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Oola Distillery Firewater Podcast by The Firewater Network
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We talk with Tom Burkleaux, one of the pioneering founders of Portland, Oregon's New Deal Distillery.
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Provocative spirits, local ingredients, and craft ingenuity are among the highlights of our discussion with this Squamish, BC based distillery. The Firewater Network is proud to bring our listeners an in-depth talk with the team behind Gillespie's Fine Spirits.
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It's a privilege to speak with someone who understands what it takes to get products in front of the decision makers at retailers large and small. And when that person draws upon a lifetime of experience to innovate the way sales teams are managed, the conversation is truly enlightening. Tim Jones of Great Vines is an industry veteran who knows that not only is on-prem sales different from off, but an independent shopkeeper requires a different approach than a national chain. Further, he's bringing all he's learned to Great Vines to empower alcohol producers and sales teams with the tools they need to spend more time in front of customers and less in day-to-day drudgery. Listen to the Firewater interview as we dive into the world of the sales, how to approach a shop's gatekeeper, when to bring on a sales team, and how to efficiently manage people in the field when it is time to grow.
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What are the essentials of getting a distillery up and running? Space. Still. Bottles. Story. Recipe. These essentials will get you a product and get that product into a sellable state, but a distillery needs more. The government says you need a bond to get started and to store your product. Common sense says you should have some level of protection just in case anything happens at your distillery. All it takes is a bad weld to give out at the wrong time and all your distillery dreams can come crashing down. The transportation of alcohol brings unique challenges that most goods don’t face. The peculiarities and potential pitfalls of starting up a distillery are where Aaron Linden of HUB International Insurance thrives.Listen to the Firewater Network interview with Aaron, where we discuss common mistakes that founders make when first getting started, the importance of working with an industry expert for a highly technical undertaking like a distillery, and the commitment that an insurance guy has to protect a nascent industry. Visit the Firewater Network and hear more podcasts at www.firewaternetwork.com/podcasts
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In a sea of sameness, it's the small things that make a product stand out on a shelf. But standing out and conveying a sense of quality are two different things. Enter the craft waxery for craft distilleries: Reed Wax of Reading, MA. Their wax geniuses make a staid bottle look as good as the spirit it contains. Listen to the Firewater Network interview to learn how simple it can be to incorporate wax into a bottling system and how a small investment can deliver big returns. Concerned about "Peel Appeal?" Want to know how crazy a wax design can get (think "Disco Wax")? Read the Firewater profile, listen to the podcast, and watch Reed's own videos to see how wax can make a package not just different, but better: http://www.firewaternetwork.com/reed-wax/
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A distillery starts up differently when it is located on the middle of an island. Listen to our interview with Ishan Dillon of the Seattle Distilling Company on Vashon Island, WA to learn how community plays a pivotal role when the only connection to the mainland is a ferry boat. From a shipping container re-purposed into a barrel house to local sculptors lending their craft in making a beautiful handmade still, this award-winning distillery is a reflection of its neighbors and its surroundings. Find out more about the unique Washington experience bottled into everything that Seattle Distilling Company ships on the Firewater Network: http://www.firewaternetwork.com/seattle-distilling-company
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Alex Nicol is not just another spirits industry veteran who decided to create his own craft distillery. Rather, he has created a craft gin distillery with the dual goals of producing high quality, limited release gins while also training the next generation of craft distillers. Nicol's Edinburgh Gin is a collaboration between Alex and the faculty at Heriot-Watt University. Students learn the concepts of distilling in the classroom and then put what they've learned into practice at Edinburgh Gin. Education also extends to visitors of the distillery's tasting room, where the stills can be observed from the comfort of the bar and customers can actually infuse their own gin creations to take home. It's the way an industry veteran tries to better his trade and prepare the next generation of distillers, and gin drinkers, the way he knows how. Read the full profile and listen to the discussion on the Firewater Network: http://www.firewaternetwork.com/edinburgh-gin*photo courtesy of Edinburgh Gin
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What does it take to actually get a new spirit in front of a future customer? For many new distillers, the first step is to get their product into local bars. This often means leveraging all of those late-night outings at the local pub and reaching out to bartenders/managers who have come to know the distiller over the years. How bar managers decide what to stock and what to highlight behind their bars and on their menus is critical for the success of "on-premises" sales. In this week's release, we speak with the bar manager of a self-described neighborhood "dive bar" in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn - Meagan Walsh of the Plan B bar. Meagan has years of experience in running a bar, interacting with the public, and meeting with liquor sales professionals. For brands that align with the dive-bar esthetic, this interview should help in securing a bottle's place behind the bar and facing future customers.
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Brockman's Gin is the sum of one man's deep passion for the bouquet of botanicals that give gin its flavors plus a lifetime of gin industry experience. Bob Fowkes founded Brockman's after dedicating his professional life to building large, global gin brands and then helping others start their own smaller labels. Realizing that he, too, had a craft distiller's passion, the knowledge to start a new brand from scratch, and the experience to push the boundaries of gin, Bob decided to work with partners to create an entirely new vision for the junipered spirit. Listen to the Firewater Network podcast to learn how a small team of liquor experts created a gin for a new audience, one that is unique to any other on the market but still delights the faithful. Also discover how large industry expertise cannot prepare even the most experienced team for the hurdles of entrepreneurship. Finally, hear about how passion for a product is always going to be the most important ingredient for a new undertaking.
