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 home but around the world. Her story proves there’s always room for a new tune in town.

Not only am I excited to introduce Mollie to you, but also the whole Cincy Region — where North meets South and Ohio meets Kentucky. Just a bridge apart, Cincinnati’s German heritage and urban energy connect with Northern Kentucky’s Southern charm.

While you are there, you can sip bourbon, sample craft beer, and savor award-winning cuisine. There are tons of vibrant street art, historic landmarks, and stunning architecture to explore — all along a riverfront that’s buzzing with festivals year-round.

You can plan your trip at visitcincy.com.

Our cocktail of the week is the New Fashioned:

INGREDIENTS 

• 2 oz. New Riff Bottled in Bond Bourbon
• 3 dashes Angostura Bitters
• 3 dashes Orange Bitters
• 1/4 oz. Rich Demerara Syrup*

METHOD

• Add all the  ingredients to a mixing glass
• Add ice and then stir until chilled
• Strain over a large rock in a rocks glass or coupe
• Garnish with an orange peel

*Rich Demerara Syrup - In a large pot, mix 12 oz of water and 24 oz of demerara sugar together on low heat. Use a spoon to slowly stir as the mixture heats up. Heat through until sugar dissolves, never allowing the mixture to come to a boil. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month. 

You’ll find this recipe and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, plus links to most of the ingredients.

Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/new-riff-with-mollie-lewis-president/

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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 place that brought together all their passions.

All their bars, Nightjar, Oriole, and Swift, hold a special place in my heart, and you will see why. I don’t want to reveal too much of their story in this intro, so let’s get right into the episode and have them guide us through the story of Nightjar.

 But before that, if you love Lush Life, we would so appreciate your support by signing up for our newsletter.  You can get our advice on anything to do with home bartending, where to drink in every major city, special recipes, and even your very own Lush Life mug! Just head to alushlifemanual.substack.com and sign up!

Now grab that Martini and let’s join Rosie and Edmund!

Our cocktail of the week is the Toronto:

INGREDIENTS 

• 50 ml Woodford Reserve
• 12.5 ml Fernet Branca
• 7.5 ml Maple syrup, infused with roasted coffee beans & pecan nut

METHOD

• Add all the  ingredients to a mixing glass
• Add ice and then stir until chilled and 
• Strain it into a rocks glass.
• Garnish with cotton candy

You’ll find this recipe and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, plus links to most of the ingredients.

Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/nightjar-with-roisin-stimpson-edmund-weil/

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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 reference book of 2021 and the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits. 

Who better to guide us through the world of The Whiskey Bible: A Complete Guide to the World’s Greatest Spirit, a staggeringly comprehensive, entertaining, and approachable book including not only a history of whiskey, but an in-depth analysis of every major whiskey distilling region, general and practical whiskey facts, and 60 classic and modern whiskey cocktail recipes from top bartenders.

 But before that, if you love Lush Life, we would so appreciate your support by signing up for our newsletter.  You can get our advice on anything to do with home bartending, where to drink in every major city, special recipes, and even your very own Lush Life mug! Just head to alushlifemanual.substack.com and sign up!

Now grab that dram, let’s join Noah!

Our cocktail of the week is called Penicillin:

INGREDIENTS 

• 2 oz Scotch
• ¼ oz Islay Scotch
• ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
• ¾ oz honey syrup (3 parts honey, 1 part water)
• ¾ tablespoon sweetened ginger syrup (4 parts ginger juice, 3 parts sugar)
• Garnish: candied ginger

METHOD

• Combine all of the ingredients except the Islay Scotch in a shaker and fill with ice.
• Shake and then pour into a rocks glass filled with ice.
• Using a bar spoon, gently pour ¼ oz of Islay Scotch over the back of the spoon to create a float.
• Garnish with the candied ginger

You’ll find this recipe and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, plus links to most of the ingredients.

Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/the-whiskey-bible-with-noah-rothbaum-author/

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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 educate others about this hidden gem of a destination and invite them to discover the unique charm of the Cincy Region. 

