talk about cocktail book collecting and some newly discovered and undervalued volumes. (Yes, drinks books exist that even Dave and Noah haven’t read)

So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 and the 2021 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Rebuilding an Irish Single Malt Whiskey Powerhouse - Life Behind Bars Sep 22, 2021

Single malt Irish whiskey is in distiller Darryl McNally’s blood. His ancestors made the historic spirit for centuries in Ireland. Now he’s trying to rebuild his family’s Limavady distillery at the northern tip of the island.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by McNally to talk about his project and his new sherry cask–finished single malt Irish whiskey that just launched in the United States. The trio also chats about the McNally family’s long and spirited history, the state of Irish single malt and his plans for the Limavady brand.

So pour yourself a dram of whiskey and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The Canned Cocktails Craze: Are They Here to Stay? - Life Behind Bars Sep 02, 2021

From bartenders to craft spirits brands to liquor behemoths, everyone seems to be launching a new canned cocktail these days.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by acclaimed Half Full columnist Wayne Curtis to discuss the historic roots of these pre-mixed beverages. (Spoiler alert: They’ve been around in some form for about 150 years.) The trio also talks about some of their favorite canned cocktails, the ground rules for picking new ones to try, and how these drinks will transform the bar world.

So pop open a canned cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Bourbon’s Newfound Star Power: Andy Roddick and Peyton Manning - Life Behind Bars Aug 26, 2021

Forget wine. Forget vodka. Forget tequila. Celebrities are starting American whiskey brands.

Over the last few years, quite a few professional athletes, actors and musicians began selling bourbon or rye. Is a whiskey brand the new ultimate celebrity status symbol?

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by retired tennis champion Andy Roddick and master blender Marianne Eaves from Sweetens Cove Tennessee Bourbon. The brand, which is named for a public golf course in Tennessee that has a cult following, was started by an all-star group that includes NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. So far, Eaves has blended barrels of whiskey to create two batches of Sweetens Cove. Roddick and Eaves talk about the challenges of sourcing high-quality whiskey and their plans for the brand.

So pour yourself a whiskey and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The Good, the Bad & the Ugly—The Long Island Iced Tea - Life Behind Bars Aug 19, 2021

Whether you love it or hate it, it’s hard to escape the Long Island Iced Tea.

The enduringly popular guilty pleasure—which calls for a potent combination of white spirits, triple sec, sweet and sour mix, and cola—was invented in a bar on New York’s Long Island for a cocktail competition. It first became a sensation in clubs and bars around the area and then across the country. Ultimately, it become one of the signature drinks of the 1970s

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum delve into the history and pitfalls of this drink, as well as what the original recipe actually called for.

So fix yourself a Long Island Iced Tea (if you dare) and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The Search for the World’s Fastest Bartender - Life Behind Bars Aug 09, 2021

It’s hard enough to make a round of four delicious classic cocktails on a slow night for a couple of regulars. Now imagine trying to make them on stage in front of a screaming crowd for a group of prestigious judges prepared to critique them—out loud.

This scenario, which is the stuff of nightmares for many, describes the global and charitable all-female cocktail competition Speed Rack. It’s not all about creating perfectly crafted cocktails in record time: The efforts of the bartenders competing in this ultra-challenging test of speed and accuracy help raise funds for breast cancer research. It has raised more than a million dollars in its ten years.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, Speed Rack co-founders Ivy Mix and Lynnette Marrero join co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum to look back on the competition’s first decade, how it has evolved and what its future holds. (Mix’s twin sister Tess Mix works for the Daily Beast.)

So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Nick Offerman is Living his Best Scotch Life - Life Behind Bars Jul 22, 2021

Nick Offerman should not be confused with Ron Swanson, the character he played on the hit show Parks and Recreation. But the two share at least one thing in common: A love for Lagavulin Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, Offerman joins co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum to talk about the latest Offerman Edition of Lagavulin, the possibility of a whiskey barrel project on his crafting show Making It and how he has Chris Pratt to thank for his first trip to Islay, Scotland.

So fix yourself a Scotch and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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What Do Bars Do Now? - Life Behind Bars Jul 08, 2021

It’s been one hell of a year for bartenders and bar owners.

Now that America is starting to reopen, bars are trying to navigate this new post-COVID world while dealing with industry burn-out, labor shortages, evolving business plans and changing drink trends.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the changing landscape for the bar industry with Robin Nance, portfolio trade engagement manager for Beam Suntory, and Jeffrey Morgenthaler, award-winning bartender, Half Full columnist and author of The Bar Book and Drinking Distilled.

So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this important episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Future of Craft Whiskey is Hyper-Local Ingredients - Life Behind Bars Jun 24, 2021

Can the flavor of a whiskey reflect the place where it’s made? How about the people who produced it?

Distillers around the globe are exploring the idea of terroir, experimenting with locally grown heirloom grains, and making barrels from regional species of oak. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss this movement and its feasibility with Half Full columnist Lew Bryson and Westland Whiskey’s co-founder and master distiller Matt Hofmann.

So pour yourself a glass of craft whiskey and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Does the Type of Cocktail Glass You Use Really Matter? - Life Behind Bars Jun 14, 2021

The Martini is the most famous drink. Its signature glass is equally iconic and perhaps even more ubiquitous.

But the world of cocktail glassware is vast and there are all kinds of supposed rules for using each style and type. So where did all of these traditions and customs come from? And does it actually matter if you use an elegant coupe or a jam jar for your Daiquiri?

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk about the history of cocktail glasses and their evolution. They also weigh in on the veracity of some of the strictest rules drinkers and bartenders have invented about glassware.

So pour yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Mission Impossible: Reinventing the Piña Colada - Life Behind Bars Jun 01, 2021

Love it or hate it, the Piña Colada is one of the most popular cocktails in the world. But it’s been largely forgotten by craft bartenders.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by tropical drinks expert Jeff “Beachbum” Berry from acclaimed New Orleans bar Latitude 29. The three talk about the history of the Piña Colada, its rise in popularity and Berry’s recipe for it.

So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars now. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Christopher Kimball & the Grateful Dead School of Bartending - Life Behind Bars May 20, 2021

Nobody has ever accused Milk Street founder Christopher Kimball of being indifferent.

Viewers of his acclaimed PBS television show and readers of his newsletter and books are accustomed to his strong opinions on cooking and ingredients, as well as his fascinating stories of eating and drinking around the world.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, Kimball joins co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum to give his pointed takes on his favorite drink the Old-Fashioned and the benefits of sticking with just one cocktail, along with where he’ll be traveling this summer.

So fix yourself an Old-Fashioned and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars now. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The Secret History of Bourbon - Life Behind Bars May 05, 2021

From important still designs to the real reason why distillers began charring barrels, many important details of bourbon history are often missing from modern accounts of the spirit.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk about some of the most interesting American whiskey discoveries they have made over the years—including six varieties of so-called “Kentucky whiskey” made back in 1870 that are no longer available today—and how those findings have changed their view of spirits history.

