What We're Drinking with Dan Dunn

Ghosts, goblins, jack-o'-lanterns, and booze. Halloween has come a long way in 2,000 years, but one thing hasn't changed: people have been celebrating with spirits—both supernatural and alcoholic—for centuries. In this special Halloween edition of History at Work and in the Making, Dan traces the holiday's fascinating history, from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain to the Irish immigrants who brought their traditions to America. Along the way, we discover why people started wearing costumes, how trick-or-treating evolved from medieval customs involving food and ale, why jack-o'-lanterns were originally carved from turnips, and what bobbing for apples once had...

Dan welcomes actor Dulé Hill, entertainment industry veteran Tom Caltabiano, and Brad Japhe for an episode that pairs exceptional Scotch whisky with a candid, wide-ranging conversation about the state of modern entertainment.

As the foursome explore an impressive lineup of whiskies from Glenglassaugh, The Glenlivet, Rosebank, Glen Scotia, and Laphroaig, they dig into the seismic changes reshaping Hollywood, from the shifting economics of television and film to the challenges facing creative talent in an industry that seems increasingly unsure of what audiences actually want. Along the way, they share stories, insights, and plenty of laughs, with a s...

Liqueurs don't always get the respect they deserve. We're here to change that. Just in time for National Liqueur Day, Dan Dunn and acclaimed spirits writer Brad Japhe explore one of the drinking world's most colorful, versatile, and deliciously misunderstood categories. It's a spirited journey through centuries of history, fascinating origin stories, closely guarded recipes, and the people who turned humble botanical concoctions into some of the world's most beloved drinks. Along the way, Dan and Brad celebrate an all-star lineup featuring Disaronno, Tia Maria, Averna, Fernet-Branca, Aperol, Campari, Sarti Rosa, Domaine de Canton, Hpnotiq, and PAMA.

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It’s cocktail hour, and Anna Vocino is here to make sure there’s something good to eat with whatever’s in your glass. The actress, comedian, bestselling cookbook author and founder of Eat Happy Kitchen joins Dan to talk about her new book, Eat Happy Cocktail Hour: Deliciously Gluten Free and Low Carb Sips, Dips, and Bites and the art of eating and drinking well without sucking all the fun out of it.

Also on the show, Dan revisits an article he wrote years ago about the ruination of one of Venice Beach’s most iconic streets...

This week, Dan sits down with acclaimed bartender Kenta Goto and award-winning drinks writer Noah Rothbaum to talk about their new book, The Goto Bartender’s Guide, a look at Japanese cocktail culture through the drinks, techniques, traditions, and philosophy that have shaped Goto’s singular approach to bartending and hospitality.

Also on the show: a fresh round of Drinks of the Week, with Dan cracking into wine, vodka, and rye whiskey. And in the latest History at Work and in the Making, we go back to a time when putting ice in a cocktail wasn’t just a...

Dan takes a look at how the Trump administration’s tariffs are hitting the drinks business, from distilleries, wineries and importers to bars, restaurants and, ultimately, the people picking up the tab. Who’s getting squeezed, how much money is at stake, and what could all of this mean for the price of your next bottle or cocktail?

The episode also includes Dan’s tribute to his friend Bryan “Bald Bryan” Bishop, the beloved longtime co-host of The Adam Carolla Show, who passed away last week after an extraordinary 18-year battle with cancer. Dan got to know Bryan duri...

To celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Dan takes the show on the road—or at least down the street—for a special live episode recorded in front of an audience on the rooftop of Casa de Ocho, Tequila Ocho’s pop-up in the heart of Venice Beach. Joining Dan is his old friend Zane Lamprey, comedian, author, world traveler, and legendary host of the seminal drinking shows Three Sheets and Drinking Made Easy, along with Philip Khandehrish, longtime tequila expert and Brand Ambassador for Tequila Ocho and Heaven Hill Brands.

Dan has been away on a much-needed vacation, so this week we’re reaching into the vault for an encore presentation of one of our most-listened-to episodes of 2024. It’s a very special caffeinated edition of the show, as Dan turns his attention to his other liquid obsession: coffee. Joining him is none other than Maynard James Keenan. Yes, that Maynard—vocalist for Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer, not to mention the man behind Caduceus Cellars, Merkin Vineyards and Queen B Vinyl Cafe, his Arizona coffee-roasting venture.

