Lush Life  By  cover art

Lush Life

By: Susan L. Schwartz
  • Summary

  • 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.
    2023 by Susan L. Schwartz. All rights reserved.
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Episodes
  • How to Drink House of Suntory Spirits with James Bowker
    Nov 14 2023

    Few people would have the courage to leave a very secure future in academia for a very uncertain life behind the bar.  Our guest did, and he has never looked back.

    Are you crazy for Thomas Shelby and also have a passion for Japanese Whisky? Do you have no clue who Thomas Shelby is but love your Japanese whisky? Or do you not know either about Thomas Shelby or Japanese Whisky but just want to meet one of the greatest guys in the spirit industry? Then this episode is for you!

    James Bowker is a proud Brummie; that is someone from Birmingham, England btw, just like Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders, one of my favorite programs. 

    His early love of Japanese whisky grew into a role as the first House of Suntory Global Advocacy Manager.  I met James many years ago when he was one of the ten finalists for the Diageo World Class UK, and have just now finally had him on the program.  

    It was kismet as I was just about to step on a plane to Japan.  He taught me so much, which made the experience a billion times better.  Even if you are not headed to Japan, his knowledge is invaluable. 

    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 Kyoto Club!

    INGREDIENTS 

    • 50ml Suntory ROKU Gin
    • 25ml Green Tea (Chilled)
    • 25ml Lemon Juice
    • 15ml Raspberry Syrup
    • (Sugar + Raspberries if not available)
    • Garnish: Raspberries


    METHOD

    • Fill the glass with ice. 
    • Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
    • Shake for 15 seconds. 
    • Strain into glass and garnish.


    You’ll find this recipe, more gin cocktail recipes, 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/house-of-suntory-spirits-with-james-bowker


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    Produced by Simpler Media

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    New episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • How to Make Mr Lyan’s Cocktails at Home with Ryan Chetiyawardana
    Oct 31 2023

    You asked for it, and you got it - all of you kind people who filled out my survey asked for more interviews with more legends. Our guest is the world's most-awarded bartender & bar owner. If Mr Lyan isn’t a legend, I don’t know who is.

    If you call yourself a cocktail connoisseur, then you will have come upon the name Mr Lyan in your travels. Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr Lyan opened White Lyan in London in 2013. It was a moment that will go down in cocktail history as the first cocktail bar in the world to use no perishables, no fruit, and even no ice, an innovative approach to sustainability, with much lower waste and a use of pre-made cocktails and never before seen ingredients. 

    This focus on a ground-breaking approach remains in the evolution of White Lyan, Super Lyan, Dandelyan, Cub, Lyaness, Silver Lyan, and Seed Library.

    Ryan’s with me to discuss his new book, Mr Lyan’s Cocktails at Home: Good Things to Drink with Friends, but we go into so much more - 

    How his relationship to flavor evolved, how his studying Fine Arts at Central Saint Martins as well as Biology at Edinburgh University spurred him on to get behind the bar, and why the need to write a book at all.

    You have no idea how excited I am to finally have Ryan on the show!

    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

    The cocktail of the week is Ryan’s Barlay Champagne!

    INGREDIENTS 

    • 4 shots (100ml/4oz) water
    • 6 shots (150ml/6oz) lemon barley water cordial
    • 8 shots (200ml/8oz) fino sherry or dry vermouth
    • 12 shots (300ml/12oz) London dry gin
    • 10 dashes Tabasco
    • Rosemary sprigs, to garnish

    METHOD

    • Add the water, cordial, sherry or vermouth, and gin to a jug, then add the Tabasco 
    • Stir and then decant into a clean wine bottle and chill well
    • To serve, add a shot and a half (40ml/1.5oz) of the chilled mixture to a flute, then top with bubbles. 
    • Add a sprig  of rosemary and serve


    The Magic is that “you can make lemon barley cordial at home (it's a very old-fashioned British cordial of pearl barley and lemon), but this recipe works great with any store-bought cordial that brings sweetness and acidity. Elderflower, blackcurrant, or even more regional ones such as redcurrant or gooseberry also work-although there's a richness to the barley addition that works wonderfully.  Tabasco adds a background heat, but try adding other accent spices such as gochujang or sriracha - just sieve it after mixing to remove any particulates, as they will interfere with the fizz. Plus, you just want a hint of fruity warmth. else you’ll throw the balance of the drink.”


    You’ll find this recipe, more Champagne cocktail recipes, 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/cocktails-at-home-with-ryan-chetiyawardana


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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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    58 mins
  • How to Drink Asolo Prosecco
    Oct 2 2023

    Throughout history, artists and writers have been drawn to the Northern Italian hill town of Asolo; some say it’s because it’s the “city of a hundred horizons,” I think it’s because it’s the home of Asolo Prosecco!

    At one time, you might have caught a glimpse of poet Robert Browning, actress Elenora Duse, or writer Freya Stark sitting enjoying a glass of bubbly at one of the cafes in this Pearl of the Veneto; I can almost guarantee the liquid in their glass was Asolo prosecco! 

    In this episode, I’m taking you with me to Asolo to meet a few people who are making Asolo Prosecco what it is! We‘ll begin with a masterclass led by Wine Educator and  Journalist Gianpaolo Giacobbo, who will explain what Asolo prosecco DOCG is exactly. 

    Then Ugo Zamperoni is next. He is the President of the Conzorio of Asolo Prosecco - which is the association of producers and grape growers. 

    Then we are off to meet a few producers of Asolo Prosecco: Dennis Bordin from the Tenuta d’Asolo Progress Country & Wine House,  Ermenegildo Giusti of Giusti Wine, and then we finish with Tenuta Baron’s Andrea Sbrissa.  

    I interviewed them all in situ, so alas, there is no video podcast this week, but you can find a video guide to the town of Asolo and a selection of the vineyards and historical sites you can visit when you are next in town. You can find it on my YouTube channel, youtube.com/lushlifemanual. 

    Our cocktail of the week comes straight from master mixologist Samuele Ambrosi, owner of Cloakroom Cocktail Lab and Knowledge Hub in Treviso. We met at Venice Cocktail Week last year, and I am thrilled to include one of his cocktail creations. It's called the Made in Italy and is a little different from what you might think of as a prosecco cocktail - because it’s savory!

    The cocktail of the week is Samuele Ambrosi’s MADE IN ITALY.

    INGREDIENTS 

    • 50ml  Basil and "datterino" tomatoes cordial*
    • 150 ml Asolo DOCG Prosecco extra Brut

    METHOD

    • Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass
    • Add ice
    • Stir, stir, stir
    • Strain into a champagne glass
    • Garnish with a tomato basil cracker

    *Basil and "datterino" tomatoes cordial*

    • In an electric blender, add 500gr cherry tomatoes and 10/12 fresh basil leaves and blend everything for a few minutes
    • Leave the liquid all together for 10/15 minutes in the fridge.
    • Then strain all and put 1 tsp white sugar
    • Keep the cordial in the fridge
    • Best before 10/12 days
    • You can use the leftovers (tomato peel, basil leaves, etc.) to make the garnish! 


    You’ll find this recipe, more prosecco cocktail recipes, 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/asolo-prosecco-podcast


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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! 



    Produced by Simpler Media

    Follow us on Twitter and Instagram

    Get great cocktail...

    Show more Show less
    56 mins

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