Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David Wondrich

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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!

Edited by Alex Skjong

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

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

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

Show notes

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!

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

Show notes

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!

Edited by Alex Skjong

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