Best Damon Boelte Podcasts (2025)

1
Boomerang! from Club Bardo in Savannah 54:18

14h ago54:18

54:18

Greg returns with another Boomerang episode, this one live from Savannah's Club Bardo with industry luminary Eben Klemm. The two discuss trends in high end hospitality, the state of the union for hotel bars, and what makes the city of Savannah so unique. They also dig into what it takes to hire and train a team to run Hotel Bardo's restaurant, Sain…

1
Gotta Be BCB 42:35

8d ago42:35

42:35

Jackie Williams is the brains behind Bar Convent Brooklyn, or as we like to call it, BCB. Tasked with running one of the largest cocktail conventions in the world, she has hundreds of stakeholders to juggle and no two work days are alike. She takes time out of her busy schedule to talk with Greg and Damon about 2025’s upcoming festival on June 10th…

1
Don’t Sweat the Technique 55:00

15d ago55:00

55:00

Jonathan Adler is a triple threat. Michelin-starred chef, certified sommelier, and now a 50 Best rated mixologist. His latest venture is Shinji’s in midtown Manhattan, which has been racking up praise and instagram mentions alike for its inventive, high technique cocktail program. Jonathan sits down with Greg and Sother to talk about some of the va…

1
Barley and Botanicals 1:04:29

22d ago1:04:29

1:04:29

What’s a Scotch distillery doing making gin? For that matter, what’s a Scotch distillery doing making an unbelievably peated single malt in packaging so dark you can barely read it? Douglas Taylor of Bruichladdich and The Botanist sits down with the band to discuss the iconoclastic whisky distillery, their philosophy behind pushing the envelope wit…

1
Easy Squeezey 50:55

29d ago50:55

50:55

Is the world ready for a Southside RTD? How are you gonna handle the minty flavor? What the hell is a southside supposed to taste like anyway? These were all questions Meredith Mills-Merritt wrestled with when she found the Original Southside. Based on her mother’s famous cocktail recipe from Oklahoma, Meredith worked in secret to perfect the recip…

1
Barfly Podcast: Sean Saylor of Sausalito's Saylor's Landing and Saylor's Restaurant and Bar 16:23

1M ago16:23

16:23

Send us a text We welcome Sean Saylor, former owner of Saylor's Restaurant and Bar in Sausalito to discuss why a quarter century of owning his own restaurant was enough for him.By Jeff Burkhart Kevin Blum Sean Saylor

1
Barrelling Forward 56:54

1M ago56:54

56:54

Ever wanted a barrel of whiskey delivered directly to your living room? George Koutsakis can’t provide that exactly, but he can definitely find one for you to buy. The writer, serial entrepreneur and whiskey lover sits down with the band to talk about a number of his ventures, including Barrel Global, a service that allows organizations and individ…

1
That’s Wonderous Bruv 39:48

1M ago39:48

39:48

Speakeasy fave (and let’s be honest, everybody fave) Colin Asare-Appiah returns to the show to talk about Ajabu, the cocktail and spirits festival he’s been building in South Africa for the past few years. Ajabu is a platform for the African hospitality industry to connect across the continent and beyond, to inspire innovation, collaboration, and c…

1
Barely Ilegal 54:08

2M ago54:08

54:08

Gilbert Marquez, the literal face of Ilegal, remembers a time when it was gauche to mix Mezcal into a cocktail. Today he sits down with Greg to talk about Ilegal’s new Caribbean rum cask expression, the punk rock history of the brand, and how he connected with Ilegal’s eccentric founder in the first place. The two of them also reminisce about Ilega…

1
A Whiskey Investment 59:19

2M ago59:19

59:19

The fundamental nature of whiskey poses a problem for new distillers - namely that you can’t sell it for at least three years after you make it. Enter Rob Robillard and Ryan La Valle of ASM Capital Partners, an investment firm that finds investors in newly barreled American single malt whiskey so that distillers don’t have to lose money sitting on …

