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Whiskey Del Bac in Tucson, Arizona, has pursued a taste of place in its spirits since opening in 2011, using local mesquite wood instead of peat to smoke-dry malt for its single-malts. Head distiller and blender Mark Vierthaler—also the interim marketing director—joined the team in 2021, leading the production of what he calls the distillery’s “love letter to the Sonoran desert.”
In this episode, Vierthaler joins host Sydney Jones to talk terroir, transparency, marketing, blending, and balancing art with pragmatism. Among other topics, he discusses:
transparency and sense of place as integral to the brand
sourcing rye whiskey—transparently—and filtering it through mesquite charcoal
adding a rye that fits the locally rooted brand
collecting and interpreting sensory data to craft a blend that’s better, not just to spec
the push-and-pull of creativity and the needs of the business
marketing perspective and brand consideration for distillers
the Distiller’s Cut series as an outlet for creativity
fermenting hot, up to 95°F (35°C), with special ester-forward yeast
fermenting and distilling a cleaner product meant for aging in the hot climate
using thick-staved barrels to mitigate for dramatic daily temperature swings in an arid climate
leaning into Arizona flavor for wider appeal
And more.
Brought to you by:
G&D Chillers: (https://gdchillers.com) G&D Chillers understands that each distillery’s chilling requirements are unique. On every distillery project, G&D offers the front-end design and engineering your team needs at no cost to you. Rebecca Harris, president and head distiller of Catoctin Creek recently shared, “Service after the sale is what really separates the quality of a supplier relationship. G&D Chillers has always been a phone call away when we needed them. For a small business like mine, that partnership makes all the difference.” Whether you distill batch by batch or in a continuous operation, for more than 30 years, G&D has had the proven solution. Visit them today at gdchillers.com.
Modern Process Equipment: (https://www.mpechicago.com/distillery-equipment-precision-roller-mills/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=digital&utm_campaign=brand&utm_content=october2024) Attention all distillers! The MPE Gran-U-Lizer is the precision roller mill that will change the way you approach distilling. The MPE Gran-U-Lizer masters every grain with unparalleled consistency—providing better flavor extraction and a more efficient process. One distiller even saved more than $38,000 a year after switching from a cage mill to an MPE roller mill! This is your key to achieving a perfect grind every time. Learn more on the Modern Process Equipment website: mpechicago.com! -
Jackie Zykan of Hidden Barn (https://hiddenbarnwhiskey.com) and Oduoak (https://www.oduoak.com) can tell you what aromas and flavors she detects when she smells and tastes whiskey, but she’d rather not put it in terms that you can connect with. After all, if she tells you she gets almond, you’ll most likely perceive and focus on that almond. But as she says in the episode, “Who cares if you ... get almond or not? I don’t care. There is no wrong or right.” The spirited blender has strong opinions about the current state of whiskey- and bourbon-blending, education, and consumer feedback; in this episode, Zykan and Jones discuss: Lessons learned from working behind the bar Oak contributions to aged whiskey The industry’s manipulation of tasting descriptors to create generic experiences Finding workable and interesting permutations in bourbon blends Figuring barrel volumes when working into blends Using small bits of sometimes “flawed” whiskey to add character and an edge to a blend Moving the bourbon community to a better language around flavor and sensory Layering top, middle, and bass notes in whiskey-based perfume Focusing on intentionality and going full gas, no brakesAnd more. Brought to you by:G&D Chillers: (https://gdchillers.com) G&D Chillers understands that each distillery’s chilling requirements are unique. On every distillery project, G&D offers the front-end design and engineering your team needs at no cost to you. Rebecca Harris, president and head distiller of Catoctin Creek recently shared, “Service after the sale is what really separates the quality of a supplier relationship. G&D Chillers has always been a phone call away when we needed them. For a small business like mine, that partnership makes all the difference.” Whether you distill batch by batch or in a continuous operation, for more than 30 years, G&D has had the proven solution. Visit them today at gdchillers.com.ABS Commercial: (hhttps://abs-commercial.com) For over 11 years, ABS Commercial has been your full-service equipment manufacturer, designing quality distillation equipment ranging from 50L – 5,000L. Whether establishing a new distillery or expanding into a brewstillery, their team of experienced engineers and designers work with you to develop customized distilling solutions. With their consultative approach, they tailor to your production capacity, space constraints, and budgetary considerations to help you create quality, crafted spirits. Contact them today at [email protected] to discuss your customized distilling needs.