Next up, we have Bill Whitlow, the Brand Ambassador of Wenzel Distillery. Bill started behind the bar at the age of 16. After a varied career, including winning the Woodford Manhattan Experience twice and the best Mint Julep in Kentucky for 2019 and 2022, he helped open the Wenzel Distillery in Covington. 

Wenzel Distillery is a boutique personal blending experience and has expanded into a fully operational distillery.  Wenzel has won Best Finished Bourbon in the World, Best Under 12 Year Limited Release, and other Gold and Silver Medals.

I am so excited to introduce them and the whole Cincy Region — where North meets South and Ohio meets Kentucky. Just a bridge apart, Cincinnati’s German heritage and urban energy connect with Northern Kentucky’s Southern charm.

While you are there, you can sip bourbon, sample craft beer, and savor award-winning cuisine. There are tons of vibrant street art, historic landmarks, and stunning architecture to explore — all along a riverfront that’s buzzing with festivals year-round.

You can plan your trip at visitcincy.com.

Our cocktail of the week is called Blueberry Chocolate Julep.

INGREDIENTS 

• 3 oz Wenzel Distillery Wheated Bourbon
• ½ oz Blueberry Syrup
• 2 Dashes Bourbon Barrel Foods Chocolate Bitters
• 6-8 Mint Leaves

METHOD

• Add mint and blueberry syrup to your julep cup and lightly muddle
• Add Wenzel Bourbon and bitters
• Add crushed ice and mix
• Garnish with a mint sprig, blueberries, and powdered sugar 

You’ll find this recipe and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, plus links to most of the ingredients.

Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/spirit-of-cincy/

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Become a supporter of A Lush Life Manual for as little as $5 - all you have to do is go to https://substack.com/@alushlifemanual.

Lush Life Merchandise is here - we’re talking t-shirts, mugs, iPhone covers, duvet covers, iPad covers, and more covers for everything! And more! 

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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 experience, in 2019, he teamed up with friends to open their own bar, The Cambridge Public House—a space that brings his philosophy of flavor, creativity, and hospitality to life. Today, he’s here to tell us how it all began!

We would so appreciate your support by signing up to our newsletter.  You can get our advice on anything to do with home bartending, where to drink in every major city, special recipes, and even your very own Lush Life mug! Just head to alushlifemanual.substack.com and sign up!

Our cocktail of the week is called Cigarette After Sex.

INGREDIENTS 

• 25 ml Siete Misterios Mezcal 
• 15 ml Sloe Gin 
• 90 ml Agua de Jamaica 
• 10 ml Verjus 
• Garnish: Lapsang souchong tea rim  

METHOD

• Prepare the trim by making the side of a wine glass wet and dipping it into the tea
• Fill a wine glass with ice
• Pour in all the ingredients and stir well 
• Add more ice if necessary
• Serve 

You’ll find this recipe and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, plus links to most of the ingredients.

Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/hyacinthe-lescoet-cambridge-public-house/

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Become a supporter of A Lush Life Manual for as little as $5 - all you have to do is go to https://substack.com/@alushlifemanual.

Lush Life Merchandise is here - we’re talking t-shirts, mugs, iPhone covers, duvet covers, iPad covers, and more covers for everything! And more! 

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Get great cocktail ideas on Pinterest

New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

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 working globally with cocktail bars, chefs, premium brands, and hospitality realities. 

With years of experience in strategic communication and mixology events, Bianca is a passionate advocate for the cultural value of hospitality and a driving force in building community and connections within the hospitality industry, plus she is my friend!

We would so appreciate your support by signing up to our newsletter.  You can get our advice on anything to do with home bartending, where to drink in every major city, special recipes, and even your very own Lush Life mug! Just head to alushlifemanual.substack.com and sign up!

Our cocktail of the week comes to you directly from the Cotton House Hotel - Batuar Bar & Restaurant, created for Barcelona Hotel Bar Week by their amazing Bartender: Alberto Melis.

