Lush Life

Susan L. Schwartz
  • 4.5 (8)
  • FOOD
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

Where can you learn to live life one cocktail at a time? Here on the Lush Life Podcast discover why an old-fashioned is the drink of choice, who is making their own bitters and how ice, or lack there of, is transforming the cocktails you drink. Hosted by your favorite drinking companion, Susan L. Schwartz, the Lush Life Podcast introduces you to the movers and shakers of the cocktail world.

  1. How to Drink New Riff with Mollie Lewis, President

    DEC 9

    How to Drink New Riff with Mollie Lewis, President

    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 Bourbon3 dashes Angostura Bitters3 dashes Orange Bitters1/4 oz. Rich Demerara Syrup* METHOD Add all the  ingredients to a mixing glassAdd ice and then stir until chilledStrain over a large rock in a rocks glass or coupeGarnish 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/ ----- 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!!

    43 min
  2. How to Celebrate 15 Years of Nightjar with Roisin Stimpson and Edmund Weil

    NOV 25

    How to Celebrate 15 Years of Nightjar with Roisin Stimpson and Edmund Weil

    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 Reserve12.5 ml Fernet Branca7.5 ml Maple syrup, infused with roasted coffee beans & pecan nut METHOD Add all the  ingredients to a mixing glassAdd 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/ ----- 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!!

    41 min
  3. How to Read The Whiskey Bible with Noah Rothbaum

    OCT 28

    How to Read The Whiskey Bible with Noah Rothbaum

    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 Scotch¼ oz Islay Scotch¾ oz fresh lemon juice¾ 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: a href="https://alushlifemanual.com/the-whiskey-bible-with-noah-rothbaum-author/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    1 hr
  4. How To Find the Spirit of Cincy

    OCT 14

    How To Find the Spirit of Cincy

    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 Bourbon½ oz Blueberry Syrup2 Dashes Bourbon Barrel Foods Chocolate Bitters6-8 Mint Leaves METHOD Add mint and blueberry syrup to your julep cup and lightly muddleAdd Wenzel Bourbon and bittersAdd crushed ice and mixGarnish 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/ ----- 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 a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/alushlifemanual/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    51 min
  5. How to Open a Pub in Paris with Hyacinthe Lescoët, Co-Founder of The Cambridge Public House

    SEP 30

    How to Open a Pub in Paris with Hyacinthe Lescoët, Co-Founder of The Cambridge Public House

    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 teaFill a wine glass with icePour in all the ingredients and stir well Add more ice if necessaryServe  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/ ----- 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!!

    34 min
  6. How to Enjoy Barcelona Hotel Bar Week with Bianca Grisolia, Founder

    SEP 9

    How to Enjoy Barcelona Hotel Bar Week with Bianca Grisolia, Founder

    I’m not the only one who can’t resist a good hotel bar—London’s are bursting at the seams most nights. Now, thanks to our guest today, Barcelona’s stepping into the spotlight with 25 of its best great hotel bars teaming up for the first-ever Barcelona Hotel Bar Week from September 22nd - 28th!  The brains behind it all is Bianca Grisolia, who decided 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 cocktail bars, chefs, premium brands, and hospitality realities.  With years of experience in strategic communication and mixology events, Bianca 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! 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 comes to you directly from the Cotton House Hotel - Batuar Bar & Restaurant, created for Barcelona Hotel Bar Week by their amazing Bartender: Alberto Melis. INGREDIENTS  60 ml Gin - they use 100&NOMORE, which is local to Barcelona200 ml of homemade tonic  METHOD Toast 8 grams of fennel seeds in a dry pan until they release their aroma.Infuse 1 liter of water, the toasted fennel seeds, 0.8 g white cassia, 20 grapefruit skins, and 5g kaffir lime leaves at 70°C for 20 minutes, then filter through a strainer.Heat the 250 ml oat milk to 80°C (no boiling), pour in the infusion and add 50 ml of lemon juice. Leave to cool in the fridge for 60 minutes then filter with a coffee filter or cotton filter.Now that you have the two infusions done, combine 1 part of the water with one part of the clarified oat milkMix 200 ml of homemade tonic for every 60 ml of gin and serve on the rocks in a Collins glass, and garnish with a grapefruit zest. If you have one, then place the mix in a soda siphon, let the mix cool in the fridge for about 60 minutes and load with two cartridges of CO2. Once gasified, serve on the rock in a Collins glass and garnish with a grapefruit zest.  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/barcelona-hotel-bar-week-with-bianca-grisolia/ ----- 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 a href="https://www.instagram.com/alushlifemanual/"...

    33 min
  7. Serving up Season 10 of Lush Life

    TRAILER

    Serving up Season 10 of Lush Life

    How can it be that this is my 10th Season? Did all that time really go by?  Yes, next Tuesday, I will bring you the first episode of Season 10 of Lush Life.  As the year before, this season, we’ll have even more great conversations, enjoy more great cocktails, and visit a few more great places to enjoy a sip or two. Just a note if you are new to Lush Life - you can find out more information on everyone I’ve interviewed on my blog alushlifemanual.com! And you can also watch most of the interviews on my YouTube channel, which, not to confuse you, is youtube.com/lushlifemanual without the A!  And if you want any more Lush Life, you can sign up to my newsletter at alushlifemanual.substack.com! ----- 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 Instagram New episodes every other Tuesday, usually!!

    2 min
  8. How to Drink Buck & Birch with Tom Chisholm, Co-Founder

    MAR 25

    How to Drink Buck & Birch with Tom Chisholm, Co-Founder

    Sometimes, you don't realize that all paths have led you to where you end up. Think about it - it could be true for you. It is for our guest - he’s right where he was meant to be all along. For Tom Chisholm,  all those dead ends and missed starts made sense when Buck & Birch was born. Founded in 2016 by Tom and his partner Rupert Waites when they joined forces to share a deep bond created back in their respective childhoods growing up in nature, surrounded by exhilarating wilderness landscapes.  The duo began hosting pop-up dining events in the 2000's, with a focus on wild and foraged Scottish ingredients. Their wild elderberry liqueur proved insanely popular with all and Buck & Birch was on its way. Follow along with us on Tom’s path from Norway to Scotland and how he found himself the co-founder of a drinks company! Before we begin, you can always watch this episode on Youtube, plus all the other Lush Life episodes as well as a whole lot more; just head to youtube.com/@lushlifemanual. Also If you love the show, we would so appreciate your support! You can get our advice on anything to do with home bartending, where to drink in every major city, special recipes, plus a Lush Life mug! Just head to alushlifemanual.substack.com and sign up! The cocktail of the week is the Birch Forest Martini: INGREDIENTS  60ml BIRCH Premium Botanical Vodka15ml white vermouthGarnish: lemon twist METHOD Add the ingredients to an icing glassAdd ice and stirStrain into a Martini glassGarnish with a lemon twist. 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/buck-and-birch-with-tom-chisholm ----- 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!!

    52 min
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4.5
out of 5
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About

Where can you learn to live life one cocktail at a time? Here on the Lush Life Podcast discover why an old-fashioned is the drink of choice, who is making their own bitters and how ice, or lack there of, is transforming the cocktails you drink. Hosted by your favorite drinking companion, Susan L. Schwartz, the Lush Life Podcast introduces you to the movers and shakers of the cocktail world.

Information

  • Creator
    Susan L. Schwartz
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2025
  • Episodes
    272
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 by Susan L. Schwartz. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Lush Life