Episodes

  • Philip Duff,  a true icon in the industry, is on Lush Life. He is a renowned expert on everything drinks related and has a passion for the craft.

    Thank goodness our guest was not one of the Skerries-born citizens who kidnapped St. Patrick's goat and was cursed to bleat from then on, cus that would make for an awkward interview. 

    Today we have a true icon in the industry. Philip Duff is not only an internationally renowned expert on cocktails, spirits, and bars, but also a sought-after consultant, a dynamic educator, and a captivating speaker who has traveled the globe sharing his vast knowledge and passion for the craft. Plus he’s also the founder of Old Duff Genever and lucky for me my friend!

    We’re chatting about the past, the future and the  stuff that happened along the way.

    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 that's youtube.com/@lushlifemanual!

    The cocktail of the week is the Holland House:

    INGREDIENTS 

    50ml Old Duff Genever20ml dry vermouth15ml freshly squeezed lemon juice7.5ml maraschino liqueurGarnish: lemon zest 

    METHOD

    Add all ingredients to a shaker with iceShake for 15 secondsFine strain into a martini or coupe glassGarnish with a lemon 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/philip-duff

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    New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

  • Did it ever occur to you to ask your friendly bartenders where they like to drink? Because you know they know the best places in town. Well, don’t worry, our guest has. And lucky for us, he’s sharing that info.

    Sam Gilani was making Sazeracs when he was at university - that should tell you that he was bound to become The London Boozehound. He is not only a journalist with a massive Instagram following but also the founder of the Bartender’s Edit - that list of every bartender’s favorite hangouts. 

    You’d be surprised what made the list, but I’m not going to tell you, Sam is.

    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 that's youtube.com/@lushlifemanual!

    The cocktail of the week is the East 8 Holdup:

    INGREDIENTS 

    45 ml Vodka15 ml Aperol20 ml Pineapple Juice15 ml Fresh Lime Juice15 ml Simple Syrup5 ml Passionfruit Syrup 

    METHOD

    Add all ingredients to a shaker with iceShake for 15 secondsFine strain into a rocks glass with iceGarnish with half a passionfruit and a mint sprig

    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-london-boozehound-with-sam-gilani

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  • Who doesn’t want to enjoy a tipple or two in a gorgeous setting? Today, I bring you to one of the most historically important homes in London, which held and is still holding some of the best parties the city has ever seen.

    On today’s episode, you’ll meet a power player in Georgian society, the Lansdowne House, constructed in the 1760s by the celebrated architect Robert Adam. 

    Not only did it see the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the American War of Independence, in its Round Room, but also the negotiations for the Entente Cordiale between Britain and France. But let’s not forget: Thanks to some of its famous residents, Lansdowne House was the first stop on the party circuit. 

    I don’t want to ruin the fun by revealing all here, but let me just say they could throw one great shindig after another! 

    Currently, it is home to The Lansdowne Club, the first club in London to accept both male and female members, shocking in 1935. Here to tell us all are CEO and Club Secretary David Herbert and then Head Bartender Marco CagliĂ .

    The cocktail of the week is the Pink Duke:

    INGREDIENTS 

    35 ml Hendrick's gin25 ml Kwai Feh Lychee Liqueur25 ml fresh lime juice25 ml Raspberry and rose cordialProsecco

    METHOD

    Add all ingredients except the prosecco  to a shaker with iceShake for 15 secondsFine strain into a coupeTop up with the proseccoGarnish with an edible rosebud

    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/lansdowne-club-with-david-herbert-and-marco-caglia

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  • Remember a time when asking for a non-alcoholic beverage meant getting a soda or an apple juice? Well, thanks to the brain behind Seedlip, there are now stores filled with No-ABV and Low-ABV spirits. It’s not often one can invent a whole new category of drinking, but our guest did, and now he is coming for bitters, watch out.

