Lush Life

Welcome back! I missed you. How did the summer fly away so quickly? Here we are in the middle of September already, but there is so much fun on the horizon.I’m Susan Schwartz, your drinking companion, and this is Lush Life Podcast, where every week we are inspired to live life one cocktail at a time.The most exciting news of the year so far is that I will be live at Oriole, one of the best bars in the world, to launch Lush Life Book Club.  Every week during London Cocktail Week, which is actually the entire month of October, we’ll be deep-diving into a famous cocktail book and meeting its author or authors for an evening of cocktail history, cocktail recipes, and, most importantly, cocktail drinking.Tuesday, October 5. Jared Brown & Anistatia Miller will join me to discuss The Distiller of London, sponsored by Sipsmith.If there is no distillation, there is no spirit; if there is no spirit, there is no cocktail.  Jared is the co-founder and master distiller of Sipsmith, as well as a multi-award-winning drink historian. Anistatia is a multi-award-winning drink historian with 35 years in the publishing industry.  I welcome Jared and Anistatia as they guide us through the art of distillation. Wednesday, October 13, I’ll be Shaking It Up with Mia Johansson, Bobby Hiddleston & Edmund Weil to discuss their book Shaken: Drinking with James Bond and Ian Fleming, sponsored by Ketel One.Cocktails are at the heart of every James Bond novel, and I am thrilled to be joined by Mia and Bobby of the award-winning London bar, Swift and Edmund, and their business partner and owner of Oriole, to explore more than just the Vodka Martini, shaken, not stirred. Then on Tuesday, October 19 – Olivia Williams, author of Gin Glorious Gin and The Secret Life of the Savoy, is my guest thanks to Bulleit and Kentucky Tourism.The recipe for any cocktail at the American Bar at the Savoy Hotel in London includes a healthy dose of history. Olivia invites us to check into London’s most iconic hotel, where she’ll guide us through its vibrant history while we sip its most inventive classic cocktails.And if that weren’t enough, on Tuesday, October 26, I will be with Jason Clark, author of The Art and Craft of Coffee Cocktails, and Pippa Guy, Let’s Get Fizzical, sponsored by Tanqueray.Acting as Brand Ambassador for an iconic spirit is a full-time job. Adding another full-time job on top of that is almost impossible. Our two guests have done just that by creating and writing two esteemed cocktail books.  We’ll discuss what it takes to venture out and write your own cocktail book. So that’s what’s on tap for London Cocktail Week.  Beginning in a few weeks, the Lush Life Podcast will be coming straight to your ears, plus you can always catch up on everything at alushlifemanual.com.Our cocktail of the week is Autumn Apple Old Fashioned, and it’s perfect for this weather.INGREDIENTS 50ml Avallen10ml Amontillado Sherry 5ml Maple Syrup1 Large Barspoon Fig JamMETHODPour all ingredients into a mixing glassStir to dissolve jam, about 10-15 secondsAdd ice, and then stirDouble strain into a rocks glass with ice, fill to the topGarnish with a slice of fig or appleYou’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.-----Become a supporter of A Lush Life Manual for as little as $5 - all you have to do is go to buymeacoffee.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 MediaFollow us on Twitter and InstagramGet great cocktail ideas on PinterestNew episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

Although the city of New Orleans is home to many classic cocktails, there is only one that has the honor of being its official cocktail, and that is the Sazerac.Sponsored by Louisiana Tourism, our episode today is all about the Sazerac cocktail and how it found its way to being THE official cocktail of New Orleans. What better time to be joined by Rhiannon Enlil, an Experience Team Lead at the Sazerac House in the city of New Orleans, than in the middle of Sazerac Cocktail Week. Yes, a whole week dedicated to this famous combination of Sazerac Rye Whiskey, sugar, Peychaud's bitters, Herbsaint, and a lemon twistHave 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. If you didn’t know already, it’s the home of the cocktail, not only the Sazerac, and 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, www.louisianatravel.comYes, our cocktail of the week is the Sazerac - but made the official Sazerac House way: INGREDIENTS 1.5 oz Sazerac Rye Whiskey1 sugar cube3 dashes Peychaud's Bitters.25 oz HerbsaintLemon twistMETHODTake two old-fashioned rocks glassesIn the first one, add ice to chill and set asideIn the second one, muddle a sugar cube with the three dashes of Peychaud's bittersAdd the Sazerac Rye Whiskey, then add ice and stirTake the first glass, empty the ice, and coat the glass with Herbsaint, then discard any excessStrain the contents from the second glass into your Herbsaint rinsed glassGarnish with a lemon twistYou’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/how-to-drink-the-sazerac-with-rhiannon-enlil-----Become a supporter of A Lush Life Manual for as little as $5 - all you have to do is go to buymeacoffee.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 MediaFollow us on Twitter and InstagramGet great cocktail ideas on PinterestNew episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

