Cocktails With Friends

About Cocktails With Friends

Cocktails with Friends, hosted by restaurateur and bartender Bob Cutler of Novio's Bistro in Bangor, Maine, is focused on creating conversations over cocktails and making some great memories.

Publisher

Cocktails with Friends

Category

society & culture · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

14 Jul 2023

Latest episode

26 Dec 2025

Latest episodes

111 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   26 Dec 2025

   S3 E21 Use Your Egg-Noggin

   S3 E21  Use Your Egg-Noggin In this holiday special, Bob Cutler crashes the George Hale Ric Tyler Show with mason jars and a mission: help hosts survive the entertaining season without being trapped behind the bar. Bob introduces his ultimate holiday "cheat code"—pre-batching cocktails, especially eggnog, so hosts can spend time with family and friends instead of mixing drinks all night. He explains that time is the one gift you can't buy, but you can give it back to yourself with smart prep. Key Topics Pre-Batching as Holiday Survival By batching eggnog and cocktails ahead of time, hosts reclaim their evenings and stay present for the moments that actually matter. Eggnog as a Living Cocktail Homemade eggnog improves with age, becoming silkier and more integrated, proving that patience can be a powerful ingredient. Hospitality Through Intention From ice choice to glassware to flavor balance, Bob frames cocktails as part of a full sensory experience—not just something to drink. Episode Index (0:00–2:53) Bob introduces the holiday "cheat code": pre-batching cocktails so hosts aren't stuck behind the bar. (2:53–6:43) Deep dive into homemade eggnog—ingredients, refrigeration, and why aging makes it smoother and better over time. (6:43–8:04) Cocktail one: a green eggnog Grasshopper using crème de menthe, white crème de cacao, and pebble ice in a mason jar. (8:04–10:25) Cocktail two: an eggnog espresso martini with coffee liqueur, chocolate notes, and optional tiramisu liqueur. (10:25–12:37) Ice, dilution, and hospitality philosophy—why thoughtful drinks matter as much as food, music, and atmosphere. Egg Nog (Props to Alton Brown) 4 large eggs, separated 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar 1 pint whole milk 1 cup heavy cream 1 1/4 fluid ounces bourbon 1 1/4 fluid ounces dark rum 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg Grasshopper Eggnog 2 oz eggnog .5 ounce crème de menthe .5 ounces white crème de cacao Shake with pebble ice and strain into a coupe glass (or Mason Jar!) Eggnog Espresso Martini 2 oz eggnog .5 ounces chilled espresso .5 ounces chocolate liquor Shake with pebble ice and strain into a coupe glass (or Mason Jar!)

2. 

   19 Dec 2025

   S3 E20 Jack Flash The Geologist Episode

   S3 E20 Jack Flash The Geologist Episode Bob Cutler closes out the year by welcoming his SIX-year-old son Jack into the studio for a candid, funny, and deeply personal conversation about school, gems, birds, golf carts, lemonade stands, and big dreams—reminding listeners that the best conversations don't need cocktails, just curiosity and love. Key Topics Curiosity as a Superpower Jack's endless questions, love of nonfiction, and fascination with rocks, birds, and history show how curiosity shapes learning and confidence at a young age. Family, Work, and Play Intertwined From golf courses to lemonade stands, Jack's world blends family businesses, shared experiences, and lessons about effort, kindness, and responsibility. Fatherhood and Legacy Bob reflects on the privilege of being called "Dad," realizing that the legacy he's building isn't in restaurants or podcasts—but in raising thoughtful, curious humans. Episode Index (0:00–1:32) Bob introduces the episode and explains why his son Jack is the most important guest he's ever had. (2:35–3:36) Jack shares his age, school life, love of reading, favorite teacher, and growing confidence as a kindergartener. (4:34–6:54) Hobbies galore: golf, gem collecting, arrowhead hunting, crayfish catching, and running a multi-flavor lemonade stand. (9:02–10:25) Jack talks about working the beverage cart, picking range balls, and earning money at the golf course. (12:04–14:29) Jack reveals his dream of becoming a geologist and bird watcher; Bob closes with reflection on fatherhood and gratitude.

3. 

   12 Dec 2025

   S3 E19 Quirky Dogs Need A Home | Kathryn Ravenscraft

   S3 E19 Quirky Dogs Need A Home In this warm, whimsical, and deeply human episode, Bob Cutler sits down with Bangor Humane Society's Kathryn Ravenscraft for a "fun-filled," "pun-filled" chat  about cocktails, laughs, and  quirky rescue animals. The two touch on responsible pet ownership, generosity, and how compassion, prevention, and community support keep families—and pets—together. Key Topics 1. Quirky Animals Need the Right People Not every dog or cat -- or donkey -- fits a traditional household. Kathryn explains how no-kill shelters commit to animals with anxiety, trauma, or special needs—sometimes for years—while waiting for the right match. 2. Prevention Over Surrender The Humane Society's food pantry and community partnerships focus on keeping animals out of shelters altogether by supporting families before crisis forces surrender. 3. Responsibility, Not Romance From emotional-support animals to holiday adoptions, the episode stresses that pets are lifelong commitments—not gifts or impulse decisions. Episode Index (0:00–2:30) Bob introduces Kathryn Ravenscraft and opens with a seasonal Grasshopper cocktail using eggnog. (6:45–10:30) Kathryn details her SIX years at Bangor Humane Society and the shelter's renovated, odor-free, education-focused facility. (18:40–24:30) Discussion of long-term and "quirky" dogs like Mandy, and what unicorn adopters look like in real life. (33:00–40:00) The economics of rescue: adoption prep costs, fees, and why puppies and kittens require more resources. (44:30–50:30) The free pet food pantry and the philosophy of keeping pets with their families during financial hardship.

Who has been a guest on Cocktails With Friends

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr David Cloutier
• Tate Clough
• Feet Banks
• Monique ten Kortenaar
• Karley Cunningham

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

25 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

15 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 61 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

91

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

77

Contact Cocktails With Friends

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.