TCGP S3 Episodes

Join us for the exciting second part of our Season 3 finale, recorded high atop New Orleans at Café Amélie, overlooking the vibrant French Quarter. In this special episode, we celebrate the spirit of New Orleans with a fantastic lineup of guests and delve into the world of cocktails, spirits, and hospitality.

On the next episode of The Cocktail Guru Podcast, we talk accounting, life insurance, and real estate—wait, what?!—oh, and rum with Steven Gubb, Founder, President & CEO of Boston-based Paradise Imports, suppliers of Gubba Rum, plus go behind the scenes at Bar Convent Brooklyn 2024!

In this special two-part season finale of the Cocktail Guru Podcast, we went live from Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. The episode featured three amazing guests: Jim Ruane from Cierto Tequila, Nick Rose from Hudson Whiskey, and Jeff Naples from Reyka Vodka. Also in this episode Jeffrey dives into the history of the Sazerac cocktail, tracing its origins back to Antoine Amédée Pechault's apothecary in New Orleans.

On this edition of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash talk comfort food that sticks to your ribs—and the pot!—with entrepreneur Nadia Liu Spellman, co-author of Dumpling Daughter: Heirloom Recipes from Our Restaurants and Home Kitchens and founder of Boston's Dumpling Daughter, the ever-expanding culinary empire inspired by Nadia's mother, co-author, and celebrity chef Sally Ling. All brought to you Emilio Lustau, maker of Lustau Vermut Dry, an exceptional, Manzanilla sherry-based Spanish vermouth.

On this edition of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash deep-dive into coffee, discovering how an abiding passion for it prompted Kelly Abbott to leave behind 20 years of teaching K-12 students and seize the opportunity to become Owner, CEO & Roaster at Unleashed Coffee in Vacaville, California. All brought to you by Unleashed Coffee and The Cocktail Guru Shop, now selling fine spirits!

Join Jonathan Pogash, the Cocktail Guru, and his father, Jeffrey Pogash, as they dive into the fascinating world of wine and spirits. In this special episode, they pay tribute to the legendary Steven Spurrier, the man who revolutionized the wine industry. Jeffrey shares personal anecdotes about his mentor, Steven Spurrier, and how a simple wine class in Paris changed the course of his life. They are joined by Steven's son, Christian Spurrier, who provides intimate insights into his father's life and legacy.

On this edition of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash talk cocktail speed, style, and substance with hospitality legends Lynnette Marrero and Ivy Mix, cofounders of Speed Rack, a global all-women bartending competition that has raised over $1.5 million for charities supporting breast cancer research, and coauthors—with Megan Krigbaum—of A QUICK DRINK, a new book that elevates home cocktailing while advancing the cause of women's breast health. All brought to you by Barrel Room Chronicles and The Cocktail Guru Shop, now selling fine spirits.

On this edition of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, host Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash talk the sweet life—literally—with celebrity pastry chef Zac Young: Bravo, The Cooking Channel, Food Network, and Netflix baking veteran and creator of the all-in-one Thanksgiving dessert sensation, The PieCaken. All brought to you by The Cocktail Guru Shop, now selling fine spirits.

On this edition of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, live from Libertine Social at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip, Jonathan Pogash talks the look of life from behind the stick with Chris Leavitt—bartender, social media sensation, and creator of Not Just a Bartender. Plus, from just around the corner at Caesars Forum, we talk the look of cocktails with Natalie Migliarini—creator of Beautiful Booze and a competitor who left a memorable mark on popular Netflix series Drink Masters. All brought to you by Lustau Vermut Dry, an exceptional, Manzanilla sherry-based Spanish vermouth featured in this episode's Tipple Time segment.

On this edition of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, live from Libertine Social at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip, Jonathan Pogash talks organizing bartenders—no, it's not like herding cats—bar designing, beverage engineering, and more with Livio Lauro, the living hospitality legend responsible for reviving and expanding the United States Bartenders' Guild, designing the EuroBar Station, and authoring or co-authoring several celebrated cocktail books. Plus Jeffrey Pogash dives deep into the Mai Tai on this episode's Cocktail Commentary, brought to you by Monin Gourmet Flavored Syrups, while Jonathan whips up a Whiskey Sour featuring Glenmorangie Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky during our Tipple Time segment. THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST is produced by 1st Reel Entertainment and distributed by EatsDrinksTV, a service of the Center for Culinary Culture—Home of The Cocktail Collection, and is available wherever fine podcasts can be heard. The Center for Culinary Culture—Telling the Stor…

Live from The Vault, the ultra-exclusive bar inside the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, host Jonathan Pogash talks bartending, chasing challenges, and embracing opportunities—plus a fair bit of whiskey wonkery—with Duane Fernandez Jr. and Pamela "The Wiz" Wiznitzer, two leading hospitality professionals who personify the episode's themes. All brought to you by Emilio Lustau, The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley, and Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, as featured in our Cocktail Commentaries and Tipple Time segments.

