This week, we tackle one of our biggest subjects yet- the intersection of alcohol and religion! We are joined by Deb Snitser Ledina and Jesse Ledina as we start at the beginning of wine making, and look at how it influenced the development of Judaism, and Abrahamic religion in general. Join us as we delve into this rich history alongside plenty of personal anecdotes and drink discussion! Cocktail Discussed Draconarius 1 1/2 oz. Common Ground Gin: Recipe 2 1/2 oz. Amador Distillery Slivovitz 3/4 oz. lemon juice 1 oz. Winiveria 2019 Saperavi wine Combine the first three ingredients in a shaker, and shake until well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over crushed ice, and pour the wine over top. Garnish with a lemon slice, and serve.

We're back from our brief hiatus with a bit of a different episode! We are joined by our amazing producer Jenz to discuss the trip that she and Sofi took to the North Coast of California. We talk about all of the wonderful distilleries and distillers that they encountered on the way (and some others as well), along with some brief discussion about the region itself! Cocktails discussed: Annie & Mary 2 oz. Humboldt Craft Spirits Little River Gin 1 oz. Lemon juice 1/2 oz. Laust Sparrow Blackberry Flavored Gin 1/4 oz. Calwise Falernum Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice, and shake until ice form on the outside of the shaker, or about 12 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel. Abhayagiri 1 1/2 oz. Jaxon Keys Rare Alembic Brandy 1/2 oz. Mendocino Spirits Spirit Whiskey 3/4 oz. lime juice 1/2 oz. Obsidian Spiced Rum Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice, and shake until ice form on the outside of the shaker, or about 12 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a lime wedge.

This week, we continue our discussion of all things pisco with the wonderful Diana Delgado Cornejo! We move into a discussion of what makes pisco pisco, the things that make Peruvian and Chilean pisco distinctly different, some other spirits that are closely related to pisco, along with much more! Cocktail Discussed: O'Higgins's Kick 1 oz. Alto del Carmen Chilean Pisco 3/4 oz. Silkie The Midnight Irish Whiskey 3/4 oz. lemon juice 1/2 oz. Zoco Pacharán Navarro 2 dashes Angostura bitters Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake until well chilled. Strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a lemon wedge.

This week, we are joined by the wonderful Diana Delgado Cornejo to talk about pisco! We talk about the still highly disputed origins of the spirit, Jesuits, the not so hotly disputed origins of the Pisco Sour, and much more in this first part of our discussion! Cocktail Discussed: Humbolt Sour 1 1/2 oz. Viñas de Oro Pisco Puro Quebranta 3/4 oz. Schlichte Steinhagen 1/4 oz. Blandy's 5 Years Old Malmsey Madeira 1 oz, fresh lemon juice 1 egg white Three dashes Angostura bitters Combine all ingredients save the bitters in a cocktail shaker, and dry shake for around thirty seconds. Add ice, and shake for 15 - 20 seconds, or until frost forms on the outside of the shaker. Strain into a coupe glass, and dash the bitters across the top. Further Reading: Spirits of Latin America by Ivy Mix The Life and Passions of Victor V. Morris, Creator of the Pisco Sour- Guillermo L. Toro-Lira

This week, we are again joined by Witney Seibold as we continue our discussion of all things rye whiskey! In this second part, we focus in on the revival of rye whiskey as a style, how that lead to the birth of the craft whiskey market, and the elephant in the room that is MGP. Join us for all of that and more! Cocktail Discussed: KZY 2 oz. St. George Dry Rye Reposado Gin 1 oz. Jardesca Sweet Vermouth 1/4 oz. SLO de Vie Fig Aguardent 3 drops orange bitters Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice, and stir until well diluted. Strain into a coupe, and serve with a lemon twist.

This week, we are joined by Witney Seibold as we begin a discussion of the original American Whiskey- Rye! Join us as we talk about why rye came before bourbon, the difference between a Monongahela and Baltimore style rye, and how rye almost died out! Cocktail discussed: Fancy Dutch: 1 1/2 oz. Hudson Whiskey NY Do the Rye Thing 1/2 oz. Asbach Uralt Brandy 3/4 oz. lemon juice 1/4 oz. Rock 12 Quince Liqueur Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice, and shake 12 -15 seconds, or until frost forms on the exterior of the shaker. Strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a lemon twist.