1
Barfly Podcast: Erin Hines, Bitter Girl Bitters, Mijo and Guesthouse 19:49

2M ago19:49

19:49

Send us a text We catch up with multitasker extraordinaire, Erin Hines, Beverage Director at both Guesthouse and Mijo in Marin, and the proprietor of Bitter Girl BittersBy Jeff Burkhart Kevin Blum Erin Hines

1
Bitterwater 52:45

2M ago52:45

52:45

“You can’t deny climate change when you live in New Orleans” So says Christa Cotton, CEO of El Guapo bitters as she describes her company’s commitment to doing good while being, well, all her products are non-alcoholic, so slightly bad. She sits down with Greg & Sother to discuss her beginnings working for her family’s distillery, her new line of R…

1
Double Doubling Down 50:44

2M ago50:44

50:44

In 2015 a happy accident at the Woodford Reserve rickhouse led to the first batch of their coveted Double Double Oaked bourbon. Ten years later, newly appointed Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall was tasked with recapturing the magic. She sits down with the band to talk about her journey to one of the most prestigious positions in American whiskey, …

1
Classically Trained 1:04:32

3M ago1:04:32

1:04:32

Alba Huerta has seen a lot over the past eleven years in Houston. She sits down with the band to discuss the evolution of her bar Julep, from a foundation built on classic cocktails in the 2010s to more experimental drinks as she’s watched Houston become a world class city where people expect world class cocktails. Plus, she discusses their annual …

1
46 Years in a Barrel 58:07

3M ago58:07

58:07

In 1978, whiskey makers at Bushmills laid down two barrels. 46 years later, they’re ready to taste. Alex Thomas, the Master Blender at Bushmill’s Irish Whiskey sits down with the band to talk about shepherding the oldest single malt Irish Whiskey ever released through the last few years of its journey, the rebound of Irish Whiskey as a category, an…

1
Mummy Amaro or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Dirty Fig Leaves 1:06:09

3M ago1:06:09

1:06:09

Ektoras Binikos has had quite a life in the New York cocktail scene. From Sugar Monk up in Harlem (which was recently named a 50 Best Discovery) to Bitter Monk in Industry City, the boozy entrepreneur is now at the helm of Atheras Spirits. They’re making a bunch of new creations, ranging from a straightforward distillate flavored with fig leaves (w…

1
Take the Money and Rum 1:06:54

3M ago1:06:54

1:06:54

Shannon Mustipher, VP of Brands and Trade Development at Privateer Rum has a lot on her mind when it comes to the state of the industry and the state of sugarcane spirits. She sits down with Greg and Damon to talk rising prices behind the bar, how they’re affecting the guest experience, and what operators can and should do to stay welcoming in unce…

1
Live from Chicago! 45:31

3M ago45:31

45:31

Sother goes on the road to the Windy City to talk to Jeremy Barrett of Lemon, Judy Velez from Diageo and Josh Davis of Brown & Balanced. Tune in for a special live on the road discussion of all things cocktail in the second city. Follow Jeremy & Lemon at @swizzle_me_this Follow Lemon at @lemon_chicago Follow Judy at @laladydrinks Follow Josh at @mr…

1
I Can Be Your Hero Baby 58:44

4M ago58:44

58:44

Five years ago, Hero opened its doors in Nairobi Kenya as the first bar with a dedicated cocktail laboratory in east Africa. The idea was the be the sort of place superheroes (and supervillains) would chill in on their days off. What would they eat? What would they drink? How do they unwind? Today, Hero has cracked into the World’s 50 Best Bars and…

1
A Pisco My Heart 1:03:34

4M ago1:03:34

1:03:34

What does it take to launch a Pisco brand in a country that looooooves Pisco, vs. a country that’s still figuring out what to make of it. That’s what Alex Hildebrandt, founder of Suyo Pisco is here to talk about. He sits down with the gang to talk about growing up with Pisco all around him, the drink’s rich history in Peru, the care that goes into …