So pour yourself a glass of bourbon and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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It’s Time to Change Your Cocktail Game. Here’s How to Do It. - Life Behind Bars Apr 19, 2021

The greatest bartenders in the world bring disparate ingredients and flavors together to create new cocktails—and they do it seemingly with ease.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk about the art of cocktail creativity and how the pros make it look so easy. They also offer advice and tips from their own lives to help inspire you to experiment with some new drinks.

So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The Hunt is On for Rare Vintage Spirits - Life Behind Bars Apr 08, 2021

Never mind Pappy Van Winkle and Sazerac 18-Year-Old Rye Whiskey: Some of the most sought-after bottles of liquor are the dusty, obscure ones hiding on liquor store shelves and in the back of home liquor cabinets.

Over the last few years, bartenders and drinks enthusiasts alike have become increasingly interested in locating forgotten bottles that are like a shot of liquid history. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk about how the trend started and suggest a few notable vintage bottles that might still be out there. They also share some of their favorite experiences drinking decades-old spirits.

So fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can the Roaring Twenties Teach Us about Post-Pandemic Life? - Life Behind Bars Mar 09, 2021

From the cocktails to the speakeasies to The Great Gatsby, there are few periods in history as celebrated in modern culture as the Roaring Twenties.

As we look forward to the end of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s worth exploring how the Roaring Twenties followed the last global pandemic: the 1918 Spanish Flu. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum examine this joyous decade and set the record straight on a number of common misconceptions about it. Spoiler Alert: It was not the golden age for cocktails.

So fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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How to Avoid Overhyped and Overpriced Bourbon - Life Behind Bars Feb 14, 2021

You can buy bourbon as young as a few years old and as old as 30 years. But what is the perfect age?

Half Full columnist and whiskey authority Lew Bryson tried to answer this question in a recent article he wrote, which went viral. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, Bryson joins co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum to talk about what inspired his piece. The trio also share their own preferred bourbon age and how they ferret out American whiskey bargains.

So pour yourself a whiskey and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Vodka is No Laughing Matter for Dan Aykroyd - Life Behind Bars Jan 12, 2021

Dan Aykroyd can make you laugh at any moment.

His comedic sense of timing, of course, has been honed from his years on Saturday Night Live and his roles in a long list of smash-hit movies, including Ghostbusters, Spies Like Us and the Blues Brothers. But when it comes to his Crystal Head Vodka brand, he’s as educational as he is entertaining. This is no vanity project or fluffy celebrity endorsement.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, Aykroyd joins co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum to talk about the latest release from Crystal Head, the bars he ran with John Belushi in New York and the early days of the House of Blues.

So mix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Closing Time: Running Out the Clock on 2020 - Life Behind Bars Dec 29, 2020

Thankfully 2020 is finally drawing to a close.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss what they are planning to drink during the rest of the year and the appeal of starting the new year out with a run.

They are also joined by Knob Creek® ambassadors Amanda Gunderson and Tim Heuisler to chat about a new jogging program for professional bartenders that they are helping to organize, which starts on February 28 and lasts for 12 weeks.

The 100 bartenders from across the country will be split into four teams and trained by a top running coach. The goal is for everyone to be able to run a 9K, a 12K or a 15K distance on May 22. (These distances, naturally, honor the three main ages of Knob Creek® Bourbon.)

Bartenders can start signing up for the program on January 3 and can do so by reaching out on Instagram to brand ambassadors Heuisler (@Theuisler), Gunderson (@CaliforniaBourbonGirl), Adam Harris (@MrAdamHarris) and Beth Burrows (@BourbonBella).

So fix yourself a whiskey cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Forget Eggnog. Hot Buttered Rum is the Drink of the Holidays. - Life Behind Bars Dec 23, 2020

We have all certainly earned a decadent treat this holiday season. While you could whip up a big bowl of Eggnog, there’s another traditional (and no-less rich) concoction we recommend: Hot Buttered Rum. This delicious mix of dark rum, hot water and—you guessed it—butter is historic and delightfully appropriate for the season.

On this episode of the podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by award-winning Half Full columnist Wayne Curtis to debate the different methods of making Hot Buttered Rum and to discuss why rum has historically played such a significant role in holiday drinks and desserts.

So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Single Malt Battle Royale: The U.S. vs. Scotland - Life Behind Bars Dec 21, 2020

Scotland has claimed ownership of single malt whiskey for years. But the spirit is now made around the world, including in the U.S., which boasts a thriving industry of its own. Can Scotland maintain its supremacy in the face of ever more competition?

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Matt Hofmann, co-founder, managing director, and head distiller of Westland Whiskey; Becky Paskin, award-winning Half Full columnist; and Iain McPherson, pioneering Edinburgh-based bartender and bar owner. While enjoying a dram of whiskey, the panelists discussed if American single malt could ever rival—or even surpass—Scotch.

So pour yourself a glass of single malt whisky and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Building a Whiskey Empire in 85 Years - Life Behind Bars Dec 11, 2020

In December of 1935, America’s whiskey industry was on life support.

While Prohibition was finally over, the future for distillers was, to say the least, incredibly bleak. After 13 long years of being out of business, would people still want to drink bourbon and rye? Would the Great Depression ever end? Would the temperance movement succeed in getting Prohibition reinstated?

In the midst of these turbulent times, entrepreneurs saw an opportunity. The Shapira family, which ran a small chain of five-and-dime stores across Kentucky, took a leap of faith and invested in a nascent whiskey business.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Max Shapira, president of Heaven Hill, to talk about how his family built one of America’s largest independent whiskey companies and turned Evan Williams and Elijah Craig bourbons and Rittenhouse Rye into best sellers.

So pour yourself a glass of whiskey and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Is it Sacrilege to Use 15-Year-Old Bourbon in Cocktails? - Life Behind Bars Dec 09, 2020

It takes courage to create cocktails with older whiskies, but it’s more than worth the effort.

To help you overcome your fears of ruining a dram, on this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum share some tips and advice for using mature spirits in mixed drinks along with a chaser of spirited history.

They are also joined by Knob Creek® ambassadors Amanda Gunderson and Tim Heuisler who offer insights and their favorite recipes featuring older bourbons.

So fix yourself a whiskey cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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’Tis the Season for Hot Cocktails - Life Behind Bars Nov 22, 2020

For far too long, hot cocktails have been lumped in with dessert drinks and made increasingly sweeter with honey, sugar, cider and even ice cream. But the classic recipes for these steaming concoctions are, in fact, not overly sweet—and quite delicious. So delicious, in fact, that it’s time to give hot cocktails another shot.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the origins of these warming cocktails and how they have evolved over time, as well as share their favorite recipes for the Hot Toddy, Hot Buttered Rum and Irish Coffee.

So mix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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How Kentucky Bourbon Distillers Saved Their Archrival Rye Whiskey - Life Behind Bars Nov 10, 2020

Once upon a time, there were bourbon drinkers and there were rye whiskey drinkers. You couldn’t be both.

