Lush Life
Susan L. Schwartz
Recent Episodes
In music, most of us are attracted to a song’s continually repeated musical rhythm, "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones, or "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes, but once those were new to us. Our guest today is here to remind us of the pleasure we get when discovering a new riff.
Sponsored by Visit Cincy, I am thrilled to introduce you to Mollie Lewis, the President of New Riff Distilling, which took Kentucky’s leitmotif of bourbon and sprinkled in a few eighth-note surprises to create a liquid that is winning awards not only at home but around the world. Her story proves there’s always room for a new tune in town.
Not only am I excited to introduce Mollie to you, but also the whole Cincy Region — where North meets South and Ohio meets Kentucky. Just a bridge apart, Cincinnati’s German heritage and urban energy connect with Northern Kentucky’s Southern charm.
While you are there, you can sip bourbon, sample craft beer, and savor award-winning cuisine. There are tons of vibrant street art, historic landmarks, and stunning architecture to explore — all along a riverfront that’s buzzing with festivals year-round.
You can plan your trip at visitcincy.com.
Our cocktail of the week is the New Fashioned:
INGREDIENTS
- 2 oz. New Riff Bottled in Bond Bourbon
- 3 dashes Angostura Bitters
- 3 dashes Orange Bitters
- 1/4 oz. Rich Demerara Syrup*
METHOD
- Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass
- Add ice and then stir until chilled
- Strain over a large rock in a rocks glass or coupe
- Garnish with an orange peel
*Rich Demerara Syrup - In a large pot, mix 12 oz of water and 24 oz of demerara sugar together on low heat. Use a spoon to slowly stir as the mixture heats up. Heat through until sugar dissolves, never allowing the mixture to come to a boil. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month.
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/new-riff-with-mollie-lewis-president/
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New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!
Some birds sing at dawn to wake us up, but today we’re celebrating the birthday of a certain nocturnal songbird whose award-winning cocktails, wonderful hospitality, and sultry nightly soundtrack have been keeping London warbling for 15 years.
Today we’re turning our attention to Nightjar, the Shoreditch bar that rewrote London’s late-night playbook.
Joining me are the brilliant duo behind it: Roisin Stimpson and Edmund Weil. Long before Nightjar became a fixture on the World’s 50 Best Bars list, the Top 500 Bars, and every other list, Rosie and Edmund had a dream and the drive to create a place that brought together all their passions.
All their bars, Nightjar, Oriole, and Swift, hold a special place in my heart, and you will see why. I don’t want to reveal too much of their story in this intro, so let’s get right into the episode and have them guide us through the story of Nightjar.
But before that, if you love Lush Life, we would so appreciate your support by signing up for our newsletter. You can get our advice on anything to do with home bartending, where to drink in every major city, special recipes, and even your very own Lush Life mug! Just head to alushlifemanual.substack.com and sign up!
Now grab that Martini and let’s join Rosie and Edmund!
Our cocktail of the week is the Toronto:
INGREDIENTS
- 50 ml Woodford Reserve
- 12.5 ml Fernet Branca
- 7.5 ml Maple syrup, infused with roasted coffee beans & pecan nut
METHOD
- Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass
- Add ice and then stir until chilled and
- Strain it into a rocks glass.
- Garnish with cotton candy
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/nightjar-with-roisin-stimpson-edmund-weil/
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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 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 Media
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram
Get great cocktail ideas on Pinterest
New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!
Our guest has ventured from the Arctic Circle to Kentucky’s rickhouses to Scotland’s distilleries in pursuit of one singular spirit. Now he’s sharing his wisdom with the world.
This week, the legendary Noah Rothbaum joins me to crack open The Whiskey Bible and pour out the secrets and stories of one of the world’s greatest spirits.
Noah is not only a leading authority on cocktails and spirits, but also a James Beard Award winner, the author of many acclaimed drinks books and the associate editor of the Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails, which won the Dartmouth Medal for the best reference book of 2021 and the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits.
Who better to guide us through the world of The Whiskey Bible: A Complete Guide to the World’s Greatest Spirit, a staggeringly comprehensive, entertaining, and approachable book including not only a history of whiskey, but an in-depth analysis of every major whiskey distilling region, general and practical whiskey facts, and 60 classic and modern whiskey cocktail recipes from top bartenders.
But before that, if you love Lush Life, we would so appreciate your support by signing up for our newsletter. You can get our advice on anything to do with home bartending, where to drink in every major city, special recipes, and even your very own Lush Life mug! Just head to alushlifemanual.substack.com and sign up!
Now grab that dram, let’s join Noah!
Our cocktail of the week is called Penicillin:
INGREDIENTS
- 2 oz Scotch
- ¼ oz Islay Scotch
- ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
- ¾ oz honey syrup (3 parts honey, 1 part water)
- ¾ tablespoon sweetened ginger syrup (4 parts ginger juice, 3 parts sugar)
- Garnish: candied ginger
METHOD
- Combine all of the ingredients except the Islay Scotch in a shaker and fill with ice.
- Shake and then pour into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Using a bar spoon, gently pour ¼ oz of Islay Scotch over the back of the spoon to create a float.
- Garnish with the candied ginger
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-whiskey-bible-with-noah-rothbaum-author/
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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 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 Media
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram
Get great cocktail ideas on Pinterest
New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!
Add a splash of bourbon, a hint of hops, and a generous pour of local pride, and you’ve got the perfect backdrop for today’s episode.
Sponsored by Visit Cincy, we’re diving into the drinks, history, and experiences that make Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky a true destination for cocktail lovers.
First up, we have Maija Zummo, the Senior Communications Manager for Domestic and International Communications for the Cincy Region, and of course, a proud Cincinnati native.
Maija is a former journalist who now channels her storytelling skills into showcasing the city she loves. Her mission is to educate others about this hidden gem of a destination and invite them to discover the unique charm of the Cincy Region.
Next up, we have Bill Whitlow, the Brand Ambassador of Wenzel Distillery. Bill started behind the bar at the age of 16. After a varied career, including winning the Woodford Manhattan Experience twice and the best Mint Julep in Kentucky for 2019 and 2022, he helped open the Wenzel Distillery in Covington.
Wenzel Distillery is a boutique personal blending experience and has expanded into a fully operational distillery. Wenzel has won Best Finished Bourbon in the World, Best Under 12 Year Limited Release, and other Gold and Silver Medals.
I am so excited to introduce them and the whole Cincy Region — where North meets South and Ohio meets Kentucky. Just a bridge apart, Cincinnati’s German heritage and urban energy connect with Northern Kentucky’s Southern charm.
While you are there, you can sip bourbon, sample craft beer, and savor award-winning cuisine. There are tons of vibrant street art, historic landmarks, and stunning architecture to explore — all along a riverfront that’s buzzing with festivals year-round.
You can plan your trip at visitcincy.com.
Our cocktail of the week is called Blueberry Chocolate Julep.
INGREDIENTS
- 3 oz Wenzel Distillery Wheated Bourbon
- ½ oz Blueberry Syrup
- 2 Dashes Bourbon Barrel Foods Chocolate Bitters
- 6-8 Mint Leaves
METHOD
- Add mint and blueberry syrup to your julep cup and lightly muddle
- Add Wenzel Bourbon and bitters
- Add crushed ice and mix
- Garnish with a mint sprig, blueberries, and powdered sugar
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/spirit-of-cincy/
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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 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 Media
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram
Get great cocktail ideas on Pinterest
New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!
How does someone from Brittany end up in Britain, only to return to Paris and open—of all things—a pub? Don’t be surprised, though: this pub comes with a touch of oh là là.
I’m joined by Hyacinthe Lescoët, whose journey began in France, where his love for hospitality was first sparked while helping out in his mother’s pizzeria at just 12 years old. After earning his master’s degree in advertising, Hyacinthe made his way to London, igniting his passion for the craft of the cocktail.
He returned to Paris, where he championed seasonality, sustainability, and innovation. With this wealth of experience, in 2019, he teamed up with friends to open their own bar, The Cambridge Public House—a space that brings his philosophy of flavor, creativity, and hospitality to life. Today, he’s here to tell us how it all began!
We would so appreciate your support by signing up to our newsletter. You can get our advice on anything to do with home bartending, where to drink in every major city, special recipes, and even your very own Lush Life mug! Just head to alushlifemanual.substack.com and sign up!
Our cocktail of the week is called Cigarette After Sex.
INGREDIENTS
- 25 ml Siete Misterios Mezcal
- 15 ml Sloe Gin
- 90 ml Agua de Jamaica
- 10 ml Verjus
- Garnish: Lapsang souchong tea rim
METHOD
- Prepare the trim by making the side of a wine glass wet and dipping it into the tea
- Fill a wine glass with ice
- Pour in all the ingredients and stir well
- Add more ice if necessary
- Serve
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/hyacinthe-lescoet-cambridge-public-house/
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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 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 Media
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram
Get great cocktail ideas on Pinterest
New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!