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.
    2025 by Susan L. Schwartz. All rights reserved.
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Episodes
  • How to Drink at the Stockton Inn with Brian Miller
    Feb 11 2025

    Have you been to the small hotel with a wishing well and now a fabulous new bar helmed by today’s guest? I’m pretty certain that if Rogers and Hart had taken even one sip of any of the new cocktails, their famous song may have turned out very differently.

    If you are a Sinatra fan, you might be aware of his rendition of the song There’s a Small Hotel written in the 1930s by Rogers and Hart for the musical On Your Toes.

    This sweet ditty was inspired by Hart’s stay at the Stockton Inn in Stockton, New Jersey, a place also dear to my heart. My family has had a house nearby for the past 30 years. When new folks had acquired the inn, we held our breath.

    Then I discovered Brian Miller was in charge of the bar, and I knew there was nothing to fear!

    Brian is a veteran of the New York bar scene having worked in some of the most famous bars in the world like the Pegu Club and Death and Company.

    He has a special penchant for tropical cocktails, which culminated in the creation of Tiki Mondays with Miller - a Polynesian & pirate-themed pop-up bar. And his own bar, The Polynesian, which was nominated for Best New American Bar at Tales of the Cocktail and recognized by Esquire Magazine as one of America’s Best Bars/

    So how did this self-described pirate find himself in that small hotel with the wishing well in the woods of New Jersey?

    You’ll have to listen in to find out.

    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.

    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 Jack Rose:

    INGREDIENTS

    • 2 dashes orange bitters
    • ½ oz lime juice
    • ½ oz lemon juice
    • ½ oz grenadine
    • ¼ oz cane syrup
    • ¼ oz Jacoulot crème de framboise liqueur
    • 1 oz Laird’s bonded apple brandy
    • 1 oz Domaine de Montreuil “Selection” calvados

    METHOD

    • Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and add ice
    • Shake until chilled
    • Strain into a coupe glass


    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/stockton-inn-with-brian-miller


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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

    Show more Show less
    57 mins
  • How to Drink Mount Gay Rum with Trudiann Branker
    Jan 28 2025

    Can you feel the heat on your face? This episode we want to transport you right to the sunny island of Barbados. Anyone’s guess which rum we’ll be exploring??

    If you haven’t guessed already, it’s Mount Gay, not only the oldest rum in Barbados, but the oldest rum in the world!! I’m thrilled that Trudiann Branker, the trailblazing Master Blender, is joining us.

    Starting at the distillery in 2014 as Quality Assurance Manager, Trudiann rose to prominence with her unique ability to merge scientific expertise and creative intuition.

    Under her guidance, Mount Gay has unveiled award-winning innovations like the Master Blender Collection and the Single Estate Series!

    We met at the launch of the Single Estate Series 2, and I couldn’t wait to have her on the show! Single Estate is super special, and it’s great to have her explain how it all came to be

    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 Cocohill:

    INGREDIENTS

    • 60ml / 2oz Mount Gay XO Rum
    • 1 Coconut water ice cube


    METHOD

    • Pour Coconut Water into a silicone mould 3-3.5cm high or regular ice cube moulds and freeze.
    • Once frozen, place the coconut ice cube(s) into an old fashioned glass
    • Add XO and serve


    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/mount-gay-rum-with-trudiann-branker


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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!!

    Show more Show less
    42 mins
  • How to Prioritise Inclusion with Equal Measures’ Vicky Ilankovan
    Nov 5 2024

    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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    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,...

    Show more Show less
    44 mins

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