When the rye industry fell apart in the second half of the 20th century and its distilleries, located in the mid-Atlantic states, faltered and ultimately disappeared, an unexpected savior stepped in: bourbon distillers. As a result, rye has been made in the heart of Kentucky bourbon country for decades.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Knob Creek© Bourbon ambassadors Beth Burrows and Adam Harris to talk about this astonishing American whiskey story.

So pour yourself a glass of rye or bourbon and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Meet Dale DeGroff, the Father of the Rebirth of the Cocktail - Life Behind Bars Oct 23, 2020

Dale DeGroff is a storyteller, teacher, mentor, bon vivant and consummate host. He is also responsible for changing how people around the world drink by starting the modern golden age of cocktails.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by DeGroff to talk about the new edition of his seminal book, The Craft of the Cocktail, and what’s next for cocktails and spirits.

So fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

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What’s Next for Bars? - Life Behind Bars: What I’ve Learned Sep 16, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has managed to affect nearly every facet of life in America. Bars are certainly not exempt and the industry will find itself dealing with the repercussions of the pandemic for years to come.

So how will this unprecedented period change the layout of bars and how they function? On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Alexis Brown from Chicago, Ivy Mix from New York, and Jeffrey Morgenthaler from Portland, Oregon—about what the near future holds.

So mix yourself a drink and listen to this important episode of Life Behind Bars: What I’ve Learned. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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The Modern Cocktail Menu - Life Behind Bars: What I’ve Learned Sep 09, 2020

During times like these, how are bars across the country changing their drinks menus? Is it better to go with tried-and-true classics or to offer innovative and creative concoctions?

On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Claire Sprouse from New York, Erick Castro from San Diego and Omar Yeefoon from Dallas—about what folks want to drink now and how the pandemic has changed the thought process behind putting together menus.

So mix yourself a drink and listen to this important episode of Life Behind Bars: What I’ve Learned. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Staffing Up During a Pandemic - Life Behind Bars: What I’ve Learned Sep 03, 2020

If hiring, training and managing a staff is one of the hardest parts of running a bar, try doing it during a pandemic.

On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Ryan Fitzgerald from San Francisco, Anu Apte from Seattle and Derek Brown from Washington, D.C.—about their experiences during the coronavirus pandemic and how their roles and management styles have evolved.

So mix yourself a drink and listen to this important episode of Life Behind Bars: What I’ve Learned. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Yes, There is an Official Bourbon Holiday - Life Behind Bars Sep 03, 2020

If there was ever a time to have a glass of bourbon, now is it.

Back in 2007, Congress passed a resolution declaring September National Bourbon Heritage Month. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Trey Zoeller, founder of Jefferson’s Bourbon, to talk about why the month-long holiday was created and how to properly celebrate it.

So fix yourself a glass of bourbon and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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The New World of To-Go Drinks - Life Behind Bars: What I’ve Learned Aug 28, 2020

Thanks to coronavirus closures, cities across the country have now allowed bars and restaurants to offer customers to-go drinks.

On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Karl Franz Williams from New York, Christine Wiseman from Los Angeles, and Andrew Volk from Maine—about this important change in the bar industry. They discuss the new-found skills required to create to-go cocktails, as well as which drinks are (and aren’t) selling out.

So mix yourself a drink and listen to this important episode of Life Behind Bars: What I’ve Learned. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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The Fight to Get People to Wear Face Masks in Bars - Life Behind Bars: What I’ve Learned Aug 28, 2020

Bartenders and bar owners are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. And one of the greatest challenges facing them today is getting their customers to wear face masks.

On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Neal Bodenheimer from New Orleans, Alex Jump from Denver and Masa Urushido from New York—about this important issue. They discuss how patrons have reacted to wearing masks in their establishments and offer advice on how to conduct these occasionally fraught conversations.

So mix yourself a drink and listen to this important episode of Life Behind Bars: What I’ve Learned. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Are the Manhattan & the Martini the Same Cocktail? - Life Behind Bars Aug 19, 2020

The Martini and the Manhattan are two of the bedrock drinks that hold up the entire world of cocktails.

While both have their own lore, mythology and fans, they in fact may be essentially the same drink. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the origins of both drinks and how they evolved into distinct recipes.

So mix yourself a Manhattan or a Martini and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Fostering Diversity in the Beer & Spirits World - Life Behind Bars Aug 05, 2020

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Garrett Oliver, the head brewer at the Brooklyn Brewery. He recently became the founding board chair of the new Michael Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling, which is named for the late legendary beer and whiskey writer. They discuss with Oliver his organization’s scholarship and mentorship program for black, indigenous, and people of color, and how he hopes these grants will shape the next generation of distillers and brewers in America.

So, fix yourself a drink and listen to this important episode of Life Behind Bars.

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Can Bars Survive the Pandemic? - Life Behind Bars Jul 22, 2020

The coronavirus has the potential to decimate bars across America. Already a number of well-known establishments have announced that they won’t reopen and many others are struggling to stay afloat during these challenging times.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Nate Whitehouse, co-founder of Thirst, to talk about his organization’s efforts to get insurance companies and the federal government to help bars stay in business.

So, fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars.

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Gone but Not Forgotten: Bars We Wish Were Still Open - Life Behind Bars Jul 09, 2020

David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, the co-hosts of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, share the bars they wish were still open: From a pioneering 18th-century punch house to Jerry Thomas’ legendary New York bar to Dale DeGroff shaking up drinks in the Rainbow Room to the recently closed Pegu Club.

Their virtual bar crawl across centuries and continents covers the establishments that they have long dreamt of visiting, as well as some modern personal favorites that are no more. Which bars do you wish you could go back in time to check out? Let the hosts know on Twitter.

So, mix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The Bars We Can’t Wait to Visit Again - Life Behind Bars Jun 25, 2020

After months of sheltering in place, David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, co-hosts of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, are daydreaming about visiting their favorite bars around the world.

Listen in as they plan a bar crawl for the ages, which will hit New York, New Orleans, Detroit, Miami, Havana, Tequila, London, Paris and spots in between. Did they miss your favorite establishment? Let the hosts know on Twitter what bar you’d like to visit right now.

So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Test Case: Bars Are Reopening in New Orleans - Life Behind Bars Jun 10, 2020

After weeks of being closed for a mandatory coronavirus shutdown, bars in New Orleans have begun to reopen with limited capacity.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Neal Bodenheimer, owner of James Beard Award-winning Nola bar Cure, to talk about his recent experiences reopening and the challenges that he’s had to overcome.

So fix yourself a Sazerac and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 57 The Return of Cocktail Hour May 27, 2020

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, liquor store sales are up across the country with many folks fixing cocktails at home.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the return of America’s nightly cocktail hour and what people are mixing up. They also discuss the long-term effects of the coronavirus on the bar industry and how it might change after this pandemic is finished.

