Bartender Journey - Cocktails. Spirits. Bartending Culture. Libations For Your Ears.

It was a exciting and fun filled week at Tales Of The Cocktail 2015!  So many parties, so many wonderful people! We talk about everything from Mezcal, to Cocktail Competitions and Seminars and of course, the parties! The Shake The Vine Cocktail Winners are in!  Results, & recipes below. Take a listen to the TOTC 2015 wrap-up podcast with the player below, or subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio. The Book of the Week is The Craft Cocktail Party: Delicious Drinks for Every Occasion by Julie Reiner. Also mentioned on this week's show, Alchemy in a Glass: The Essential Guide to Handcrafted Cocktails by Greg Seider. Cheers! Shake The Vine Competition Results: Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and BACK BAR USA have announced Zachary Patterson as this year’s “Shake The Vine” wine cocktail mixology competition winner which took place at “Tales of the Cocktail” in New Orleans on Wednesday, July 15, 2015. Patterson prepared his original submission, “The Summer Dress,” made with white grapes, Ste. Michel

Recording a podcast while packing a bag! On the way to New Orleans as this episode is published! We chat with Warren Bobrow about Tales Of The Cocktail.  He is involved in several events at the yearly pilgrimage for Bartenders and Cocktail Enthusiasts.  Take a listen with the audio player below, on BartenderJourney.net, or subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio. Cheers!

On the Bartender Journey Podcast number 117, we talk with Adam Ford - author of Vermouth: The Revival of the Spirit that Created America's Cocktail Culture, and producer of Atsby Vermouth, (produced in New York!) We talk about the influence Vermouth had on Cocktail Culture and why it has been 'under appreciated' over the last several decades.  The tides have turned once again for Vermouth...quality Vermouth is a hot commodity once again!

We talk about serving your guests who need to eat (& drink) gluten free.  The Books of the Week:  Ray Foley's Bartending For Dummies and Running A Bar For Dummies. Listen with the Player below or subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio.

This week we visit with Colin Spoelman, co-founder of The Kings County Distillery.   Kings County Distillery is producing high quality whiskey in a beautiful old building the Brooklyn Navy Yard.  They have also written a book:  The Kings County Distillery Guide to Urban Moonshining - How to Make and Drink Whiskey. Plus, time is getting short to enter the Shake The Vine Contest!  Enter to win a trip to Tales Of The Cocktail and a chance to win the $5000 grand prize! Industry news:  Heineken has patented an interesting new type of beer keg.

On Bartender Journey Podcast number 114 we talk with author Reid Mitenbuler.  Reid's book Bourbon Empire:  The Past and Future of America's Whiskey unravels the myths and misconceptions surrounding America’s most iconic spirit and traces the history of Bourbon – from  the frontier rebellion, to the Gilded Age corruption, and the magic of Madison Avenue. Plus, find out about the Shake The Vine Cocktail contest!  You could win $5000 and a trip to Tales of the Cocktail 2015!Listen to the podcast with the player below or subscribe on iTunes or Sitcher Radio. Get 30 days free of Amazon Prime!  Free shipping on many Amazon products, plus access to Amazon's video streaming service. Start Your 30-Day Free Trial Now! Congratulations to Jeffrey Morgenthaler for his multiple nominations for Tales of the Cocktail including Best American Bartender and Best New Bartender/Cocktail book: THE BAR BOOK.  Its a manual for Bartenders!

An interview with the great bartender and author Jeffrey Morgenthaler!  We talk about bartending myths, proper bar techniques, and bar management strategies. Listen with the player below or subscribe on iTunes or Sitcher Radio. Enter the Shake The Vine Contest for a chance to win one of (8) $1000 prize and (1) grand prize of $5000!  Deadline for entries is 6/30/15. Book of the Week: Jeffrey Morgenthaler's THE BAR BOOK.  Its a manual for Bartenders! Check out Jeffrey Morgenthaler's web site. I had a great time at #CocktailsInTheCountry event with Gaz Regan recently!  Pictures below! Get 30 days free of Amazon Prime!  Free shipping on many Amazon products, plus access to Amazon's video streaming service. If you enjoy the show please give us a rating and a quick comment on iTunes!  You can help the show by visiting our Tip Cup Page, or clicking through to Amazon with one of the links below.

