Life Behind Bars

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 Tal

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

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  See acast.com/privacy for

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 Rothbaum delve 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  

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  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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

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  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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

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  See acast.

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  See acast.com/privacy for privacy an

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

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

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

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  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 &#

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  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 fo

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  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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  See aca

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  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out info