It's time for another Cripple Creek! After two smashing nights at Lit Lounge in December of 2012, Cripple Creek is kicking off their first North American tour at Webster Hall, bringing with them their cutting edge cocktails and rock and roll stage show. Aaron Polsky, Damon Boelte, Mayur Subbarao, and Michael O'Rourke have come together to create some of the world's most hedonistic, expressive cocktails with, in their own words, "compelling flavors that everyone can relate to". Tune in for a special preview for the event as Damon chats with Aaron and Mayur about drinks, performance and rock & roll. This program was sponsored by Chefs Steps. Today's break music provided courtesy of Kntrlr.

"You don't go to a bar just to sit and have a particular drink. In reality, the setting and the context really matter. The major thing we get to do here is create our own setting and context in a way that keeps people actually focused and is much more like performance." [02:30]

--Mayur Subbarao on The Speakeasy

This week on At the Root of It Erin spoke to Sandy Block, VP of Beverages at Legal Sea Food and certified port enthusiast. Sandy discussed the champagne and Duoro wine regions, why they both hold a special place in his heart, and why not everything pale and bubbly is champagne. Sandy also gives us a primer on port: the history behind it and the future of the beverage. This episode was sponsored by The Barterhouse: fine wine importers.

Photo: steep hills of the Douro valley

Erin talks with Daniel Lorson and Paulo Russell-Pinto of the Center for Wine Origins.