INGREDIENTS 

• 60 ml Gin - they use 100&NOMORE, which is local to Barcelona
• 200 ml of homemade tonic 

METHOD

• Toast 8 grams of fennel seeds in a dry pan until they release their aroma.
• Infuse 1 liter of water, the toasted fennel seeds, 0.8 g white cassia, 20 grapefruit skins, and 5g kaffir lime leaves at 70°C for 20 minutes, then filter through a strainer.
• Heat the 250 ml oat milk to 80°C (no boiling), pour in the infusion and add 50 ml of lemon juice. Leave to cool in the fridge for 60 minutes then filter with a coffee filter or cotton filter.
• Now that you have the two infusions done, combine 1 part of the water with one part of the clarified oat milk
• Mix 200 ml of homemade tonic for every 60 ml of gin and serve on the rocks in a Collins glass, and garnish with a grapefruit zest. 
• If you have one, then place the mix in a soda siphon, let the mix cool in the fridge for about 60 minutes and load with two cartridges of CO2. Once gasified, serve on the rock in a Collins glass and garnish with a grapefruit zest. 

You’ll find this recipe and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, plus links to most of the ingredients.

Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/barcelona-hotel-bar-week-with-bianca-grisolia/

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Become a supporter of A Lush Life Manual for as little as $5 - all you have to do is go to https://substack.com/@alushlifemanual.

Lush Life Merchandise is here - we’re talking t-shirts, mugs, iPhone covers, duvet covers, iPad covers, and more covers for everything! And more! 

Produced by Simpler Media

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram

Get great cocktail ideas on Pinterest

New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

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! 

And if you want any more Lush Life, you can sign up to my newsletter at alushlifemanual.substack.com!

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New episodes every other Tuesday, usually!!

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 ingredients. Their wild elderberry liqueur proved insanely popular with all and Buck & Birch was on its way.

Follow along with us on Tom’s path from Norway to Scotland and how he found himself the co-founder of a drinks company!

Before we begin, you can always watch this episode on Youtube, plus all the other Lush Life episodes as well as a whole lot more; just head to youtube.com/@lushlifemanual.

Also If you love the show, we would so appreciate your support! You can get our advice on anything to do with home bartending, where to drink in every major city, special recipes, plus a Lush Life mug! Just head to alushlifemanual.substack.com and sign up!

The cocktail of the week is the Birch Forest Martini:

INGREDIENTS 

• 60ml BIRCH Premium Botanical Vodka
• 15ml white vermouth
• Garnish: lemon twist

METHOD

• Add the ingredients to an icing glass
• Add ice and stir
• Strain into a Martini glass
• Garnish with a lemon twist.

You’ll find this recipe and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, plus links to most of the ingredients.

Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/buck-and-birch-with-tom-chisholm

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Become a supporter of A Lush Life Manual for as little as $5 - all you have to do is go to https://substack.com/@alushlifemanual.

Lush Life Merchandise is here - we’re talking t-shirts, mugs, iPhone covers, duvet covers, iPad covers, and more covers for everything! And more! 

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Get great cocktail ideas on Pinterest

New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

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 episodes as well as a whole lot more; just head to youtube.com/@lushlifemanual.

Also If you love the show, we would so appreciate your support! You can get our advice on anything to do with home bartending, where to drink in every major city, special recipes, plus a Lush Life mug! Just head to alushlifemanual.substack.com and sign up!

The cocktail of the week is the Archive & Myth Bee’s Knees:

INGREDIENTS 

• 40ml Gin (they use Renais Gin)
• 10ml Everleaf Forest 
• 5ml Tio Pepe Fino
• 25ml Fresh Lemon Juice
• 20ml Bay Honey Syrup

METHOD

• First, make the bay honey syrup by bringing water to a boil and infusing bay leaves into it for 10 minutes to steep.  Filter them and then whisk together a 3:1 ratio of honey to bay water to make an incredibly tasty and herbaceous honey syrup.
• Shake all ingredients together with ice
• Fine strain into a coupe glass.  
• Garnish with a lemon twist.