This week, we continue our discussion of the wide world of celebrity spirits with Ocavio Chaidez! We discuss the passion behind Steven Soderbergh's singani brand, the "passion" underlying Mark Wahlberg's tequila brand, and have the podcast's first ever game segment! Join us for all of this and much more! Drink Discussed: Cantua Blossom 1 1/2 oz. Singani 63 1 oz. fresh orange juice 1/4 oz. Zoco Pacharán Navarro 1 barspoon Malahat Ginger Rum Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice, and shake vigorously until ice forms on the outside of the shaker. Strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with an orange twist.

This week, we're joined by Ocavio Chaidez as we begin a two part exploration of the world of celebrity spirits! From George Clooney's tequila to Post Malone's rosé, we talk about how this whole trend got started, if these brands are worth all the hype, and much more in this part 1! Drink discussed: King of the Hill 2 oz. Mullholland Distilling gin 1/2 oz. Valdespino Manzanilla Deliciosa 1/2 oz. Lava Cap Winery Love Wave 1 barspoon Falcon Spirits Apertivo Aplomado Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice, and stir for 10 -12 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a lemon twist.

This week, in preparation for St. Patrick's Day, we're taking another look at the Emerald Isle's rich distilling history! We are once again joined by Jarad Coats as we take a deep dive into the history of Irish whiskey. We look at how Ireland went from the progenitor of whiskey and the largest supplier in the world to the near extinction of the industry, and how the island has begun a tremendous rebound. It's a long and winding road, and we hope that you enjoy as you join us for the journey! Drinks Discussed: Lámfada 1 1/2 oz. Kilbeggan Single Pot Still Whiskey 3/4 oz. Victus Amaro 1/2 oz. Orange Blossom Mead 1/4 oz. Celtic Honey Liqueur 2 dashes Pitch Dark Cacao Bitters Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice, and still well. Strain into a coupe, express an orange peel over the surface, and serve. Emerald & Amber 3/4 oz. The Legendary Midnight Silkie Whisky 3/4 oz. Boomsma Cloosterbitter 3/4 oz. fresh orange juice 3/4 oz. Vadespino Vermouth Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice, and shake forcefully for 12 - 15 seconds, until frost forms on the outside of the shaker. Strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with an orange twist. Additional Resources: Little Bear Bottle Shop (https://www.instagram.com/littlebearbottleshop/?hl=en) A Glass Apart: Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey by Fionnan O'Connor

This week, to close out our month of drinking in media, we decided to do something a little different. To help with this, we are joined by the wonderful Starlette Cravens for a conversation about drinking in Twin Peaks, as well as a broader discussion of the show as a whole. We hope that you enjoy as you join us for a journey through the cult series and the broader world around it! Drinks discussed: Sparkwood & 21 1 oz. Occitan Gin 3/4 oz. lemon juice 1/2 oz. Hinterhaus Bierschapps Topo Chico Shake the first three ingredients together and strain into a fizz or highball glass over fresh ice. Top with the Topo Chico and serve. The Mystery of G 1 1/2 oz Kiyomi White Rum 3/4 oz. lemon juice 1/2 oz. Calwise Spirits Smoked Cherry Gin 1/4 oz. Heirloom American Alkermes Liqueur 1 egg white 1 barspoon Stark Spirits Espresso Liqueur Combine all ingredients save the espresso liqueur in a cocktail shaker, and shake vigorously without ice. Add ice, and shake again until frost forms on the outside of the shaker. Strain into a coupe glass, and using an eyedropper, make the letter G on top of the foam with the espresso liqueur.

This week, we continue our discussion of drinks and cinema with the wonderful Marc Heuck! The discussion turns to how drinks can be used to establish setting, as well as characters. We talk about drinking and Tarantino, the Polynesian Pearl Diver and other elements of tiki culture that have crept into film, and much more! Drink Discussed: El Pico Punch 1 oz. fresh lime juice 3/4 oz. orange juice 1/2 oz. Honey Syrup 1/2 oz. Calwise Spirits Falernum 1 oz. Knight Gabriello Grappa di Chianti 1 oz. J&B Scotch 1/2 oz. Golden Beaver Distillery Honey Run Whiskey 1/2 oz. Lazzaroni Amaretto 3/4 oz. Amaro Averna 1/2 oz. Cioco Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, and vigorously shake with ice until frost forms on the outside of the tin. Open pour into a brandy snifter or large mug, and fill to the top with additional crushed ice as needed.

