We are exploring a very important issue and, even if you aren’t in the drinks industry, it’s something you need to address if you have a business - how are you prioritizing inclusion in your workplace?

Vicky Ilankovan, the Executive Director of Equal Measures UK, is with me to help you answer that question. Equal Measures is the award-winning non-profit spearheading the delivery of intersectional inclusivity in the drinks & hospitality industries.

She has a proven track record of promoting companies, developing and restructuring systems, diversifying services, and building communities of engaged stakeholders. As her career spans everything from editorial, marketing, PR, and events, to global distribution, business development, project management, drinks consultancy, and spirits awards judging, she has a panoramic understanding of the hospitality and drinks industries, its networks, and operation.

I am honored to have her on the program.

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 that's 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 Bajan Divorce:

INGREDIENTS

• 40ml Foursquare Nobiliary (or Doorly’s XO as this is hard to find now)
• 10ml Corte Vetusto Ensamble II mezcal
• 10ml Pensador Ensamble mezcal
• 15ml Gonzalez Byass PX Nectar
• 3 dashes Angostura bitters
• Garnish with an orange twist

METHOD

• Combine all ingredients in a glass with ice and stir to mix and dilute (around 6 rotations).
• Garnish with a freshly cut orange peel, being sure to spritz the fresh orange oils around the glass.
• Sit back, and enjoy the rich flavours.

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/iequal-measures-with-vicky-ilankovan

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New episodes every Tuesday,...

Most people know that sake is made with rice, but did you know that rice might be grown in California?

This is the 250th episode of Lush Life Podcast, every week I have been inspired to live life one cocktail at a time by the guests who have been kind enough to join me and I am sure I will continue to be inspired by those who are yet to be on the program.

Thank you everyone for your support, especially Evo Terra and his team, that’s my producer, and thank you for listening.

Now, back to that 250th episode!

I was shocked, too. I had just assumed the rice was all grown in Japan. That’s just one of the many things that Ken LaGrande revealed about sake over cocktails at the Connaught. In fact, those aforementioned cocktails had all been made using SoGood Sake.

Why create a new sake and one whose pedigree is purely American?

Joining me today to explain everything is Ken himself and, one of the other co-founders of SoGood Sake, Meryl Kennedy.

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 that's youtube.com/@lushlifemanual!

The cocktail of the week is the Sake Sunset:

INGREDIENTS

• 40 ml SoGood Sake
• 20 ml Dark rum
• 60 ml Solo Coldbrew
• 20 ml Miso Caramel (1:9 White Miso to Caramel)
• Garnish: Dark Chocolate

METHOD

• Add all the ingredients to a shaker and add ice
• Shake until well diluted and cold
• Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice
• Garnish with Grated Dark Chocolate

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/sogood-sake-with-meryl-kennedy-and-ken-lagrande

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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!!

Yes, we are back with the 9th - how is it possible - season of Lush Life! Where best to begin? Venice, of course!

How is it that there weren’t already Venice Cocktail Tours before now? Well, I don’t want to reveal the whole story in this intro, you can now enjoy two different cocktail tours in Venice!

Let’s just say that great minds were thinking how best to introduce you to not only the role that Venice played in bringing you some of the greatest drinks ever, but also to how amazing the cocktail scene is.

I happened to meet Monica Cesarato by chance during Venice Cocktail Week two years ago. Not only did Monica create the first cicchetti tours in Venice, but she is also the author of two books, food & travel blogger, podcaster, and producer.

Our Co-Founder, Romena Brugnerotto, leads all different types of tours throughout the city, like art, culture, and cicchetti, as well as being a sommelier! Together, they had a brilliant idea to create cocktail tours, just as I was also thinking the same. Our worlds collided, and the rest is history, but there is so much more to it than that!