1
Seasn’s Greetings! 53:24

4M ago53:24

53:24

When Ben Branson started Seasn Bitters he knew what he wanted to do: get intense, complex, very specific flavors into a bottle of bitters without using alcohol. He sits down with the gang to talk about how (and why!) he did it, including some very devious chemistry, a passion for strong flavors, and a side quest to taste over 73,000 different speci…

1
Cuckoo for Coconuts 54:26

4M ago54:26

54:26

Dani Zig is back for the first time since the pandemic to talk about what she’s been working on at Coconut Cartel! Since last we left our hero she’s been working on a blanco rum to compliment the aged rum she introduced a few years back, and where that one was very mellow this one highlights some delightful pot stilled funk! She sits down with Soth…

1
Bonus! What You Can Do To Help LA 47:08

4M ago47:08

47:08

We've all seen the news, now what can we do to help? Amanda Gunderson, CEO and founder of Another Round Another Rally and native Angeleno sits down with Greg to talk about her experience with the LA fire and crucially, what you as a concerned citizen can do to help. Follow Another Round Another Rally on Instagram at @AnotherRoundAnotherRally This i…

1
God of Thunder 1:08:38

4M ago1:08:38

1:08:38

Chris and Damola from Spearhead Spirits stop by to talk about their quest to bring African spirits out of obscurity and onto the back bar. With a vodka, a gin made with African botanicals and an agave spirit (much to Greg’s delight) the two are on a mission to introduce the world to a range of flavors they didn’t know they didn’t know about. Togeth…

1
I Left My Heart in Des Moines, Iowa 49:29

5M ago49:29

49:29

New Year, Same Show, New Apologies! There’s a certain city we’ve been picking on a lot on this show and it’s time to set the record straight, and hear what Des Moines, the greatest city in the entire world, is all about. Joe Hayhoe, the mind behind the Iowan speakeasy Blind Pig sits down with Greg to talk about the latest drinking trends and cooles…

1
One For ‘24 44:40

5M ago44:40

44:40

It’s time once again for the Speakeasy’s multi-platinum critically acclaimed year end wrap up show! Greg, Sother & Damon sit down with each other to talk about the year in review, the trends they saw emerge over the last twelve months, and where they see the industry going in uncertain times. Tune in, and Happy New Year one and all. Love The Speake…

1
Stay Angry My Friends 1:08:59

6M ago1:08:59

1:08:59

Queer Activist and Cultural Advisor Chris Cabrera joins Greg and Damon to unpack the fallout from the November election. They discuss what this means for queer people and undocumented immigrants in the service industry, and Chris points toward resources people can use to fight back. We’re getting into our feels on this one y’all. Plus, are you a br…

1
Buried Treasure 50:30

6M ago50:30

50:30

Outlawed until 1992, Bacanora is an ancestral Mexican agave spirit that’s making a play to join tequila and mezcal in the limelight. Rodrigo Bojorquez of Kilinga Bacanora sits down with the band to talk about his own journey of going legit, what makes this spirit from Sonora so special, and how he’s crafting his spirit for lighter, fruitier notes t…

1
True That 1:00:08

6M ago1:00:08

1:00:08

Sergio Mendoza’s family has been farming agave in the highlands of Jalisco for five generations. Five. And now he’s partnered with Jim Ruane to bring the world Cierto tequila. The two sit down with Greg to talk about Highland vs. Valley tequila, what it’s like to work with your uncle, the controversy over additives that won’t go away, and how exact…

1
Season Finale: with Daedalus Howell of the Pac Sun and Leanne Battelle of the Marin IJ 26:18

7M ago26:18

26:18

Send us a text For our Season Five Finale, we welcome Leanne Battelle, the restaurant review writer for the Marin Independent Journal (and the editor of the Real Deal Marin website) and Daedalus Howell, the editor of the Pacific Sun (and Bohemian) for a lively discussion on the state of the restaurant business…