So mix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 56 The Bizarre History of Pandemic Cocktail Cures May 20, 2020

What happens when two committed bar flies can’t go to a bar?

Find out on this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars. While sheltering in place at their respective homes, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the history of drinking during plagues and some of the cocktail cures that were created and popularized. (Spoiler alert: Rock and Rye doesn’t actually protect you from tuberculosis.)

So fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 55 A Concise History of Bourbon Street’s Cocktail Culture Apr 15, 2020

From the Hurricane to the Hand Grenade to the Shark Attack, some of the world’s most potent cocktails call Bourbon Street home. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the drinking culture of this famous New Orleans street. They are joined by acclaimed Half Full columnist and NOLA resident Wayne Curtis to discuss these infamous drinks and their creators. So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editorNoah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks ColumnistDavid Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 54 Toasting a Bourbon Legend Mar 03, 2020

You should really have a whiskey today—but better make it a bottled-in-bond whiskey. Why? Congress enacted the Bottled-in-Bond Act on March 3, 1897, which set a new standard for American whiskey and ushered in a new era of consumer protections. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, discuss the history of these important federal regulations and their modern implications. Wondrich and Rothbaum are joined by Beau Beckman, who runs the single-barrel program at Sazerac and is a descendant of bottled-in-bond advocate E.H. Taylor. So pour yourself a dram of bottled-in-bond whiskey and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 53 Fixing the Craft Cocktail Menu Feb 26, 2020

Having trouble figuring out what to order in a craft cocktail bar? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. From exotic ingredients to wildly creative new concoctions, even for drinks experts picking a cocktail can be overwhelming at times. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, discuss the problems of the modern drinks menu and how to fix them. They also talk about how the perfect balance between classic cocktails and new creations is essential for developing the next generation of best sellers. So before you head out to the bar for a drink, listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 52 Remembering Legendary Drinks Writer Gary Regan Feb 11, 2020

Last fall, we lost award-winning drinks writer Gary Regan. He wrote numerous pioneering books, including "The Joy of Mixology," "The Bartender’s Bible" and "The Negroni," in addition to writing a column for Half Full and several other publications. Gary also traveled the globe educating, inspiring and entertaining a whole generation of bartenders, and that’s not to mention finger stirring thousands of Negronis!On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum celebrate Gary’s life and work and share some of their favorite stories about him. They are joined by legendary bartenders Dale DeGroff and Julie Reiner who were some of Gary’s closest friends. So make yourself a Negroni and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 51 A Cocktail Tour of Old New York Jan 17, 2020

From McSorley’s Old Ale House to the Ear Inn to the Nancy Whiskey, New York has no shortage of historic watering holes. On this episode of the award-winning podcast, Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, talk about the extensive history of bars in New York and how the city’s drinking culture has evolved over the last two centuries. They dig deep into their archives for stories about oyster dens, drinking “mild ale” and the variety of speakeasies operating in the five boroughs during Prohibition.So fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars now. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaumand its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrichas they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 50 The Year in Drinks: 2019 Dec 31, 2019

Over the last 12 months, David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum have traveled the globe—from New York to New Orleans to Naples, Italy—visiting dozens of distilleries and bars and tasting countless cocktails and spirits.

On this episode of their award-winning podcast, Life Behind Bars, the co-hosts talk about some of the highlights of the year, the spirited fights they got into online (and won), and a few things they’d like to see happen in 2020. So mix yourself a cocktail and toast 2019 by listening to this episode of

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Life Behind Bars Live - Episode 49 The Unspoken History of Scotch Whisky Dec 11, 2019

For the first time ever, Life Behind Bars hosts Noah Rothbaum andDavid Wondrich have taken their award-winning podcast out of the studio to do a live recording in front of an audience in, of course, a bar. On this episode, they’re joined by veteran bartender and Dewar’s North American brand ambassador Gareth Howells and over glasses of whisky (what else did you expect?) they discuss the birth and evolution of blended Scotch and single malts. So fix yourself a Scotch and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 48 American Whiskey’s Miraculous Comeback Story Nov 26, 2019

Imagine a world without bourbon or rye whiskey.

As terrifying as that scenario sounds, not that long ago, America was heading in that very direction. Only a trickle of rye was being made each year and bourbon brands were struggling to stay relevant and were precipitously losing market share. But just in the nick of time, American whiskey distillers were miraculously able to stage a successful comeback.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, talk about how American whiskey brands lost their way and how they were then able to reverse their fortunes.

They are joined by Fred Noe, Jim Beam’s great grandson and the Beam family’s seventh-generation distiller, to talk about his legendary father Booker Noe and his groundbreaking Small Batch Bourbon Collection. Fred also shares how his father got the idea for these pioneering American whiskies and how long he thinks this bourbon boom will last.

So pour yourself a few fingers of your favorite American whiskey and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 47 Death to Scotch Snobbery Nov 22, 2019

When did drinking Scotch get to be so damn complicated? There are rules, myths, legends and half-truths that are, for lack of a better term, absolute and utter shite. They can also unfortunately lead to Scotch shaming, preventing you from drinking what you really want to drink. (Bartender: Please just add a few ice cubes to my dram and hold the sanctimonious lecture about the sanctity of whisky’s purity.) Drinking whisky should, of course, be enjoyable. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum help you cut through the Scotch snobbery by breaking down the biggest Scotch misconceptions and falsehoods. So fix a Scotch anyway you like—seriously, we won’t judge you—and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Life Behind Bars features Half Full editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich, who discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 46 The Undisputed Heavyweight Bar Champion: Vodka Nov 07, 2019

Drink trends come and go in America, but seemingly the one constant now is the unprecedented sale of vodka. Just how big is the spirit these days? Three out of every 10 bottles sold in America is vodka and the category is, unbelievably, still growing. It’s even more impressive given that 100 years ago, it wasn’t a contender and struggled to find a market. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, talk about the secret to vodka’s unprecedented success and how it keeps defending its title. They are joined by Carl Nolet Jr. whose family has been distilling in Holland for more than 300 years and created best-seller Ketel One. Nolet chats about his experiences coming to America in 1990 to launch the brand and why the category took off so explosively. Life Behind Bars features Half Full editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich, who discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 45 From Zero to Hero: The Rise of Vodka Cocktails Oct 01, 2019

From the Moscow Mule and the Cosmopolitan to the Bloody Mary, it’s hard to find a bar that doesn’t serve at least one vodka cocktail…if not a dozen.

While vodka seems like a thoroughly modern drink, it actually gained popularity after Prohibition, when Americans were thirsty for quality liquor after years of drinking alcohol of dubious origin. The spirit went on to reinvent itself for practically every successive generation and vodka continues to anchor best-selling drinks.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, talk about spirit’s unique cocktail history and some of the drinks that made it a huge hit. Today’s vodka cocktail conversation is presented by Ketel One. Mix yourself a vodka drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich, who discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 44 The Greatest Drinking City in America: New Orleans Sep 20, 2019

Practically since its founding some 300 years ago, New Orleans has had a famous bar scene.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, talk about the city’s rich cocktail history and their current favorite bars in and around the French Quarter. They also share a few stories, offer some drinking advice and reveal what signature Nola cocktails they like to order.

