Where can you learn to live life one cocktail at a time? Here on the Lush Life Podcast discover why an old-fashioned is the drink of choice, who is making their own bitters and how ice, or lack there of, is transforming the cocktails you drink. Hosted by your favorite drinking companion, Susan L. Sc
If you follow my writing, you know I have a penchant for hotel bars. If you happen to share my passion, then this year don’t miss your chance to experience what’s happening behind the hotel bars in Barcelona from Sept 21 - 27. Now, thanks to our guest today, Barcelona’s stepping into the spotlight again with more than 30 of its best great hotel bars teaming up for the second Barcelona Hotel Bar Week . You might have heard the brains behind it all, Bianca Grisolia, last year when she introduced the event on Lush Life. If you missed it, let me introduce you to the one who thought it was high…
It takes a certain courage and a fair bit of conviction to build a whisky distillery that dares to do things differently. Luckily, today’s guest is genetically predisposed to have both. Today I’m sitting down with Gareth Moore, CEO of the Virginia Distillery Company . With his father’s dream as the blueprint, Gareth has transformed an idea into one of the most exciting names in American whisky. He guides us from his father’s story to what defines Virginia Single Malt whisky today! Our cocktail of the week is the A Cab on the Boulevard - yes, the Virginia Distillery take on the Boulevardier!…
You just can’t help falling in love with a town that gave us both the King of Rock n Roll and the Queen Bee. Today’s episode brings us the delights that can only be found in Tupelo, Mississippi. Sponsored by Tupelo CVB , we’re diving into the history, restaurants, drinks, and experiences that make Tupelo on your go-now list. First up, we have Jennie Bradford Curlee, the Deputy Director of the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau. A lifelong resident of Tupelo, Jennie Bradford joined the Tupelo CVB in 2012 and now heads it all up. After she gives us a tour around Tupelo, we are joined by…
There is only one place to experience the sunset over Venice with a cocktail in hand. Our guest today is the one behind the drinks that make it unforgettable. Let me introduce Valentina Mircea, the Bar Manager of The Skyline Bar at the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice. She has spent over ten years in this industry, from London to Brighton to Venice. Whether she’s guiding her team to create a zero-waste signature menu or watching a guest experience the lagoon at sunset, her mission is to make moments into memories. You can also read about the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice in my new book — yes, it’s…
At the St Regis, it’s two, two bars in one. Our guest is well aware of that fact - preparing a perfectly executed Negroni at noon on a sun-drenched terrace… and then later that evening a Warhol-worthy cocktail set in a bespoke glass. Today I’m sitting down with Ludwig Negri, Manager of The St. Regis Bar and the Arts Bars at the St Regis Venice. He’s been there since it was reopened in 2019, after honing his craft in London. We’ll talk Lake Garda beginnings, Venetian lagoon botanicals, and what it really takes to build two distinct bar identities in one of the most visited hotels in the city…
Paris has taken Venice by storm but this time round, unlike Napoleon in 1797, they’ve arrived with shakers not soldiers. Our guest today is leading the charge! I’m sitting down with Pietro Lorefice, Bar Manager of Experimental Cocktail Club Venice, one of the bars that changed the cocktail conversation in this city. Experimental Cocktail Club conquered Paris in 2007 with its innovative ideas, sparking Europe’s modern cocktail revival and growing into an influential group of bars and hotels around the world. In Venice, Pietro is at the helm and we’re talking craft, culture, and what it really…
In music, most of us are attracted to a song’s continually repeated musical rhythm, "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones, or "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes, but once those were new to us. Our guest today is here to remind us of the pleasure we get when discovering a new riff. Sponsored by Visit Cincy , I am thrilled to introduce you to Mollie Lewis, the President of New Riff Distilling , which took Kentucky’s leitmotif of bourbon and sprinkled in a few eighth-note surprises to create a liquid that is winning awards not only at…