On the Bartender Journey Podcast #112, it’s a talk with cocktail blogger, writer and cocktail competition jugdge, Camper English!  Its a great conversation about making great quality clear ice, the first time he tended bar and cocktail trends. Listen with the player below or subscribe on iTunes or Sitcher Radio. See below for some of the tools used to make clear ice cubes, plus the Book of the Week: The PDT Cocktail Book by Jim Meehan. Also mentioned on the podcast this week, Gary Regan's new book  The Negroni: Drinking to La Dolce Vita, with Recipes & Lore If you enjoy the show please give us a rating and a quick comment on iTunes!  You can help the show by visiting our Tip Cup Page, or clicking through to Amazon with one of the links below.   Tools Brian uses to make clear ice:  Small cooler, (fill about 1/3 with water and put in freezer with top open).  Jeweler's Hammer and Ice Picks - one Single Prong and one Six Prong.

On the Bartender Journey Podcast #111 we talk about the somewhat mysterious sprit Genever.  Brand Ambassador Anthony Pullen gives us an education on the product that the Bols company has been making for hundreds of years!  Plus we mix up some Genever cocktails. The Book of the Week is the classic from Dale DeGroff:  The Craft of the Cocktail.  Every Bartender have a copy of this book! In industry news – a bourbon crime wave?  A bizarre real-life story. Join us for great cocktail, spirit and Bartender talk on the Bartender Journey Podcast!

Its an interview with Cocktail Historian, Author & Barman David Wondrich! We talk about the history of the "American Bar", the value of GOOD ice and why OLD bars are so interesting.  Plus cocktail traditions and where the "new cocktail revolution" might be headed over the next few years. Its a fascinating talk with a true gentleman. Listen with the player below or subscribe on iTunes or Sitcher Radio. Cheers!

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

Interview with Jesse - Bartender who works in the Berkshires who shares some great stories from behind the bar. Plus, The Water of Life is a whisky tasting event to benefit charity which will be held in downtown Manhattan on May 6, 2015.  This is the first annual event and its for a great cause.  All the proceeds will be donated to the Life Raft Group which is dedicated finding a cure for a specific type of cancer - GIST. The gentleman who founded this event - Dr. Mattew Lurin is a whiskey aficionado whose stepfather is a GIST patient. The word whiskey comes from the Gaelic phrase for  'water of life' which became the word "whiskey". This is going to be a great event and its for an awesome cause and we encourage you to attend! The format of the tasting will be very unique. It's basically like speed dating with Whisky Ambassadors to find your whisky to love. Each whisky brand will have a table that seats up to 5 guests at a time. They will share drams and stories for 12 minutes.  Then, the group will move on i

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

Its a fun and educational tasting of ‪ with Simon Brookings.  We learn exactly what makes a Scotch a “Single Malt”.  Plus some history and the process of making Scotch Whisky.  Why is some Scotch “peatier” than others?  What exactly is peat anyway? Also, a report from Paul Pacult’s Rum Authority event at Keen’s Steakhouse in NYC. In the news:  David Wondrich has released an update to his great book Imbibe. Take a listen with the player below or subscribe on iTunes or Sticher Radio.  Check out the Bartender Journey web site here.  Cheers!

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

In colonial America, Taverns were the de facto courtroom, post office, library, news center, town hall, community center and sometimes: church.  Sometimes even jail!  Taverns were the birthplace of the Revolution and Independence. As the USA matured, bars and Taverns were still essential to our society.  Even prohibition couldn’t get rid of them as the Speakeasy came into existence.  This week on the Bartender Journey Podcast, we speak with author Christine Sismondo about her book: America Walks Into a Bar - A Spirited History of Taverns and Saloons, Speakeasies and Grog Shops. We talk about a Rockstar Bartender who pre-dated Professor Jerry Thomas.  Plus, the evolution of “bar etiquette”.  It’s the history of bars from Colonial times all the way up to the modern “cocktail movement”. Listen with the player below or subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio.  Cheers! Bartender Journey Web Site  

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

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

Its a jam-packed episode of Bartender Journey!Wine Knowledge for Bartenders.  Its a very informal & simplified discussion about wine, but should be useful to many of our listeners.  For a podcast dedicated to wine, check out Wine for Normal People. Listen in on a Cocktail Tour of New Orleans run by Joe Gendusa. A great interview with Julie Reiner. Take a listen to the show with the player below or subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio.

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