    My friend and former Lush Lifer Ben Branson was on the program more than 5 years ago and since that time, he is not only the Founder of Seedlip - the first ever non-alcoholic spirit, but also the Pollen Projects, the non-profit The Hidden 20% & the host of The Hidden 20% podcast. He is also the genius behind the new drinks flavoring, seasn.

    There are two seasns right now in the UK (and coming soon to the US) LIGHT and DARK - each born to make your drinks even tastier. LIGHT brightens up your lighter drinks and DARK adds a rich spicier note to your darker drinks. But I don’t want to give it all away. But I don't want to give it all away. The story of seasn is Ben’s to tell.

    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 that's youtube.com/@lushlifemanual!

    The cocktail of the week is the seasn Margarita:

    INGREDIENTS 

    40 ml Blanco Tequila 20 ml Fresh Lime juice10 ml Cointreaul3 dashes seasn LIGHT 2:1 sugar syrup as needed 

    METHOD

    Add all ingredients to a shaker with iceShake for 15 secondsFine strain into a coupe or rocks glass with iceGarnish with Maldon sea salt rim and a lime wedge.

    OR make the non-alcoholic seasn Margarita:

    INGREDIENTS 

    40ml Seedlip Garden 20ml Fresh Lime juice3 dashes seasn LIGHT Agave syrup as needed 

    METHOD

    Add all ingredients to a shaker with iceShake for 15 secondsFine strain into a coupe or rocks glass with iceGarnish with Maldon sea salt rim and a lime wedge.

    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/seasn-with-ben-branson

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  • This March, I was blown away by the creativity of some of the best bars in the world. Not only were they making cocktails, but they were saving the planet. 

    On the 17 and 18th of March 2024, the third edition of the Paradiso Sustainability Summit, organized by Giacomo Giannotti and his team, in partnership with Ketel One Vodka through their Garnished with Good program was held.

    Giacomo’s bar Paradiso is ranked one of the best Bars in the world, and he established the Summit three years ago as an exchange of ideas and tools with the aim of raising awareness and making the industry more sustainable.

    This year, the event took place at Palo Alto - an indoor and outdoor space chosen for its approach to helping local communities. There were two stages for masterclasses, seminars, and workshops, a marketplace where local organizations showcased their sustainable projects and products, and, of course, pop-ups of all the invited international and local bars serving cocktails all day long!

    While I was there I caught up with not only Giacomo, but a few of the other speakers who are my guests on the program today. 

    Riccardo Rossi and Michele Filip from Rome’s Freni e Frizioni, Paul Voza from Oslo’s Himkok, Vasilis Kyritsis and Dimitris Dafopoulos from Line in Athens, Alexandros Tselepis and Konstantinos Theodorakopoulos from The Bar in Front of The Bar also in Athens, Partick Howley from So Let’s Talk, and last but certainly not least Timothy Etherington-Judge of Avallen Calvados and Healthy Hospo who gives us the place to start with sustainability to have the greatest impact.

    It was truly an eye-opening event, and they will most definitely inspire you to do more. 

    But before I begin, make sure you check out a sampling of all the activities from the summit on my YouTube channel! www.Youtube.com/@lushlifemanual

    Up first is, of course, Giacomo our host and founder of this important initiative.

    The cocktail of the week is Paradiso’s The Voyage:

    INGREDIENTS 

    50 ml Ketel One Vodka25 ml Amaro Santoni25 ml ItalicusYogurt blueberriesYogurt raspberry

    METHOD

    Mix the following ingredients together in a containerInfuse it for 24 hours in the fridgeFilter it all through a cheesecloth.Then pour it into your chilled martini glass Garnish with a jam-filled white chocolate if you have one

    You’ll find this recipe and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll find some of the ingredients in our shop.

    Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/paradiso-sustainability-summit-2024

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  • The butterfly effect is the idea that small things can have non-linear impacts on a complex system. The concept is imagined with a butterfly flapping its wings and causing a typhoon. Our butterfly, in this case, is one small sip of bourbon. 