If you’re a fan of New Orleans (or its cocktails), you need to listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 43 Is the Next Big Drink a Rum Old-Fashioned? Aug 11, 2019

The Cuba Libre is the king of rum cocktails, but is its reign as a best-seller under siege?

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the recent global popularity of the rum Old-Fashioned and the new rum cocktails popping up on bar menus.

Joining Wondrich and Rothbaum is Juan Coronado, category rum ambassador for Bacardi, who has bartended around New York and worked as cocktail innovator for celebrity chef José Andrés’s Think Food Group. Coronado called in from the rum route to discuss what drink trends he has recently spotted and what we can expect in the future.

Fix yourself a rum Old-Fashioned or a Cuba Libre, sit back and listen to this spirited conversation. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 42 The Greatest American Whiskey Myth Jul 30, 2019

Whiskey is now, of course, once again very popular but along with the adoration, the proliferation of bourbon bars and the ubiquity of the Old-Fashioned, comes an unintended side effect: nostalgia for a time that never existed.There is now a tendency among drinkers, bartenders, brands, writers and historians to glamorize the 19th century roots of American whiskey. Even worse there’s a popular idea that the way whiskey was made in the 1800s was pure and should be the model for today’s distillers. While there was certainly quality whiskey being sold at the time there was also a huge amount of “whiskey,” which was actually neutral grain spirit that was flavored and colored with a whole bunch of additives—everything from creosote to nut oil extracts. Stuff, suffice it to say, you really shouldn’t be drinking.On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, talk about this unappetizing side of American whiskey’s roots and how the industry cleaned up its act.If you’re a whiskey drinker, you need to listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast. Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 41 Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Negroni Jul 05, 2019

Along with the Vespa scooter and the Ferrari, the Negroni is one of Italy’s greatest modern inventions. The three-ingredients aperitif (the basic recipe is equal parts Campari, gin and sweet vermouth) has recently become a best-seller in America. But where did it come from? And why is it suddenly on just about every bar menu in the United States? On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, discuss the history of the Negroni and how it evolved over the last century. If you love Negronis, you need to listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 40 The Highball is Taking Over America May 21, 2019

One of the most popular drinks in craft cocktail bars at the moment is the simplest: the Highball.

Generally, it’s a refreshing mix of whiskey and club soda, which is delicious on a hot afternoon. While many bartenders and drinkers discovered their love of the bubbly concoction in Tokyo bars where Highballs are a downright sensation, their history is much longer and they can actually be made from a variety of ingredients.

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the roots of the Highball and try to figure out which drinks can be included in the category. (Is a Rum & Coke a Highball? How about a Paloma or a Jack & Coke?)

So fix yourself a highball and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaumand its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrichas they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 39 Is Rum Finally Ready to Seriously Challenge Whiskey? May 07, 2019

After years of being lost in a sea of Coke and other mixers, rum is finally emerging as a sipping spirit. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? And can rum actually attract whiskey drinkers and collectors?

On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss these developments, including the rise of collectible pot still rums and the associated snobbery, as well as the recent fiery debates on social media between rum aficionados.

If you enjoy rum or whiskey, listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars right away. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 38 Are Dive Bars an Endangered Species? Mar 29, 2019

Before there were fancy craft cocktail bars, Americans learned to drink in dive bars. These humble establishments are a sacred tradition, dispensing affordable shots of potent whiskey and pints of cold beer to the thirsty masses. They likely date back to a subterranean Buffalo joint that opened in the mid-1800s along the banks of the city’s canal. Soon the term and style of bar spread across the United States. The popularity of dives usually ebbs and flows with the state of the country’s economy but they’ve always attracted a diverse and eclectic crowd. Sadly, in many cities rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods mean that dive bars are now often closing or are being renovated.

On this episode of award-winning podcast, Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the origins and the state of dive bars. They also share a few of their most colorful dive bar experiences. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast .

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 37 Drinking Your Way Across Ireland Mar 09, 2019

There are few drinking institutions more revered or storied than the Irish pub. Traditionally, back in the old country, these bars were the center of their respective communities, often also serving as the post office, grocery store and, even, funeral home.On this episode of award-winning podcast, Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Sean Muldoon and Tim Herlihy, the co-authors of the new book, “From Barley to Blarney: A Whiskey Lover’s Guide to Ireland,” to chat about the state of Ireland’s pubs and the secrets to pouring the perfect pint of Guinness. Muldoon, who is one of the founders of the renowned New York bar The Dead Rabbit, and Herlihy, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey’s brand ambassador, traveled around the Emerald Isle visiting 160 pubs to find their top 50 favorites.So, if you like pubs and pints, then you need to listen to this episode. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 36 Pushing the Boundaries of Single Malt Scotch Whisky Feb 15, 2019

The recipe for making Scotch is pretty simple: malted barley, water and yeast—that’s it.

Talented distillers and blenders across Scotland transform these humble ingredients to produce delicious whisky. But Scotch is also one of the most heavily regulated spirits on the planet. The Scotch Whisky Association has very strict rules and regulations that you must follow if you want to call your spirit Scotch. (At the top of the list, of course, is that the whisky must be made and aged in Scotland!)

As a result, whisky makers have to be very creative in order to come up with new and interesting bottlings, experimenting with everything from the type of water and variety of barley used to the type of barrel that the spirit is aged in.

On this episode of award-winning podcast, Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the history of Scotch and how whisky brands have been able to innovate despite the inherent constraints of the category. They are joined by David Blackmore, the global brand ambassador for Glenmorangie and Ardbeg Single Malt Whiskies. He called in from Scotland to discuss how Glenmorangie and its legendary director of distilling & whiskey creation, Dr. Bill Lumsden, have been so successful coming up with unique ideas. Blackmore also weighs in on the future of Scotch innovation, shares the backstory of their latest Private Edition release, Allta, and hints at what’s next for the brand. So pour yourself a dram and sit back and listen to this spirited conversation about Scotch. Slàinte!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 35 The Bastardization of the Hot Toddy Jan 27, 2019

The Hot Toddy started out as a relatively simple drink: sugar, booze, hot water and possibly some grated nutmeg.Over the next roughly 300 years, that definition stretched to include a whole host of ingredients—everything from apple cider, honey and fresh lemon juice to a kitchen cabinet full of spices. While those drinks are certainly warming on a cold evening are they still a Hot Toddy?On this episode of award-winning podcast, Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the history of this hot cocktail and how it’s become a mess of a recipe.So put the kettle on and listen to this spirited conversation.Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It just won the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 34 Future Cocktails: What You’ll Be Drinking in 2019 Jan 18, 2019

From spirits and craft beer to spiked seltzer, on this episode of award-winning podcast, Life Behind Bars, hosts Noah Rothbaum and David Wondrich looked into their crystal Martini glasses to divine what you’ll be drinking in 2019.