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Adam Spiegel is taking an approach akin to alchemy and applying it to distilling, turning something relatively worthless—excess capacity in the distillery—into gold. The result isn’t just contract distilling and business diversification—it’s room to continue pushing and learning with Corning & Company (https://www.corningandcompany.com), beyond the whiskey space that he pursued for the first decade of Sonoma Distilling (https://sonomadistillingcompany.com).
In this episode, Spiegel touches on:
finding efficiencies in a challenging craft-spirits business environment
understanding the individual needs of a brands and speaking in its voice
building a “craft distillery incubator of the future”
distilling “California-style whiskey”
the mechanics of making black truffle rye whiskey
smoking malt for both bourbon and rye
American single-malt whiskey
And more.
Brought to you by:
G&D Chillers: (https://gdchillers.com) G&D Chillers understands that each distillery’s chilling requirements are unique. On every distillery project, G&D offers the front-end design and engineering your team needs at no cost to you. Rebecca Harris, president and head distiller of Catoctin Creek recently shared, “Service after the sale is what really separates the quality of a supplier relationship. G&D Chillers has always been a phone call away when we needed them. For a small business like mine, that partnership makes all the difference.” Whether you distill batch by batch or in a continuous operation, for more than 30 years, G&D has had the proven solution. Visit them today at gdchillers.com.
ABS Commercial: (hhttps://abs-commercial.com) For over 11 years, ABS Commercial has been your full-service equipment manufacturer, designing quality distillation equipment ranging from 50L – 5,000L. Whether establishing a new distillery or expanding into a brewstillery, their team of experienced engineers and designers work with you to develop customized distilling solutions. With their consultative approach, they tailor to your production capacity, space constraints, and budgetary considerations to help you create quality, crafted spirits. Contact them today at [email protected] to discuss your customized distilling needs. -
Chicago's Maplewood (https://maplewoodbrew.com) has made quite a name for themselves over the years in both the brewing and the distilling worlds. Four Great American Beer Festival medals, a couple of 99 ratings and one perfect 100 score (https://beerandbrewing.com/review/maplewood-brewing-company-barrel-aged-cuppa-vanilla-rye-1624047753) from the blind review panel at Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine®, and most recently a double gold for their Fat Pug single-malt whiskey at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (along with three additional silvers and a bronze). Producing thoughtful, interesting, and beautifully crafted beverages is in the company’s DNA. In this episode, host Sydney Jones leads cofounder Adam Cieslak and distiller Adam Smith through a ranging conversation that touches on: production scheduling between distillery and breweryusing former wooden beer vessels as fermentation vessels for spiritscleaning and CIP from a brewer’s point of view, with dedicated equipment for certain mashespushing low-pH fermentations for flavorful distillationfermenting with Brettanomyces strains before distillationbrewery experiments for distilling that didn’t workbuilding interesting approaches to gin with spruce, peppercorn, rooibos tea, barrel aging, and moremaking gin with non-neutral base spiritusing finishing casks for spirits with unique characterovercoming challenges of canned cocktails in formulas, homogenization, and packagingAnd more. Brought to you by:G&D Chillers: (https://gdchillers.com) G&D Chillers understands that each distillery’s chilling requirements are unique. On every distillery project, G&D offers the front-end design and engineering your team needs at no cost to you. Rebecca Harris, president and head distiller of Catoctin Creek recently shared, “Service after the sale is what really separates the quality of a supplier relationship. G&D Chillers has always been a phone call away when we needed them. For a small business like mine, that partnership makes all the difference.” Whether you distill batch by batch or in a continuous operation, for more than 30 years, G&D has had the proven solution. Visit them today at gdchillers.com.ABS Commercial: (hhttps://abs-commercial.com) For over 11 years, ABS Commercial has been your full-service equipment manufacturer, designing quality distillation equipment ranging from 50L – 5,000L. Whether establishing a new distillery or expanding into a brewstillery, their team of experienced engineers and designers work with you to develop customized distilling solutions. With their consultative approach, they tailor to your production capacity, space constraints, and budgetary considerations to help you create quality, crafted spirits. Contact them today at [email protected] to discuss your customized distilling needs.Brewery & Distillery Workshop: (https://www.breweryworkshop.com) IIf you’re planning a distillery or brewery launch, adding a distillery to your brewery, or considering purchasing an existing brewing or distilling business, then visit breweryworkshop.com for more information about the Brewery and Distillery workshop brought to you by Craft Spirits & Distilling and Craft Beer & Brewing. Over four days, you’ll learn what it takes to get a successful craft beverage business off the ground, through panel discussions, working group sessions, technical tours, and more. Get your ticket now at breweryworkshop.com.
