How to Drink At Archive & Myth with Laurie Howells, Head Bartender

What is a work of art? That question is so subjective. Yet I truly believe that my two guests have made it possible for us to drink every cocktail we have at the St. Regis Venice in a work of art. My first guest is Facundo Gallegos, the Bar Manager at the St. Regis Venice. The second is Adriano Berengo, the President of Berengo Studio 1989 and Fondazione Berengo. On my way to Venice last year, I happened to ask the Bar Manager of the Berkeley Hotel in London what was the one bar I shouldn’t miss. Without taking a breath, he said the St. Regis Venice. What made it so special, I asked, and he said, Facundo Gallegos.Adriano Berengo, on the other hand, was introduced to me by a random encounter in a coffee shop in Cannaregio. I was lucky enough to meet this cultural entrepreneur who established Berengo Studio thirty years ago with the goal of restoring glass to its rightful place in the world of fine art. Just by chance, I discovered they had collaborated on a project for the new Arts Bar at the St. Regis Venice. So, of course, I had to interview both of them. We are super lucky that thanks to the generosity of Facundo we have the singular sensation that is the recipe for the Santa Maria, the St Regis Venice’s own take on the Bloody Mary as our cocktail of the week. It’s a doozy, but hats off to those who try:INGREDIENTS 125 ml I 4.2 oz Clarified Tomato Juice45 ml /1.5 oz Horseradish-Infused Absolut Elyx Vodka25 ml I 0.8 oz Verjus du Perigord3 drops Homemade Salt Solution3 drops Homemade Spicy Tincture100 gr Cayenne Pepper50 gr Black PepperPoli Grappa to spray on topMETHODThe Clarified Tomato Juice: Blend tomato juice with agar-agar. Let it rest for 1/2 hour and then strain to get the clarified juiceThe Horseradish-Infused Vodka: Infuse a bottle of vodka with 100 gr of fresh horseradish chunks for 2 hours and strainSalt Solution: Blend 1 teaspoon of sea salt into 100 ml/ 3.3 oz of still natural waterSpicy Tincture: Infuse 1 liter/ 33.8 oz of vodka with 100 gr of cayenne pepper and 50 gr of black pepper for 48 hours and strainAdd all ingredients to a shaker with ice and throw 4-5 times. Serve in a coupe glass with a crystal-clear chunk of iceYou’ll find this recipe, more Bloody Mary cocktail recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll 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!!

15 Mars 202237min

My cocktail of the week is made up of masterclasses, bar takeovers, tastings, and overall fun and festivities, plus is served in a city that I love. Confused? Did you guess what’s on the table? This week's episode is its own cocktail whose ingredients come from Venice, Italy, and is called Venice Cocktail Week. From Dec 13 - 19 last year, Venice was host to a slew of cocktail lovers, distillers, bartenders, and anyone who could shake or stir. So in this episode, I’m taking you with me to Venice to meet a few of those cocktail greats.Up at bat is Bianca Grisolia, the PR and Communication Director of Venice Cocktail Week, who is here to tell us how it all came about.And don’t worry, here is the usual cocktail of the week!The cocktail of the week is the Select Spritz:INGREDIENTS 2 oz Select Aperitivo3 oz Prosecco1 splash Soda1 Green oliveMETHODFill a wine glass with icePour Select Aperitivo into the glassAdd the prosecco and then the sodaStir very gentlyGarnish with a green olive - truly Venetian!You’ll find this recipe, more Venetian cocktail recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll 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!!