The duo also dissect the biggest drinking trends of 2018, share some of the spirited events they’re looking forward to attending this year and forecast the future of a number of liquor categories.

So pour fix yourself a drink and enjoy the discussion. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 33 The Year in Drinks Dec 28, 2018

Before the ball drops on New Year’s Eve listen to the year-end episode of podcast Life Behind Bars.

Hosts Noah Rothbaum and David Wondrich recount the highs and lows of 2018, including some of the biggest bar openings of the year, the noteworthy new books that were published, their favorite Half Full stories and remember some friends who passed away this year. Pour yourself a glass of Champagne and enjoy the discussion. Cheers!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 32 The Ultimate Holiday Party Drink: Cognac Punch Dec 08, 2018

Forget the holiday season, it’s punch season! Seriously. For centuries, people have been making big bowls of Cognac punch for their friends and family. Why? It’s not only delicious but much easier to make than other traditional seasonal drinks, like Eggnog, Hot Buttered Run or Tom Jerry, and you can mix up a batch ahead of time. And when it comes to punch, there is no one more knowledgeable than David Wondrich. In fact, he wrote the book on the historic beverage.On this episode of Life Behind Bars, Wondrich and his co-host Noah Rothbaum discuss the origins of this tasty holiday drink, share tips for making it and chat with guest Jordan Bushell, national brand ambassador for Hennessy Cognac.So before you host a party or attend one, listen to this podcast and then get out your punch bowl and ladle!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It just won the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast. Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 31 The Wide World of Whiskey Nov 29, 2018

For decades, Kentucky, Scotland, Ireland and Canada dominated the whiskey business. Few bars carried any whiskies made anywhere else and that was really just fine with most drinkers. But over the last decade, these distilling stalwarts have been joined by an ever-growing international selection of bottles from India, Japan Scandinavia and seemingly everywhere in between. On this episode of Life Behind Bars co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss this growing trend, share their favorite international whiskies and forecast where they see the business headed. (Spoiler alert: Are you ready for Italian whiskey?) So pour yourself a good dram and listen to this spirited conversation.Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It just won the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong.

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 30 - The Greatest Bartenders the World Forgot Oct 24, 2018

The stars of the rebirth of the cocktail are legendary bartenders, likeJerry Thomas, Harry Johnson andHarry Craddock, who worked decades and decades ago. Their drink books are now back in print and their signature cocktails can be found on bar menus around the world.

But there are several important bartenders who made major mixological contributions that have been largely lost to history. This episode of Life Behind Barsis about Duncan Nicol, who ran San Francisco’s famed Bank Exchange until Prohibition and was known for his signature Pisco Punch, and Jim Gray, who was one of New York’s most famous bartenders in the late 1800s when he worked at the Fifth Avenue Hotel.

Listen now to find out more about these two incredible barmen.

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 29 - You Only Know Half of Rum’s History Oct 11, 2018

The history of rum usually begins and ends with the Caribbean. It makes sense since the region is home to many famous brands and has been producing the liquor since the 1600s. But that’s really only part of the spirit’s long story. There is strong evidence that people were making spirits from sugarcane 1,000 years earlier in India. This distilling knowledge ultimately traveled with sailors, explorers and traders, and it was brought to the Caribbean and Brazil where it flourished. If you love to drink rum you need to listen to co-host David Wondrich build his case for this revolutionary theory and share his deep research on the topic. Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It just won the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 28 Everything You Know About the Sazerac is Wrong Aug 24, 2018

The legendary New Orleans drink had a lovely history about how it was originally made with Cognac, but thanks to the massive destruction wrought on European vineyards by phylloxera, Americans were forced to replace the French spirit with rye whiskey.Sadly, this history is not true. On this episode of Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the complicated history of the Sazerac and try to finally set the record straight about its origins.Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It just won the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast.Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 27 - Did Trump Curse New York’s Tiki Bars? Aug 16, 2018

During the winter of 1989, Donald Trump went to war with Trader Vic’s.The New York outpost of the famous tiki bar chain was located in the legendary Plaza Hotel, which Trump owned at the time. In an attempt to close the establishment, he reportedly said it had “gotten tacky.” He continued by saying “Trader Vic’s does not fit in with the image of the hotel that I want to achieve.”This lead to an uproar with even former President Richard Nixon issuing a statement about how much the bar meant to him and his family. Ultimately, Trader Vic’s closed and ever since the city can’t seem to sustain a tiki bar scene despite the success of tropical-themed watering holes in other cities.Recently a number of new tiki bars have opened in New York, and on this episode of the podcast Life Behind Bars, hosts Noah Rothbaum and David Wondrich discuss whether they can succeed or whether tiki is indeed too tacky for the Big Apple.Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It just won the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world's best drinks podcast. Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 26 - Your Summer Drink: The Tom Collins Jul 12, 2018

The beautiful simplicity of the Tom Collins recipe—gin, sugar, lemon juice and club soda—makes it hard to believe that someone had to actually convince the rest of us to give it a try. It’s the perfect drink for a hot summer afternoon.But the British bartender John Collin popularized the recipe in the early 19th century. Yes, it was originally called a John Collins but over time morphed and became known as a Tom Collins. It’s a good story full of odd twists and turns, and is the subject of the new episode of podcast Life Behind Bars.Hosts Noah Rothbaum and David Wondrich go all the way back to 1820s London when the drink was the signature of Limmer’s Hotel and follow its meteoric rise to become an East Coast country club favorite. They also share their personal recipes for the cocktail.So mix yourself a refreshing Tom Collins and start listening to the episode now.Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 25 - Punch Will Save Your Summer Party Jul 02, 2018

Summer party hosts, a word of advice: forget about serving cocktails.Parties should be fun for the guests as well as the host and making drinks for a large groups is hard and sweaty work. So, put away the shaker, the bar spoon and the strainer. You won’t need them. Instead, at your next event make a big bowl of delicious punch, which can be prepared in advance and is the original session drink!Over the last decade, the drink’s reputation has greatly improved—from fraternity house staple to the darling of the cocktail community. A number of the best bars around the country now offer big bowls of historic and delicious punch on their menu. A few will even serve you a glass of it as a welcome drink. And there’s no one more qualified to talk about punch than Life Behind Bars co-host David Wondrich, who literally brought the concoction back to prominence with his book.In fact, his delicious punch recipe may just save your summer parties. You can’t afford not to listen to this episode.Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. Edited by Alex Skjong.