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As blender and manager of blending operations for the blend-focused brand Barrell Craft Spirits, (https://www.barrellbourbon.com) Nic Christiansen’s job is to understand flavors, how they develop, and how they interact with each other to create harmonious wholes.
In this episode, Christiansen and host Molly Troupe discuss:
finding new avenues for flavor in blended whiskey
building micro-blends that are then married through additional barrel conditioning
the benefits and challenges of sourcing whiskey
calculating derived mash bills from the component whiskeys
taking a flavor-focused approach to blending
aging in a variety of casks and the concurrent evaluation process
designing whiskey blends around a creative brief that’s experience-based
developing blends that push past typical whiskey guardrails
protecting one’s palate
working in threes
And more.
Brought to you by:
G&D Chillers: (https://gdchillers.com) G&D Chillers understands that each distillery’s chilling requirements are unique. On every distillery project, G&D offers the front-end design and engineering your team needs at no cost to you. Rebecca Harris, president and head distiller of Catoctin Creek recently shared, “Service after the sale is what really separates the quality of a supplier relationship. G&D Chillers has always been a phone call away when we needed them. For a small business like mine, that partnership makes all the difference.” Whether you distill batch by batch or in a continuous operation, for more than 30 years, G&D has had the proven solution. Visit them today at gdchillers.com.
ABS Commercial: (hhttps://abs-commercial.com) For over 11 years, ABS Commercial has been your full-service equipment manufacturer, designing quality distillation equipment ranging from 50L – 5,000L. Whether establishing a new distillery or expanding into a brewstillery, their team of experienced engineers and designers work with you to develop customized distilling solutions. With their consultative approach, they tailor to your production capacity, space constraints, and budgetary considerations to help you create quality, crafted spirits. Contact them today at [email protected] to discuss your customized distilling needs.
Brewery & Distillery Workshop: (https://www.breweryworkshop.com) IIf you’re planning a distillery or brewery launch, adding a distillery to your brewery, or considering purchasing an existing brewing or distilling business, then visit breweryworkshop.com for more information about the Brewery and Distillery workshop brought to you by Craft Spirits & Distilling and Craft Beer & Brewing. Over four days, you’ll learn what it takes to get a successful craft beverage business off the ground, through panel discussions, working group sessions, technical tours, and more. Get your ticket now at breweryworkshop.com. -
New York City’s Widow Jane Distillery (https://widowjane.com) may be one of the better known craft-spirits brands, with a relatively wide distribution footprint earned through the incredible reputation built by former distillers such as Lisa Wicker (hear her perspective on Episode 3 (https://spiritsanddistilling.com/cs-d-podcast-episode-3-lisa-wicker/)). Now, under the guidance of head distiller and blender Sienna Jevremov, the distillery continues to grow despite the functional challenge of producing spirits in tight urban spaces, and the results of their work capture a certain artful tension and energy.
