The Spirited Enthusiast

We have been so excited to publish this episode with someone who is one of our favorite people in the whisky world AND one of our favorite people in the world, period. Lee Ann Rayner, the founder of the YouTube channel Scotch on the Bayou, has an incredible depth of whisky knowledge, an expert palate, boundless charisma, and a passion for making Scotch approachable and, above all, FUN.Lee Ann’s whisky journey began with a solo trip to Scotland and a distillery tour that changed her life. We talk about how that experience led her to the whisky community and eventually to creating Scotch on the Bayou, where she shares reviews, educational videos, practical tips for exploring whisky, and why "a fine single malt can be enjoyed in the swamps of Louisiana just as well as in a fine dining establishment."Our conversation covers everything from Lee Ann’s favorite whiskies and the Scotch styles that capture her attention, to the art of tasting, training your palate, and getting more out of what’s in your glass. We also get into independent bottlers, what makes the whisky community so special, blind tastings (including one where Lee Ann absolutely schooled us, available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRZJdMGtfro), and planning a trip to Scotland. As we say on the podcast, watching Lee Ann’s channel feels like being welcomed into a friend’s home to share a dram, and that same warmth comes through in our conversation. Even if you've never met Lee Ann, listening to this episode will feel like being invited to the table of a dear friend - one who happens to know an awful lot about whisky and makes sharing it an absolute pleasure.You can find Lee Ann on YouTube at Scotch on the Bayou (https://www.youtube.com/c/scotchonthebayou), on Instagram at @scotchonthebayou and on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/c/ScotchontheBayou/posts).As always, please email us with any comments, questions, or suggestions at [email protected], follow us on Instagram (@spiritedenthusiast), share with spirits novices and enthusiasts alike, and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Cheers!

On this episode, we are thrilled to welcome Sother Teague, co-founder of New York City’s legendary bar Amor y Amargo, partner at Overthrow Hospitality, author, podcaster, educator, and Amaro evangelist.Sother joins us for a wide-ranging conversation that is equal parts spirits education, hospitality philosophy, and hilarious storytelling. We dive deep into the world of bitters and Amari, including how newcomers should approach the category, which Amari are basically “adult Coca-Cola” and “adult Dr. Pepper,” how Jägermeister became a college staple thanks to an unlikely marketing scheme involving metal bands, and why Sother believes Amari remain one of the most fascinating and rewarding corners of the drinks world. Along the way, we discuss hospitality, the state of the bar industry, and the evolving conversation around alcohol and wellness. Sother also shares the story behind Amor y Amargo’s remarkable 15-year journey from a six-month pop-up to an internationally recognized destination, his philosophy on creating truly memorable guest experiences, and how to build a relationship with your neighborhood bartender.It's an episode packed with stories, recommendations, laughter, and plenty of spirits wisdom. If you’ve ever been curious about Amaro, the bar industry, or would simply enjoy spending some time with one of the most thoughtful, knowledgeable, and entertaining people in the spirits world, this episode is for you. To learn more about Sother and his various projects, visit:@creativedrunk on Instagramhttps://creativedrunk.bigcartel.com/productswhere you can purchase Sother’s bitters, hot sauce, and bookshttps://www.amoryamargo.com/ https://www.overthrowhospitality.com/The Speakeasy podcast: https://heritageradionetwork.org/series/the-speakeasy/available on https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-speakeasy/id428499961and https://open.spotify.com/show/7iM1x2yL8rbqMXTZlMOmIdSauced podcast: https://www.saucedpodcast.com/,available on https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sauced/id1865545247and https://open.spotify.com/show/2wAx90JsSz1iiXeYsUwHeoSother’s books are available everywherebooks are sold: I’m Just Here for the Drinks: A Guide to Spirits,Drinking and More Than One Hundred Extraordinary Cocktails (https://bookshop.org/p/books/i-m-just-here-for-the-drinks-a-guide-to-spirits-drinking-and-more-than-100-extraordinary-cocktails-sother-teague/4c3eb7e9c5b51c94)and Let’s Get Blitzen: 60+ Holiday Cocktails to Make Your Spirits Bright (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lets-get-blitzen-sother-teague/1141673199?ean=9781956403329)As always, please email us with any comments, questions, or suggestions at [email protected], follow us on Instagram @spiritedenthusiast, share with spirits novices and enthusiasts alike, and subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Cheers!