The cocktail of the week is the Cinico:

INGREDIENTS

• 30ml prosecco
• 30ml cinico (Italian cinnamon liqueur)
• 30ml soda water
• Garnish: lime, mint and a cinnamon stick

METHOD

• Add all ingredients to a rocks glass with ice
• Stir gently
• Garnish with lime, mint, and a cinnamon stick

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/how-to-take-venice-cocktail-tours

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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!!

Philip Duff, a true icon in the industry, is on Lush Life. He is a renowned expert on everything drinks related and has a passion for the craft.

Thank goodness our guest was not one of the Skerries-born citizens who kidnapped St. Patrick's goat and was cursed to bleat from then on, cus that would make for an awkward interview.

Today we have a true icon in the industry. Philip Duff is not only an internationally renowned expert on cocktails, spirits, and bars, but also a sought-after consultant, a dynamic educator, and a captivating speaker who has traveled the globe sharing his vast knowledge and passion for the craft. Plus he’s also the founder of Old Duff Genever and lucky for me my friend!

We’re chatting about the past, the future and the stuff that happened along the way.

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 that's youtube.com/@lushlifemanual!

The cocktail of the week is the Holland House:

INGREDIENTS

• 50ml Old Duff Genever
• 20ml dry vermouth
• 15ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 7.5ml maraschino liqueur
• Garnish: lemon zest

METHOD

• Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice
• Shake for 15 seconds
• Fine strain into a martini or coupe glass
• Garnish with a lemon 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/philip-duff

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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!!

Did it ever occur to you to ask your friendly bartenders where they like to drink? Because you know they know the best places in town. Well, don’t worry, our guest has. And lucky for us, he’s sharing that info.

Sam Gilani was making Sazeracs when he was at university - that should tell you that he was bound to become The London Boozehound. He is not only a journalist with a massive Instagram following but also the founder of the Bartender’s Edit - that list of every bartender’s favorite hangouts.

You’d be surprised what made the list, but I’m not going to tell you, Sam is.

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 that's youtube.com/@lushlifemanual!

The cocktail of the week is the East 8 Holdup:

INGREDIENTS

• 45 ml Vodka
• 15 ml Aperol
• 20 ml Pineapple Juice
• 15 ml Fresh Lime Juice
• 15 ml Simple Syrup
• 5 ml Passionfruit Syrup

METHOD

• Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice
• Shake for 15 seconds
• Fine strain into a rocks glass with ice
• Garnish with half a passionfruit and a mint sprig

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/the-london-boozehound-with-sam-gilani

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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!!

Who doesn’t want to enjoy a tipple or two in a gorgeous setting? Today, I bring you to one of the most historically important homes in London, which held and is still holding some of the best parties the city has ever seen.

On today’s episode, you’ll meet a power player in Georgian society, the Lansdowne House, constructed in the 1760s by the celebrated architect Robert Adam.

Not only did it see the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the American War of Independence, in its Round Room, but also the negotiations for the Entente Cordiale between Britain and France. But let’s not forget: Thanks to some of its famous residents, Lansdowne House was the first stop on the party circuit.

I don’t want to ruin the fun by revealing all here, but let me just say they could throw one great shindig after another!

Currently, it is home to The Lansdowne Club, the first club in London to accept both male and female members, shocking in 1935. Here to tell us all are CEO and Club Secretary David Herbert and then Head Bartender Marco Caglià.

The cocktail of the week is the Pink Duke:

INGREDIENTS

• 35 ml Hendrick's gin
• 25 ml Kwai Feh Lychee Liqueur
• 25 ml fresh lime juice
• 25 ml Raspberry and rose cordial
• Prosecco

METHOD

• Add all ingredients except the prosecco to a shaker with ice
• Shake for 15 seconds
• Fine strain into a coupe
• Top up with the prosecco
• Garnish with an edible rosebud

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/lansdowne-club-with-david-herbert-and-marco-caglia

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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!!

Remember a time when asking for a non-alcoholic beverage meant getting a soda or an apple juice? Well, thanks to the brain behind Seedlip, there are now stores filled with No-ABV and Low-ABV spirits. It’s not often one can invent a whole new category of drinking, but our guest did, and now he is coming for bitters, watch out.

