The Speakeasy

Latest Episodes:

What We've Ginned Up with Karl Finegan & Philip Duff Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

The minds behind World Gin Week, Philip Duff and Karl Finegan sit down with Greg and Sother to discuss the inaugural festival which took place this summer in New York City. They discuss the learnings from their first go-round, which was made possible in part by the fantastic staff at Ivory Peacock, their plans for world gin domination, and how to gently change the minds of folks who swear they don’t like gin.

PLUS summer break is upon us and Greg is headed to Iceland. Find out what he’s traveling for and share some of your own summer travel stories with us on Instagram.

Follow Philip at @philipsduff

Follow Karl at @finegk

Follow Ivory Peacock at @theivorypeacock

Follow World Gin Week at @worldginweekofficial

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
For resources on dealing with cold hard water agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance
The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast
Learn more about Luxardo at luxardousa.com
Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From Chardonnay to Sake with Nikki McCutcheon Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

Nikki McCutcheon started working with Tao Group Hospitality when she was eighteen. Now she's the VP of Beverage in New York and her career has progressed from passing the level two somm exam, to designing cocktail menus, to opening a punk rock sake bar. She chats with Sother and Greg about what’s changed in the world of wine, how she and her team decide which drinks make it onto the menu, and how their tasty instagram snacks and Magnum Mondays work to bring guests (including Sother) through the doors.

PLUS bars around the country are “benefitsmaxxing” by finding clever workarounds for healthcare and wealth inequality. Is it ingenuity, an indictment of a broken system, or both?

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
For resources on dealing with cold hard water agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance
The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast
Learn more about Luxardo at luxardousa.com
Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tales of the Cocktail 2026 - The Spirited Awards Aug 02, 2026

Show notes

Greg and Sother are live on the red carpet at Bartending’s Biggest Night! They speak to the winners of the 2026 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, including Amanda Gunderson and Travis Nass who took home Best Bar Mentor for their work with Another Round Another Rally, the team from Allegory in Washington, DC fresh off their win for World’s Best Cocktail Menu, Moe Aljaff from schmuck which snagged the plate for Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar, and the inimitable David Wondrich after he was honored with the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award.

PLUS Charlotte’s back to reflect on her time as a judge for the Spirited Awards, and she shares a life hack she wishes more people knew: that you can just nominate yourself!

Follow Tales of the Cocktail at @tales_of_the_cocktail

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
For resources on dealing with cold hard water agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance
The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast
Learn more about Luxardo at luxardousa.com
Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Monkey Business with David Muhs Jul 31, 2026

Show notes

Next week David Muhs is going to open his cocktail bar Monkey Thief for the third time. He sits down with Greg and Sother to talk about the different incarnations of his concept, what he’s learned by opening the same bar three times in Hell’s Kitchen, and how the bar has been refined in the process. They also discuss the other concepts on that same street corner, including Rita’s a taco and margarita joint, Same Same Wine Bar and Sama Za, a pizza place that manages to pull of 90s nostalgia in a non-cringe way.

PLUS Greg and Sother are safely returned from Tales! They talk about what they saw, what they learned, why their voices sound like late-stage Johnny Cash, and what sparked them at this year’s festival.

Follow David at @muhsman

Follow Monkey Thief at @monkeythiefbar

Follow Sama ‘Za at @samaza_nyc

Follow Same Same at @samesamewinebar

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
For resources on dealing with cold hard water agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance
The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast
Learn more about Luxardo at luxardousa.com
Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Poolcasting at Tales of the Cocktail! - Day 4 with Shawn & Vay from Vandell Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

Greg and Sother are back in the pool at Tales of the Cocktail 2026! On Day Four they’re joined by Shawn Lickliter and Vay Su, the owners of Vandell in Los Angeles which is up for best new cocktail bar at this year’s Spirited Awards. They discuss what makes Los Angeles different from New York City, their approach to inventing drinks (and when you cease tweaking a classic and start inventing something new) and what the incredible success of their bar has meant to them and their team. Then everyone gets a poolside spritz delivery, courtesy of Luxardo.

PLUS Charlotte returns to talk about her career in the industry, going from bartender to brand rep to her current position at Tales, and what she’s looking forward to in the hospitality industry.