Whiskey legend Fred Minnick joins Dan and Brad Japhe to celebrate his upcoming induction into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame and, naturally, they mark the occasion by opening some very good bottles. The lineup includes Old Fitzgerald 7-Year Bottled in Bond, Old Grand-Dad 114 Single Barrel, Jefferson’s Ocean and Founder’s Reserve 20 Year, Four Roses Single Barrel, and Booker’s Milkshake Batch.

In this special stand-alone edition of History at Work and in the Making, Dan digs into the surprisingly rowdy origins of America’s end-of-summer holiday, Labor Day, from brutal 19th-century working conditions and the disputed father of Labor Day to the first parade in 1882, where thousands of workers celebrated afterward with lager kegs mounted “in every conceivable place.”

Plus: the Pullman Strike, Grover Cleveland’s suspiciously well-timed peace offering to organized labor, and how a holiday born from the fight for workers’ rights became synonymous with barbecues, cold beer, long weekends, and inexplicably cheap mattresses. Presented by Warbringer...

Dan is going back to school. Sort of. Inspired by his childhood love of Sesame Street, he works his way through The ABCs of Drinking, assigning each letter of the alphabet a word from the wonderful world of adult beverages.

From Alcohol, Booze, and Cocktail to Glencairns, Hair of the Dog, Quaffing, and Zima, Dan blends drinking history and trivia with personal stories and the kind of questionable wisdom you won’t find in any textbook. Along the way, he explains how a thesaurus helped launch his career, defends one of Tom Cruise’s most critically reviled movi...

Dan’s supposed to be on vacation. Supposed to be. But apparently staying away from a microphone is harder than it looks.

In this short-and-slightly-unhinged episode, he suffers a bout of cranial leakage, ranting about the scourge of party invite apps before taking a strange stroll down memory lane and wondering whether it might be time to resurrect Revenge Fantasies, the very short-lived podcast he once co-hosted devoted to, well, fantasizing about revenge.

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Dan is on vacation this week, presumably somewhere making a bartender regret asking, “What can I get you?” So we’re dipping into the archives for a Best of edition of 3-Minute Bartender, featuring one of the world’s most provocatively named cocktails: the Pornstar Martini.

Dan traces the drink back to legendary London bartender Douglas Ankrah, explains how the Maverick Martini got its much more memorable name, and shows you how to make the modern classic with vanilla vodka, passion fruit liqueur, passion fruit purée, vanilla sugar, and the all-important sidecar of Champagne. Plus, variations including...

This week we welcome one of the most influential figures in the rum world: Ian Burrell, founder of UK RumFest, the world's first international rum festival, and the man known throughout the spirits industry as the Global Rum Ambassador. For nearly two decades, Ian has been on a mission to elevate rum's reputation, introducing millions of people to the depth, diversity, and history of one of the world's most misunderstood spirits.

Most recently, Ian teamed up with master blender Cairbry Hill and The Rolling Stones to co-create Crossfire Hurricane Rum, a premium Jamaican rum inspired by the...

This week Dan welcomes acclaimed screenwriter and novelist Cliff Dorfman, whose riveting new crime novel, Crime Family, is already turning heads. Cliff shares behind-the-scenes stories from his time writing on Entourage, co-writing the acclaimed film Warrior, and making the leap from Hollywood to the world of crime fiction. Along the way, the conversation dives into storytelling, organized crime, the realities of the entertainment business, and the creative process, all while sipping tropical frozen cocktails made with Malibu Rum, bananas, strawberries, and orange juice.

Also on this episode, Dan serves up another installment of "History at Work and...

National Tequila Day calls for something special, and this year we're celebrating with one of the category's most knowledgeable ambassadors. Joining Dan is Jaime Salas, Head of Legacy & Advocacy for Proximo Spirits' agave portfolio in the U.S., for a deep dive into all things tequila, from the traditions and craftsmanship behind Mexico's most iconic spirit to the innovations shaping its future.

