Where do you go for arguably the best pint of Budweiser in America? Why, Wilmington, North Carolina of course, where Robby Dow, formerly of Grand Army in Brooklyn, has opened his new place Bespoke which has been called, on this show, a perfect bar. He sits down to talk with Damon and Greg about the buildout, what it’s like developing a clientele of Regulars outside of a “major market” city, and why he takes incredible pride in serving the coldest Budweiser in town.

PLUS, a restaurant in Italy is bribing customers to lock up their phones during dinner with a free bottle of wine. Hear what Greg thinks about it (spoiler: positively) and why this trend might soon be catching on.

Follow Robby on instagram at @thevodkaartist

Follow Bespoke on instagram at @bespoke.nc

LINKS

• Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
• For resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance
• Support the Salt Cure Fund at thesaltcurefund.org
• The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast

Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What do you do if the spokesperson for your brand is an actual bear? What if the creative partner for your brand is a famous actor from a hit TV show? CEO Anthony Moniello and Actor Gabriel Macht sit down to talk Bear Fight, their whiskey brand that has launched an American single malt, a bourbon aged in reposado tequila barrels, and isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Anthony and Gabriel talk about naming the brand, finding a place in a crowded marketplace, leaning into a new chapter after “Suits” blew up on Netflix, and the perils and upsides of funding a brand with retail investors

PLUS, the Staten Island Ferry is serving booze again, thank God. And, an old friend from Kansas City chimes in about a new challenge.

Follow Bear Fight on instagram at @bearfightwhiskey

Follow Gabriel on instagram at @iamgabrielmacht

LINKS

• Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
• For resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance
• Support the Salt Cure Fund at thesaltcurefund.org
• The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast
• Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What makes a good sommelier? Encyclopedic knowledge of the wine world? The ability to sell anything to anyone? Or something more empathetic and human? If anyone knows it’s Claire Paparazzo, Wine Director for Sunday Hospitality Group and the Hotel Chelsea. Drawing on her knowledge from such iconic places as Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Claire chats with Greg about the challenge of running four properties under one roof, the art of making wine approachable, and why the fad for natural wine and orange wine probably springs from somewhere deep and sick and wonderful in our collective psyche. And, she talks about the time she almost got mauled by a pig.

PLUS, are AI somms coming for our jobs? Greg offers an oddly hopeful take on whether that industry’s days are numbered

Follow Claire at @clairepaparazzo

Follow her documentary work at @wineifyouwantto

Follow her art at @jasperheart2021

LINKS

• Become a Regular: patreon.com/SpeakeasyRegulars
• For resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycalliance
• Support the Salt Cure Fund at thesaltcurefund.org
• The Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we’re talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.Podcast
• Check out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.