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 24 Are Drinking Rules Made to be Broken? Jun 01, 2018

From no standing at the bar to no yelling to no hats, over the last two decades, craft cocktail bars from coast to coast have been posting their own etiquette guidelines. But are any of these rules actually necessary or worth following?To answer this question, Life Behind Bars hosts Noah Rothbaum and David Wondrich are joined by veteran Portland, Oregon, bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler, who just published "Drinking Distilled: A User’s Manual."Listen to the episode to find out if you need to change your behavior in bars.Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 23- Are There Any Classic Cocktails That Are Still Lost? May 07, 2018

There are have been hundreds of cocktail books published over the last 200 years. While a lot of the drinks listed in them are familiar (like the Old-Fashioned and Daiquiri) or versions of those classics, there are also dozens and dozens of other recipes that are completely unfamiliar. Are they lost classics that could be the next Martini or Manhattan? Or are they just filler put in to pad these books?This episode of Life Behind Bars, hosted by Noah Rothbaum and David Wondrich, tries to answer this question. Wondrich also reveals how he looks for recipes and his methods for evaluating them.Listen now to find out if there are any lost classics still out there in the wild, which you should be hunting for.Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 22 The Guilty Pleasures We’re Not Embarrassed to Drink Apr 17, 2018

From Long Island Iced Tea to frozen cocktails to Grasshoppers, there’s a whole class of drinks that don’t get much respect from modern bartenders or drinkers. But in the right bar and under the right circumstances, they are the perfect thing to mix up and enjoy.On this episode of Life Behind Bars, hosts Noah Rothbaum and David Wondrich reveal their favorite guilty pleasures and where they like to enjoy them. (Yes, even cocktail experts drink guilty pleasures from time to time.) So if you’ve ever enjoyed a White Russian, a Frozen Irish Coffee or a Pousse Café you need to listen to this podcast.Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 21 - The Art of Drinking & Flying Mar 28, 2018

Frequent flyers not only know how to pick the perfect seat and the fastest TSA line but also where to find the best drink in an airport.On this episode of Life Behind Bars, Noah Rothbaum and David Wondrich discuss the history of inflight cocktails, including even the bars built inside the cabins of zeppelins. The hosts also share their favorite spots to grab a drink during a layover and the secret to making a delicious Old-Fashioned after takeoff.Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders of all time and how they changed what the world drinks. Edited by Alex Skjong.

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 20 An International St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl Mar 09, 2018

From Dublin and Belfast to Chile and Mongolia, you can now find Irish pubs around the world. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, on this episode of Life Behind Bars we go on an international pub crawl of our all-time favorite Irish bars.Hosts Noah Rothbaum and David Wondrich are joined by Irish pub expert Tim Herlihy from the episode’s partner Tullamore D.E.W. (Herlihy even once barnstormed across America visiting Irish bars in all 50 states in just 30 days. He’s also working on an Irish whiskey and Irish pub book with bartenders Jack McGarry and Sean Muldoon from the award-winning New York bar the Dead Rabbit Bar.) The three discuss why Irish bars have spread to the far corners of the map and are so enduringly popular with drinkers. They, of course, also indulge in a dram or two of whiskey while they chat. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders of all time and how they changed what the world drinks. Edited by Alex Skjong.

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 19 Debunking the Biggest Cocktails & Spirits Myths Feb 08, 2018

Was rye more popular than bourbon at the turn century? Was the Manhattan cocktail created for Winston Churchill’s mother? Was tequila ever bottled with a worm? On this episode of Life Behind Bars, hosts Noah Rothbaum and David Wondrich debunk some of the most commonplace cocktails and spirits myths out there. Enjoy a drink while they set the record straight!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its senior drinks columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders of all time and how they changed what the world drinks. Edited by Alex Skjong.

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 18 Burns Night Scotch Jan 23, 2018

Get out that bottle of single malt whisky in the back of your liquor cabinet, which you’ve been saving for a special occasion. This Thursday is the 259th birthday of Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns. He’s not only the author of some of the most famous Gaelic poems but is also responsible for New Year’s Eve anthem Auld Lang Syne.

Historically, the bard is celebrated with bagpipes, recitations of his poems, plates of haggis and glasses of whisky. While he died penniless, in the 1800s the Scots, looking for an identity, began to widely commemorate his birth.

On this episode of Life Behind Bars, hosts Noah Rothbaum and David Wondrich, are joined by Robert Burns expert Andrew Weir from the episode’s partner Aberlour Single Malt Whiskey. The three discuss the traditional elements of a Burns dinner and the poet’s enduring influence as well as what Scotch you should pair with haggis. They, of course, indulge in a dram or two of whisky. Slàinte!

Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders and greatest cocktails of all time. It won the 2018 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for the world’s best drinks podcast.

Edited by Alex Skjong.

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 17 - How to Shake Up Your Drinks in 2018 Jan 09, 2018

How can you take your drinks mixing to the next level in 2018? In this episode of Life Behind Bars, hosts Noah Rothbaum and David Wondrich come up with a few boozy New Year’s resolutions for themselves and for both professional and home bartenders. From being more patient with new cocktail trends and exploring local drinking cultures to throwing more parties, our hosts may actually have a shot at keeping these resolutions.Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders of all time and how they changed what the world drinks. Edited by Alex Skjong.

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 16 - Holiday Drinks Dec 03, 2017

Whether you love or hate Eggnog, it wouldn’t be the holidays without a cup of the creamy cocktail. In this episode of podcast Life Behind Bars, hosts Noah Rothbaum and David Wondrich discuss the surprisingly long history of the traditional Christmas drink as well as share some of their other favorite seasonal beverages, including a flaming German punch and the British Tom & Jerry. (FYI The cartoon was actually named for the popular drink.) No matter if you’re the host or a guest, this episode may just save your holiday party!

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 15 - What You Should Drink on Thanksgiving Nov 21, 2017

Get in the Thanksgiving spirit by listening to a special holiday edition of the podcast Life Behind Bars. Hosts Noah Rothbaum and David Wondrich try to solve the age-old problem of what beverages go best with turkey, stuffing and the rest of the traditional meal. They also discuss what the Pilgrims actually drank at the first Thanksgiving in 1621 and what they plan on serving their friends and family this year. Whether you’re a guest or are hosting the meal, you’ll want to listen to this episode.Life Behind Bars features the Daily Beast’s Half Full editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders of all time and how they changed what the world drinks.Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 14 The Rise and Fall of Prohibition Nov 16, 2017

Nearly 84 years after the end of Prohibition, the story of how American drinkers and distillers survived the dry period is, amazingly, still the subject of much attention. Rum runners and bootleggers continue to be the subject of TV shows and movies and modern speakeasies are popular around the world. But the reality of the dry period was certainly a lot less glamorous and a lot more dangerous for the common drinker who was risking his or her own life with every contraband cocktail. On this episode of Life Behind Bars, we look at the causes of Prohibition, why it failed and its long-term consequences on American society and culture. The podcast’s hosts, Noah Rothbaum and David Wondrich, are also joined by special guest Joe Riggs from the episode’s partner Redemption Whiskey, for a taste of a special 18-year-old rye. Rye whiskey almost was killed by Prohibition and Redemption was started with the mission of retuning the whiskey back to its rightful place behind the bar. Life Behind Bars features the Daily Beast’s Drink + Food editor Noah Rothbaum (@NRothbaum) and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich (@DavidWondrich) as they discuss the greatest bartenders of all time and how they changed what the world drinks.Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 13 - The Manhattan Oct 25, 2017