Some birds sing at dawn to wake us up, but today we’re celebrating the birthday of a certain nocturnal songbird whose award-winning cocktails, wonderful hospitality, and sultry nightly soundtrack have been keeping London warbling for 15 years. Today we’re turning our attention to Nightjar , the Shoreditch bar that rewrote London’s late-night playbook. Joining me are the brilliant duo behind it: Roisin Stimpson and Edmund Weil. Long before Nightjar became a fixture on the World’s 50 Best Bars list, the Top 500 Bars, and every other list, Rosie and Edmund had a dream and the drive to create a…
Our guest has ventured from the Arctic Circle to Kentucky’s rickhouses to Scotland’s distilleries in pursuit of one singular spirit. Now he’s sharing his wisdom with the world. This week, the legendary Noah Rothbaum joins me to crack open The Whiskey Bible and pour out the secrets and stories of one of the world’s greatest spirits. Noah is not only a leading authority on cocktails and spirits, but also a James Beard Award winner, the author of many acclaimed drinks books and the associate editor of the Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails , which won the Dartmouth Medal for the best…
Add a splash of bourbon, a hint of hops, and a generous pour of local pride, and you’ve got the perfect backdrop for today’s episode. Sponsored by Visit Cincy , we’re diving into the drinks, history, and experiences that make Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky a true destination for cocktail lovers. First up, we have Maija Zummo, the Senior Communications Manager for Domestic and International Communications for the Cincy Region, and of course, a proud Cincinnati native. Maija is a former journalist who now channels her storytelling skills into showcasing the city she loves. Her mission is to…
How does someone from Brittany end up in Britain, only to return to Paris and open—of all things—a pub? Don’t be surprised, though: this pub comes with a touch of oh là là . I’m joined by Hyacinthe Lescoët, whose journey began in France, where his love for hospitality was first sparked while helping out in his mother’s pizzeria at just 12 years old. After earning his master’s degree in advertising, Hyacinthe made his way to London, igniting his passion for the craft of the cocktail. He returned to Paris, where he championed seasonality, sustainability, and innovation. With this wealth of…
I’m not the only one who can’t resist a good hotel bar—London’s are bursting at the seams most nights. Now, thanks to our guest today, Barcelona’s stepping into the spotlight with 25 of its best great hotel bars teaming up for the first-ever Barcelona Hotel Bar Week from September 22nd - 28th! The brains behind it all is Bianca Grisolia, who decided it was high time Barcelona’s hotel bars got the spotlight they deserve. Not only is she Founder and Organizer of Barcelona Hotel Bar Week, but a communication strategist, international PR expert, and founder of BG PR & Communication, an agency…
How can it be that this is my 10th Season? Did all that time really go by? Yes, next Tuesday, I will bring you the first episode of Season 10 of Lush Life . As the year before, this season, we’ll have even more great conversations, enjoy more great cocktails, and visit a few more great places to enjoy a sip or two. Just a note if you are new to Lush Life - you can find out more information on everyone I’ve interviewed on my blog alushlifemanual.com ! And you can also watch most of the interviews on my YouTube channel, which, not to confuse you, is youtube.com/lushlifemanual without the A!…
Sometimes, you don't realize that all paths have led you to where you end up. Think about it - it could be true for you. It is for our guest - he’s right where he was meant to be all along. For Tom Chisholm, all those dead ends and missed starts made sense when Buck & Birch was born. Founded in 2016 by Tom and his partner Rupert Waites when they joined forces to share a deep bond created back in their respective childhoods growing up in nature, surrounded by exhilarating wilderness landscapes. The duo began hosting pop-up dining events in the 2000's, with a focus on wild and foraged Scottish…
How many cocktail competitions are you doing this year? Our guest has challenged herself to do a number you won’t believe! It’s not as if she has nothing else to do, she is busy at one of the most exciting places in London. Laurie Howells might sound like a Brit, but she don’t let her fool you. She was born and lived in the USA until she was whisked to her new hometown of Bury St. Edmunds. How did she find herself heading up Archive & Myth , one of London’s newest bars? She will have to tell you that. Before we begin, you can always watch this episode on Youtube, plus all the other Lush Life…
