The NOLADrinks Show – 6-18-18 – Jeff Beachbum Berry – Tiki Cocktails and Culture

Pictured above from left – Jeff “Beachbum” Berry of Latitude 29 and Bryan Dias of NOLADrinks.

The NOLADrinks Show – 6-18-18 – Jeff Beachbum Berry – Tiki Cocktails and Culture

We kick things off talking about this week’s show. We also talk about a recent report in the New Orleans Advocate on the restaurant and hospitality industry in the city across two articles – here and here. It’s a topic and discussion we have covered for some months on the show. However, these articles highlight a study the paper conducted looking at the number of restaurants in town, a look at the pre and post-Katrina landscape, and statistics related to the rough summer months and connected establishment closures.

We then move into our featured interview with Tiki cocktail and culture historian, author, and restaurateur, Jeff “Beachbum” Berry. We visit his spot here in New Orleans – Latitude 29 – located in the French Quarter.

We discuss the origins of this “faux culture” with its roots in a post-Prohibition and post-World War II world. It’s an interesting story that almost vanished in the latter part of the 20th century. It has enjoyed renewed vigor, due in large part, to the craft cocktail renaissance and also, in no small part, because of Jeff’s work to chronicle its history and its drinks.

Of course, we also chat about Latitude 29, started by Jeff and his wife, Annene Kaye. There you can find classic as well as long-lost Tiki Cocktails, many of which Jeff dug up during his research, as well as great food. We discuss Jeff’s background and his terrific publications, including Sippin’ Safari, which just enjoyed its 10th anniversary with a bit of an update!

We continue the conversation on our podcast-only extended interview, “Another Shot with NOLADrinks,” where we get into more detail and stories connected to all-things-Tiki. If you’re a Tiki enthusiast or in the trade, you’ll want to catch that part of the show!

We close things out with our “Parting Shot” talking about the potential threats to the American whiskey industry resulting from the Trump administration’s trade wars and pending tariffs.

On the map below that shows the location of Latitude 29, you can subscribe to, stream, and download The NOLADrinks Show podcast…

Cheers, You All!

~ Bryan