1
Talking Türkiye 48:44

7M ago48:44

48:44

Live from the Turkish Coast, Shavinraj Gopinath joins Damon and Greg to talk about his gig as Group Beverage Manager for Maxx Royal Resorts, which sounds pretty sweet all things considered. Between discussing their foraging program, the elite level of hospitality he’s playing at and how the place even smells nice, Sha has the guys pretty much sold …

1
Gin Living Color 54:38

7M ago54:38

54:38

Feeling “ginspired” by the French Riviera? Tom Nichol and Matthieu Perrin sure were when they created the Gardener Gin, a bright, refreshing spirit with botanicals inspired by the beauty of France’s southern coast. The two of them sit down with Greg and Damon to talk about the genesis of this idea, working with a movie star (tune in to find out whi…

1
Season Five: Damon Boelte, brand manager for King Floyd's bitters and the owner of Brooklyn's Grand Army bar 18:45

7M ago18:45

18:45

Send us a text We welcome Damon Boelte, the owner of the award-winning Downtown Brooklyn cocktail bar, Grand Army, as well as the host of the acclaimed radio show, The Speakeasy, which recently won the award for Best Broadcast from Tales of the Cocktail, to talk about cocktail competitions.By Jeff Burkhart Kevin Blum Damon Boelte

1
Deep Dive Into the Hive 58:39

7M ago58:39

58:39

Claire Marin started out the way all distillers do - by keeping bees. The founder of Pollinator Spirits sits down with the band to talk about her first forays upstate, the move from making honey to making rye whiskey, and what she looks for when making her own not-Campari Campari. She also discusses the role her company’s namesake - those busy bees…

1
Step Up for Asheville 59:20

7M ago59:20

59:20

A few weeks ago the city of Asheville, North Carolina was hit by a devastating hurricane. Lives were lost and the damage topped $50 billion. Danny Boyer manages The Crow & Quill, just one of many bars impacted by Hurricane Helene, and he sits down with Greg to discuss the extent of the damage, how Asheville is pulling together as a community, and w…

1
The Sweet Scent of Success 57:55

7M ago57:55

57:55

A collector’s set with a blanco, a reposado, and an añejo? Yeah, we’ve seen it before. A fragrance collector’s set with those three varieties? Now you’re talking! Joseph D. Solis of Maison Solis sits down with Greg and Damon to talk about growing up as a fragrance collector, moving from the beverage space to the fragrance space, and how he adapte…

1
This is Rumming 1:05:24

8M ago1:05:24

1:05:24

When it turned out everything he knew about Navy Rum was wrong, Alexandre Gabriel sailed out to set the record straight… and start making his own. The brains behind Maison Ferrand Cognac and Planteray Rum, Alexandre set about relearning everything he ever knew about this unique style of rum which resulted in a book - Exploring 300 Years of Royal Na…

1
Season Five: Jason Sims, managing partner of the new Corner Bar in Mill Valley 16:19

8M ago16:19

16:19

Send us a text We welcome back to the program well-traveled Marin mixologist Jason Sims, who is not only Bungalow 44's longtime managing partner, but now also the managing partner of the newly opened Corner Bar in Mill ValleyBy Jeff Burkhart Kevin Blum Jason Sims

1
A Tip Top Bonus Episode 52:43

8M ago52:43

52:43

Sam Ross, Joaquin Simo and Miles McQuarrie of Tip Top cocktails swung by the studio and we just couldn't say no to having them on! Tune in as they discuss their latest ventures in the RTD space and how it feels to be a powerful voice in a movement that's now in its twenties. Plus, how bout those Mets?? Find out how Sam's first group of friends in N…

1
Spooky Megan 1:01:44

8M ago1:01:44

1:01:44

Get your ten-foot Home Depot skeleton out on the lawn because it’s Spooky season y’all! Megan Rickerson, the owner of Brooklyn’s Someday Bar joins the band live from Portland Cocktail Week to talk about her journey from host to bartender to bar owner and all the tears and joy that entails. Megan talks about forging bonds with local lawmakers, culti…

