Speaking Easy - A Cocktail Podcast

Summertime--that magical time when clothes shrink and drinks get bigger--though mostly making room for ice and non-alcoholic mixers. As we said in our spring cocktails episode, as the weather gets warmer, the ABV in your cocktails will typically go down. Summer is definitely part of this. The post Episode #027 – Summer Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

On this episode we interview Alex Boyd, founder of Cocktail Crate. Typically, we'd give a big thumbs down to any pre-made mixer. Hear more about Cocktail Crate and what we think. The post Episode #026 – Interview with Alex Boyd, founder of Cocktail Crate appeared first on Speaking Easy.

The classic Daiquiri - one of the most widely loved cocktails on the planet. Whether being romanticized by writers like Ernest Hemingway, or enjoyed by anyone on a beach on nearly any continent, the Daiquiri takes its place based on its simplicity. Rum, as the byproduct of the process of making molasses, plays an historically important role in the history of American cocktails, and we only scratch the surface with this episode. The post Episode #025 – Daiquiris appeared first on Speaking Easy.

On this episode, we speak with Carlie Steiner, a good friend and skilled professional bartender. Carlie serves is the Co-Founder of Stir Bartending Co., a DC based bartending service providing signature cocktails, bottled cocktails, partial or full bars for events, tastings, and even workshops or classes. Alex and Jordan learn a ton from Carlie on this episode and we know you will too. Cheers! The post Episode #024 – Interview with Carlie Steiner appeared first on Speaking Easy.

In this episode, we talk about brandy -- a distilled spirit made by distilling wine. You may have heard of Cognac, but what about Armagnac, Pisco, or Stravecchio? How about a few classic brandy cocktails? You'll learn about all of that and more in this episode. The post Episode #023 – Brandy Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

In this episode, we interview Jeff Cioletti, author of The Year of Drinking Adventurously. This episode is twice as long as our previous episodes, but we could have talked for hours with Jeff. He is a true kindred spirit and enjoys a good spirit. The post Episode #022 – Interview with Jeff Cioletti, author of The Year of Drinking Adventurously appeared first on Speaking Easy.

We wanted to take a deeper look at one of the ingredients to the Mule--that ginger beer. It's spicier than it's cousin, ginger ale, and much drier (i.e. less sweet). It adds body to drinks, and brings a degree of refreshing flavor that isn't found when drinking it without booze. It certainly seems to us that something as wonderful as ginger beer deserves an episode all its own. The post Episode #021- Ginger Beer Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

You don't have to be from Kentucky, or even in Kentucky, to enjoy the Derby. Get a group of friends together, make Mint Juleps, don some seersucker or a fancy hat, and you can be an honorary Kentuckian for the day. The post Episode #020 – The Kentucky Derby appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Juleps are one of the classic American cocktail forms--preceding even the Civil War. They are an essential form, similar to Slings, Toddies (hot and cold), and all sorts of other drinks. They were meant to dilute the liquor, often overproof in the antebellum years, and make it tolerable to drink on a hot day. Learn more about Juleps, beyond the standard Mint Julep. The post Episode #019 – Juleps, More Than Just A Mint Julep appeared first on Speaking Easy.

In this episode, we interview Kerstyn Zepeda of Bella Mar Spirits. Kerstyn and her husband, Michael, craft infused vodkas using real fruit, fruit juices, and herbal infusions, which preserve the essence of the ingredient within the vodka. If you've listened to our show, you know vodka is not our favorite spirit. You'll be surprised to hear what we think. Cheers! The post Episode #018 – Interview with Kerstyn Zepeda of Bella Mar Spirits appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Mezcal is known as the smokier cousin of the more well-known tequila, and the difference can be a bit more confusing. One of our listeners requested an episode exploring this complex agave-based spirit, and we’re more than happy to oblige. Especially since we’re such big fans of the concoction. The post Episode #017 – Mezcal appeared first on Speaking Easy.

This episode is going to be a little bit different. As we’ve been building this podcast, we’ve been introduced to a lot of new ideas, people are talking to us about different stuff, and it’s been fantastic. And we get asked a lot about what we’re actually working on. The post Episode #016 – What Alex & Jordan Are Working On At Home appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Springtime is here—and spring means new flavors on your bar. For this season, a lot of the flavors that come to mind are more floral, herbal, and sweet—especially as we ramp up into summer cocktails. You don’t have to switch up your flavors, but it’s a nice touch to emphasize seasonal and local flavors as the budding plants begin to come out of their slumber. The post Episode #015 – Spring Cocktails appeared first on Speaking Easy.

This week we interview fellow home bartender and part-time cocktail professional Erin Campbell, and talk to her about her experience as a server at 2 Birds 1 Stone, a top-notch DC cocktail establishment, and employee at One Eight Distillery. She also answered a few questions for us. Enjoy! The post Interview with Fellow Home Bartender, Erin Campbell – Episode #014 appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Saint Patrick’s Day is a celebration unlike many others—the drinking, the clothing, the merriment—but it has actual historical roots. The Speaking Easy crew looks into the Irish tradition to get to the root, inviting an Irish friend along to talk about how the holiday is celebrated across the pond. The post St. Paddy’s Day and Irish Drinking Culture – Episode #013 appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Entire volumes have been written on it, poetry and literature featuring it abound. Gin--that wonderful, mysterious concoction of distilled grain infused with botanicals creating unique flavors from bottle-to-bottle. The post Gin – Episode #012 – Speaking Easy Podcast appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Our friend and fellow home bartender Matt Knutson was kind enough to lend his voice to our podcast—both in terms of his actual voice, and the drinks he’s made during one of our parties. We talk first cocktails, favorite cocktails, and some of the mistakes. The post Interview with Fellow Home Bartender, Matt Knutson – Episode #011 appeared first on Speaking Easy.

A Sour is a family of drinks, but not the mood that you get put in when you have one. Thusly named for the featured citrus, Sours are dynamic, complex, layered drinks that lend themselves well to be shaken hard and poured over ice, all in the name of cutting the sour flavor of the citrus, be it the traditional lemon or lime, or something a bit different, like grapefruit or rangpur. The post Sours – Episode #010 – Speaking Easy Podcast appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Cocktail bitters, those little tinctures seen in bars all over, are the salt-and-pepper of mixing drinks. They deepen flavors, bring out subtle notes in liquors and liqueurs, and make your drinks just that much more interesting. The post Cocktail Bitters – Episode #009 – Speaking Easy Podcast appeared first on Speaking Easy.

Punch is not a cocktail. So does our show “on cocktails and home entertaining” avoid the topic? No, because that would be ridiculous. Punch may very well be the best mixed drink to serve at a party—just pre-batch and party... The post Speaking Easy Podcast – Episode 008 – Punch appeared first on Speaking Easy.