My friend and former Lush Lifer Ben Branson was on the program more than 5 years ago and since that time, he is not only the Founder of Seedlip - the first ever non-alcoholic spirit, but also the Pollen Projects, the non-profit The Hidden 20% & the host of The Hidden 20% podcast. He is also the genius behind the new drinks flavoring, seasn.

There are two seasns right now in the UK (and coming soon to the US) LIGHT and DARK - each born to make your drinks even tastier. LIGHT brightens up your lighter drinks and DARK adds a rich spicier note to your darker drinks. But I don’t want to give it all away. But I don't want to give it all away. The story of seasn is Ben’s to tell.

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 that's youtube.com/@lushlifemanual!

The cocktail of the week is the seasn Margarita:

INGREDIENTS

• 40 ml Blanco Tequila
• 20 ml Fresh Lime juice
• 10 ml Cointreaul
• 3 dashes seasn LIGHT
• 2:1 sugar syrup as needed

METHOD

• Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice
• Shake for 15 seconds
• Fine strain into a coupe or rocks glass with ice
• Garnish with Maldon sea salt rim and a lime wedge.

OR make the non-alcoholic seasn Margarita:

INGREDIENTS

• 40ml Seedlip Garden
• 20ml Fresh Lime juice
• 3 dashes seasn LIGHT
• Agave syrup as needed

METHOD

• Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice
• Shake for 15 seconds
• Fine strain into a coupe or rocks glass with ice
• Garnish with Maldon sea salt rim and a lime wedge.

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/seasn-with-ben-branson

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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!!

This March, I was blown away by the creativity of some of the best bars in the world. Not only were they making cocktails, but they were saving the planet.

On the 17 and 18th of March 2024, the third edition of the Paradiso Sustainability Summit, organized by Giacomo Giannotti and his team, in partnership with Ketel One Vodka through their Garnished with Good program was held.

Giacomo’s bar Paradiso is ranked one of the best Bars in the world, and he established the Summit three years ago as an exchange of ideas and tools with the aim of raising awareness and making the industry more sustainable.

This year, the event took place at Palo Alto - an indoor and outdoor space chosen for its approach to helping local communities. There were two stages for masterclasses, seminars, and workshops, a marketplace where local organizations showcased their sustainable projects and products, and, of course, pop-ups of all the invited international and local bars serving cocktails all day long!

While I was there I caught up with not only Giacomo, but a few of the other speakers who are my guests on the program today.

Riccardo Rossi and Michele Filip from Rome’s Freni e Frizioni, Paul Voza from Oslo’s Himkok, Vasilis Kyritsis and Dimitris Dafopoulos from Line in Athens, Alexandros Tselepis and Konstantinos Theodorakopoulos from The Bar in Front of The Bar also in Athens, Partick Howley from So Let’s Talk, and last but certainly not least Timothy Etherington-Judge of Avallen Calvados and Healthy Hospo who gives us the place to start with sustainability to have the greatest impact.

It was truly an eye-opening event, and they will most definitely inspire you to do more.

But before I begin, make sure you check out a sampling of all the activities from the summit on my YouTube channel! www.Youtube.com/@lushlifemanual

Up first is, of course, Giacomo our host and founder of this important initiative.

The cocktail of the week is Paradiso’s The Voyage:

INGREDIENTS

• 50 ml Ketel One Vodka
• 25 ml Amaro Santoni
• 25 ml Italicus
• Yogurt blueberries
• Yogurt raspberry

METHOD

• Mix the following ingredients together in a container
• Infuse it for 24 hours in the fridge
• Filter it all through a cheesecloth.
• Then pour it into your chilled martini glass
• Garnish with a jam-filled white chocolate if you have one

You’ll find this recipe and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll find some of the ingredients in our shop.

Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/paradiso-sustainability-summit-2024

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Become a supporter of A Lush Life Manual for as little as $5 - all you have to do is go to patreon.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!

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