You’ll find this recipe and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, plus links to most of the ingredients.

Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/archive-and-myth-with-laurie-howells

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Become a supporter of A Lush Life Manual for as little as $5 - all you have to do is go to https://substack.com/@alushlifemanual.

Lush Life Merchandise is here - we’re talking t-shirts, mugs, iPhone covers, duvet covers, iPad covers, and more covers for everything! And more! 

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New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

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 third Master Distiller ever at Woodford and one of the youngest distillers in the United States? I will let her tell you!

Before we begin, you can always watch this episode on Youtube, plus all the other Lush Life episodes as well as a whole lot more; just head to youtube.com/@lushlifemanual.

Also If you love the show, we would so appreciate your support! You can get our advice on anything to do with home bartending, where to drink in every major city, special recipes, plus a Lush Life mug! Just head to alushlifemanual.substack.com and sign up!

The cocktail of the week is the Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned:

INGREDIENTS 

• 2 oz Woodford Reserve Bourbon
• .5 oz demerara simple syrup
• 3 dashes of Angostura bitters 
• large ice cube
• orange peel

METHOD

• Pour Woodford Reserve Bourbon into your favorite glass
• Add sugar syrup and bitters
• Add ice
• Stir for 10 seconds
• Express orange oils & garnish with the orange peel

You’ll find this recipe and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, plus links to most of the ingredients.

Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/woodford-reserve-with-elizabeth-mccall

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Become a supporter of A Lush Life Manual for as little as $5 - all you have to do is go to https://substack.com/@alushlifemanual.

Lush Life Merchandise is here - we’re talking t-shirts, mugs, iPhone covers, duvet covers, iPad covers, and more covers for everything! And more! 

Produced by Simpler Media

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New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

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 years. When new folks had acquired the inn, we held our breath.

Then I discovered Brian Miller was in charge of the bar, and I knew there was nothing to fear!  

Brian is a veteran of the New York bar scene having worked in some of the most famous bars in the world like the Pegu Club and Death and Company.

He has a special penchant for tropical cocktails, which culminated in the creation of Tiki Mondays with Miller - a Polynesian & pirate-themed pop-up bar. And his own bar, The Polynesian, which was nominated for Best New American Bar at Tales of the Cocktail and  recognized by Esquire Magazine as one of America’s Best Bars.

So how did this self-described pirate find himself in that small hotel with the wishing well in the woods of New Jersey? 

You’ll have to listen in to find out. 

Before we begin, you can always watch this episode on Youtube, plus all the other Lush Life episodes as well as a whole lot more; just head to youtube.com/@lushlifemanual.

Also, if you love the show, we would so appreciate your support! You can get our advice on anything to do with home bartending, where to drink in every major city, special recipes, plus a Lush Life mug! Just head to alushlifemanual.substack.com and sign up!

The cocktail of the week is the Jack Rose:

INGREDIENTS 

• 2 dashes orange bitters
• ½ oz lime juice
• ½ oz lemon juice
• ½ oz grenadine
• ¼ oz cane syrup
• ¼ oz Jacoulot crème de framboise liqueur
• 1 oz  Laird’s bonded apple brandy
• 1 oz Domaine de Montreuil “Selection” calvados

METHOD

• Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and add ice
• Shake until chilled
• Strain into a coupe glass

You’ll find this recipe and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, plus links to most of the ingredients.

Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/stockton-inn-with-brian-miller

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Become a supporter of A Lush Life Manual for as little as $5 - all you have to do is go to https://substack.com/@alushlifemanual.

Lush Life Merchandise is here - we’re talking t-shirts, mugs, iPhone covers, duvet covers, iPad covers, and more covers for everything! And more! 

Produced by Simpler Media

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram

Get great cocktail ideas on Pinterest

New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!