Drink Makers: Recent Episodes
Ryan Kraemer & Peter McArthur
Sommelier Ryan Kraemer and Bartender Peter McArthur host conversations with the professionals behind some of their favorite beverages. Cover art photo provided by Jia Jia Shum on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/@shumjiajia
Advanced Sommelier Nathaniel Muñoz shares his life in restaurants, from a fourteen-year-old kid mopping the floors at McDonalds, to managing the wine program of a Michelin Star restaurant. When the Covid outbreak turned the world on its head, Nathaniel was busy launching a new restaurant and wine shop. He shares how he reacted to the moment, and his vision for the future of the industry.
In this episode of Drink Makers, Ryan and Peter talk with Peter Johnson of Rhine Hall Distillery in Chicago, Il. Peter shares how the company has weathered the COVID pandemic, and how they helped supply their community with hand sanitizer when it became hard to find. The three discuss favorite domestic distilleries and breakdown some of the intricacies of eau de vie, schnaps and brandy.
In this episode Ryan talks with Sommelier Cristie Norman. At age 26, Cristie is the youngest sommelier at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago in Beverly Hills, a staple of fine dining in Los Angeles and a Wine Spectator Grand Award recipient since 2010. Cristie co-founded the United Sommeliers Foundation, which, through donations and charity auctions, has been able to raise nearly $1 million dollars to date for sommeliers out of work or otherwise effected by the Covid-19 crisis. She’s the creator of the Online Wine Course, a fun, approachable and affordable introductory course into the world of wine for everyday consumers and those interested in exploring a career in wine. She also hosts the largest tasting group of LA somms. What began as a small club of around 10 sommeliers preparing for wine exams has grown into a community of over 300, as the blind tastings and masterclasses have moved onto digital platforms. Cristie was named one of Wine Enthusiasts 40 under 40 in 2020. She has over 28k followers on instagram, but as she says in the episode, she’s not a wine influencer, but rather a wine professional with influence.
In this episode, recorded at 71Above in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, we talk with Amaro Montenegro Southern California Portfolio Manager Eliott Montero. We explore the iconic history behind this bittersweet digestif, and explore the passion and processes involved in its production today.
Our friend and colleague, Kate Grossman, comes by to talk about creativity in cocktails, her love for Amaro, and her favorite places to drink in LA.