The Manhattan cocktail has been a star since it appeared on the scene more than 100 years ago. But despite being enduringly popular, it’s hard to figure out the drink’s early history, including who is responsible for its iconic recipe or its name. On this episode of Life Behind Bars, we discuss the myths, legends and lore surrounding the Manhattan, including one theory that it was created for Winston Churchill’s mother, Jennie Jerome. We’ll also reveal our personal recipes for the drink.Life Behind Bars features the Daily Beast’s Drink + Food editor Noah Rothbaum (@NRothbaum) and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich (@DavidWondrich) as they discuss the greatest bartenders of all time and how they changed what the world drinks. Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 12 - The Boilermaker Oct 03, 2017

No matter if you call it a Boilermaker, a shot and a beer or a depth charge, you can find this simply yet delicious combination around the world. It’s a pairing that is often now identified with American dive bars but its roots are actually in Europe, where it was drunk as far back at the 1600s. On this episode of Life Behind Bars, we discuss the ritual and joys of drinking spirits with a pint. We’ll also talk about our personal favorite Boilermaker combinations.Life Behind Bars features the Daily Beast’s Drink + Food editor Noah Rothbaum (@NRothbaum) and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich (@DavidWondrich) as they discuss the greatest bartenders of all time and how they changed what the world drinks. Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 11 - The Old-Fashioned Sep 18, 2017

Anybody can make an Old-Fashioned cocktail: It’s just sugar, water, bitters and spirit (usually whiskey, these days). That’s it. But this deceptively simple list of ingredients yields a complex cocktail that has satisfied drinkers for hundreds of years. On this episode of Life Behind Bars, we discuss the long history of the Old-Fashioned and how it’s essentially the very first cocktail ever stirred up. We’ll also address whether or not it’s acceptable to include club soda, and muddled cherries and orange in the mix.Life Behind Bars features the Daily Beast’s Drink + Food editor Noah Rothbaum (@NRothbaum) and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich (@DavidWondrich) as they discuss the greatest bartenders of all time and how they changed what the world drinks. Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 10 - Bartender Drinks Sep 05, 2017

Shhh! Can you keep a secret? There’s a whole list of cocktails and spirits that are off the menu, which professional bartenders serve each other and their most favorite customers. These so-called bartender drinks can vary geographically and on occasion, like the Cosmo, cross over to become wildly popular with consumers. On this episode of Life Behind Bars, we discuss this niche category of concoctions and try to forecast which bartend er drinks will become mainstream. Life Behind Bars features the Daily Beast’s Drink + Food editor Noah Rothbaum (@NRothbaum) and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich (@DavidWondrich) as they discuss the greatest bartenders of all time and how they changed what the world drinks. Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 9: The Martini Aug 21, 2017

Join the Daily Beast’s Drink + Food editor Noah Rothbaum (@NRothbaum)and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich (@DavidWondrich) as they discuss the greatest bartenders of all time and how they changed what the world drinks. Whether you like it shaken or stirred, with vodka or gin, we can all agree that the Martini is the world’s most famous cocktail. But the origin of the classic is very murky with several popular creation stories and even more historic recipes for it. On this episode of Life Behind Bars, we try to separate Martini fact from fiction and discuss how the cocktail has been able to adapt to just about every cultural period and societal shift. However, ironically, the current craft cocktail boom may actually be what knocks the drink off of bar menus. Tune in to find out what’s in store for Martini lovers.Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars, Episode 8: The Cocktail Dark Ages Jul 27, 2017

Join the Daily Beast’s Drink + Food editor Noah Rothbaum (@NRothbaum) and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich (@DavidWondrich) as they discuss the greatest bartenders of all time and how they changed what the world drinks. Thanks to the rebirth of the cocktail you can now, once again, easily find well-mixed drinks across the country. But we’ve become so accustomed to great bartending that it’s easy to forget the cocktail dark ages when menus were dominated by a range of bizarre concoctions. On this episode of Life Behind Bars, we talk about the roots of these recipes and discuss whether the Fuzzy Navel and the Harvey Wallbanger are ever worth drinking.Edited by Alex Skjong

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Life Behind Bars - Episode 7 - Cocktail Pet Peeves Jul 17, 2017

Join The Daily Beast’s Drink + Food editor Noah Rothbaum (@NRothbaum) and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich (@DavidWondrich) as they discuss bars and the drinking life. No matter how easy going or laid back a drinker is, there are still things that nobody wants to encounter when they’re enjoying a cocktail. Join our hosts as they talk about their personal bar pet peeves. Spoiler alert: Their list includes fruit flies floating in Manhattans, sticky glassware and weird smells.

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Cuban Cocktails - Life Behind Bars - Episode 6 Jun 28, 2017

Join The Daily Beast’s Drink + Food editor Noah Rothbaum (@NRothbaum) and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich (@DavidWondrich) as they discuss the greatest bartenders of all time and how they changed what the world drinks. From the Mojito and Daiquiri to the Presidente, it’s no wonder cocktail lovers are scrambling to get to Cuba and follow in Ernest Hemingway’s footsteps. Get the fascinating history of the island’s cocktail scene and the stories behind its most famous drinks. Edited by Alex Skjong

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Mixologist vs. Bartender - Life Behind Bars - Episode 5 Jun 02, 2017

Join The Daily Beast’s Drink + Food editor Noah Rothbaum @NRothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich @DavidWondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders of all time and how they changed what the world drinks. On this episode, they try to figure out why the term “mixologist” is so divisive and if it’s ever a complement. Edited by Alex Skjong

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War-Time Drinking - Life Behind Bars - Episode 4 May 18, 2017

Join The Daily Beast’s Drink + Food editor Noah Rothbaum (@NRothbaum) and our Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich (@DavidWondrich]) as they discuss the greatest bartenders of all time and how they changed what the world drinks. On this special Memorial Day episode, learn about war-time drinking during World War II. Edited by Alex Skjong

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Midwestern Mixology - Life Behind Bars - Episode 3 May 04, 2017

Join The Daily Beast’s Drink + Food editor Noah Rothbaum @NRothbaum) and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich (@DavidWondrich) as they discuss the greatest bartenders of all time and how they changed what the world drinks. On this episode, learn about the history of Midwestern bartending centers Chicago and Detroit. Edited by Alex Skjong

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Jerry Thomas - Life Behind Bars - Episode 1 Mar 31, 2017

Join The Daily Beast's Drink + Food editor Noah Rothbaum and our Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they talk about the impact of bartenders from drinking history. On today's episode hear about country’s first celebrity bartender Jerry Thomas whose 1862 book has become the blueprint for the modern craft cocktail rebirth. Edited by Alex Skjong

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