For someone who is passionate about horses and bourbon there is one position that would be a dream to have and our guest has got it! When you think of horse races, there is only one: the Kentucky Derby. When you think of cocktails at horse races, there is only one - the Mint Julep. And what bourbon do you find in that Kentucky Derby Mint Julep? Woodford Reserve. As Vice President and Master Distiller of Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Elizabeth McCall calls the shots when defining the quality sensory standard to which every batch of Woodford Reserve must comply. What does it take to become the…
Have you been to the small hotel with a wishing well and now a fabulous new bar helmed by today’s guest? I’m pretty certain that if Rogers and Hart had taken even one sip of any of the new cocktails, their famous song may have turned out very differently. If you are a Sinatra fan, you might be aware of his rendition of the song There’s a Small Hotel written in the 1930s by Rogers and Hart for the musical On Your Toes . This sweet ditty was inspired by Hart’s stay at the Stockton Inn in Stockton, New Jersey, a place also dear to my heart. My family has had a house nearby for the past 30…
Can you feel the heat on your face? This episode we want to transport you right to the sunny island of Barbados. Anyone’s guess which rum we’ll be exploring?? If you haven’t guessed already, it’s Mount Gay , not only the oldest rum in Barbados, but the oldest rum in the world!! I’m thrilled that Trudiann Branker, the trailblazing Master Blender, is joining us. Starting at the distillery in 2014 as Quality Assurance Manager, Trudiann rose to prominence with her unique ability to merge scientific expertise and creative intuition. Under her guidance, Mount Gay has unveiled award-winning…
We are exploring a very important issue and, even if you aren’t in the drinks industry, it’s something you need to address if you have a business - how are you prioritizing inclusion in your workplace? Vicky Ilankovan, the Executive Director of Equal Measures UK , is with me to help you answer that question. Equal Measures is the award-winning non-profit spearheading the delivery of intersectional inclusivity in the drinks & hospitality industries. She has a proven track record of promoting companies, developing and restructuring systems, diversifying services, and building communities of…
Most people know that sake is made with rice, but did you know that rice might be grown in California? This is the 250th episode of Lush Life Podcast, every week I have been inspired to live life one cocktail at a time by the guests who have been kind enough to join me and I am sure I will continue to be inspired by those who are yet to be on the program. Thank you everyone for your support, especially Evo Terra and his team, that’s my producer, and thank you for listening. Now, back to that 250th episode! I was shocked, too. I had just assumed the rice was all grown in Japan. That’s just…
Yes, we are back with the 9th - how is it possible - season of Lush Life! Where best to begin? Venice, of course! How is it that there weren’t already Venice Cocktail Tours before now? Well, I don’t want to reveal the whole story in this intro, you can now enjoy two different cocktail tours in Venice! Let’s just say that great minds were thinking how best to introduce you to not only the role that Venice played in bringing you some of the greatest drinks ever, but also to how amazing the cocktail scene is. I happened to meet Monica Cesarato by chance during Venice Cocktail Week two years…
Philip Duff, a true icon in the industry, is on Lush Life. He is a renowned expert on everything drinks related and has a passion for the craft. Thank goodness our guest was not one of the Skerries-born citizens who kidnapped St. Patrick's goat and was cursed to bleat from then on, cus that would make for an awkward interview. Today we have a true icon in the industry. Philip Duff is not only an internationally renowned expert on cocktails, spirits, and bars, but also a sought-after consultant, a dynamic educator, and a captivating speaker who has traveled the globe sharing his vast…
Did it ever occur to you to ask your friendly bartenders where they like to drink? Because you know they know the best places in town. Well, don’t worry, our guest has. And lucky for us, he’s sharing that info. Sam Gilani was making Sazeracs when he was at university - that should tell you that he was bound to become The London Boozehound . He is not only a journalist with a massive Instagram following but also the founder of the Bartender’s Edit - that list of every bartender’s favorite hangouts. You’d be surprised what made the list, but I’m not going to tell you, Sam is. Before we begin,…
