Highball Politics

David and Rob interview traveling bar consultant Brandyn Tepper about the State of the Union and Katie Britt's bizarre response, as well as high-end cocktails and how to spot a high roller. This week's signature drinks: "Joe Biden" AKA "Freight Train Swizzle" Aged rum Green chartreuse Falernum Lime juice “Katie Britt" AKA "Train Wreck" Vodka or tequila Triple sec Rum Coke Lemonade Make sure all ingredients come from plastic bottles! Check out Brandyn's Cocktail Academy: https://www.cocktailacademyla.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David and Rob chat with bartender David Valdez about the wild happenings at the Houston Brothers' Level 8 in DTLA, Hollywood history at The Spare Room in the Hollywood Roosevelt, plus a dash of politics and a potential No Labels ticket. This week's signature drinks: "Matcha Picchu" Housemade Matcha Syrup Gin Pisco Lemon Juice Lime Juice Egg white Dehydrated flowers "Steve Garvey" AKA "Blue Hawaiian" Haku Japanese Vodka Roku Japanese Gin Cointreau Blue Curaçao Infused with Muskmelon Topped with Starry (lemon-lime soda) Garnish with a blue baby baseball and a red straw! “Adam Schiff" AKA "Pasadena Negroni" Rittenhouse Rye Moot Madeira Vermouth Aperol Check out Level 8: https://www.level8dtla.com/ Check out The Spare Room: https://www.spareroomhollywood.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David and Rob share their own experiences and insights from the 2024 Iowa GOP Caucus, as well as what they learned from the locals. This week's signature drinks: "Iowa Toddy" Cedar Ridge Rye Whiskey Deal's Orchard Apple Cider Local Hive Midwest Honey Steaming hot water Garnish with a cinnamon stick, steep for 5 minutes, and enjoy! Ruthie Lager (Exile Brewing Co.) Check out Ruthie's story: https://untappd.com/b/exile-brewing-company-ruthie/233815 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David and Rob interview Recovery Room's owner Chris DiMattia about PBR, the 2024 election and why no one should underestimate former SC Governor Nikki Haley. This week's signature drinks: Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) "Nikki Haley" AKA "Gin Bloody Mary" Bombay Dry Gin Tomato Juice Lemon Juice Hot pepper Worcestershire Ground cumin Dash of black pepper Garnish with a celery stalk and olives, and enjoy! “Lindsey Graham" AKA "Hanky Panky" Sweetgrass vodka Sweet Vermouth Dash of Fernet-Branca Garnish with a peach twist Check out Recovery Room Tavern: https://www.recoveryroomtavern.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David and Rob interview special guest Tim Miller about his work on The Bulwark and Showtime's The Circus, as well as national politics, 2024 Presidential candidates, and some dangerously funny cocktails. This week's signature cocktails: "Mike Johnson's Dinosaur Voodoo" 2 oz Bourbon 1 oz Everclear (sub Vodka or White Rum) 4 oz Grape Juice 1 Cup Crushed Ice Blend and enjoy! “The Elderly Pickle" AKA "Pickle Down Economics" 2 oz Tito's Vodka 1 oz Sweet Vermouth 0.5 oz Pickle Juice Olive Served straight up like a martini Check out Tim Miller's work on The Bulwark: https://www.thebulwark.com/author/tim-miller/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David and Rob interview returning guest Jaime Jackson about Iowa's hot political climate, her latest restaurant in Cedar Rapids, and one very punny cocktail. This week's specialty drinks: "House Meowgarita" Fresh lime juice Agave syrup Triple sec Tequila Bonus Cocktails: “Nikki Haley" 1 can American light beer Roll top of beer can in lime juice and Tajin Hot sauce on top "Ron DeSantis" Layer 1: Rum Pineapple Coconut Cream Lime Layer 2: Rum Lime Sugar Strawberry Blue Curacao float on top Check out Taco Gato: https://www.instagram.com/tacogatocr/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David