This week, we are joined by the wonderful Marc Heuck to continue our month of talking about drinking and cinema! This week, we focus in on cocktails that invented for or only appear on film, and discuss what makes these drinks so memorable. Join us as we discuss the likes of the Malaga Cooler, Alaskan Polar Bear Heater, Polynesian Pearl Diver and more! Drink Discussed: Brown Yukon Sucker Punch 1 1/2 oz. Scapegrace Black Gin 1/2 oz. Bethel Road Nocino 1/4 oz. Cruzan Blackstrap Rum 1 oz. Sparkling water Pour the sparking water into the bottom of a fizz or higball glass. Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice, and stir until well chilled, about 10 - 12 seconds. Strain into the prepared glass, and use a barspoon to top with the blue foam. For the Blue Foam 1/4 oz. Empress 1908 Butterfly Pea Flower Gin 1 barspoon Blue Curaçao 1 barspoon lemon juice 1 egg white Combine all ingredients in a cocktail strainer and dry shake until emulsified into a thick foam.

We are still with Jordan Paley as we continue our movie month with a discussion of how drinks can be used to build out characters! From neat whiskey, to champagne, and the ever distinctive bright blue "girly drinks," what do drinks on the screen communicate about the characters that drink them? We explore this connection and much more this week! Drinks discussed: Aquarius 1 oz. Azeo Apple vodka 1 oz. Menorval Calvados Prestige 3/4 oz. lemon juice 1/2 oz. Maraska Maraschino Liqueur 1/4 oz. Vendrenne Blue Curaçao 2 oz. San Pellegrino Lemon Soda Pour the San Pellegrino into a highball glass over ice. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake until well chilled. Strain into the highball glass over the San Pellegrino, pouring along the side of the glass to float the mixture over the soda. Neo-Noir 1 oz. Georgetown Distillery Bourbon 3/4 oz. lemon juice 1/2 oz. Fernet Vallet 1/4 oz. Riga Black Basalm Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake until frost forms on the outside of the shaker. Strain into a coupe glass, garnish with a lemon twist, and serve

This week, we're kicking off a month long special, taking a look at the intersection of drinking and cinema! And to start off, we've brought back the wonderful Jordan Paley to talk about cocktails that got a boost from appearing on film- whether by being introduced to an all new audience, or revitalizing a classic cocktail! Join us as we discuss the influence pop culture has on our drinking, and settle in for the show! Drinks Discussed: Sideways Sling: 3/4 oz. Gravedigger Mezcal Style Agave Spirit 3/4 oz. Goleta Red 'Fiesta' Agave Spirit 1/4 oz. Jägermeister 1/3 oz. Muirwood 2019 Merlot 3/4 oz. Lemon Juice 1 dash Orange bitters 1 dash Angostura Bitters 1 oz. Topo Chico Inspired by the Singapore Sling recipe as published in Smuggler's Cove by Martin and Rebecca Cate Add the seltzer to the bottom of a highball or footed pilsner glass. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake until well chilled. Strain into the prepared glass, and top with cracked ice. Garnish with a lemon twist and two pineapple chunks. The Backlots: 2 oz. Sia Blended Scotch Whiskey 3/4 oz. fresh lime juice 1/2 oz. Luxardo Apricot Liquore Della Lupa 1/4 oz. Ventura Spirits Strawberry Brandy Combine all ingredeints in a shaker with ice, and shake for about 15 seconds, or until frost forms on the outside of the shaker. Strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a lime twist and a fresh strawberry.

This week, we finishing ushering in the New Year with our discussion of Champagne! On this extra sized episode, we talk about the regional pride of the Champagnois, how the region fought to protect the uniqueness of their product, and their country in the Second World War! Cocktails Discussed: Sauf l'Honneur 1 oz. Pimm's Cup No. 1 1 oz. Schlichte Steinhager Gin 2 fresh strawberries 1 teaspoon powdered sugar 2 oz. Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs Muddle the strawberries and sugar with the Steinhager in the bottom of a cocktail shaker, and then add the Pimm's and ice, and shake until well chilled. Fine stain into a champagne flute, top with the Blanc de Noirs, and garnish with a whole strawberry. Operation Bodyguard 2 oz. Verpooten Advocaat 1/2 oz. Spirit Works Barrel Aged Sloe Gin 1 oz. Valdespino Manzanilla Deliciosa 2 oz. Marie de Moy Grand Cru Champagne Shake the first three ingredients with ice until well chilled, and strain into a champagne flute over the champagne.