1
Not Full Yet 55:20

8M ago55:20

55:20

Named for the first woman ever to head the bar program at London’s Savoy Hotel, the Ada Coleman project provides a resource to shed a spotlight on women in the bar industry. Co-founders Kristine Bocchino and Kaitlin Wilkes-Back sit down with the band to discuss their searchable database of women+ bar professionals, how they view the progress they’v…

1
Bittermilk and Beyond 59:11

8M ago59:11

59:11

Bittermilk founders Joe and MariElena talk to us about the hurdles involved in creating brand of shelf stable cocktail compounds, switching branding to “cocktail mixers” and expanding to multiple line extensions including Barcoop Bevy, Drinkmanship, and Tipplemans all while juggling a growing family in South Carolina. Follow Bittermilk on Instagram…

1
Finish the Bottle! 59:00

8M ago59:00

59:00

Baijiu is the world’s most popular spirit by volume, easily. And yet most Americans don’t know what it is. Derek Sandhaus is on a mission to change that by introducing Ming River Baijiu (pronounced bye-JYO) to us westerners. He sits down with the band to talk about his journey from publishing to distilling (typical) adapting this ancestral spirit f…

1
From Chaos to Clarity 58:27

9M ago58:27

58:27

Chris Hunter started his first company at twenty-five, which makes sense once you hear what it was. The multi-time entrepreneur and creative force behind Koia sits down with the band to talk about his journey through the beverage space, beginning as a nightclub bouncer and ending as a holistic, health conscious dad. Oh, and along the way he also sp…

1
Irish Wristwatch 1:01:13

9M ago1:01:13

1:01:13

Ireland is in the house! It’s a Hibernian takeover of the Speakeasy as Daragh Flanagan of Bord Bia, Tim Herlihy of Lost Irish and Andy Ferreira of Cask In Cork sit down with the band to talk about the future of Irish bars and Irish spirits in the US. From the early days of Irish Whiskey to the exciting untapped potential of Poitin (pronounced “puh-…

1
Season Five: Alex Tarantino, the new General Manager of the iconic Buckeye Roadhouse 24:20

9M ago24:20

24:20

Send us a text We chat with Alex Tarantino, the first new GM at the Buckeye Roadhouse in over a quarter century about what it means to take over a legacy restaurant.By Jeff Burkhart Kevin Blum Alex Tarantino

1
There's Always Money in the Banana Stand 48:50

10M ago48:50

48:50

Ben Jones of Rhum Clement and Rhum JM beams into the show to talk about the rhums of St. Lucia and Martinique - what makes them distinct, what makes them delicious and what the American public makes of them anyway. He also debuts their new Bana Canne, which takes all the deliciousness of bananas and fuses it with the rhuminess of rhum. Plus, Damon’…

1
Have a Conniption 1:03:29

10M ago1:03:29

1:03:29

From gin-soaked martini olive connoisseur to distillery owner, Melissa Katrincic and gin go way back. This week she sits down with Greg and Sother to talk about her journey to making gin, from getting the business off the ground (in a control state no less!) to reshaping the way Americans think about gin. The results are alternatively citrusy, savo…

1
Katz Outta the Bag 48:27

10M ago48:27

48:27

Allen Katz of New York Distilling Co. sits down with his old buddy Damon to discuss the state of modern distilling, what he’s up to at his shop in Brooklyn, and the new Jaywalk Rye they recently introduced to wild acclaim. Follow New York Distilling Co. on Instagram at @nydistilling Love The Speakeasy but wish there was more? Check out Bottled in B…

1
Season Five: Jonas Alt, Bar Manager of the legendary Sweetwater nightclub 19:41

10M ago19:41

19:41

Send us a text For our first live music venue guest, we welcome Jonas Alt the Bar Manager of the legendary Sweetwater Nightclub in Mill ValleyBy Jeff Burkhart Kevin Blum Jonas Alt

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