Lush Life

At the St Regis, it’s two, two bars in one. Our guest is well aware of that fact - preparing a perfectly executed Negroni at noon on a sun-drenched terrace… and then later that evening a Warhol-worthy cocktail set in a bespoke glass.
Today I’m sitting down with Ludwig Negri, Manager of The St. Regis Bar and the Arts Bars at the St Regis Venice.
He’s been there since it was reopened in 2019, after honing his craft in London. We’ll talk Lake Garda beginnings, Venetian lagoon botanicals, and what it really takes to build two distinct bar identities in one of the most visited hotels in the city
You can also read about the St Regis Venice in my new book — yes, it’s finally happening. A Guide to Drinking in Venice lands in April 2026. I’ve been hinting at it for years, and it’s now available for pre-sale. Go to alushlifemanual.com/book for more details.
Our cocktail of the week is the Doge’s Tipple.
INGREDIENTS
45ml artichoke-infused Mancino Amaranto
45ml Venetian bitter (we are using select, but we are gonna change soon with Bitter dei Sospiri)
10ml Amaro Cadello
Lemon Essence spray from Essentia
1 globe artichoke

METHOD
You will need to infuse your vermouth with artichoke first. To do that, you need to remove the outer leaves and trim the stem of one globe artichoke, keeping only the tender, light-green leaves and heart. Then slice the artichoke into very thin pieces. Add these to the jug and then add 750ml of Mancino Amaranto, which is what the St Regis Venice uses, or any vermouth. Then let it rest 24-48 hours.
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass filled with ice.
Stir until well chilled
Strain into a rocks glass with ice
Mist with a spritz of Lemon Essence spray

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/st-regis-venice-with-ludwig-negri/

-----
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 other Tuesday, usually!!

Paris has taken Venice by storm but this time round, unlike Napoleon in 1797, they’ve arrived with shakers not soldiers. Our guest today is leading the charge!
I’m sitting down with Pietro Lorefice, Bar Manager of Experimental Cocktail Club Venice, one of the bars that changed the cocktail conversation in this city.
Experimental Cocktail Club conquered Paris in 2007 with its innovative ideas, sparking Europe’s modern cocktail revival and growing into an influential group of bars and hotels around the world.
In Venice, Pietro is at the helm and we’re talking craft, culture, and what it really takes to run one of Venice’s most exciting bars.
You can also read about Pietro in my new book - well almost. I HAVE A NEW BOOK COMING OUT in April 2026 - A Guide to Drinking in Venice! I've been talking about it for what... three years now? I can't wait for you to see it at last for pre-sale!
Go to alushlifemanual.com/book for more details.
Now let’s join Pietro!
Our cocktail of the week is the Isola Di Pino
INGREDIENTS
40 ml Vodka
20 ml Coffee liqueur
10 ml Amaro
Salted Sugar Syrup* to taste

METHOD
Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice.
Shake until well chilled and frosted.
Fine strain into a coupette glass
Add 3 coffee beans for good luck and enjoy.

*Salted Sugar Syrup: Combine equal parts (by weight) of sugar and water. Add 5% salt based on the total weight. Stir until completely dissolved.
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/experimental-cocktail-club-venice-with-pietro-lorefice/

-----
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 other Tuesday, usually!!

In music, most of us are attracted to a song’s continually repeated musical rhythm, "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones, or "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes, but once those were new to us. Our guest today is here to remind us of the pleasure we get when discovering a new riff.
Sponsored by Visit Cincy, I am thrilled to introduce you to Mollie Lewis, the President of New Riff Distilling, which took Kentucky’s leitmotif of bourbon and sprinkled in a few eighth-note surprises to create a liquid that is winning awards not only at home but around the world. Her story proves there’s always room for a new tune in town.
Not only am I excited to introduce Mollie to you, but also the whole Cincy Region — where North meets South and Ohio meets Kentucky. Just a bridge apart, Cincinnati’s German heritage and urban energy connect with Northern Kentucky’s Southern charm.
While you are there, you can sip bourbon, sample craft beer, and savor award-winning cuisine. There are tons of vibrant street art, historic landmarks, and stunning architecture to explore — all along a riverfront that’s buzzing with festivals year-round.
You can plan your trip at visitcincy.com.
Our cocktail of the week is the New Fashioned:
INGREDIENTS
2 oz. New Riff Bottled in Bond Bourbon
3 dashes Angostura Bitters
3 dashes Orange Bitters
1/4 oz. Rich Demerara Syrup*