In this episode, Jevremov and host Sydney Jones explore the challenges Widow Jane faces and the creative solutions those necessitate. Along the way, they discuss:
The challenges of distilling in an urban environment where the distilling and blending process takes place across five different addresses
Predicting the future of white-dog whiskey flavors and testing predictions against aged batches
Finding harmony in distillate from different sites
Making bourbon with a hybrid of two heirloom corn varieties
Articulating the hand of the distiller in column distillation
Creative approaches to blending while identifying personalities within the blending team
Using woods such as applewood and amburana for aging while testing and predicting its effects over time
And more.
Brought to you by:
G&D Chillers: (https://gdchillers.com) G&D Chillers understands that each distillery’s chilling requirements are unique. On every distillery project, G&D offers the front-end design and engineering your team needs at no cost to you. Rebecca Harris, president and head distiller of Catoctin Creek recently shared, “Service after the sale is what really separates the quality of a supplier relationship. G&D Chillers has always been a phone call away when we needed them. For a small business like mine, that partnership makes all the difference.” Whether you distill batch by batch or in a continuous operation, for more than 30 years, G&D has had the proven solution. Visit them today at gdchillers.com.
ABS Commercial: (hhttps://abs-commercial.com) For over 11 years, ABS Commercial has been your full-service equipment manufacturer, designing quality distillation equipment ranging from 50L – 5,000L. Whether establishing a new distillery or expanding into a brewstillery, their team of experienced engineers and designers work with you to develop customized distilling solutions. With their consultative approach, they tailor to your production capacity, space constraints, and budgetary considerations to help you create quality, crafted spirits. Contact them today at [email protected] to discuss your customized distilling needs.
Brewery & Distillery Workshop: (https://www.breweryworkshop.com) IIf you’re planning a distillery or brewery launch, adding a distillery to your brewery, or considering purchasing an existing brewing or distilling business, then visit breweryworkshop.com for more information about the Brewery and Distillery workshop brought to you by Craft Spirits & Distilling and Craft Beer & Brewing. Over four days, you’ll learn what it takes to get a successful craft beverage business off the ground, through panel discussions, working group sessions, technical tours, and more. Get your ticket now at breweryworkshop.com. -
Brewer-turned-distiller Christian Krogstad launched House Spirits in the mid-‘00s with a focus on artisanal gin, but he had no idea the botanical spirit they pursued with passion would become one of the larger celebrity-owned-and-endorsed spirits in this recent wave of high-profile acquisitions.
Tinkering with two partners—one a prominent bartender, the other a fellow distiller—their goal was to create a pre-Prohibition-style gin perfect for classic cocktails. But no recipes existed for those earlier gins, so he set about reverse-engineering one from a recipe perspective. The result is now a modern classic and a favorite of bartenders everywhere—but in this episode, Krogstad takes us back to the roots of the creation process, tracks the Aviation’s evolution to the present day.
In this episode, Krogstad and host Mollly Troupe discuss:
building independent brands rather than a branded house, to address how many drinkers seek categories rather than brands
designing gin to work in a classic cocktail context and appeal to bartenders, with no historical recipes to reference
building botanical blends for nuance and character rather than intensity
finding a signature ingredient that brings the botanical blend together
articulating the power of flavor memories
changes in gin flavor after bottling
go-to-market strategy for a new gin brand, and the 2012 relaunch that changed its trajectory
creating bartender-friendly packaging
selling the Aviation Gin brand to Ryan Reynolds and an investment group
distilling aquavit, the caraway or dill-seed spirit
And more.
Brought to you by:
G&D Chillers: (https://gdchillers.com) G&D Chillers understands that each distillery’s chilling requirements are unique. On every distillery project, G&D offers the front-end design and engineering your team needs at no cost to you. Rebecca Harris, president and head distiller of Catoctin Creek recently shared, “Service after the sale is what really separates the quality of a supplier relationship. G&D Chillers has always been a phone call away when we needed them. For a small business like mine, that partnership makes all the difference.” Whether you distill batch by batch or in a continuous operation, for more than 30 years, G&D has had the proven solution. Visit them today at gdchillers.com.
ABS Commercial: (hhttps://abs-commercial.com) For over 11 years, ABS Commercial has been your full-service equipment manufacturer, designing quality distillation equipment ranging from 50L – 5,000L. Whether establishing a new distillery or expanding into a brewstillery, their team of experienced engineers and designers work with you to develop customized distilling solutions. With their consultative approach, they tailor to your production capacity, space constraints, and budgetary considerations to help you create quality, crafted spirits. Contact them today at [email protected] to discuss your customized distilling needs.