    That specific sip of bourbon started off a chain reaction that would see not only the world of drinks but the world at large change forever and I am not exaggerating!

    But I am not going to ruin the story. You will have to hear it from one of the co-Founders of Never Say Die Bourbon.  Brian Luftman is here on Lush Life to tell you a story that is pretty incredible.  You don’t need to be a marketing genius to know that every brand needs a story, but this one you just couldn’t make up and its at the heart of Never Say Die.

    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 that's youtube.com/@lushlifemanual!

    Now feet in stirrups, hands on the reins, the gate is about to open with Brian leading the pack!

    The cocktail of the week is the Epsom Derby!

    INGREDIENTS 

    40ml Never Say Die Small-Batch Bourbon30ml pink grapefruit juice15ml honey syrupGarnish: 8-10 mint leaves

    METHOD

    Add all ingredients to a shaker with iceShake for 15 secondsStrain into a Nick and Nora glass and garnish

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

    Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/never-say-die-bourbon-with-brian-luftman

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    New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

  • I think relaunch is the word of the moment. It is Spring, after all. 

    Not only will I be relaunching Season 8 of Lush Life, bringing you exciting episodes about sustainability, horse racing, the Beatles, absinthe, and so much more! 

    But the big news is I have just re-launched my cocktail tours in London’s Soho- Long story but I first started them in Nov 2019 and well we know what happened then. 

    Now, I am thrilled to say that they are up and running!  So next time you are planning a trip to London, check out londoncocktailtours.com! 

    So, let’s toast to all this relaunching.

    Since this time of year is all about apples - this is one of my favorite autumn cocktails (and one I always start the season with!)

    It’s the Avallen Autumn Old-Fashioned:

    Ingredients

    30ml  / 1 oz Avallen Calvados1 teaspoon honey1 dash orange bittersTop up with champagne

    Method

    Add all of the ingredients (except the champagne) to a cocktail glassGive them a quick stir with a teaspoon to dissolve the honeyTop with champagneAdd a small orange zest on the side for extra dazzle

    You’ll find this recipe, plus all the cocktails of the week, at ALushLifeManual.com.

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    New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

  • Few people would have the courage to leave a very secure future in academia for a very uncertain life behind the bar.  Our guest did, and he has never looked back.

    Are you crazy for Thomas Shelby and also have a passion for Japanese Whisky? Do you have no clue who Thomas Shelby is but love your Japanese whisky? Or do you not know either about Thomas Shelby or Japanese Whisky but just want to meet one of the greatest guys in the spirit industry? Then this episode is for you!

    James Bowker is a proud Brummie; that is someone from Birmingham, England btw, just like Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders, one of my favorite programs. 

    His early love of Japanese whisky grew into a role as the first House of Suntory Global Advocacy Manager.  I met James many years ago when he was one of the ten finalists for the Diageo World Class UK, and have just now finally had him on the program.  

    It was kismet as I was just about to step on a plane to Japan.  He taught me so much, which made the experience a billion times better.  Even if you are not headed to Japan, his knowledge is invaluable. 

    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 that's youtube.com/@lushlifemanual!

    The cocktail of the week is the Kyoto Club!

    INGREDIENTS 

    50ml Suntory ROKU Gin25ml Green Tea (Chilled)25ml Lemon Juice15ml Raspberry Syrup(Sugar + Raspberries if not available)Garnish: Raspberries

    METHOD

    Fill the glass with ice. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.Shake for 15 seconds. Strain into glass and garnish.

    You’ll find this recipe, more gin cocktail recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll find some of the ingredients in our shop.

    Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/house-of-suntory-spirits-with-james-bowker

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    New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

  • You asked for it, and you got it - all of you kind people who filled out my survey asked for more interviews with more legends. Our guest is the world's most-awarded bartender & bar owner. If Mr Lyan isn’t a legend, I don’t know who is.

