In this bloody interesting
conversation with author, bartender, and bar owner Brian Bartels,
some of the topics we discuss include:
A
little briefing on the state of the industry from Brian’s
viewpoint, having launched his bar and eatery,Settle Down Madisonin the midst of the COVID-19
pandemic.
The
history of the Bloody Mary Cocktail - including a lengthy
discussion of the two key players in its origin story: bartender
Ferdinand “Pete” Petiot and vaudevillian George Jessel.
How
the Bloody Mary spawned various riffs and spinoffs, including the
Red Snapper, the Michelada, the Bloody Caesar, and of course, the
Red Eye.
Why
Brian considers the Bloody Mary as a bit of a “moving target” in
terms of its formulation - in essence, why it’s such a slippery,
variable drink, and yet nobody seems to have any problems with the
inconsistency of recipes out there.
Some
thoughts on brunch, and why Brian falls out of step with many
professional bartenders by defending it as a bastion of
conviviality in today’s world.
Some
pointed and surprisingly optimistic projections on the future of
the Bloody Mary,
A
preview of Brian’s newest book project,The United States of
Cocktails,
And
much, much more.
About the Podcast
A bi-weekly cocktail podcast covering the tools and techniques that make great drinks. If you’re looking to take your cocktail game to the next level, this is the podcast for you.