Brewery & Distillery Workshop: (https://www.breweryworkshop.com) IIf you’re planning a distillery or brewery launch, adding a distillery to your brewery, or considering purchasing an existing brewing or distilling business, then visit breweryworkshop.com for more information about the Brewery and Distillery workshop brought to you by Craft Spirits & Distilling and Craft Beer & Brewing. Over four days, you’ll learn what it takes to get a successful craft beverage business off the ground, through panel discussions, working group sessions, technical tours, and more. Get your ticket now at breweryworkshop.com. -
The modes that distillers operate in can vary wildly based on the goals of the business and the avenues for sales. While at the helm of Ghost Coast in Savannah, Georgia, Ken Klehm did it all—a law change allowed the distillery to sell cocktails as long as all the spirits were produced in-house, so Klehm distilled a wide range of spirits and liqueurs to stock the entire bar. Now, at the helm of 450 North Spirits (https://450northspirits.com)—a family-owned distillery, adjacent to the family’s brewery, situated on a corner of the family’s Indiana farmland—he’s tackling new problems and finding opportunities in ingredients like estate corn, while creating spirits that feel at home next to the sweet and tart fruit beers the brewery is known for.
In this episode, host Sydney Jones and Klehm discuss:
making fernet based on spearmint
testing ABV in liqueurs with significant sugar content
unlocking the mystery of great chartreuse
production logistics behind distilling a wide range of spirits
conceptualizing a farm-based brewstillery program
finding cohesion from disparate inputs
mash and fermentation parameters including slow cooling in closed fermenters
distilling agave nectar
And more.
Brought to you by:
G&D Chillers: (https://gdchillers.com) G&D Chillers understands that each distillery’s chilling requirements are unique. On every distillery project, G&D offers the front-end design and engineering your team needs at no cost to you. Rebecca Harris, president and head distiller of Catoctin Creek recently shared, “Service after the sale is what really separates the quality of a supplier relationship. G&D Chillers has always been a phone call away when we needed them. For a small business like mine, that partnership makes all the difference.” Whether you distill batch by batch or in a continuous operation, for more than 30 years, G&D has had the proven solution. Visit them today at gdchillers.com.
ABS Commercial: (hhttps://abs-commercial.com) For over 11 years, ABS Commercial has been your full-service equipment manufacturer, designing quality distillation equipment ranging from 50L – 5,000L. Whether establishing a new distillery or expanding into a brewstillery, their team of experienced engineers and designers work with you to develop customized distilling solutions. With their consultative approach, they tailor to your production capacity, space constraints, and budgetary considerations to help you create quality, crafted spirits. Contact them today at [email protected] to discuss your customized distilling needs.
Brewery & Distillery Workshop: (https://www.breweryworkshop.com) IIf you’re planning a distillery or brewery launch, adding a distillery to your brewery, or considering purchasing an existing brewing or distilling business, then visit breweryworkshop.com for more information about the Brewery and Distillery workshop brought to you by Craft Spirits & Distilling and Craft Beer & Brewing. Over four days, you’ll learn what it takes to get a successful craft beverage business off the ground, through panel discussions, working group sessions, technical tours, and more. Get your ticket now at breweryworkshop.com. -
The last decade and a half have been a whirlwind for Andy Nelson, as the discovery of a family distilling legacy led his brother Charlie and him to pursue and launch the Nelson's Green Brier Distillery to make Tennessee Whiskey the way his great-great-great grandfather did (with a few accomodations for modernity, of course). Along the way, they also launched Belle Meade Bourbon, sourcing and blending, with the requisite learning that that entailed. Now, after selling the majority stake in the distillery to Constellation Brands, Nelson has set an independent course, consulting and helping other would-be distillery founders and operators navigate the same go-to-market maze.
