Who's in the mood for whiskey? Tune into the Speakeasy and hear from "master blender" Nicole Austin from Kings County Distillery in Brooklyn. Find out how the small distillery has evolved over the past few years, and learn what exactly a master blender does. Learn about corn whiskey and what makes it different than other spirits and why when it comes to barels size does matter. Small barel distillation is a trickier task, but it makes for some absolutely delicious product. Learn all about small batch whisky on a boozy episode of The Speakeasy. This program was sponsored by Greenhouse Tavern.

"I have every intention of sticking with small barels. I'm not trying to out-Jim Bean Jim Bean." [09:00]

"Designing a still is the wheelhouse of chemical engineering." [18:00]

--Nicole Austin of Kings County Distillery on The Speakeasy

Nico de Soto has traveled the world in the name of cocktails. This week on The Speakeasy, Damon Boelte invites Nico into the studio to talk about his positions as Bar Manager and General Manager at The Experimental Cocktail Club in Manhattan's Lower East Side. Find out how Nico's South American trip has influenced his creative juices. Hear about the small menu at The Experimental Cocktail Club, and why Nico does not include classics on his list. Find out how flash infusions, carbonation, and rotovaps have changed the cocktail landscape. How important is presentation when serving a cocktail, and how does Nico use nontraditional glassware at the bar? Later, Nico and Damon talk about the overlapping worlds of bartending and cooking! This program has been sponsored by Catskill Provisions.

"I approach drinks like cuisine. I try to marry ingredients that wouldn't be obvious." [6:05] -- Nico de Soto on The Speakeasy

This week on The Speakeasy, Damon Boelte checks in with celebrated bartender Toby Maloney of The Violet Hour, a pre-Prohibition era-inspired speakeasy in Chicago recently nominated for the Outstanding Bar Program James Beard Award. Learn how Toby found his way to The Violet Hour and what has influenced his style as a bartender. Find out what it takes to run a successful bar and find out what "Malort" is and why it's popular in Chicago. This program was sponsored by Whole Foods Market.

"The Violet Hour is definitely a group effort. No one person opens a bar."

"Malört is kind of like drinking a tiger fire. It's the most bitter thing I can possibly think of."

--bartender Toby Maloney on The Speakeasy