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Who would have ever thought of sipping a rum from the Rust Belt? Anthony Brichta’s background doesn't suggest that he would spend all of his free time in an old truck factory, distilling spirits where commercial vehicles were once made. He doesn't come from a long line of bootleggers, moonshiners, or mechanics. Rather, Anthony is an attorney-turned-distiller. County Seat Spirits, the mill-to-glass distillery he opened with his uncle/partner John Rowe, is Anthony's contribution to Allentown, PA, the city that raised him. Read the Firewater Network profile and listen to the podcast as we explore what it takes for a new distillery to open, be the first in its area, and represent the hopes of its founders of bringing in a new kind of manufacturing to a hard hit region. Find the profile and the podcast here: http://www.firewaternetwork.com/county-seat-spirits
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Ryan Csanky, the master distiller of Aria Portland Dry Gin, runs his company with a very simple mission statement: Focus on one product and make it the best. As he is quick to point to out, Ryan doesn’t make gin to finance a barrel project for a future whiskey release. Unlike many other distilleries, he specializes in one spirit: London-style dry gin. As he prepares to open his own distillery and tasting room, moving beyond the leased space in a nearby distillery that had been the home of Aria, Ryan wants both to grow Aria and contribute to the neighborhood he calls home. In this Firewater Discussion, we talk about the slow and steady path to growth, the importance of knowing your customer, and how community can play a positive role among distillers. Listen to the full interview and read his profile here: http://www.firewaternetwork.com/aria-portland-dry-gin
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The story behind Old World Spirits (OWS) is firmly planted in two worlds. OWS's founder, Davorin Kuchan, started his liquor brand because distilling reminded him of the wines and brandies made on his family's farm in Croatia. Many of OWS's spirits recall that past. When he isn't working his still, Davorin runs a tech company in Silicon Valley, immersing himself in the latest technological advances. This professional "duality" lends great insight into how OWS has succeeded for over a decade, and the insights Davorin shares make this Firewater profile a must read. Check out the full profile and listen to the podcast here: http://www.firewaternetwork.com/old-world-spirits
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Jamie Zimlin of Zimlin Consulting is a veteran consultant with numerous large and small brand launches under his belt. A short list of his successes includes: New Amsterdam Vodka, Camarena Tequila, and Barefoot Wines (to name a few). Listen to our discussion with this recently-turned-independent consultant as he shares his insight into managing relationships with distributors, getting product out of the warehouse and off store shelves and into the hands of consumers, and how a brand and consultant should fit together to form a cohesive team. For more information on Zimlin Consulting visit its website at https://www.facebook.com/zimlinconsulting.
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Ascendant Spirits, Santa Barbara County's first distillery since the end of prohibition, takes advantage of everything that its community provides. Ascendant infuses its spirits with produce that comes fresh from neighboring farms. It is an active member of the community, partnering with nearby wineries and breweries to lift the local craft economy. This California distillery is giving its customer's unique flavors and quality spirits that reflect the truly special place it calls home. Read the full profile at The Firewater Network: http://www.firewaternetwork.com/ascendant-spirits
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The distillers at Brooklyn's Greenhook Ginsmiths are singularly focused on making great gins. Listen to our discussion with one of the founders of this distillery, Steven DeAngelo, and learn about what it takes to build a brand in the tough environment of New York City. High overhead? Numerous competitors? Tough regulations? Greenhook has been through it all and is thriving. Learn about their start-up story and the commitment to planning and execution that has defined their rise. Read the full profile on the Firewater Network: http://www.firewaternetwork.com/greenhook-ginsmiths
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In this discussion, we hear from an alcohol industry veteran turned independent consultant. Tony Bagnulo has worked with some of the largest brands and launched some great spirits. Now, as the founder of the marketing collective and brand incubator B-33, Tony is working with brands throughout their lifecycles. Firewater is lucky to share some of his great insights about what it takes for a new brand to take off.We speak with him about:* When to call a consultant and how to maximize your consulting dollars* The importance of brand identity and brand ambassadorship* Establishing a marketing plan and brand “voice” More information about Tony and B-33 can be found at their website at http://www.b-33.net/ and their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/b33llc.
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The Prohibition Distillery of Roscoe, NY looks like it has always inhabited the abandoned fire house it calls home. It seems the building and business were made for each other. However, the history of its founding shows it was anything but preordained. Listen to the story of two partners who have found themselves at the right place at the right time, over and over again. Learn how they went from a contract brand to distillery owners, the journey of their Bootlegger brand from clear spirits to bourbon whiskey, and how they use their tasting room to give back to service members. Perhaps they prove the saying, "The harder I work, the luckier I get." Read their full profile and listen to the discussion on the Firewater Network: http://bit.ly/1vWZHJI
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A lifetime of wine-making grants Alex Villicana of the Re:Find Distillery of Paso Robles, CA a unique perspective on making craft spirits. He never intended to make gins, vodkas, or whiskeys. Rather, his pursuit to reduce the waste from his winery led him to a whole new avenue for pursuing his passion of crafting the best libations in California. As a 20 year winemaker, he followed traditional methods to produce some of the finest wines on the Central Coast. This method meant pouring up to half of his starting juice down the drain. His suppliers certainly weren't charging him less for what he poured out. Tired of letting money float away, Alex decided to distill this excess and start the Re:Find Distillery. He now brings his taste-making and blending expertise to the world of craft spirits. The gins, vodkas, and other spirits the Distillery produces prove that, for Re:Find, making fine wine and fine spirits have much in common. Read the full Firewater Network profile here: http://bit.ly/1uTQPOZ
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