    If you call yourself a cocktail connoisseur, then you will have come upon the name Mr Lyan in your travels. Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr Lyan opened White Lyan in London in 2013. It was a moment that will go down in cocktail history as the first cocktail bar in the world to use no perishables, no fruit, and even no ice, an innovative approach to sustainability, with much lower waste and a use of pre-made cocktails and never before seen ingredients. 

    This focus on a ground-breaking approach remains in the evolution of White Lyan, Super Lyan, Dandelyan, Cub, Lyaness, Silver Lyan, and Seed Library.

    Ryan’s with me to discuss his new book, Mr Lyan’s Cocktails at Home: Good Things to Drink with Friends, but we go into so much more - 

    How his relationship to flavor evolved, how his studying Fine Arts at Central Saint Martins as well as Biology at Edinburgh University spurred him on to get behind the bar, and why the need to write a book at all.

    You have no idea how excited I am to finally have Ryan on the show!

    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

    The cocktail of the week is Ryan’s Barlay Champagne!

    INGREDIENTS 

    4 shots (100ml/4oz) water6 shots (150ml/6oz) lemon barley water cordial8 shots (200ml/8oz) fino sherry or dry vermouth12 shots (300ml/12oz) London dry gin10 dashes TabascoRosemary sprigs, to garnish

    METHOD

    Add the water, cordial, sherry or vermouth, and gin to a jug, then add the Tabasco Stir and then decant into a clean wine bottle and chill wellTo serve, add a shot and a half (40ml/1.5oz) of the chilled mixture to a flute, then top with bubbles. Add a sprig  of rosemary and serve

    The Magic is that “you can make lemon barley cordial at home (it's a very old-fashioned British cordial of pearl barley and lemon), but this recipe works great with any store-bought cordial that brings sweetness and acidity. Elderflower, blackcurrant, or even more regional ones such as redcurrant or gooseberry also work-although there's a richness to the barley addition that works wonderfully.  Tabasco adds a background heat, but try adding other accent spices such as gochujang or sriracha - just sieve it after mixing to remove any particulates, as they will interfere with the fizz. Plus, you just want a hint of fruity warmth. else you’ll throw the balance of the drink.”

    You’ll find this recipe, more Champagne cocktail recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll find some of the ingredients in our shop.

    Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/cocktails-at-home-with-ryan-chetiyawardana

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  • Throughout history, artists and writers have been drawn to the Northern Italian hill town of Asolo; some say it’s because it’s the “city of a hundred horizons,” I think it’s because it’s the home of Asolo Prosecco!

    At one time, you might have caught a glimpse of poet Robert Browning, actress Elenora Duse, or writer Freya Stark sitting enjoying a glass of bubbly at one of the cafes in this Pearl of the Veneto; I can almost guarantee the liquid in their glass was Asolo prosecco! 

    In this episode, I’m taking you with me to Asolo to meet a few people who are making Asolo Prosecco what it is! We‘ll begin with a masterclass led by Wine Educator and  Journalist Gianpaolo Giacobbo, who will explain what Asolo prosecco DOCG is exactly. 

    Then Ugo Zamperoni is next. He is the President of the Conzorio of Asolo Prosecco - which is the association of producers and grape growers. 

    Then we are off to meet a few producers of Asolo Prosecco: Dennis Bordin from the Tenuta d’Asolo Progress Country & Wine House,  Ermenegildo Giusti of Giusti Wine, and then we finish with Tenuta Baron’s Andrea Sbrissa.  

    I interviewed them all in situ, so alas, there is no video podcast this week, but you can find a video guide to the town of Asolo and a selection of the vineyards and historical sites you can visit when you are next in town. You can find it on my YouTube channel, youtube.com/lushlifemanual. 

    Our cocktail of the week comes straight from master mixologist Samuele Ambrosi, owner of Cloakroom Cocktail Lab and Knowledge Hub in Treviso. We met at Venice Cocktail Week last year, and I am thrilled to include one of his cocktail creations. It's called the Made in Italy and is a little different from what you might think of as a prosecco cocktail - because it’s savory!

