Noah Rothbaum

After a shift what is your favorite guilty pleasure to eat? “Salt and vinegar potato chips and a zippy white wine.” Is there one dish you won’t cook? “I really cannot think of anything I won’t cook—unless it is something like shark fin soup. There are some things that just should not be on the menu.” All-time favorite spice. “Probably cinnamon. It lends itself to both sweet and savory applications.” What is your favorite music to listen to while you cook? “Usually, something like Erykah Badu or the Roots, but really my playlist is all over the place.” Did you grow […]

It would make sense to start searching for Father’s Day gifts right after Mother’s Day. But here we are, a few days from the big day, and the clock is ticking. Fortunately, there are a number of excellent—and delicious—gifts that you can still pick up or order for your dad. Just remember: There is no correlation between his enjoyment of a present and how far in advance you purchased it. Cheers! If there was ever a bottle of whiskey to splurge on for Father’s Day, Midleton Very Rare Vintage Release 2021 ($220) is it. The whiskey is made at the Midleton […]

You recently partnered with High West Whiskey to promote their new mobile game called Prairie Dash that raises money to preserve Montana’s Great Plains. Does it get any better than drinking for a good cause? “It really doesn’t. I always enjoy drinking a little whiskey, but doing it for a good cause is just icing on the cake. I’ve been a fan of High West for years and was excited to join forces with their team for the launch of Prairie Dash. This game is fun y’all! All you have to do is use your thumbs to reach 61 miles per […]

You just introduced SelvaRey Coconut Rum. Why do coconut and rum go together so well? “I don’t know. Why are shorts short and why are long pants long? Why do cats chase mice? These are deeper questions I’m not qualified to answer. It just is the way it is!” To support the rum’s launch, you created a vintage-style campaign series with Anderson .Paak. What music helped you channel that vibe? “‘Leave the Door Open’ on repeat. Also, to me there’s no such thing as vintage when you’re talking about trying to create something. You just create what you feel.” Is the […]

Love it or hate it, the Piña Colada is one of the most popular cocktails in the world. But it’s been largely forgotten by craft bartenders. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by tropical drinks expert Jeff “Beachbum” Berry from acclaimed New Orleans bar Latitude 29. The three talk about the history of the Piña Colada, its rise in popularity and Berry’s recipe for it. So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars now. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah […]

For the last year, life has felt like it has been on hold. One month blended into the next without much to differentiate it—or to even mark that time had passed. Now, with the unofficial start of summer here, it finally feels like a new season, complete with nice weather and the promise of finally being able to meet up with friends and family—in person. To help you throw a successful outdoor brunch, lunch, dinner or cocktail party, pick up these accessories, tools and ingredients. Canned cocktails and wines are, of course, perfect for everything from picnics to bonfires. While there […]

What was the first good wine you ever drank? “The first great wine I drank was a Napa Valley Cabernet. I don’t remember the winery, but I remember the occasion. My friend Dikembe Mutombo and I used to go to dinner together when we were on the road with the Rockets. Dikembe always wanted steak. We shared a bottle of Napa Cabernet and I enjoyed it very much.” What’s your favorite wine-and-food pairing? “It started with Texas steakhouses dishes, but I actually really enjoy pairing Chinese food with wine.” Do you have any tips for pairing the two? You recently teamed […]

Nobody has ever accused Milk Street founder Christopher Kimball of being indifferent. Viewers of his acclaimed PBS television show and readers of his newsletter and books are accustomed to his strong opinions on cooking and ingredients, as well as his fascinating stories of eating and drinking around the world. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, Kimball joins co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum to give his pointed takes on his favorite drink the Old-Fashioned and the benefits of sticking with just one cocktail, along with where he’ll be traveling this summer. So fix yourself an Old-Fashioned and […]

Do you ever get tired of drinking Mint Juleps? “No, but I do get a little groggy after drinking several. Beyond the Mint Julep, another bourbon classic that I enjoy is the Woodford Reserve Spire (bourbon, lemonade and cranberry juice).” Is there an official dish for the race?“There is not an official dish and we change the menu each year to give our guests a fresh culinary experience. In recent years, I’ve also released an accompanying at-home viewing menu, which features easy-to-make versions of the dishes served in the dining rooms at the racetrack.” What should be the official dish of […]

The greatest bartenders in the world bring disparate ingredients and flavors together to create new cocktails—and they do it with seeming ease. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk about the art of cocktail creativity and how the pros make it look so easy. They also offer advice and tips from their own lives to help inspire you to experiment with some new drinks. So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior […]

Never mind Pappy Van Winkle and Sazerac 18-Year-Old Rye Whiskey: Some of the most sought-after bottles of liquor are the dusty, obscure ones hiding on liquor store shelves and in the back of home liquor cabinets. Over the last few years, bartenders and drinks enthusiasts alike have become increasingly interested in locating forgotten bottles that are like a shot of liquid history. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk about how the trend started and suggest a few notable vintage bottles that might still be out there. They also share some […]