On this episode of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash deep dive the Moscow Mule—yes, it has a history, its roots are in Hollywood, and it's a far more engaging tale than you'd ever imagine—and talk the twists and turns that took a talented young lady bent on a career in law to a colorful life in bartending and achieving certification as a sommelier with Rachel Kling, the BarSomm. All brought to you by Moscow Copper Co., and Smirnoff Vodka, as featured in our Cocktail Commentaries, and Top Off segments. Don't miss out on this engaging episode filled with cocktail history, industry insights, and educational initiatives in the world of spirits and mixology. Subscribe to the Cocktail Guru Podcast for more entertaining and informative episodes with leading experts in the hospitality industry. Cheers!

On this episode of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, host Jonathan Pogash talks film, television, and tequila with acting great Joe Mantegna, co-owner of Señor Rio, a very special agave spirit born of business, love, and shared passion—and created by fellow guest Debbie Medina—in the Mexican state of Jalisco. We will also speak with Paul Imbesi about his roll at Barritt's Ginger Beer. All brought to you by Monin Gourmet Flavored Syrups, Mozart Chocolate Liqueur, and Señor Rio and Tequila Barritt's Ginger Beer.

On this episode of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash go behind-the-scenes at some of the world's legendary restaurants and bars with intrepid foodie and world traveler Shari Bayer, founder of Bayer Public Relations, host and producer of All in the Industry, and author of Chefwise: Life Lessons from Leading Chefs Around the World. All brought to you by Cierto Tequila.

On this episode of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash talk cocktails, spirits—including, of course, agave spirits!—and a whole lot more with Milagro Tequila Ambassador Luis Lopez, a literal "miracle-working" Los Angeles native and West Hollywood resident who's long drawn upon his deep Guatemalan roots for mixological inspiration. All brought to you by Milagro Tequila.

On this episode of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash talk with SAG Award-winning actor Joel Johnstone about his journey from the American heartland to Hollywood and, in the process, realizing the dream of every screen thespian—becoming a working actor, in Joel's case including a five-year run on Amazon's Emmy Award- winning THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL. Believe us, it's a living, and it's sexier than it sounds! PLUS - we premiere our new segment, Cocktail Commentary featuring the story of the Rob Roy cocktail. All brought to you by Barritt's Ginger Beer and Glenmorangie Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

On this episode of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash talk winning speed, style, and substance with Speed Rack bartending champion and award-winning bar program director and consultant extraordinaire Yael Stormborn. Hear what propelled this now master of hospitality from her native Houston, Texas, to Los Angeles, California, via New York City and a long list of establishments large, small, fine, and dive. All brought to you by Glenmorangie Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Lustau and Monin Premium Gourmet Syrups.

On this episode of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash talk acting for stage, screen, and television, some of it soapy—plus his penchant for prestidigitation and playing the skins—with John-Paul Lavoisier, the daytime TV star whose passions propelled him from Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, to Los Angeles, California. All brought to you by Emilio Lustau, Glenmorangie Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, and Monin Premium Gourmet Syrups.

On this episode of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash talk drinks—and a fair bit of food—with award-winning NEW YORK TIMES cocktail and spirits writer Robert Simonson, author of seven books, including THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF COCKTAILS, new from Ten Speed Press. All brought to you by Emilio Lustau and Monin Premium Gourmet Syrups.

On this episode of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash scream, you scream—hell, we all scream!—for liquor-infused ice cream with Melissa Tavss, Founder & CEO of Tasty Scoop, a fast-growing chain of ice cream parlors with a adult twist. Join us for a velvety and quick-melting journey through an array of flavors your palate won't soon forget. All brought to you by Monin Premium Gourmet Syrups.

On this episode of THE COCKTAIL GURU PODCAST, hosts Jonathan & Jeffrey Pogash bloom brilliantly with The Drinking Violet herself, ms. franky marshall—thoroughly modern bartender, passionately spirited drinks educator, and singularly colorful personality. All brought to you by Monin Premium Gourmet Syrups, Glenmorangie and Libby glassware.