METHOD
Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass
Add ice and then stir until chilled
Strain over a large rock in a rocks glass or coupe
Garnish with an orange peel

*Rich Demerara Syrup - In a large pot, mix 12 oz of water and 24 oz of demerara sugar together on low heat. Use a spoon to slowly stir as the mixture heats up. Heat through until sugar dissolves, never allowing the mixture to come to a boil. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month.
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/new-riff-with-mollie-lewis-president/
-----

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!!

Some birds sing at dawn to wake us up, but today we’re celebrating the birthday of a certain nocturnal songbird whose award-winning cocktails, wonderful hospitality, and sultry nightly soundtrack have been keeping London warbling for 15 years.
Today we’re turning our attention to Nightjar, the Shoreditch bar that rewrote London’s late-night playbook.
Joining me are the brilliant duo behind it: Roisin Stimpson and Edmund Weil. Long before Nightjar became a fixture on the World’s 50 Best Bars list, the Top 500 Bars, and every other list, Rosie and Edmund had a dream and the drive to create a place that brought together all their passions.
All their bars, Nightjar, Oriole, and Swift, hold a special place in my heart, and you will see why. I don’t want to reveal too much of their story in this intro, so let’s get right into the episode and have them guide us through the story of Nightjar.
 But before that, if you love Lush Life, we would so appreciate your support by signing up for our newsletter. You can get our advice on anything to do with home bartending, where to drink in every major city, special recipes, and even your very own Lush Life mug! Just head to alushlifemanual.substack.com and sign up!
Now grab that Martini and let’s join Rosie and Edmund!
Our cocktail of the week is the Toronto:
INGREDIENTS
50 ml Woodford Reserve
12.5 ml Fernet Branca
7.5 ml Maple syrup, infused with roasted coffee beans & pecan nut

METHOD
Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass
Add ice and then stir until chilled and
Strain it into a rocks glass.
Garnish with cotton candy

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/nightjar-with-roisin-stimpson-edmund-weil/

-----

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!!

Our guest has ventured from the Arctic Circle to Kentucky’s rickhouses to Scotland’s distilleries in pursuit of one singular spirit. Now he’s sharing his wisdom with the world.
This week, the legendary Noah Rothbaum joins me to crack open The Whiskey Bible and pour out the secrets and stories of one of the world’s greatest spirits.
Noah is not only a leading authority on cocktails and spirits, but also a James Beard Award winner, the author of many acclaimed drinks books and the associate editor of the Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails, which won the Dartmouth Medal for the best reference book of 2021 and the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits.
Who better to guide us through the world of The Whiskey Bible: A Complete Guide to the World’s Greatest Spirit, a staggeringly comprehensive, entertaining, and approachable book including not only a history of whiskey, but an in-depth analysis of every major whiskey distilling region, general and practical whiskey facts, and 60 classic and modern whiskey cocktail recipes from top bartenders.
 But before that, if you love Lush Life, we would so appreciate your support by signing up for our newsletter. You can get our advice on anything to do with home bartending, where to drink in every major city, special recipes, and even your very own Lush Life mug! Just head to alushlifemanual.substack.com and sign up!
Now grab that dram, let’s join Noah!
Our cocktail of the week is called Penicillin:
INGREDIENTS
2 oz Scotch
¼ oz Islay Scotch
¾ oz fresh lemon juice
¾ oz honey syrup (3 parts honey, 1 part water)
¾ tablespoon sweetened ginger syrup (4 parts ginger juice, 3 parts sugar)
Garnish: candied ginger

METHOD
Combine all of the ingredients except the Islay Scotch in a shaker and fill with ice.
Shake and then pour into a rocks glass filled with ice.
Using a bar spoon, gently pour ¼ oz of Islay Scotch over the back of the spoon to create a float.
Garnish with the candied ginger

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/the-whiskey-bible-with-noah-rothbaum-author/
-----

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!!