Happy New Year! To kick off 2024, we are joined by our wonderful producer Jenz as we take a closer look at the drink of New Year's celebrations the world over! How did champagne become synonymous with celebrations, luxury, and class? Why is it so fiercely protected, and is it deserving of all the fuss? We dive into all of this and more! Cocktails discussed: Á la Santé du Diable 3/4 oz. Wild Roots Orange & Bergamot Gin 1/2 oz. Valdespino Sherry Vermouth 1/2 oz. fresh squeezed orange juice 1/4 oz. Pendray's Plum liqueur 1/4. oz. Paradiso Apertivo 2 dashes Orange bitters 2 oz. Chanoine Heritage Demi-Sec Combine all ingredients save the champagne in a shaker tin with ice, and shake vigorously until chilled. Strain into a coupe, and top with the champagne. Garnish with a twist of orange peel, and serve. Veuve Joli 1 oz. AKB6 VSOP Cognac 1 oz. Misadventure & Co. Vodka 1/4 oz. Hinterhaus Anorak Liqueur 2 dashes Angostura bitters 2 oz. Chanoine Heritage Demi-Sec Combine all ingredients except for the champagne in a shaker with ice, and shake until well chilled. Strain into a coupe, and top with the champagne.

We are once again joined by Lydia Neeley for this festive episode! We take a look at the quintessential Christmas drink that is eggnog, and ask how it became so connected to the holidays, where did it come from, and what exactly is eggnog in the first place? We also take a look at some eggnog from around the world, and some of its distant cousins. Happy holidays, and we hope you enjoy! Cocktails Discussed: Tamagozake 1 egg 2 tablespoons honey 8 oz. Hakutsuru Junmai Sake Heat the sake in a small pan over low heat, without boiling. Mix the honey with a small amount of warm water, and whisk into the egg in a small bowl. Whisk a small amount of the hot sake into the egg mixture, constantly whisking so that the egg does not cook. Add the rest of the sake slowly, whisking constantly. Pour into a heatproof mug, and serve. Eierpunsch 300 ml. Verpooten Advocaat 350 ml. Mueller Piesporter Michelsburg Spatlese 100 mL fresh squeezed orange juice 60 mL Appleton 12 Year Jamaican Rum 1 tablespoon sugar 10 mL vanilla extract Mix the chilled white wine and Advocaat together in a small saucepan, making sure that they are around the same temperature. Add the orange juice, vanilla extract, and sugar, and slowly heat, stirring often. Remove from heat as soon as the mixture is steaming, before it boils. Mix in the rum, and portion out into heatproof mugs or glasses.

This week, we continue our discussion of all things sherry with Bob Gardner! Having discussed the production of sherry, we now turn to its history. Why is sherry so beloved by the British? Why is it so integral to the sherry triangle? And what does Sir Francis Drake have to with it all? We answer all of these questions and more this week? Drink Discussed: 1 1/2 oz. Valdespino Innocente Manzanilla Sherry 1 1/2 oz. Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth 1/4 oz. Lagavulin 12 Year Special 1 drop Angostura Bitters 1 drop Angostura Orange Bitters Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice, and stir until well chilled. Strain into a coupe glass, and serve with a lemon twist.

This week, for the holiday weekend, we're reaching into the vault and releasing one of our nightcaps! Enjoy as we continue our discussion of another fall holiday festival - Oktoberfest! Cocktail Discussed: München Pick Me Up 2 oz. Asbach Brandy 1/4 oz. Luxardo Apricot Liqueur 1/4 oz. Lemon Juice 3-4 oz. Paulaner Märzen Combine the first three ingredients in a shaker with ice, and shake until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass, and top with the Märzen, and garnish with a lemon twist.

This week, we are once again joined by the wonderful Bob Gardner to talk about Sherry! We first dive into what sherry is, exactly. How is it made, where it's from, and why it's so unappreciated! Cocktail Discussed: Non Plus Ultra 2 oz. Valdespino "Tio Diego" Amontillado Sherry 1/3 oz. Calwise Smoked Cherry Gin 1 sugar cube 2 orange slices Muddle the sugar cube with a little bit of water in the bottom of a shaker tin. Add the two orange slices, and muddle further. Add the remaining ingredients and fill the shaker with pebble ice. Shake until well chilled, and pour into a julip cup or double rocks glass. Top with fresh pebble ice, garnish with a straw and an additional orange slice, and serve. Further Reading: Sherry by Julian Jeffs Sherry: A Modern Guide to the Wine World's Best-Kept Secret by Talia Baiocchi