In the Drink

Episode 115: Brooklyn Spirits: Craft Distilling and Cocktails from the World’s Hippest Borough

Episode Summary

Get an inside look cocktail culture in Brooklyn on a spirited episode of In the Drink as Joe Campanale is joined by Peter Thomas Fornatale, co-author of Brooklyn Spirits: Craft Distilling and Cocktails from the Worlds Hippest Borough. Peter has spent a good part of the last two decades drinking in Brooklyn. Hes also been a publishing professional in that time frame at Simon and Schuster and Random House. He took cocktail classes from legendary New York bartender (and author) Dale DeGroff and spent a summer supporting a horseracing habit by bartending at the acclaimed Chez Sophie in Saratoga Springs. Cocktails are literally in his blood: his grandfather, John T. Flynn, was a brand manager at Seagrams for many decades. He is also a site coordinator at The Park Slope CSA, putting him in close touch with the best local ingredients (and the people who buy them). This program was brought to you by Visit Napa Valley. Cocktail books can be kind of same-y and I dont think this one falls into that trap. [10:30] Theres a lot to appreciate in much of the whiskey coming out of Brooklyn right now. [22:00] --Peter Thomas Fornatale on In the Drink

Episode Notes

Get an inside look cocktail culture in Brooklyn on a spirited episode of In the Drink as Joe Campanale is joined by Peter Thomas Fornatale, co-author of Brooklyn Spirits: Craft Distilling and Cocktails from the World’s Hippest Borough. Peter has spent a good part of the last two decades drinking in Brooklyn. He’s also been a publishing professional in that time frame at Simon and Schuster and Random House. He took cocktail classes from legendary New York bartender (and author) Dale DeGroff and spent a summer supporting a horseracing habit by bartending at the acclaimed Chez Sophie in Saratoga Springs. Cocktails are literally in his blood: his grandfather, John T. Flynn, was a brand manager at Seagram’s for many decades. He is also a site coordinator at The Park Slope CSA, putting him in close touch with the best local ingredients (and the people who buy them). This program was brought to you by Visit Napa Valley.


“Cocktail books can be kind of same-y and I don’t think this one falls into that trap.” [10:30]

“There’s a lot to appreciate in much of the whiskey coming out of Brooklyn right now.” [22:00]

–Peter Thomas Fornatale on In the Drink