Who doesn’t want to enjoy a tipple or two in a gorgeous setting? Today, I bring you to one of the most historically important homes in London, which held and is still holding some of the best parties the city has ever seen. On today’s episode, you’ll meet a power player in Georgian society, the Lansdowne House, constructed in the 1760s by the celebrated architect Robert Adam. Not only did it see the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the American War of Independence, in its Round Room, but also the negotiations for the Entente Cordiale between Britain and France. But let’s not…
Remember a time when asking for a non-alcoholic beverage meant getting a soda or an apple juice? Well, thanks to the brain behind Seedlip, there are now stores filled with No-ABV and Low-ABV spirits. It’s not often one can invent a whole new category of drinking, but our guest did, and now he is coming for bitters, watch out. My friend and former Lush Lifer Ben Branson was on the program more than 5 years ago and since that time, he is not only the Founder of Seedlip - the first ever non-alcoholic spirit, but also the Pollen Projects, the non-profit The Hidden 20% & the host of The Hidden…
This March, I was blown away by the creativity of some of the best bars in the world. Not only were they making cocktails, but they were saving the planet. On the 17 and 18th of March 2024, the third edition of the Paradiso Sustainability Summit, organized by Giacomo Giannotti and his team, in partnership with Ketel One Vodka through their Garnished with Good program was held. Giacomo’s bar Paradiso is ranked one of the best Bars in the world, and he established the Summit three years ago as an exchange of ideas and tools with the aim of raising awareness and making the industry more…
The butterfly effect is the idea that small things can have non-linear impacts on a complex system. The concept is imagined with a butterfly flapping its wings and causing a typhoon. Our butterfly, in this case, is one small sip of bourbon. That specific sip of bourbon started off a chain reaction that would see not only the world of drinks but the world at large change forever and I am not exaggerating! But I am not going to ruin the story. You will have to hear it from one of the co-Founders of Never Say Die Bourbon . Brian Luftman is here on Lush Life to tell you a story that is pretty…
I think relaunch is the word of the moment. It is Spring, after all. Not only will I be relaunching Season 8 of Lush Life, bringing you exciting episodes about sustainability, horse racing, the Beatles, absinthe, and so much more! But the big news is I have just re-launched my cocktail tours in London’s Soho- Long story but I first started them in Nov 2019 and well we know what happened then. Now, I am thrilled to say that they are up and running! So next time you are planning a trip to London, check out londoncocktailtours.com! So, let’s toast to all this relaunching. Since this time of…
Few people would have the courage to leave a very secure future in academia for a very uncertain life behind the bar. Our guest did, and he has never looked back. Are you crazy for Thomas Shelby and also have a passion for Japanese Whisky? Do you have no clue who Thomas Shelby is but love your Japanese whisky? Or do you not know either about Thomas Shelby or Japanese Whisky but just want to meet one of the greatest guys in the spirit industry? Then this episode is for you! James Bowker is a proud Brummie; that is someone from Birmingham, England btw, just like Thomas Shelby in Peaky…
You asked for it, and you got it - all of you kind people who filled out my survey asked for more interviews with more legends. Our guest is the world's most-awarded bartender & bar owner. If Mr Lyan isn’t a legend, I don’t know who is. If you call yourself a cocktail connoisseur, then you will have come upon the name Mr Lyan in your travels. Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr Lyan opened White Lyan in London in 2013. It was a moment that will go down in cocktail history as the first cocktail bar in the world to use no perishables, no fruit, and even no ice, an innovative approach to…
About Lush Life
Where can you learn to live life one cocktail at a time? Here on the Lush Life Podcast discover why an old-fashioned is the drink of choice, who is making their own bitters and how ice, or lack there of, is transforming the cocktails you drink. Hosted by your favorite drinking companion, Susan L. Sc
Lush Life is a English arts & books podcast from Susan L. Schwartz. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.
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