It started as a birthday celebration. It turned into the biggest episode in What We're Drinking history.

For Dan Dunn's Birthday Boozapalooza—and the landmark 350th episode—Dan is joined by WWD's Official Roving Correspondent, Brad Japhe, along with an all-star lineup of friends from some of the most respected names in the spirits world. Dropping by to raise a glass are Joe Beatrice (Barrell Craft Spirits), Jennifer Lane Oakley (Del Maguey Mezcal), Alexandre and Debbie Gabriel (Maison Ferrand), Haley Traub (Absolut Vodka), Jasmin Goldstein (Martell Cognac), Lillie Pierson (Michter's), and Guillermo Sauza (Fortaleza Tequila).

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On this tropical edition of What We're Drinking with Dan Dunn, we're raising a frosty glass to one of the most beloved and misunderstood cocktails of all time: the mighty piña colada.

Joining Dan for the festivities is Haley Traub, National Mixologist for Pernod Ricard and one of the most respected bartenders in America, whose résumé includes legendary New York cocktail institutions Attaboy and Dutch Kills. Together, they dive into the history of Puerto Rico's national drink, debate its origin story, and explore why the piña colada has endured for more than seven decades whil...

Summer is officially in session, which means it's time for the 43rd Annual What We're Drinking with Dan Dunn Summer Wine Special. Dan is joined by the podcast's Official Roving Correspondent, Brad Japhe, for a spirited, and occasionally absurd, deep dive into what actually makes a great summer wine. Spoiler alert: it's not just rosé and Sauvignon Blanc.

This year's lineup features four exceptional bottles that prove summer wine is more about attitude than color. Dan and Brad explore the beautifully balanced 2023 Alma Rosa Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay, including the remarkable journey of winemaker Samra Morris from w...

In this cinematic celebration of booze-soaked movie magic, Dan raises a glass to some of the greatest drinking scenes ever captured on film. From iconic barroom moments and legendary party sequences to unexpected liquid-fueled masterpieces, he explores how alcohol has helped create some of cinema's most memorable scenes, whether they're hilarious, heartfelt, chaotic, or downright absurd. Along the way, he revisits classics like Animal House and Jaws, marvels at the infectious drinking-and-dancing spectacle of The Greatest Showman, and reflects on why certain on-screen toasts have become permanently embedded in pop culture. Grab your favorite beverage and settle in for...

This week on 3-Minute Bartender, Dan raises a bright-orange toast to one of the world's most popular, and most polarizing, cocktails: the Aperol Spritz. Often dismissed as a frivolous poolside sipper, the Spritz actually boasts a history dating back more than a century, with roots stretching from Austrian soldiers in northern Italy to the sun-drenched piazzas of modern-day Venice.

This week we raise a glass to World Gin Day with a guest who lives and breathes the category: Diana Gettinger, National Brand Ambassador for Cygnet Gin. Together, Dan and Diana dive into the current state of gin, exploring how the spirit has evolved from its London Dry roots into one of the most dynamic and innovative categories in the world of booze. Is the gin boom still booming? What trends are shaping the future? And why does gin remain the bartender's favorite spirit?

Naturally, the conversation also turns to Cygnet, the ultra-premium Welsh gin brand founded b...

This installment of 3-Minute Bartender takes on one of summer's most beloved wine cocktails: sangria. Dan traces the drink's origins back to Spain and Portugal, where mixing wine with fruit, spices, and other ingredients wasn't so much a culinary innovation as a survival strategy. Along the way, he offers a brief history lesson, explains how sangria exploded in popularity after the 1964 World's Fair in New York, and shares several strong opinions, including a spirited rant about white sangria and the kind of people who clap when airplanes land.

From there, Dan demonstrates how to make his preferred...

Dan kicks things off with a caffeinated love letter to coffee, and specifically to the exceptional blends coming out of Queen Bee Vinyl Café, the coffee company run by his friend Maynard James Keenan. Dan explains why Maynard's coffee venture is much more than a celebrity side hustle and shares a few of his favorite roasts.

Then it's time for another installment of History At Work and In The Making. This month's chapter, Stars Behind Bars, shines a spotlight on famous actors, musicians, comedians, and other celebrities who spent time tending bar before they hit the big t...