We know it's been a minute, but this episode is DEFINITELY worth the wait and a genuine can't-miss for spirits enthusiasts of every level. Alexandre Gabriel is the owner and Master Blender of Maison Ferrand, one of the world’s premier independent producers of fine spirits, with a mission to preserve and revive traditional production methods. Born and raised on a farm in southern Burgundy, Alexandre was taught by his grandfather how to make wine and distill spirits, and those early lessons became the foundation for one of the most remarkable careers in the spirits world. In 1989, he acquired an old cognac house in the heart of the Grand Champagne region of France, which is now the world-famous Maison Ferrand (which also makes Ferrand Dry Curaçao). By 1996, he had created Citadelle Gin using a patented progressive infusion process, and in 1999, he founded what is now Planteray Rum. Today, Maison Ferrand also owns Stade’s West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados and is a co-owner of National Rums of Jamaica (including two legendary distilleries: Long Pond and Clarendon). Our conversation covers cognac and gin (including what makes them unique, the different types, how to explore them, and Alexandre's favorite ways to experience them) and the wisdom Alexandre lives by every day to enjoy any kind of distillate. And you won’t want to miss Alexandre’s genuinely moving thoughts as to why distillers, bartenders, and the shared experience of a good drink might be exactly what the world needs right now.To learn more about Maison Ferrand and Alexandre, you can visit https://maisonferrand.com/.As always, please email us with any comments, questions, or suggestions at [email protected], follow us on Instagram @spiritedenthusiast, share with spirits novices and enthusiasts alike, and subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Cheers!

We're back! Our first episode of Season 2 features the one and only Leandro Di Monriva of The Educated Barfly, and is a can't-miss episode, whether you love cocktails or are a spirits-only fan (for now).Since its inception in 2017, The Educated Barfly YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/theeducatedbarfly) has been dedicated to high-quality, in-depth tutorials on classic, modern, and craft cocktails. The channel - which Leandro runs with his producing partner, Marius Haugan - has amassed over 85.5 million views, 522,000 subscribers, and 1,550 videos. But that only begins to capture Leandro’s role in modern cocktail culture—as a consultant, author, and storyteller focused on the craft, culture, and people behind great drinks. Leandro's success comes from his unique blend of professional technique, spirits education, approachability, and deep historical curiosity for both home bartenders and industry professionals. Our candid conversation with Leandro peels back the curtain on the spirits industry. He doesn't hold back as he tackles subjects like the realities of cocktail competitions, marketing, the challenges of bringing cocktail culture to the screen, and the complicated dance between authenticity and brand sponsorship.But perhaps most exciting for our listeners, Leandro shares his definitive tips to level up your home bar game. And he joins forces with me to, once again, try to get Martin on the rum train.Leandro's book, "Home Bartending Mastery: Iconic Cocktails to Build Skills and Drink Better," is out now and available wherever books are sold, including Bookshop.org (https://bookshop.org/p/books/home-bartending-mastery-iconic-cocktails-to-build-skills-and-drink-better-leandro-pari-di-monriva/c7b4773a70d08155?ean=9780760393789&next=t, which supports independent bookstores), Barnes & Noble (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/home-bartending-mastery-leandro-pari-di-monriva/1146904076) ,and Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Home-Bartending-Mastery-Iconic-Cocktails/dp/0760393788)You can join The Educated Barfly's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/theeducatedbarflyYou can follow The Educated Barfly on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/theeducatedbarfly/As always, please email us with any comments, questions or suggestions at [email protected], follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/spiritedenthusiast), share with spirits novices and enthusiasts alike, and subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Cheers!

We get into the holiday spirit on this episode, chatting with George Kaplan, a whisky enthusiast, who, for the past several years, has run an expertly curated Whisky Advent from December 1 to December 25th. Through George's Advent, he creates community, educates (not only about whisky but about movies and music as well), and shares some of the best whisky out there. George walks us through how he created the Advent and gives tips for starting a spirits Advent of your own!You also won't want to miss this episode because Martin and Kim make absolute fools of themselves trying to guess whiskies presented to them by George in a blind tasting.Find George on Instagram @gkap59 and enjoy George's Advent playlists on Spotify (link below).As always, please email us with any comments/questions/suggestions at [email protected], follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spiritedenthusiast, share with spirit novices and enthusiasts alike, and subscribe so that you don't miss an episode!