Which legendary Celtics player would you like to have a drink with? “Bill Russell for sure!” What’s your favorite bar in Boston? “Legends at the Garden.” In Boston, will any bar let you pay for a drink? “I haven’t paid for a drink in a long time in Boston!” Whiskey: Neat or on the rocks? “Neat.” Scotch or Irish whiskey? “I’m all about supporting the OGs, so it’s Irish whiskey all the way. They’re the ones that put whiskey on the map.” What’s the ultimate St. Patrick’s Day drink? “Keep it simple and authentic: a Bushmills Single Malt. I prefer the […]

In addition to being a Peloton instructor, you just started an Instagram cooking series called Ooo, Mami! with your fiancé, musician Sophia Urista. What made you want to do a cooking show? “One of the most popular questions I get is, what do you eat? Ooo, Mami! is a fun and creative way to answer this question and spend some time in the kitchen with Sophia. Food is such an important part of our lives and relationship. We put a lot of love and time into making food that is both tasty and nourishing to the body.” Did you grow up […]

From the cocktails to the speakeasies to The Great Gatsby, there are few periods in history as celebrated in modern culture as the Roaring Twenties. As we look forward to the end of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s worth exploring how the Roaring Twenties followed the last global pandemic: the 1918 Spanish Flu. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum examine this joyous decade and set the record straight on a number of common misconceptions about it. Spoiler Alert: It was not the golden age for cocktails. So fix yourself a drink and […]

Thanks to 2020, I have new-found respect for oversized 1.75 liter bottles of liquor. These so-called “handles” have existed in the United States since the fall of 1976. At the time, the government wanted to switch to the metric system and reduce the 38 different sizes of bottles available in the U.S. to just six. The handle replaced the traditional half-gallon. While I certainly have seen these sizable bottles on store shelves, and even bought them for parties or events occasionally, I have to admit I’ve never paid much attention to them. Then, of course, the coronavirus pandemic hit and suddenly […]

You can buy bourbon as young as a few years old and as old as 30 years. But what is the perfect age? Half Full columnist and whiskey authority Lew Bryson tried to answer this question in a recent article he wrote, which went viral. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, Bryson joins co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum to talk about what inspired his piece. The trio also share their own preferred bourbon age and how they ferret out American whiskey bargains. So pour yourself a whiskey and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. […]

You recently paired with Kvarøy Arctic to create a Super Bowl salmon hot dog and salmon burger kit with a range of toppings. What will you be eating during the game? “I will be down in Tampa Bay for the game, so I am hoping for a killer fried fish sandwich and a root beer.” Do you think you can convince folks to eat salmon instead pizza and wings during football games? “I hope so. I think people are stuck in a bit of a rut. You want the standards, but it’s high time to add some new items to the […]

Dan Aykroyd can make you laugh at any moment. His comedic sense of timing, of course, has been honed from his years on Saturday Night Live and his roles in a long list of smash-hit movies, including Ghostbusters, Spies Like Us and the Blues Brothers. But when it comes to his Crystal Head Vodka brand, he’s as educational as he is entertaining. This is no vanity project or fluffy celebrity endorsement. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, Aykroyd joins co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum to talk about the latest release from Crystal Head, the bars he […]

Given that famous New York music club CBGB is now a John Varvatos store, what is the all-time best dive bar jukebox song? ““I Wanna be Sedated” by The Ramones.” Name the first good drink you ever drank and where you had it. “A Margarita. On vacation in Mexico when I was in college and I knew tequila was my drink of choice.” What’s your favorite shot-and-a-beer combination? “Villa One Silver Tequila with Sol Beer.” In what era would you most like to drink a cocktail? “With the Rat Pack in Vegas.” Besides your own tequila, Villa One, what spirits do […]

In December of 1935, America’s whiskey industry was on life support. While Prohibition was finally over, the future for distillers was, to say the least, incredibly bleak. After 13 long years of being out of business, would people still want to drink bourbon and rye? Would the Great Depression ever end? Would the temperance movement succeed in getting Prohibition reinstated? In the midst of these turbulent times, entrepreneurs saw an opportunity. The Shapira family, which ran a small chain of five-and-dime stores across Kentucky, took a leap of faith and invested in a nascent whiskey business. On this episode of the […]

For far too long, hot cocktails have been lumped in with dessert drinks and made increasingly sweeter with honey, sugar, cider and even ice cream. But the classic recipes for these steaming concoctions are, in fact, not overly sweet—and quite delicious. So delicious, in fact, that it’s time to give hot cocktails another shot. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the origins of these warming cocktails and how they have evolved over time, as well as share their favorite recipes for the Hot Toddy, Hot Buttered Rum and Irish Coffee. […]