If you follow my writing, you know I have a penchant for hotel bars. If you happen to share my passion, then this year don’t miss your chance to experience what’s happening behind the hotel bars in Barcelona from Sept 21 - 27. Now, thanks to our guest today, Barcelona’s stepping into the spotlight again with more than 30 of its best great hotel bars teaming up for the second Barcelona Hotel Bar Week. You might have heard the brains behind it all, Bianca Grisolia, last year when she introduced the event on Lush Life. If you missed it, let me introduce you to the one who thought 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 premium hospitality brands and venuesBianca 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!Today, she’s here to tell us how it all began and how this year is different. We are lucky enough to have Bar Managers from four of the participating hotels. We have: Alberto Melis, Bar Manager, The Cotton House HotelMarcos Miranda, F&B Manager, Hotel Kimpton VividoraMatteo Conte, Bar Manager, Grand Hotel Central Hugo Maciel, Bar Manager, Mandarin Oriental BarcelonaCheck out Barcelona Hotel Bar Week here!Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/barcelona-hotel-bar-week-2026-----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 MediaFollow us on InstagramNew episodes every other Tuesday, usually!!

It takes a certain courage and a fair bit of conviction to build a whisky distillery that dares to do things differently. Luckily, today’s guest is genetically predisposed to have both.Today I’m sitting down with Gareth Moore, CEO of the Virginia Distillery Company. With his father’s dream as the blueprint, Gareth has transformed an idea into one of the most exciting names in American whisky.He guides us from his father’s story to what defines Virginia Single Malt whisky today!Our cocktail of the week is the A Cab on the Boulevard - yes, the Virginia Distillery take on the Boulevardier!INGREDIENTS2 oz Virginia Distillery Co. Cabernet Cask Select1 oz Campari1 oz Sweet VermouthOrange peelMETHODCombine all ingredients in a mixing glass with iceStrain into a cocktail glassGarnish with an orange peelYou’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/virginia-distillery-company-with-gareth-moore/-----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 MediaFollow us on Twitter and InstagramGet great cocktail ideas on PinterestNew episodes every other Tuesday, usually!!

You just can’t help falling in love with a town that gave us both the King of Rock n Roll and the Queen Bee. Today’s episode brings us the delights that can only be found in Tupelo, Mississippi.Sponsored by Tupelo CVB, we’re diving into the history, restaurants, drinks, and experiences that make Tupelo on your go-now list.First up, we have Jennie Bradford Curlee, the Deputy Director of the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau. A lifelong resident of Tupelo, Jennie Bradford joined the Tupelo CVB in 2012 and now heads it all up.After she gives us a tour around Tupelo, we are joined by Jeri Carter, the Queen Bee of Queen’s Reward Meadery.Jeri Carter founded the Meadery in 2016, and all the meads produced are made with Mississippi Honey. Since its inception, Queen’s Reward has won over fifty medals in National and International mead and wine competitions.I know that most people know Tupelo as the birthplace of Elvis Presley, but there’s so much more to discover. It’s also the headquarters of the Natchez Trace Parkway, one of the top ten most visited national parks in the country.Coming in early 2027, the Chickasaw Heritage Center will open along the Natchez Trace, inviting visitors to experience the Chickasaw First American story from a uniquely Chickasaw perspective.If you’re hungry? Tupelo serves up more than 200 restaurants, everything from Southern favorites and smoky barbecue to farm-fresh fare and elevated culinary creations.And in the birthplace of the King of Rock ‘N’ Roll, live music isn’t optional; it’s essential. With 16 venues offering performances almost every day of the week, the soundtrack to your stay is always playing.Just remember that with more than 2,200 hotel rooms, three distinct shopping districts, and one unforgettable vibe, Tupelo is ready when you are. Just visit Tupelo.net and imagine what you can do there!Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/the-spirit-of-tupelo-mississippi/-----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 MediaFollow us on Twitter and InstagramGet great cocktail ideas on PinterestNew episodes every Tuesday, usually!!