LaShawn Blake's guest appearances

LaShawn Blake

Speaking Easy - A Cocktail Podcast

Carlie Steiner

Lisa Wicker

Fernet Branca

Alex Boyd

Jeff Cioletti

Erin Campbell

Michael Veach

Newman Miller

Tequila Cocktails

Blair Reynolds

Emma Janzen

Pisco Cocktails

Matt Seigel

Aaron Beaver

Eric Kozlik

OwlTail

This episode we talk with LaShawn Blake, cocktail instagrammer and blogger at sip.ponder.repeat. We’ve been digital friends with LaShawn for a while, but we’ve finally met up and shared drinks in person. Cheers!  I had an amazing time with the guys from Speaking Easy podcast. If you haven’t checked them out – do it do it do it!!! @speakingeasypodcast #tobeingabetterdrinker A photo posted by LaShawn Blake (@sip.ponder.repeat) on Sep 23, 2016 at 7:09pm PDT   What’s the first cocktail you remember really enjoying? The first cocktail I really remember enjoying is a Cadillac margarita – back then I had no concept of 100% agave tequila vs mixto – or Cointreau/Grand Marnier vs generic triple sec… I just knew it tasted good! What do you like to make most at home? I love whiskey cocktails, so Manhattan and Old Fashioned variations always do it for me! What would you suggest reading or watching to a new home bartender? What skills should they pick up? I would suggest getting a recipe book from your favorite bar or master bartender – e.g. Death and Co Book or Dale Degroff’s The art of the Cocktail. Resources such as this are coming from the horse’s mouth – experts in taste and cocktail history. Regarding skills – I highly suggest they be prepared to juice lots of lemons and limes – and make their own simple. That’s the start of fresh cocktail creation! What’s your favorite cocktail? This is hard. I love so many flavor profiles and combinations – but I’ll have to say any Manhattan based whiskey cocktail. I also love rusty nails and blood and sands. What cocktail do you just not understand why people drink it?? I’m an adventurous drinker – I like fernet – egg white cocktails – flips – there’s not much that scares me. I will say though – vodka as a base spirit in a drink is boring to my palate now – UNLESS it’s infused! If you infuse it / now we’re talkin’! What cocktail trend(s) do you love? I love syrups!!! Being able to use fruit, herbs, sugar and water to create a sweetener really adds depth and flavor to the aforementioned cocktails. It makes me feel like the possibilities are endless for putting a cool spin on things.  Sink or Swim New York Sour riff w/gin and tonic Man … That Dabney Tonic Syrup, doe  #thedabney #imbibegram A photo posted by LaShawn Blake (@sip.ponder.repeat) on Sep 14, 2016 at 7:50pm PDT   What cocktail trend(s) do you hate? I’m not a fan of the word “mixology” … I cringe a little every time I hear it. While I understand the desire to have a term that evokes depth – I still prefer bartender to mixologist. Craft bartender is even better. Bartender is not a step down or lower form at all!!! If you have one (or a few), what would say is your ‘signature drink’? Wow. I’ve made so many drinks over this paste year – they weren’t all good, but some actually were!!! I particularly enjoyed one where I infused vodka with red pears for several days. The color was completely leached out of the pears, and the vodka was a gorgeous peach color. I paired it with dry vermouth and Can you share with us one of your favorite toasts?  To friendship and good times  The post Episode #041: Interview with LaShawn Blake, cocktail instragrammer at sip.ponder.repeat appeared first on Speaking Easy.

<p>This episode we talk with LaShawn Blake, cocktail instagrammer and blogger at sip.ponder.repeat. We’ve been digital friends with LaShawn for a while, but we’ve finally met up and shared drinks in person. Cheers!</p> <blockquote> <p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BKuK0eUjfoN/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I had an amazing time with the guys from Speaking Easy podcast. If you haven’t checked them out – do it do it do it!!! @speakingeasypodcast #tobeingabetterdrinker</a></p> <p>A photo posted by LaShawn Blake (@sip.ponder.repeat) on Sep 23, 2016 at 7:09pm PDT</p> </blockquote> <p></p> <h2>What’s the first cocktail you remember really enjoying?</h2> <p>The first cocktail I really remember enjoying is a Cadillac margarita – back then I had no concept of 100% agave tequila vs mixto – or Cointreau/Grand Marnier vs generic triple sec… I just knew it tasted good!</p> <h2>What do you like to make most at home?</h2> <p>I love whiskey cocktails, so Manhattan and Old Fashioned variations always do it for me!</p> <h2>What would you suggest reading or watching to a new home bartender? What skills should they pick up?</h2> <p>I would suggest getting a recipe book from your favorite bar or master bartender – e.g. Death and Co</p> <p>Book or Dale Degroff’s The art of the Cocktail. Resources such as this are coming from the horse’s mouth – experts in taste and cocktail history. Regarding skills – I highly suggest they be prepared to juice lots of lemons and limes – and make their own simple. That’s the start of fresh cocktail creation!</p> <h2>What’s your favorite cocktail?</h2> <p>This is hard. I love so many flavor profiles and combinations – but I’ll have to say any Manhattan based whiskey cocktail. I also love rusty nails and blood and sands.</p> <h2>What cocktail do you just not understand why people drink it??</h2> <p>I’m an adventurous drinker – I like fernet – egg white cocktails – flips – there’s not much that scares me. I will say though – vodka as a base spirit in a drink is boring to my palate now – UNLESS it’s infused! If you infuse it / now we’re talkin’!</p> <h2>What cocktail trend(s) do you love?</h2> <p>I love syrups!!! Being able to use fruit, herbs, sugar and water to create a sweetener really adds depth and flavor to the aforementioned cocktails. It makes me feel like the possibilities are endless for putting a cool spin on things.</p> <blockquote> <p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BKXESp8jym9/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sink or Swim New York Sour riff w/gin and tonic Man … That Dabney Tonic Syrup, doe  #thedabney #imbibegram</a></p> <p>A photo posted by LaShawn Blake (@sip.ponder.repeat) on Sep 14, 2016 at 7:50pm PDT</p> </blockquote> <p></p> <h2>What cocktail trend(s) do you hate?</h2> <p>I’m not a fan of the word “mixology” … I cringe a little every time I hear it. While I understand the desire to have a term that evokes depth – I still prefer bartender to mixologist. Craft bartender is even better. Bartender is not a step down or lower form at all!!!</p> <h2>If you have one (or a few), what would say is your ‘signature drink’?</h2> <p>Wow. I’ve made so many drinks over this paste year – they weren’t all good, but some actually were!!! I particularly enjoyed one where I infused vodka with red pears for several days. The color was completely leached out of the pears, and the vodka was a gorgeous peach color. I paired it with dry vermouth and</p> <h2>Can you share with us one of your favorite toasts?</h2> <blockquote> <h3><em>To friendship and good times</em></h3> </blockquote> <p>The post <a href="https://speakingeasypodcast.com/episode-041-cocktail-instragrammer-at-sip-ponder-repeat/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode #041: Interview with LaShawn Blake, cocktail instragrammer at sip.ponder.repeat</a> appeared first on <a href="https://speakingeasypodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Speaking Easy</a>.</p>

#041: Interview with LaShawn Blake, cocktail instragramer at sip.ponder.repeat