Ready to know more about San Diego?

Subscribe

San Diego Happy Half Hour Podcast: Episode 98

New Mexican food in Barrio Logan and North Park, who'll be a part of Carlsbad's upcoming food hall, and Cutwater Spirits founder Yuseff Cherney drops by
Cutwater Spirits

By Archana Ram

Today’s episode of the Happy Half Hour is sponsored by The Westgate Hotel and their Sunset Poolside Jazz Series, hosted on the rooftop every Thursday through September 13.

On today’s show, Erin Chambers Smith and Troy Johnson along with producer Archana Ram are taping from The Westgate Hotel, where we’re talking restaurant openings, including the new El Carrito in Barrio Logan and El Tianguis in North Park, plus who’ll be a part of Carlsbad’s Windmill Food Hall.

We’re joined by Gilbert Castellanos, the acclaimed jazz musician who’s shared a stage with everyone from Liza Minnelli to Dizzy Gillespie and plays every Friday at The Westgate’s Plaza Bar. He talks about curating the music for this year’s Sunset Poolside Jazz Series and the upcoming performances you can’t miss.

Our guest is Yuseff Cherney, founder and Master Distiller of Cutwater Spirits and the former head brewer and COO of Ballast Point Brewing and Spirits. The UC San Diego grad talks to us about starting at Home Brew Mart, things he’s learned with his 26 years in the industry, and what that billion-dollar Constellation Brands acquisition felt like. Plus, he’s giving us the scoop on Cutwater’s most popular canned cocktails and what makes them “crushable.”

We’re gearing up for our big 100th episode, which we’ll be taping on Hornblower Cruise’s Sights & Sips Cocktail Cruise June 22. And we want you there! Enter here for a chance to win one of 10 pairs of tickets to join us on the bay.

Subscribe to the Happy Half Hour on iTunes or Google Play, or listen below.

Recent Episodes

For all previous episodes, click here.


Would you like to sponsor a podcast episode at your restaurant or bar? Email David, our producer and digital media director.

San Diego Happy Half Hour Podcast: Episode 98

Cutwater Spirits

Share this post

LATEST EPISODES

Podcast

Jimbo’s Naturally Celebrates 40 Years of Supporting Local ...

Jimbo’s Naturally Celebrates 40 Years of Supporting Local Farms & Businesses

Listen now

Podcast

Lia's Lumpia Fuses Filipino Cooking with Black Soul Food

Listen now

Podcast

Little Lion’s Chef Learned Everything from Her Grandparent...

Little Lion’s Chef Learned Everything from Her Grandparents

Listen now

Podcast

Actor Martin Short Becomes Mayor of a Food-Obsessed Town

Listen now

Podcast

San Diego’s Best Beer Isn't an IPA

Listen now

Podcast

Javier Plascencia Talks Michelin Stars & Caesar Salad's ...

Javier Plascencia Talks Michelin Stars & Caesar Salad's 100th

Listen now

Podcast

All the Best Eats at the San Diego County Fair

Listen now

Podcast

Cardellino Owner Brad Wise on Truffles, Caviar & Butcher...

Cardellino Owner Brad Wise on Truffles, Caviar & Butchering

Listen now

Podcast

San Diego's King of Produce

Listen now

Podcast

Is this San Diego's Most Picturesque Rooftop Restaurant?

Listen now

Podcast

Trying Petco Park's Best Food with Don and Mud

Listen now

Podcast

SD’s Secret Sommelier Weapon is at North Park’s Black Ra...

SD’s Secret Sommelier Weapon is at North Park’s Black Radish

Listen now

Podcast

Radio Host Chris Cantore & Chef Tyler Mars Launch New Po...

Radio Host Chris Cantore & Chef Tyler Mars Launch New Pop-Up

Listen now

Podcast

Fast Food Secrets With Jordan Howlett

Listen now

Podcast

Feeding San Diego Rescues 1.2M Pounds of Food a Month 

Listen now

Podcast

Making Wishes Come True With Chef William Eick

Listen now

Podcast

The Beach Boys’ Mike Love Puts Us in a Kokomo State of Min...

The Beach Boys’ Mike Love Puts Us in a Kokomo State of Mind

Listen now

Podcast

Lighting Up the Gaslamp 

Listen now

Podcast

The Story Behind San Diego's Hottest Backyard Restaurant

Listen now

Podcast

Is This the Best Falafel in San Diego?

Listen now

Podcast

San Diego’s Legendary Tony Tee Drops By the Pod

Listen now

Podcast

Feeling Lucky with Jason Mraz

Listen now

Podcast

The Spirits Company Giving Back, One Drink At a Time

Listen now

Podcast

Let Us Eat Cake

Listen now

Contact Us

1230 Columbia Street, Suite 800,

San Diego, CA