Almost all alcohol goes through some kind of filtering, and chill filtering has been one of those methods for … well, forever. But recently, some folks have been flagging this as an unacceptable practice. And if it’s considered unacceptable, you know I want to give it a try. It’s an...

It’s the final week before opening and a LOT is happening. Moving day, construction, staff training, friends and family; this episode has it all. Plus, a visit from Ursula herself! Additional Music in this episode by HolinzaCC0, Jan-Michael Hökenschnieder Fachhochschule, and Captive Portal. Opening Soon is powered by Simplecast.

When John got started in the cocktail world, Jim Meehan was his first boss at the acclaimed neo-speakeasy, PDT (Please Don’t Tell). Jim also wrote the foreword to John’s first book, Drink What You Want. The finale of this miniseries, this is a touching interview between two longtime friends and...

This week, on a very special episode of Inside Julia’s Kitchen, we’re celebrating what would have been Julia’s 111th birthday. Join host Todd Schulkin, as he highlights some of our favorite Julia Moments from the last year, including Julia memories shared by chef and restaurateur Serigne Mbaye of DAKAR NOLA...

Editors are the unseen heroes of the publishing world, offering critical behind-the-scenes feedback that can take an author’s work from good to spectacular. Amanda has not only been John’s editor for both Saved by the Bellini and Drink What You Want, she’s also a dear friend. Here they chat about...

Elayne Duff, Director of Advocacy for Samson Surrey, founder of the Beverage BA Academy and all around bar all-star (and former rescuer) sits down with the band to talk brand ambassadorship, keeping busy, when to stay humble and when to brag just a little bit. Plus, one of her...

Julie Reiner is one of John’s bar heroes. Although he never formally worked for her, she had a tremendous impact on his career. In the course of his research for Saved by the Bellini, he came across a New York Times article from 2000 in which Julie was quoted for...

One of the most interesting references in Saved by the Bellini is to Melrose Place, the Beverly Hills 90210 spinoff that was one of the first primetime network shows to feature a gay character. Unbeknownst to many viewers at the time, Mel Chin led a group of conceptual artists to...

A significant portion of Saved by the Bellini is devoted to the iconic movies that defined the decade. A few years before writing Saved by the Bellini, John read Best. Movie. Year. Ever: How 1999 Blew Up the Big Screen by journalist Brian Raftery. Listen to hear just how much...

John’s exploration of the world of Saved by the Bellini takes a turn towards drinks this episode with a conversation with legendary bartender Toby Cecchini, the inventor of the iconic Cosmopolitan recipe. Hear them chat about the wild backstory of the Comopolitan’s disputed authorship, Madonna’s nickname for him, and what...