    The cocktail of the week is Samuele Ambrosi’s MADE IN ITALY.

    INGREDIENTS 

    50ml  Basil and "datterino" tomatoes cordial*150 ml Asolo DOCG Prosecco extra Brut

    METHOD

    Add all the ingredients to a mixing glassAdd iceStir, stir, stirStrain into a champagne glassGarnish with a tomato basil cracker

    *Basil and "datterino" tomatoes cordial*

    In an electric blender, add 500gr cherry tomatoes and 10/12 fresh basil leaves and blend everything for a few minutesLeave the liquid all together for 10/15 minutes in the fridge.Then strain all and put 1 tsp white sugarKeep the cordial in the fridgeBest before 10/12 daysYou can use the leftovers (tomato peel, basil leaves, etc.) to make the garnish! 

    You’ll find this recipe, more prosecco cocktail recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll find some of the ingredients in our shop.

    Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/asolo-prosecco-podcast

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    Get great cocktail...

  • School is back, and a new season of Lush Life commences! How exciting!

    I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is the Lush Life Podcast, every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time.

    Yes, next Tuesday, I bring you the first episode of Season 8 of Lush Life.  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.

    We’ll be delving into prosecco, horse racing, and absinthe, plus meeting even more legends of the industry, and that’s just the beginning! Of course, I will also be bringing you the latest cocktails of the week!

    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! 

    I can’t leave you without a pre-season cocktail of the week.

    Since this time of year is all about apples - this is one of my favorite autumn cocktails (and one I always start the season with!)

    It’s the Avallen Autumn Old-Fashioned:

    Ingredients

    50ml  / 1.5 oz Avallen Calvados10ml / 1 tbsp Amontillado Sherry5ml / 1 tsp Maple Syrup 1 Large Barspoon Fig Jam

    Method

    Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass: Stir to dissolve jam (10-15 seconds)Then add ice, and stir, stir, stir. Double strain into a rocks glass with ice filled to the topGarnish with a slice of fig or apple or a fig and an apple

    You’ll find this recipe, plus all the cocktails of the week, at ALushLifeManual.com, where you’ll also find almost all the ingredients in our shop. 

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    New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

  • Just when you thought my season was over, I’m surprising you with a little mid-summer episode dedicated to a place and spirit I love.

    If you’ve been listening to Lush Life for a while, you would probably know that I love Venice. If you are a first-timer to Lush Life, I'll say it again I love Venice! 

    So how excited am I to be joined by my friend Rudi Carraro, Global Brand Ambassador of the very Venetian Select Aperitivo?  

    I’ll let Rudi tell you how Select and Venice go hand-in-hand while I sip my Select Spritz dreaming I’m on a terrace overlooking the Grand Canal.

    Before we begin and for the last time this season, 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 that's youtube.com/@lushlifemanual!

    Now let’s join Rudi!

    Our cocktail of the week is the Select Spritz:

    INGREDIENTS

    2 oz Select Aperitivo3 oz Prosecco1 splash Soda1 Green olive

    METHOD

    Fill a wine glass with icePour Select Aperitivo into the glassAdd the prosecco and then the sodaStir very gentlyGarnish with a green olive - truly Venetian! 

    You’ll find this recipe, more Select Aperitivo cocktail recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll also find most of the ingredients in our shop.

    Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/select-aperitivo-with-rudi-carraro

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  • What a great way to start the summer by celebrating with a guest whose job it is to celebrate the best of the best.

    Mark Sansom has been Director of Content at The World’s 50 Best Bars, 50 Best Discovery, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, and soon to be the World’s 50 Best Hotels for the past 5 very momentous years!

    Today he guides us through a bit about the history of World’s 50 Best, but mostly we get to what’s been happening since Covid and how the site and events have changed since Mark joined the team.

    Before we begin and for the last time this season, 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 that's youtube.com/@lushlifemanual!