This week the booze takes a temporary backseat to something a little more personal. After the sudden loss of his cousin Dennis—more brother than cousin, really—Dan headed back to his hometown of Philadelphia for a celebration of life that became something more: a meditation on grief, family, friendship, and the strange, unsettling way ordinary moments can turn out to be the last ones. Dennis may not have lived what the culture would define as a “big” life, but he lived a meaningful one, rich in community, routine, humor, and the kind of quiet resilience that leaves a lasting...

This week on What We’re Drinking, Dan and roving correspondent Brad Japhe celebrate World Cocktail Day by diving headfirst into a lineup of “Instant Classic Cocktails.” Drinks that may not be household names yet, but absolutely deserve to be. From a Caribbean-leaning spritz built around the newly U.S.-available Rhum Clément V.O. to a bourbon-powered riff on the French 75 featuring Basil Hayden, a honeyed twist on the Bee’s Knees courtesy of brand-new Plymouth Honey, a tequila-forward elevated Paloma with Tequila Ocho Plata, and the modern masterpiece that is the Bourbon Renewal starring Michter’s US*1, this...

Dan is joined by winemaker Chase Renton of L’Angolo Estate for a conversation that goes well beyond what’s in the glass. At the center of it is Resilience, a limited-release Willamette Valley Pinot Noir with a powerful mission: 100% of proceeds benefit the Kevin Love Fund, supporting mental health awareness and education.

Renton opens up about his personal journey—battling cancer, navigating burnout, and confronting anxiety and depression—and how those experiences ultimately shaped this project. The result is a candid, grounded conversation about vulnerability, connection, and the role wine can play in bringing people together. They als...

Dan sits down with Geoff Whitman—Pearl Jam’s official tour photographer and a seasoned pro in the wine world—to talk about his stunning new book, Pearl Jam ReactRespond. The book captures the band on their Dark Matter tour with a level of intimacy and immediacy that only someone embedded in the inner circle could pull off.

Geoff shares what it’s like documenting one of the most iconic bands on the planet night after night—how he anticipates moments, earns trust, and somehow stays invisible while capturing images that feel anything but. They dig into the energy...

Dan reunites with his longtime buddy Zane Lamprey, a man who has somehow turned drinking on camera into a multi-decade career and lived to write about it. Zane joins the show to talk about his new book Glass Half Full, a funny, self-aware look at the highs, lows, and hangovers that come with chasing a dream in the booze business. Along the way, he and Dan swap war stories from the road, talk about the brutal reality of keeping shows alive in a fickle TV landscape, and, naturally, get into what they’re drinking now. It’s equal parts nost...

This week Dan sits down with Johnny Depp to talk about his newly launched rum brand, Three Hearts. The conversation covers everything from the rich, rebellious history of rum (pirates, privateers, and plenty of bad decisions) to what drew Johnny into the spirits world in the first place. He also makes a compelling case for why dark rum is where the real soul of the category lives—deeper flavor, more character, less of that spring-break-in-a-plastic-cup energy. Along the way, they dip into Johnny’s film career, the strange parallels between storytelling and spirit-making, and how both require a certain tole...

Dan and Brad Japhe raise a glass to one of the world’s most enduring cocktails in this celebratory deep dive into National Gin & Tonic Day. From its roots as a medicinal mashup of quinine-laced tonic and British gin in colonial India to its modern status as a global go-to refresher, the G&T gets the full treatment—history, technique, and why it still hits like nothing else on a hot day.

Then it’s onto the good stuff: a spirited tour through some of the most compelling gins behind today’s best pours. Dan and Brad break do...

March has not exactly been Dan’s month, so in the interest of preserving what was left of his sanity, he headed south to San Diego for a change of scenery and a stiff drink with Trey Zoeller, the founder of Jefferson's Bourbon. Trey was in SD for a pretty wild reason: Jefferson’s has teamed up with Holland America Line to launch a new ocean-aged whiskey project, which involves loading a barrel of bourbon onto a cruise ship and letting the sea do its thing. It’s part science experiment, part marketing genius, and entirely on brand for a guy...