and Rob interview "Supper Club Guy" about Wisconsin's reputation as a crucial swing state, what a supper club is, and a new take on an Old Fashioned. This week's specialty drinks: "Wisconsin Old Fashioned" AKA "Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet" Orange wedge Maraschino cherry (the chemical red looking ones)  4 dashes of bitters Sugar cube or half oz simple syrup  1.5 oz of Korbel Brandy  Topped with Ice and Sprite  Fruit is muddled with bitters and sugar, add liquor, ice, and soda  Variations:  "Sweet" = Sprite "Press" = 1/2 Sprite and 1/2 Club Soda  "Sour" = Squirt  Bonus Cocktails: “Tammy Baldwin*" 2 oz lemon vodka half ounce of triple sec half ounce simple syrup  half ounce of lemon juice  Shaken, strained into a sugar'd rim martini glass  "Ron Johnson*" 2 Oz of bourbon half ounce of sweet vermouth  1 dash of bitters  Pour over rocks  *To be clear this is solely for the purposes of this podcast; we don't call these drinks these names at Johnny Manhattans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Producer Miranda and Rob interview David about his time at the 2023 Iowa State Fair. The gang talks politics, butter sculptures, Iowa history, Eminem, and Governor Kim Reynolds' efforts to keep the fair "Iowa nice." This week's signature drink: 27° beer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David and Rob interview Stacie Rudolph about living in the stoplight-free town of Maupin, how Mt. Hood Brewing's ownership has changed Rainbow Tavern, and why Maupin's largest American flag is currently upside down. This week's specialty drinks: "Key Lime 'Kaze" Whipped cream vodka Muddle lime juice Simple syrup Bonus Cocktails: “Ron Wyden" Cascadian Pale Ale "Tina Kotek" Ice Axe IPA Check out Rainbow Tavern and Mt. Hood Brewing Co.: https://mthoodbrewing.com/ https://mthoodbrewing.com/rainbow-tavern-menu/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob and David interview Rebecca Smoyer, bar manager and traveling bartender, about her time working on "Bar Rescue," the diverse community of Highland Park in East LA and why "muddle" is our new favorite word. This week's specialty drinks: "Carmen #6" 2 oz jalapeño infused blanco tequila 1/2 oz agave 1/2 oz Lime juice 1/2 oz pamplemouse liquor (can sub grapefruit juice) 1/4 oz yuzu juice Shake and strain into an ice filled glass Top with angostura bitters and grapefruit peel Bonus Cocktails: “George Santos" Mocktail In shaker Muddle :5 mint sprigs & 3 slices cucumber  Add: 1/4 oz yuzu juice 1/2 oz lime juice 1/2 oz simple syrup Shake with Ice  Strain over ice and top with seltzer Make it a real cocktail by adding the “truth” 1.5 oz vodka or gin Garnish with cucumber and mint sprig "Joe Manchin" Sour In shaker 2 oz Singani 63 .75 oz lemon juice .75 oz simple syrup .5 oz aquafaba ( the liquid that comes with canned chickpeas) Shake and serve up or over ice Garnish with lemon & Fee Bros old fashioned bitters Check out Checker Hall and Lodge Room: https://www.checkerhall.com/ https://www.lodgeroomhlp.com/ Check out Singani63: https://singani63.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob and David interview Matt Johnson, Co-Founder of IMBĪB Custom Brews, about expanding their business in Reno, why Nevada is a notorious swing state, and what it takes to make a great sour beer. This week's specialty drinks: "Jarbidge" Bourbon barrel aged Belgian Strong Ale named after a famous town, wilderness area, and controversial community in Nevada Bonus Cocktails: “Harry Reid" AKA "Picon Punch" 1 1/2 oz Amer Picon 1/4 oz grenadine Club soda 1/2 oz brandy lemon peel garnish "Joe Lombardo" Beer float with Jarbidge and raspberry syrup Check out IMBĪB Custom Brews: https://imbibreno.