    Our cocktail of the week is one of Mark’s favorites, the Mezcal Negroni!

    INGREDIENTS

    50ml Campari50ml sweet vermouth50ml gin10ml super smoky mezcalorange half-wheel

    METHOD

    Add all the ingredients to a mixing glassAdd iceStir, stir, stirStrain into a rocks glass with iceGarnish with an orange half-wheel

    You’ll find this recipe, more mezcal cocktail recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll also find most of the ingredients in our shop.

    Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/worlds-50-best-bars-with-mark-sansom

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  • Join Christian Jensen, Founder of Jensen’s Gin on a journey to create a gin that harks back to the vintage gins he revered.

    Who would have thought that sitting in a bar in Tokyo you might sip a gin that reminded you why you fell in love with the spirit in the first place?

    Christian Jensen dreamt about gins gone by until the fateful sip
.and upon returning to London he decide he needed to create a gin just for himself. That gin is Jensen’s and thank goodness he decided to share it with others. 

    Today he talks us through the journey he took to create that special gin he was dreaming about.

    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 that's youtube.com/@lushlifemanual!

    Now let’s join Christian. 

    Our cocktail of the week is the CJ Collins:

    INGREDIENTS

    70ml Jensen's Old Tom 25ml Freshly squeezed lemon juice12.5ml Simple syrup on a 1:1 ratio70ml Soda water

    METHOD

    All ingredients directly in glass with large junks of ice,Give it a stirGarnish with a 1/2 lemon wheel and lemon zest. 

    You’ll find this recipe, more rum cocktail recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll also find most of the ingredients in our shop.

    Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/jensens-gin-with-christian-jensen

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  • Are you ready to be comfortable with discomfort? Our guest was. Now  after nearly 25 years in the Guinness and beer space, he’s making a name for himself in the spirit world. 

    Jason Kidd, founder of Outcast Brands, spent most of his career trotting around the globe working with beer; now he’s home in Ireland making Blood Monkey gin and Two Shores Rum. Both prove that, in Jason’s words, “interesting drinks are always on the margins of the category that we work in.” Find out why his two liquids are not only breaking the mold but Irish through and through.

    Before we begin, you can always watch this podcast on Youtube, where you’ll find a video of this episode plus all the other Lush Life episodes as well as a whole lot more, just head to youtube.com/@lushlifemanual that's youtube.com/@lushlifemanual!

    Our cocktail of the week is the Two Shores Golden Mojito:

    INGREDIENTS

    3 Limes6 Mint leaves60ml Two Shores Single Malt Finish1 teaspoon of Golden Demerara SugarSoda water splash

    METHOD

    Grab a highball glass and muddle two cut-up limes and about 6 leaves of mint. Add 1 teaspoon of golden demerara sugar or light brown sugar and crush it with your muddlerAdd the 60ml Two Shores Single Malt Finish RumStir to mix everything, and then add crushed ice and a splash of soda water.Add more crushed ice if needed.

    You’ll find this recipe, more rum cocktail recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll also find most of the ingredients in our shop.

    Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/outcast-brands-with-jason-kidd

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    Produced by Simpler Media

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    New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

  • As if organizing the biggest cocktail week in the world isn’t enough, my two guests have created the Michelin guide for the drinks industry! 

    More than 10 years ago, Hannah Sharman-Cox and Siobhan Payne joined forces and made London Cocktail Week what it is today. Every cocktail lover’s favorite week of the year, including mine!

    It’s been running continuously every year since it began - they didn’t even let a small thing like a global pandemic get in the way. Now, in addition to that, they have co-founded the Pinnacle Guide, which will be championing excellence in bars around the world. How did it all happen? That’s what they're here to tell me!

    Before we begin, you can always watch this podcast on Youtube, where you’ll find a video of this episode plus all the other Lush Life episodes as well as a whole lot more, just head to youtube.com/@lushlifemanual that's youtube.com/@lushlifemanual!

    Our cocktail of the week is the Wet (ish) Vodka Martini:

    INGREDIENTS

    2 1/2 ounces vodka1/2 ounce dry vermouth1 dash orange bittersGarnish: a lemon twist

    METHOD

    Add the vodka, dry vermouth, and orange bitters to a mixing glassAdd iceSir, stir, stirStrain into a chilled cocktail glass.Garnish with a lemon twist

    You’ll find this recipe, more Martini cocktail recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll also find most of the ingredients in our shop.

    Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/hannah-sharman-cox-and-siobhan-payne

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    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!!

  • What cocktail combines three days of activities, collaborations, guest shifts, and seminars in Barcelona and bar industry legends from some of the most famous bars in the world with one serious message? That would be the Paradiso Sustainability Summit 2023.

    On 21, 22, and 23 March 2023, I was fortunate to attend the second edition of the Paradiso Sustainability Summit, organized by Giacomo Giannotti and his Team in partnership with Ketel One Vodka through their Garnished with Good program.

    For those who might not know, Giacomo’s bar Paradiso was ranked Best Cocktail Bar in the world for The World's 50 Best Bars 2022, and this summit was established as an exchange of ideas and tools with the aim of raising awareness and making the industry more sustainable.

    Also at the Summit and joining us today on Lush Life is not only Giacomo but also Matthew Dale from Re in Sydney, Agung and Laura Prabowo and Saan Dhakal from Penicillin in Hong Kong, Paul Voza from Himkok in Oslo; Tato Giovannoni from Floreria Atlantico in Buenos Aires, Alex Francis from Little Red Door, Paris, and Dennis Tamsa from Ketel One.

    It was truly an eye-opening event, I know they more than inspired me to do so much more to be sustainable!

    The cocktail of the week is Paradiso’s The Cloud:

    INGREDIENTS 

    40 ml Mezcal Union 40 ml Amaro 10 ml Fino sherry infused with hibiscus20 ml xilitol cordial1 piparra Sparkling water 

    METHOD

    Add all the ingredients to a highball glass filled with iceTop with sparkling waterGarnish with a nasturtium leaf and a coffee cloud

    You’ll find this recipe and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll find some of the ingredients in our shop.


    Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/paradiso-barcelona-sustainability-summit-2023



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    Produced by Simpler Media

    Follow us on Twitter and Instagram

    Get great cocktail ideas on Pinterest

    New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

  • How many of us can’t wait to leave home, but then circumstances involving a global pandemic sent us right back to where we began.  

    Joining on this episode, sponsored by Louisiana Tourism, is Olivia Stewart, President of Oxbow Rum Distillery. After a childhood surrounded by sugar cane, she thought her future was in the big city. Now she is helming her family’s rum distillery in Louisiana. How did she get there? You’ll have to hear it from her!

    Have you ever been to Louisiana? I love it for its Creole and Cajun culture, Mardi Gras, and the beautiful city of New Orleans, but the Pelican State offers so much more, including the amazing live music scene covering everything from Jazz to Swamp pop and Zydeco, a fascinating history combining diverse cultures, over 400 festivals a year and adventures including kayaking on the bayous and lakes, hiking in the many National and State Parks throughout the state or the newly launched Louisiana Civil Rights Trail.  

    As the Capital City of Louisiana, Baton Rouge is the heart and soul of the state’s eclectic culture. With over 300 years of history, Baton Rouge, affectionately known as the Red Stick, has a colorful story to tell, which can be tasted in its cocktails and restaurants, seen through the picturesque views of the Mississippi River, historical landmarks and the vibrant arts and culture scene.

    If you didn’t know already, it’s the home of the cocktail, gumbo, jambalaya, Tabasco hot sauce, King Cake, and beignets!  Louisiana offers a food and drink experience that is second to none.  Meet craft distillers, brewers, and mixologists who are working with local traditions and making a name for themselves on the Louisiana Culinary Trails or Louisiana Libations Trail.

    Let the endless beauty of Louisiana feed your soul and inspire you. You can check out more by visiting louisianatravel.com

    Now let's hear all about that journey from NY to Louisiana.

    You can also find a video of this episode, just head to youtube.com/@lushlifemanual that's youtube.com/@lushlifemanual!

    Our cocktail of the week is the Hand Shaken Daiquiri!

    INGREDIENTS 

    2 oz Oxbow Rhum Louisiane3/4 oz lime juice1/2 oz sugar syrup

    METHOD

    Add everything to a cocktail shakerAdd iceShake, shake, shakeStrain into a coupe glass

    You’ll find this recipe, more Louisiana cocktails, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll also find all the ingredients in our shop.

    Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/oxbow-rum-with-olivia-stewart

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    Produced by Simpler...

  • Do you remember Plato’s work, Symposium? Yep, that took place at a drinks party. Philosopher David Hume said that drinking was an antidote to philosophical depression, and Kierkegaard wrote an entire treatise on wine. Our guest today is another student of philosophy who found her calling in the drinks industry.

    I am so pleased to have my friend and fellow drinks journalist, Millie Milliken, on the program today.  Not does she have nearly 10 years of food, drink, and events writing experience in print and online, but in 2022 she won both the IWSC Spirits Communicator of the Year award as well as The Alan Lodge Young International Drinks Writer of the Year Award. Needless to say, she is a great writer. 

    How did she become specialized in drinks? Well, I will let her tell you.

    You can always find a video of this episode, plus all the other Lush Life episodes, as well as a whole lot more; just head to youtube.com/@lushlifemanual.

    Our cocktail of the week is the Savoury Martini:

    INGREDIENTS

    5 parts Capreolus Garden Swift gin1 part Noilly Prat VermouthCitizens of Soil Olive Oil

    METHOD

    Add all the ingredients to a mixing glassAdd iceStir, stir, stirStrain into a martini glass Garnish with Citizens of Soil Olive Oil

    You’ll find this recipe, more Gin Martini cocktail recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll also find most of the ingredients in our shop.

    Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/drinks-writing-with-millie-milliken

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    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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    Get great cocktail ideas on Pinterest

    New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

  • You’ve finally done it - opened your bar, launched your spirit, won your first cocktail competition. So now what do you do? Time to call today’s guests!

    Since the moment I met them, Alex Chatwin and Alex Irving, Co-Founders of LX PR, have been Lush Life’s number-one fans, and it is such a privilege to have them on the program with me. 

    These women have grown their company to be one of the most respected drinks PRs not only in London but all over the world.

    Today, they share the story of how they became LX, as well as give some great tips for anyone starting a new brand. So if you are a new bar or a spirit, this episode is for you!

    As they are both named Alex, you can always see who is who on Youtube, where you can find a video of this episode plus all the other Lush Life episodes as well as a whole lot more; just head to youtube.com/@lushlifemanual that's youtube.com/@lushlifemanual!

    Since we have two guests, we have to have two cocktails of the week.  I asked them to name two of their favorite cocktails, and they both picked classics. Alex Irving picked the Gin Martini with a twist, and Alex Chatwin picked the French 75! 

    Here is the French 75:

    INGREDIENTS

    1 ounce Cognac or Ginœ ounce Lemon juiceœ ounce Simple Syrup3 ounces Champagne

    METHOD

    Add the gin or cognac, sugar syrup, and lemon juice to a cocktail shakerAdd ice and shakeStrain into a flute glass and top with ChampagneStir gentlyGarnish with a lemon peel

    For Alex Irving’s cocktail, the Gin Martini, you can find it here: https://alushlifemanual.com/classic-gin-martini-recipe

    You’ll find this recipe, more classic cocktail recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll also find most of the ingredients in our shop.

    Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/master-drinks-pr-with-alex-chatwin-alex-irving

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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 patreon.com/lushlife.

    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!!