We took the show to Townhouse in Venice Beach for a live recording with the incomparable William H. Macy and, yeah, he more than delivered. Alongside Brad Japhe, we talk through Bill’s decades-spanning acting career, his involvement with Woody Creek Distillers, and the single best nugget of wisdom he ever got from David Mamet. As a bonus, Bill caps off the night with a few original tunes on the ukulele, because of course he does.

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In this episode of What We’re Drinking, Dan is joined by Colm O’Connor, Guinness Brewery Ambassador straight out of the legendary Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. Together, they dive deep into all things Guinness—its rich history, the craft behind the perfect pour, enduring myths, and why it remains one of the most iconic beers on the planet. With St. Patrick’s Day upon us, Colm shares how the holiday is celebrated in Ireland versus the States, along with a few insider tips to help you drink Guinness the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

But it’s...

In this St. Patrick’s Day–themed episode, Dan is joined by esteemed spirits writer Brad Japhe for a deep dive into the rich history and remarkable resurgence of Irish whiskey. Tasting their way through five standout expressions—Jameson Triple Triple, Redbreast Moscatel Wine Cask Edition, Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy, Green Spot, and Powers Gold Label—the two explore what makes each bottle unique while unpacking the centuries-old traditions behind Ireland’s most iconic spirit. Along the way, they break down the origins of St. Patrick’s Day, share a few favorite Irish whiskey cocktails, and offer plenty of spirited com...

Jon Taffer is back, and this time he’s raising hell in honor of Season 10 of Bar Rescue. The hospitality hitman joins me to talk about a decade of blowups, breakdowns, and barstool breakthroughs, what still shocks him after all these years, and why so many owners keep screwing up the same fundamentals. We get into the psychology of failing bars, the art (and science) of turning them around under the glare of reality TV, and what this milestone season says about the state of the bar business in America.

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This week on What We’re Drinking with Dan Dunn, we welcome one of the true mad scientists of the spirits world: Alexandre Gabriel, founder and master blender of Maison Ferrand.

Our main focus is the release of Batch No. 2 of Planteray Mister Fogg Navy Rum, a bold, high-seas-inspired expression that channels the swagger, strength, and storytelling tradition of classic Navy rum. Alexandre walks us through his long-standing fascination with maritime rum history, from the British Royal Navy’s daily tot to the complex blending traditions that defined the category. What started as historical curiosity evolved into a fu...

National Margarita Day falls on February 22nd, and we’re celebrating accordingly at WWD Headquarters. On this special episode, Dan is joined by Margarita Time author Caroline Pardilla and spirits expert Brad Japhe for a deep dive into America’s most beloved tequila cocktail, and the agave spirits that make it all possible.

We break down why the Margarita remains endlessly popular, deceptively simple, and perpetually reinvented, then get into an in-depth assessment of standout agave spirits that shine in the glass. The tasting lineup includes four tequilas—Código 1530, Olmeca Altos, G4, and El Tesoro—alongside two mezca...

Essential Mardi Gras Cocktails is a spirited, history-soaked romp through New Orleans drinking culture, with Dan joined by WWD’s official roving correspondent Brad Japhe and Abigail Gullo, Bar Director at Loa and a James Beard Award semifinalist. Together, they trace the roots of Mardi Gras itself before diving deep into the cocktails that define the season and the city: the Hurricane, Ramos Gin Fizz, Sidecar, French 75, Vieux Carré, Sazerac, Bourbon Milk Punch and a new instant classic that Abigail created. Along the way, they unpack technique, lore, and evolution, spotlighting featured spirits including Rabbit Hole Distillery Bourbon and Rye...

Dan and roving correspondent Brad Japhe dive into The Wonders of Italian Wine, spotlighting standout pours from Luca Bosio Vineyards and Bel Colle, including a lineup of single-vineyard Barbaresco and Barolo. Along the way, they unpack what makes Bel Colle’s celebrated Monvigliero and Bussia Grand Cru holdings so special, and explore how Luca Bosio blends generations of vineyard know-how with modern, low-intervention winemaking to deliver wines defined by clarity, structure, and sense of place. Dan also weighs in on reports that Gen Z is drinking less, and what that might mean for the future of drinking culture.