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David and Rob interview Caitlin McDougall of Simona's at the Colton House Hotel about the ever-evolving city of Austin, tensions between the red state's capital and its blue residents, and some music-themed craft cocktails. This week's specialty cocktails: "Blowin' Smoke" Served in a rocks glass turned upside down over a lit rosemary sprig, holds the smoke while you build in a shaker: 2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon .25 oz blood orange cordial .25 cinnamon simple syrup .5 oz lemon juice 2 dashes peach bitters Shaken with ice, strained into smoked rocks glass, fresh ice to liquid height, garnish with smoked rosemary sprig, flamed expression of orange peel Bonus Cocktails: “Ken Paxton" AKA "Little Lies" 2 oz Drambuie Scotch Liqueur 1 oz lemon juice .75 oz honey-chamomile simple syrup Shaken with ice, strained into rocks glass, top with fresh ice Add .75 oz Redemption Rye Whiskey, garnished with flamed expression of the lemon peel  "Greg Abbott" AKA "Cold as Ice" Layered in a rocks glass, you first add: .5 oz blue curacao Ice In shaker combine: .5 oz lime juice .5 oz coconut cream 2 oz Rumhaven Coconut Rum Shake vigorously with ice and strain slowly over the ice Now float .5 oz Campari Luxardo maraschino cherry to garnish (starts off looking like the nostalgic "firecracker" ice pop then slowly melts to an icy blue)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob and David interview John Cooper, Co-founder of Dad's Hat Rye, and its Marketing Director as well as the Chief Mixologist of The Mill Tasting Room, Len Boris, about life and politics in Buck's County and how Dad's Hat is returning rye whiskey to its pre-Prohibition roots. This week's specialty cocktails: "Dad’s Hat Manhattan" 2.5 oz Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey 1 oz Sweet Vermouth 1 dash Angostura Bitters 1 dash Cherry Bitters Rinse glass with Luxardo Maraschino Stir all ingredients together with ice, then strain. Garnish with a cocktail cherry "Weekend Warrior" 1.5 oz Dad's Hat Rye Whiskey .75 oz honey simple syrup .75 oz lemon juice  5 mint leaves, smacked Shake together with ice, strain into glass with ice.  Top with half iced tea and half lemonade Garnish with lemon wheel Bonus Cocktails: “Mehmet Oz" AKA "Deep Roots in Jersey" (Vieux Carre riff) .75 oz Dad's Hat Rye .75 oz Laird's Apple Brandy .5 oz Sweet Vermouth .25 oz Benedictine 2 dashes Peychaud Bitters 2 dashes Lavender Bitters Stir all ingredients together with ice, then strain Garnish with a expressed lemon peel "John Fetterman" AKA "Body Double" (Alter Ego riff) 1.5 oz Dad's Hat Rye .75 oz Cynar .75 oz Ancho Reyes Chile Liquor 2 dashes Chocolate Bitters Stir all ingredients together with ice, then strain Garnish with a expressed orange peel Check out Dad's Hat Rye: https://dadshatrye.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this "special emergency episode," David and Rob unpack a wild weekend in Des Moines, Iowa, where Ron DeSantis made a big impression after Donald Trump canceled a rally. What the hosts are drinking: David: "Old Fashioned" with 10th Mountain Spirits Alpenglow (peach-vanilla cordial) Rob: "Ranch Water "(tequila-soda) with Casamigos Reposado tequila Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David and Rob interview Jared Rider of Verse about how the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike is impacting LA's broader economy, what it's like working with creatives and celebrities, and what's next for this triple threat. This week's specialty cocktail: "Malamente" Hibiscus-infused Patron tequila Vanilla Bharat simple syrup Lime juice Chipotle tincture Bonus Cocktails: “Arnold Schwarzenegger” "Mezcal Negroni" Agua Magica Mezcal Carpano Antico Campari “Gavin Newsom” "Chopin Dirty Martini" Chopin potato vodka Olive juice 3 olives Check out Jared's acting and photography: https://www.instagram.com/riderjared/ www.jaredriderphotography.