Follow Shawn at @shawninverta

Follow Vay at @bearandstone

Follow Vandell at @vandell.losangeles

Follow Luxardo at @luxardousa

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
For resources on dealing with cold hard water agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance
The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast
Learn more about Luxardo at luxardousa.com
Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Poolcasting at Tales of the Cocktail! - Day 3 with Kate Gerwin Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

Greg and Sother are back in the pool at Tales of the Cocktail 2026! On Day Three they tough out tropical storm Bertha with Kate Gerwin, the owner of Albuqurque’s Happy Accidents and a Top Four Finalist for Best US Bar Mentor. Kate walks through her philosophy of bar mentorship, how her feelings on being a mentor have evolved over the years, and what it’s like to go from bartender to bar owner. Plus, she teases her new concept Bad Apple over some delicious apple brandy from Laird’s

PLUS, Charlotte Voisey joins Greg and Sother to talk about the good work Tales of the Cocktail Foundation does behind the scenes.

Follow Kate at @alchemistkate

Follow Happy Accidents at @happyaccidentsbar

Follow Laird’s at @lairdsapplejack

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
For resources on dealing with cold hard water agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance
The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast
Learn more about Laird’s at lairdandcompany.com
Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Poolcasting at Tales of the Cocktail! - Day 2 with Taln Rojanavanich Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

Greg and Sother are back in the pool at Tales of the Cocktail 2026! On Day Two they sit down with Taln Rojanavanich from Bar Us in Bangkok. Talk is up for three awards at this year’s spirited awards including Best Cocktail Menu, Best International Bar Team and Best International Cocktail Bar, presented by Gruppo Montenegro. They discuss the bar scene in Thailand, her approach to designing one of the best bars in the world, and what it feels like representing Asia at Tales of the Cocktail. And as a bonus, expect a lot of talk about Thai Street Food.

PLUS, Charlotte Voisey joins Greg and Sother to talk about this year’s festival and how its theme, Spark, is inspiring her to inspire others.

Follow Taln at @taln

Follow Bar Us at @bar.us.bkk

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
For resources on dealing with cold hard water agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance
The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast
Learn more about Gruppo Montenegro at gruppomontenegro.com
Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Poolcasting at Tales of the Cocktail! - Day 1 with Libby Lingua Jul 20, 2026

Show notes

Greg and Sother are back in the pool at Tales of the Cocktail 2026! For the first day of Tales they’re joined by Libby Lingua from Highball in Phoenix, who’s a Spirited Award top four finalist for Best US Bartender, presented by Brown-Forman. Libby discusses the down-to-earth approach to bartending she’s cultivated at Highball (including a pony beer and hotdog combo) her time at Century Grand and its legacy of experiential bars, and how she deals with being recognized by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation as one of the best bartenders in the country.

PLUS, Charlotte Voisey joins Greg and Sother to discuss her career working with the TotC foundation in New Orleans, and the Tuesday seminar that lights a spark in her.

Follow Libby at @oolalibby

Follow Highball at @highballphx

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars

For resources on dealing with cold hard water agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance

Learn more about Old Forester and Brown-Forman at brown-forman.com

Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Room to Grow with Tommy Tardie Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

A lot’s changed since Tommy Tardie opened the Flatiron Room in 2012. New York is different, guests are different… and Tommy’s expanded the business from a whiskey bar to an award-winning restaurant and jazz club, as well as to a second New York location and a third one coming soon in Miami. Tommy talks about lessons from the last decade and a half, including what he’s learned from amassing a massive whiskey collection, what being a type-A creative means for you as a business owner, and how a career in advertising prepared him for life as a bar owner.

PLUS it’s Tales of the Cocktail time baby! Greg and Sother are going to be at the festival all next week poolcasting, so tune in for daily updates and more than a few drinks.

Follow Tommy at @tommytardie

Follow the bars at @theflatironroom_nomad, @theflatironroom_murrayhill and @theflatironroom_miami

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
For resources on dealing with cold hard water agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance
The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast
Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Classics Rock! with Toby Maloney & Emma Janzen Jul 10, 2026

Show notes

How do you follow up one of the most acclaimed modern classic cocktail books of all time? By writing a modern book about classic cocktails, naturally. Toby Maloney and Emma Janzen sit down to talk about their new book “The Classic Cocktail Sessions” which Toby almost considers a prequel to their first collaboration “The Bartender’s Manifesto.” They talk about their creative process (including who’s a stricter editor), how the hospitality industry has changed since their first book, and why underrated drinks like the Hurricane and the White Russian deserve more respect than they get.

PLUS, Greg’s running a promotion! Post a pic of yourself with a fresh bottle from Workhorse Rye or Modern Ancient Spirits AND Violet Crown Spirits, tag him and the podcast, and he’ll send you a free bottle of Quiote Imports Agave Nectar.

Follow Emma at @emmajanzen

Follow Toby at @tobycocktail

Follow the book at @theclassiccocktailsessions

LINKS

Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
For resources on dealing with cold hard water agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance
The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast
Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.