1 Mars 202237min

It wouldn’t be fair to say I have a favorite restaurant in Venice, but my guest today runs the one spot that is nearest to my heart. Now he’s not only wowing them with his world-class Venetian cuisine but he’s created an amaro that makes the gondoliers sing.I’m not the only one who Luca di Vita has welcomed into Alla Testiere, the wonderful restaurant he owns with chef Bruno Gavagnin. London’s Russell Norman of Trattoria Brutto, a former Lush Lifer, is also a dear friend and colleague. Out of this friendship, Amaro Nostrano was born.And one sip of an amaro that is a tribute to Venice and its lagoon is all I needed to love it, but it seems I am not alone. To bastardize John Ruskin’s quote, “Venice is now – a splendor of one amaro.”During my stay in Venice, I was thrilled to sit down with my friend Luca to hear how and why Nostrano came to be. The cocktail of the week is the Bacan.INGREDIENTS 30ml Amaro Nostrano 20ml GinTonic waterLemon sliceMETHODAdd the Nostrano and gin to a highball glassAdd iceTop up with Tonic WaterGarnish with a lemon slice!You’ll find this recipe, more Venetian cocktail recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll 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!!

22 Feb 202227min

Heading to the City of London is like going home! Fleet Street, one of its most famous addresses, was always the denizen of journos who were known to enjoy a tipple or two. My guest today welcomes me back with a Gimlet that’s pure London through and through.Very few businesses are allowed to use the livery of the City of London and William Borrell, the Director of the City of London Distillery and Founder of Vestal Vodka, explains how it all happened plus so much more on today’s episode, sponsored by the City of London.Did you know the City of London is just one square mile and forms the oldest part of London and was founded by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago - it even has its own mayor, the Lord Mayor, and government and is run independently from London? The City has so many things to see and do, before and after work, from quirky independent cafes to internationally-renowned cultural institutions, world-class modern architecture to historic heritage sites. From high-end shopping to vintage stalls, from street food to Michelin-star restaurants, and of course from small boozers to glitzy wine and cocktail bars, there is a little bit of everything for everyone.The City of London is a vibrant part of London with its own unique atmosphere, culture, and history just waiting to be re-discovered. The “Square Smile '' campaign is designed to raise awareness of the benefits of returning to the City and face-to-face interaction as firms increasingly give their staff more flexibility on where they locate through hybrid working. It showcases the City’s vibrant offerings – ranging from world-class culture, heritage, cuisine, entertainment, retail, architecture, BARS, and so much more. Visit www.squaresmile.london for great ideas of places to visit, to see, discover, and drink. The cocktail of the week is Grapefruit Gimlet:INGREDIENTS 50ml Whitley Neill Connoisseur's Cut20ml fresh lime juice15ml fresh grapefruit juice15ml simple syrup (gomme)METHODAdd all the ingredients to a mixing glassAdd iceStir, stir, stirStrain into a coupe glassYou’ll find this recipe, more City of London Distillery recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll 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!!

15 Feb 202234min

It might be known for rock, ballroom dancing, arcades, and even The Cure’s Robert Smith, but one wouldn’t automatically think of Blackpool, England as the home of Sweet Mash. Thanks to the efforts of our guest today, you will now.Moving from New York City to Blackpool England is only a small step if your goal is to redefine what an English whiskey can be. Vince Oleson, Distillery Manager of Bankhall Sweet Mash, has taken that step. He is bourbon bent and hell-bound, to co-opt the title of the famous song by Hank Williams, Jr. Although, on their way to having liquid in the barrel for 3 years in oak casks, Bankhall’s Sweet Mash was just too good not to share. Vince is here with me today to chat about what makes it so good and what will be waiting for us when those 3 years are over already! FYI we do say whiskey and bourbon interchangeably in the ep when describing Bankhall, but it is a sweet mash, bourbon style liquid technically! The cocktail of the week is ‘From New York to Blackpool’INGREDIENTS 50ml Bankhall Sweet Mash25ml Lemon Juice15ml Simple syrup1 egg white10ml Red Wine 2 dashes AngosturaMETHODAdd Sweet Mash, Lemon Juice and simple syrup to shaker tin and shake hard with ice. Strain and remove ice from shaker and add egg white. Shake hard. Strain shaker into glass over rock ice. (Preferably a Tumbler)Pour red wine over back of a bar spoon slowly.Garnish with 2 dashes of Angostura, Lemon wheel, Brandy CherryYou’ll find this recipe, more whiskey recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll 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!!

25 Jan 202242min

Thinking of opening a new cocktail bar or planning a fabulous cocktail party? Thanks to our guest today we don’t have to start from scratch. He’s given us the tools to hone every facet of the guest experience!How lucky are we that Jason Williams, Creative Director of Proof & Company and head of Proof Creative, their bar and beverage consultancy program, has shared his 20 PIllar Plan with the rest of the world. He could have kept it a secret. But in the spirit of community and collaboration, the 20 Pillar Plan, designed as a holistic guide to opening and launching a bar, can be found right on their website. These include drinks, of course, concept, food, uniform, and 16 others.Proof and company is one of the world’s most awarded drinks agencies. They’ve launched more than 100 bar projects since opening their doors in 2014, including some of the world's best bars 28 HongKong Street, Atlas Bar, Manhattan and so many more. Today Jason walks me through each and every one of the 20 Pillar Plan.Our cocktail of the week is the ATLAS martini. Jason created this martini for ATLAS bar currently 16th on the list of the world's 50 best bars. If you're in Singapore, do not miss it.INGREDIENTS 60ml London Dry Gin15ml Bianco Vermouth2dsh Orange Bitters5dsh Champagne BittersMETHODStir all ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. Long pour strain neat into a frozen Martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist You’ll find this recipe, more Martini recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll 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!!

18 Jan 202252min

For those of you who listened to the very, very end of my ep last week, you were expecting this week to be all about the City of London, well, due to unforeseen circumstances with which I won’t bore you. Instead, this week we will be answering all your questions about bitters with two who have been in the bitters biz for almost 10 years. I’ve had many eureka moments in the over 200 episodes of Lush Life I’ve done, but never so many in one episode! All to do with bitters. Who should be here to answer all my questions about bitters, and there were many, but my friend and former Lush Lifer Lauren Mote & her partner in business and life Chef Jonathan Chovancek, Co-Founders of Bittered Sling Bitters, Canada's award-winning cocktail bitters brand. To hear all about Lauren’s background, check out my two eps dedicated to her career. Jonathan has had more than 20 years of experience creating local, sustainable fare for some of Canada’s most celebrated, establishments, plus he has contributed to many magazines, been on telly, and was the chef/host of CBC TV’s groundbreaking documentary Village on a Diet, which was watched by more than a million people coast to coast. With those two at the helm, let’s see how many eureka moments you have!The cocktail of the week is Times They Are A-Chain-Gin:INGREDIENTS 1.50 oz | 45 mL Tanqueray Ten Gin1.00 oz | 30 mL Rose Vermouth0.25 oz | 10 mL Verjus Cordial (*equal parts 1:1 simple syrup to white verjus)0.25 oz | 10 mL Campari2 dashes Bittered Sling Orange & Juniper BittersMETHODStir all ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. Strain neat into a chilled cocktail glass. Express orange oils over the top of the cocktail and around the glass. You’ll find this recipe, more gin recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll 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!!

21 Dec 202155min

I wish I had known my guest sooner. Every dinner party he has ends with a round of homemade liqueur. The liquid was so good that he was convinced to bottle it for the whole world to enjoy. Now everyone’s dinner party can end with one more sip! Thomas Lester was busy doing other things when he realized what he was making was just too yummy not to share. Thus, Reverend Hubert Winter Gin Liqueur was born. It took a few twists before he had the perfect recipe, but now you just can’t miss its colorful bottle everywhere you look. Who is Reverend Hubert and how did his picture end up coloring the iconic label? Well, you’re just going to have to listen in.The cocktail of the week is Reverend Hubert Winter Gin Liqueur Negroni:INGREDIENTS 30ml Reverend Hubert Winter Gin Liqueur30ml Sweet vermouth (e.g., Cocchi Vermouth di Torino or Cinzano 1757 Rosso)30ml CampariGarnish: A twist of clementine zestMETHODAdd all of the ingredients into a cocktail shakerAdd iceShake vigorouslyStrain into a chilled glass over ice (a thin layer of foam will form like a winter’s frost on the surface)Garnish with a slice of clementine zest, twisted to release the oil. You’ll find this recipe, more Reverend Hubert Winter Gin Liqueur recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll 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!!

14 Dec 202137min