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob and David interview Jose Mallea of Biscayne Bay Brewing in Miami about Florida's central role in the 2024 election, why the state has trended steadily to the right, and what Jose is hearing from San Franciscans who relocated to Miami. This week's specialty beer: "Tropical Bay IPA" "Our Miami inspired Tropical IPA is brewed using centennial, mosaic, strata meridian and simcoe hops that gives the beer a refreshing hop crunch with every sip and a bouquet of fresh fruit on the nose." Bonus Beers: “Ron DeSantis” Fruited Sour “Donald Trump” Imperial Stout Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David and Rob interview David's son Mason who bartends at Mama Ree's in Grand Junction about his right-leaning patrons and Colorado's role in national politics. This week's specialty cocktail: "Cucumber Revive" 1.5 oz. Gin Fresh cucumber Lemon Juice Elderflower liqueur Shaken and strained Bonus Cocktails: “John Hickenlooper” Wynkoo beer Bailey's Irish cream Jameson Irish whiskey “Lauren Boebert” Bulleit rye whiskey Bullet ice cube Gunpowder Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David and Rob interview Marco Argiro of The Blue Room about the recent controversies in Nashville, how locals are responding and what it's like to work at a bar that's deeply connected to Music City. This week's specialty cocktail: "The Long Way" 2 oz. Mezcal 1 oz. Lime juice 1 oz. Agave syrup 0.5 oz. Pomegranate juice Shaken, strained and served in a rocks glass Bonus Cocktails: “Al Gore” Blue curaçao White rum Seaweed extract Lime juice Pinch of Himalayan salt Salt rimmed shot glass Pour the entire drink into a shot glass, let it overflow “Lamar Alexander” LOTS of vanilla syrup Sour milk Dash of radiation Old stale cognac Shaken, not stirred Check out all of Marco's ventures on Instagram: @theblueroomnashville @mirrormirrornetwork @marcowithlove  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob and David interview Johnny Martinez of Georgia Beer Garden about Georgia's central role in U.S. politics, activism in Atlanta, and Johnny's personal experiences with Newt Gingrich. This week's specialty cocktail: "Rapturita" 1 pint Rapturous Rasperry Sour Ale (Three Taverns Brewery - a lacto-fermented sour ale, matured on raspberry puree with a wheat and pilsner malt base) 1 shot Tequila Bonus Cocktails: “Stacey Abrams” Tropicália IPA (Creature Comforts Brewing Co. - a hop aroma of citrus and ripe passion fruit leads into a full, fruit-forward hop flavor) “Marjorie Taylor Greene” Four Loko USA (sour white cherry flavor dripped out in red, white and blue) Crushed Adderall Check out all of Johnny's ventures: Georgia Beer Garden: https://www.gabeergarden.com/ Mambo Zombi: https://www.instagram.com/mambozombi/?hl=en Joystick Gamebar: https://www.joystickgamebar.com/ By Weight And Measure: https://www.weightandmeasure.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob and David interview Kaylon Sweet AKA Sweets of Osteria Poggio about the New Hampshire primary, Governor Sununu, and that time Sweets pissed off John Kerry. This week's specialty cocktail: "Best Friend Negroni" 1 oz. Junipero Gin 1 oz. Campari 1 oz. Punt e Mes Orange peel Bonus Cocktails: “The Jed Bartlet” Bulleit Bourbon Cold brew coffee Splash of Licor 43 Splash of half n half Shaken, poured in coupe glass and wood smoked “The Sununu” Cosmo Grey Goose Vodka Double splash of Grand Marnier 3 limes *or* Manhattan WhistlePig PiggyBack Rye Port wine Toschi Amarena Cherries + drizzle of syrup Splash of cold brew coffee Shaken with a mist of citrus bitters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices