Best Christopher Pellegrini Podcasts (2024)

1
Episode 98: Understanding Shochu, with Stephen Lyman and Christopher Pellegrini 28:42

8h ago28:42

28:42

Shochu is Japan’s signature spirit, yet it’s not well known outside the country. As our May/June 2024 cover feature reveals, that’s starting to change, with a wider array of excellent shochu increasingly appearing in American bars. For this episode, we talk about all things shochu with Stephen Lyman and Christopher Pellegrini, the co-hosts of the J…

1
The Death of the Soju Label Rule: a chat with Chef turned Lobbyist John McCarthy (ep. 77) 50:53

3h ago50:53

50:53

In episode 77 our host Stephen Lyman sits down to chat with lawyer turned chef turned lobbyist John McCarthy to discuss the end of the soju label rule for NY and CA. Of course, they also talk shochu, hospitality, and plenty else.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 99: The Tequila Ambassador V.O., with Phil Bayly, Jesse Estes, and Mitch Wilson 23:22

4h ago23:22

23:22

With a career that started in the mid-1970s and that continued until his death in 2021, bar owner and Tequila Ocho co-founder Tomas Estes helped change the way we drink, and think about, tequila. The Tequila Ambassador V.O., a fully revised version of his book, was released this spring, and for this episode we talk to the team members who helped br…

1
The First Australian Shochu: interview with Hamish Nugent of Reed & Co. Distillery 46:22

23d ago46:22

46:22

In episode 76 our host Stephen Lyman sits down with chef turned distiller Hamish Nugent of Reed & Co. Distillery to talk trial and error, success, and the very first Australian Shochu.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 97: The Mint Julep, with Joe Stinchcomb 19:41

13d ago19:41

19:41

Pick some mint from the garden (or the farmers market) and grab a bottle of bourbon, because peak springtime is the perfect season for mixing up Mint Juleps. With Derby Day just around the corner, we talk Juleps with Joe Stinchcomb, a veteran bartender and an owner of Bar Muse in Oxford, Mississippi. Radio Imbibe is the audio home of Imbibe magazin…

1
The Iconoclastic Chuko Distillery (ep. 75) 45:35

29d ago45:35

45:35

In episode 75 our hosts at long last profile the iconic and iconoclastic Chuko Distillery in Okinawa.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 96: Romeo’s East Village, with Evan Hawkins 13:38

27d ago13:38

13:38

Romeo’s opened in New York City this past December, promising to bring a new kind of cocktail experience to the East Village. For this episode, we talk to owner Evan Hawkins about the kind of bar he wanted to open with Romeo’s, and about how the bar combines his years of experience bartending in nightclubs with the lessons he learned at craft cockt…

1
Whisky Rising: a chat with author Stefan VanEycken (ep. 74) 40:23

1M ago40:23

40:23

In episode 74 our host Stephen Lyman sits down with author of Whisky Rising, Stefan VanEycken in Tokyo. They discuss Stefan's whisky journey, his book, and the state of Japanese whisky in 2024.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 95: The Enduring Beauty of Vermouth, with Alf del Portillo, Marta Premoli, and Francesco Lafranconi 27:46

1M ago27:46

27:46

Vermouth is an essential cocktail ingredient, and it can also be spectacular when served on its own. For this episode, we talk to several bartenders about the many reasons vermouth fascinates them and factors into their work: Alf del Portillo and Marta Premoli, owners of Quattro Teste in Lisbon, Portugal, and Francesco Lafranconi, who helped establ…

1
Award Winning Aloha Whisky Bar: a chat with David Tsujimoto (ep. 73) 29:36

2M ago29:36

29:36

In episode 73 our host Stephen Lyman visits Aloha Whisky Bar in the Ikebukuro neighborhood of Tokyo. He and owner David Tsujimoto talk whisky discovery, the journey to bar ownership, and the state of Japanese whisky in 2024.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 94: Viva Vermouth, with Francois Monti 25:33

2M ago25:33

25:33

François Monti is a Madrid-based journalist, educator, and Imbibe contributing writer, and the author of books including El Gran Libro del Vermut. For this episode, he joins us to talk about all things vermouth (the focus of our March/April issue), exploring vermouth’s rich history in cocktails, its culinary connection, and the future of this aperi…

1
Shochu Trends 2024 (ep. 72) 37:30

3M ago37:30

37:30

In episode 72 our hosts reflect on a massive increase in awareness for shochu in awamori overseas and wonder about what 2024 has in store.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 93: Victoria Eady Butler from Uncle Nearest 11:31

2M ago11:31

11:31

In 2021, we recognized Victoria Eady Butler as one of our Imbibe 75 People to Watch for her work as the master blender for Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. For this episode, we catch up with her on her ongoing work at Uncle Nearest; get a glimpse into future plans for the brand as it looks toward Cognac; and talk about the Uncle Nearest HBCU Old Fash…

1
Episode 92: Agave and Beyond, with Chava Peribán and Nacho Jimenez 31:36

3M ago31:36

31:36

Tequila and mezcal are booming in American bars, and other Mexican spirits are making their way to the mainstream. For this episode, we explore this growing part of the drinks world with Salvador “Chava” Peribán, host of the Heritage Mezcal podcast and one of this year’s Imbibe 75 People to Watch; and Ignacio “Nacho” Jimenez, a partner and master o…

1
Episode 91: Thad Vogler and the Single Village Fix 25:14

4M ago25:14

25:14

In the January/February 2024 issue, San Francisco bartender, bar owner, and author Thad Vogler shares his story of the Single Village Fix. Vogler first created this simple mix of mezcal, lime juice, and pineapple gum syrup for a bar menu in 2008, tying together his passions for agriculturally rooted spirits and simple, classic formulations. In the …

1
Koji and Agave Spirits: a chat with Emma Janzen on these beautiful traditions (ep. 71) 59:41

4M ago59:41

59:41

In episode 71 our host Stephen Lyman is joined by James Beard Award Winning Author and Journalist, Emma Janzen to talk about the similarities, differences, histories, and culture behind two of the world's most fascinating indigenous spirits traditions: agave spirits and koji spirits.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 90: The 2024 Imbibe 75, with Robert Simonson and Baylee Hopings 24:06

4M ago24:06

24:06

We’re continuing our coverage of this year’s Imbibe 75 list of people and places who’ll change the way we drink in the year ahead. For this episode, we talk to two of 2024’s People to Watch: cocktail journalist (and Imbibe contributing editor) Robert Simonson, and Baylee Hopings, a Southeast Regional Speed Rack champion who recently made the move f…

1
Episode 89: Introducing the 2024 Imbibe 75 with Alex Jump 23:34

5M ago23:34

23:34

We’re kicking off 2024 by introducing you to some of this year’s Imbibe 75 list of people and places who’ll change the way we drink in the year ahead. For this episode, we talk to Denver bartender and beverage consultant Alex Jump about her work as co-founder and senior manager of operations for Focus on Health, and her work with no- and low-ABV co…

1
Succession Challenge(s): how to pass the baton (ep. 70) 28:29

5M ago28:29

28:29

In episode 70, Stephen reflects on succession challenges in small family distilleries on his first solo podcast for Japan Distilled.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 88: Jeffrey Morgenthaler’s Eggnog Essentials 21:15

6M ago21:15

21:15

No holiday season is complete without festive drinks, and among the seasonal standards is eggnog. Jeffrey Morgenthaler is an eggnog evangelist, serving his signature Tequila and Sherry Eggnog to guests at his bar, Pacific Standard, in Portland, Oregon. For this episode, Morgenthaler reflects on how he arrived at his recipe, and he shares some tips …

1
Episode 87: Toby Cecchini and the Cosmopolitan 26:25

6M ago26:25

26:25

The Cosmopolitan is a modern classic cocktail that’s reached far into drinks culture. For this episode, Cosmo creator Toby Cecchini (owner of Brooklyn’s Long Island Bar) shares the story of the drink’s origins and its rapid takeover of cocktail culture, along with his approach to making his signature drink. Radio Imbibe is the audio home of Imbibe …

1
Imbibe in Kyushu: Interview with Paul Clarke (ep. 69) 29:09

7M ago29:09

29:09

In episode 69, Stephen chats with editor in chief of Imbibe Magazine, Paul Clarke, toward the end of their Imbibe in Kyushu Distillery Tour.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 86: Beer in San Francisco, with Dave McLean from Admiral Maltings 20:06

7M ago20:06

20:06

The San Francisco Bay Area has been at the heart of craft brewing for more than 50 years. For this episode, we track craft beer’s tumultuous trajectory with Dave McLean, co-founder of Admiral Maltings in Alameda and founder of Magnolia Brewing, San Francisco Beer Week, and the Bay Area Brewers Guild. Radio Imbibe is the audio home of Imbibe magazin…

1
Episode 85: Garrett Oliver and the Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing and Distilling 18:16

7M ago18:16

18:16

The Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing and Distilling aims to provide scholarship support to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in the brewing and distilling industries. For this episode, we check in with Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster and MJF chair, Garrett Oliver, about the rationale behind the foundation’s mission, some of the people …

1
What is that?! Spirits Evaluation (Ep. 68) 32:31

7M ago32:31

32:31

In episode 68 of the Japan Distilled podcast, Stephen puts Christopher on the spot with an impromptu spirits evaluation.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Mizu Shochu: Japan's 1st Export Brand (ep. 67) 55:27

7M ago55:27

55:27

In episode 67, Stephen delves into the origins of Mizu Shochu with founder, Jesse Falowitz. Believed to be the 1st shochu ever developed specifically for the export market, Mizu has been a trendsetter for over a decade now.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 84: The Pinnacle Guide, with Hannah Sharman-Cox, Siobhan Payne, and Dan Dove 16:00

7M ago16:00

16:00

As co-founders of London Cocktail Week, Hannah Sharman-Cox, and Siobhan Payne are familiar with the growing complexity of the bar world. Early next year, Sharman-Cox and Payne (along with co-founder Dan Dove) will introduce The Pinnacle Guide, a bar evaluation and ranking system that’s been compared to the Michelin Guide in the culinary world. For …

1
Episode 83: The Cocktail from the Black Lagoon, with Erin Hayes and Kelsey Ramage 13:11

7M ago13:11

13:11

Halloween is one of the most popular holidays around, and with this year’s Black Lagoon Cocktail Pop-up, bars everywhere are getting in on the celebrations. For this episode, we talk with Black Lagoon co-founders Kelsey Ramage and Erin Hayes about the origins of Black Lagoon, what visitors can expect from this years’ experience, and what it takes t…

1
Yabai Chuhai & Wild Skateboards: interview with Jason Rogers (ep. 66) 40:07

8M ago40:07

40:07

In episode 66, Stephen chats with former professional skateboarder Jason Rogers, founder of Yabai Chuhai.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 82: Negroni Week 2023, with Lindsay Matteson 13:33

9M ago13:33

13:33

Negroni Week is taking place right now, from September 18-24, 2023. For this episode, we explore the wide world of Negroni variations with Lindsay Matteson. Currently the bar manager at the bitters-focused Barnacle and The Walrus and The Carpenter in Seattle, she’s also former head bartender at Amor y Amargo in New York City, and a longtime veteran…

1
Going Deep Inside the Pot Still (ep. 65) 44:15

8M ago44:15

44:15

In episode 65 of the Japan Distilled podcast, we discuss something that is often overlooked in discussions of distilled spirits production. What's happening inside the pot still?By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 81: The N/A Cocktail Playbook, with Derek Brown 35:16

9M ago35:16

35:16

Drinkers are increasingly looking for great-tasting cocktails that reduce or avoid the use of alcohol, and bartenders are stepping up to the challenge. Our September/October issue delves into the details of making great NA cocktails, and for this episode, we’re joined by veteran bartender Derek Brown, author of Mindful Mixology: A Comprehensive Gui…

1
Denver Distillery Interview: makers of Kasutori Imo Shochu (ep. 64) 42:41

9M ago42:41

42:41

In episode 64, Stephen takes the show on the road and interviews Chris Anderson-Tarver of Denver Distillery in Colorado.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Kampai Planet visits Japan Distilled (ep. 63) 43:51

9M ago43:51

43:51

In episode 63, Christopher Pellegrini takes the interviewer's chair as he welcomes his friend and fellow Tokyo Swallows fan, Mac Salman of Kanpai Planet.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 80: Mastering the Mojito with Julio Cabrera 21:28

10M ago21:28

21:28

The Mojito is one of the key cocktails to originate in Cuba, and it’s gone on to become a worldwide standard. For this episode, we take a deep dive into the Mojito—its composition, methodology, and history—with Julio Cabrera, a Cuban-born bartender and now owner of the award-winning Café La Trova in Miami. Radio Imbibe is the audio home of Imbibe m…

1
Sanwa Shurui: The World's Greatest Spirits Maker Nobody's Ever Heard Of? (ep. 62) 42:16

10M ago42:16

42:16

In episode 62, our hosts dive into our 2nd ever shochu distillery profile. This one for Sanwa Shurui, makers of iichiko shochu.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 79: Tales of the Cocktail 2023 26:49

11M ago26:49

26:49

Tales of the Cocktail has shaped the cocktail world in myriad ways over the more than 20 years its been taking place in New Orleans. With the 2023 event about to kick off on July 23, we check in to talk about the event and the organization’s global reach. For this episode, we’re talking all things Tales with Tales of the Cocktail Foundation CEO Eil…

1
Soba Shochu (ep. 61) 33:01

10M ago33:01

33:01

In the 61st episode of the Japan Distilled podcast, at long last your hosts dive into soba shochu.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 78: The Mai Tai Forever, with Jeff “Beachbum” Berry 40:03

10M ago40:03

40:03

Perhaps no 20th-century cocktail has resonated as strongly (or been misinterpreted as widely) as the Mai Tai. This episode considers the Mai Tai from every angle, with drinks historian, author, and bar owner Jeff “Beachbum” Berry (Latitude 29, New Orleans) delving into his first-hand research into the Mai Tai’s history and how it became an internat…

1
Koji Cocktails on the Rise (ep. 60) 44:29

11M ago44:29

44:29

In the 60th episode of the Japan Distilled podcast, your hosts take a long, hard look at koji cocktails. That is, cocktails made with koji based spirits.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 77: The Chartreuse Swizzle with Marco Dionysos 14:04

11M ago14:04

14:04

Marco Dionysos helped San Francisco become one of the most influential cities of the contemporary cocktail renaissance, and his Chartreuse Swizzle has become a modern cocktail classic. For this episode, we explore the drink’s origins and how it grew to prominence, and Dionysos (now a bartender at Comstock Saloon) shares his experiences seeing his r…

1
Episode 76: Talking Tonic with Nick Kokonas 19:48

11M ago19:48

19:48

Nick Kokonas is a Chicago-based bartender and writer. The author of the award-winning book Something & Tonic, he also contributed a feature on tonic water for our May/June issue. In this episode, we talk with Kokonas about the deep global history of tonic water and its defining ingredient, cinchona bark, and explore the many ways it continues to to…

1
The Charming Mitosaya Botanical Distillery (Ep. 59) 47:44

12M ago47:44

47:44

In Episode 59 of The Japan Distilled Podcast, your co-hosts profile Mitosaya Botanical Distillery in Chiba Prefecture, makers of some of the most interesting eau de vie we’ve ever tried.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 75: The Updated “Complete Beer Course,” with Joshua M. Bernstein 24:10

12M ago24:10

24:10

Joshua M. Bernstein has been a contributor and contributing editor to Imbibe since 2006. For this episode, we talk with Josh about the completely revised and updated edition of his best-selling book, The Complete Beer Guide (first published in 2013), and about the many changes that have taken place in the beer world in the 10 years since its initia…

1
BONUS EPISODE! Japan Distilled Koji Spirits Cocktail Competition Results (ep. 58B) 18:21

1y ago18:21

18:21

In this bonus episode addendum to the 58th episode of the Japan Distilled podcast, guest host Matt Alt joins Stephen Lyman to reveal and discuss the finalists for the 1st ever Japan Distilled Koji Spirits Cocktail Competition.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
The Origins of Japanese Cocktail Culture (ep. 58) 38:22

1y ago38:22

38:22

In the 58th episode of the Japan Distilled podcast, guest host Matt Alt joins Stephen Lyman to discuss the origins of Japanese cocktail culture.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 74: Daijoubu Popup, with Caer Maiko and Sharon Yeung 16:08

1y ago16:08

16:08

Bartenders Caer Maiko (DrinkWell, Austin) and Sharon Yeung (The Walrus and the Carpenter, Seattle) organized their first Daijoubu pop-up bar event four years ago, and found ways to keep the self-described “super-Asian cocktail pop-up” going through the pandemic, with events in cities ranging from New York City and Houston to San Francisco and beyon…

1
Funky Sanaburi Shochu (Ep. 57) 33:45

1y ago33:45

33:45

In episode 57 of the Japan Distilled podcast, your host Stephen Lyman is joined by author and podcaster Jim Rion for a deep dive on sanaburi shochu, one of the original forms of kasutori shochu.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 73: Rethinking Tropical Drinks, with Garret Richard and Ben Schaffer 30:53

1y ago30:53

30:53

Tropical drinks have a timeless quality, but that doesn’t mean the recipes and techniques for making them need to be stuck in the past. Brooklyn bartender Garret Richard (Sunken Harbor Club) and author Ben Schaffer (The Rum Reader) bring today’s cutting-edge bar knowledge to the world of tropical drinks in their new book, Tropical Standard: Cocktai…

1
A Hidden Treasure: Ryukyu Awamori (Ep. 56) 46:57

1y ago46:57

46:57

In episode 56 of the Japan Distilled podcast, your hosts Christopher Pellegrini & Stephen Lyman dive deeper into Ryukyu Awamori, which is the oldest distilling tradition in Japan.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

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