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 […]
Noah Rothbaum
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. […]
American whiskey makers must have been feeling good in 1970. After suffering through Prohibition and a shutdown for World War II, they were finally back on track, boasting record sales that year. Little did they know the next 30 years would be one hell of ride…straight down. The year 2000 offered a glimmer of hope that whiskey wasn’t completely doomed; a new generation of drinkers who wanted more than just vodka was on the rise. Sales slowly began to grow, but were still overshadowed by sweet cordials and liqueurs. So it was a bit baffling when, 13 years ago, Congress unanimously […]
If there was ever a time to have a glass of bourbon, now is it. Back in 2007, Congress passed a resolution declaring September National Bourbon Heritage Month. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Trey Zoeller, founder of Jefferson’s Bourbon, to talk about why the month-long holiday was created and how to properly celebrate it. So fix yourself a glass of bourbon and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich […]
Thanks to coronavirus closures, cities across the country have now allowed bars and restaurants to offer customers to-go drinks. On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Karl Franz Williams from New York, Christine Wiseman from Los Angeles, and Andrew Volk from Maine—about this important change in the bar industry. They discuss the new-found skills required to create to-go cocktails, as well as which drinks are (and aren’t) selling out. So mix yourself a drink and listen to this important episode of Life Behind Bars: What I’ve Learned. […]
Bartenders and bar owners are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. And one of the greatest challenges facing them today is getting their customers to wear face masks. On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders, Neal Bodenheimer from New Orleans, Alex Jump from Denver and Masa Urushido from New York, about this important issue. They discuss how patrons have reacted to having to wear masks in their establishments and offer some advice for conducting these sometimes delicate conversations. So mix yourself a drink and […]
The Martini and the Manhattan are two of the bedrock drinks that hold up the entire world of cocktails. While both have their own lore, mythology and fans, they in fact may be essentially the same drink. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the origins of the two drinks and how they evolved into distinct recipes. So mix yourself a Manhattan or a Martini and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich […]
The coronavirus has the potential to decimate bars across America. Already a number of well-known establishments have announced that they won’t reopen and many others are struggling to stay afloat during these challenging times. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Nate Whitehouse, co-founder of Thirst, to talk about his organization’s efforts to get insurance companies and the federal government to help bars stay in business. So, fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum […]
David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, the co-hosts of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, share the bars they wish were still open: From a pioneering 18th-century punch house to Jerry Thomas’ legendary New York bar to Dale DeGroff shaking up drinks in the Rainbow Room to the recently closed Pegu Club. Their virtual bar crawl across centuries and continents covers the establishments that they have long dreamt of visiting, as well as some modern personal favorites that are no more. Which bars do you wish you could go back in time to check out? Let the hosts know on Twitter. So, […]
After months of sheltering in place, David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, co-hosts of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, are daydreaming about visiting their favorite bars around the world. Listen in as they plan a bar crawl for the ages, which will hit New York, New Orleans, Detroit, Miami, Havana, Tequila, London, Paris and spots in between. Did they miss your favorite establishment? Let the hosts know on Twitter what bar you’d like to visit right now. 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 […]
After weeks of being closed for a mandatory coronavirus shutdown, bars in New Orleans have begun to reopen with limited capacity. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Neal Bodenheimer, owner of James Beard Award-winning Nola bar Cure, to talk about his recent experiences reopening and the challenges that he’s had to overcome. So fix yourself a Sazerac and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest […]
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, liquor store sales are up across the country with many folks fixing cocktails at home. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the return of America’s nightly cocktail hour and what people are mixing up. They also discuss the long-term effects of the coronavirus on the bar industry and how it might change after this pandemic is finished. So mix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior […]
What happens when two committed bar flies can’t go to a bar? Find out on this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars. While sheltering in place at their respective homes, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the history of drinking during plagues and some of the cocktail cures that were created and popularized. (Spoiler alert: Rock and Rye doesn’t actually protect you from tuberculosis.) So fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss […]
If anybody can keep up a daily workout streak during a global pandemic, it’s Charlotte Voisey. The global head of ambassadors for Scottish liquor company William Grant & Sons has exercised every morning for the last 14 years. “When I became a brand ambassador, one of the hardest adjustments was going from a daily clockwork routine as a bar manager to a role with no routine, where no two days would ever be the same,” she says. “I quickly realized that if routine is the breeder of good habits, I needed to take control of my daily life and instil an […]