In this episode, host Molly Troupe and Nelson discuss:
Building a brand story from family history
Developing and honing a solid base of blending skills before distilling and barreling whiskey
Moving past assumptions and expectations to focus on the reality of flavor in the blending process
The common misconception that smaller barrels age whiskey faster
Tennessee whiskey history and terminology, and the charcoal mellowing process
Updating a historic family recipe and process
Striking the balance between founder/owner and maker
Gaining confidence as a distiller without a background in science
Leveling up on less natural skills like sales
Bringing on a strategic distribution partner with all the benefits and challenges that entails
And more.
Brought to you by:
G&D Chillers: (https://gdchillers.com) G&D Chillers understands that each distillery’s chilling requirements are unique. On every distillery project, G&D offers the front-end design and engineering your team needs at no cost to you. Rebecca Harris, president and head distiller of Catoctin Creek recently shared, “Service after the sale is what really separates the quality of a supplier relationship. G&D Chillers has always been a phone call away when we needed them. For a small business like mine, that partnership makes all the difference.” Whether you distill batch by batch or in a continuous operation, for more than 30 years, G&D has had the proven solution. Visit them today at gdchillers.com.
ABS Commercial: (hhttps://abs-commercial.com) For over 11 years, ABS Commercial has been your full-service equipment manufacturer, designing quality distillation equipment ranging from 50L – 5,000L. Whether establishing a new distillery or expanding into a brewstillery, their team of experienced engineers and designers work with you to develop customized distilling solutions. With their consultative approach, they tailor to your production capacity, space constraints, and budgetary considerations to help you create quality, crafted spirits. Contact them today at [email protected] to discuss your customized distilling needs.
Brewery & Distillery Workshop: (https://www.breweryworkshop.com) IIf you’re planning a distillery or brewery launch, adding a distillery to your brewery, or considering purchasing an existing brewing or distilling business, then visit breweryworkshop.com for more information about the Brewery and Distillery workshop brought to you by Craft Spirits & Distilling and Craft Beer & Brewing. Over four days, you’ll learn what it takes to get a successful craft beverage business off the ground, through panel discussions, working group sessions, technical tours, and more. Get your ticket now at breweryworkshop.com. -
Nicole Austin has spent time in distilleries around the world, but if there’s one thing she’s learned from producing at distilleries both tiny and very large, it’s that no single blending strategy works at every scale, for every product, or with each kind of spirit. Today, as director of George Dickel (https://www.georgedickel.com) and luxury American whiskey for Diageo, she has extensive tools at her disposal—from deep stocks of long-aged Tennessee whiskey to modern lab equipment. The nexus of that deeper palette of whiskies with which to blend—and deeper knowledge of those whiskies and how they age—is paying off with a number of releases that are piquing the interest of whiskey lovers.
In this episode, Austin sits down with host Sydney Jones for a distiller-to-distiller conversation on the intricacies of blending. Along the way, they discuss:
how rigorous approaches to blending can lead you astray
altering the blending approach based on the age of the spirit and ultimate intention for the release
managing blends with very small casks
safe assumptions and techniques for validating them
understanding gas chromatography and its place in the blending process
the challenge in discovering and delivering “house character” that speaks to the blender while resonating with drinkers
building a sustainable business structure
contemporary projects, including the three-chamber rye blend with Leopold Brothers
the multimode consumption of truly great whiskey
And more.
Brought to you by:
G&D Chillers: (https://gdchillers.com) G&D Chillers understands that each distillery’s chilling requirements are unique. On every distillery project, G&D offers the front-end design and engineering your team needs at no cost to you. Rebecca Harris, president and head distiller of Catoctin Creek recently shared, “Service after the sale is what really separates the quality of a supplier relationship. G&D Chillers has always been a phone call away when we needed them. For a small business like mine, that partnership makes all the difference.” Whether you distill batch by batch or in a continuous operation, for more than 30 years, G&D has had the proven solution. Visit them today at gdchillers.com.
ABS Commercial: (hhttps://abs-commercial.com) For over 11 years, ABS Commercial has been your full-service equipment manufacturer, designing quality distillation equipment ranging from 50L – 5,000L. Whether establishing a new distillery or expanding into a brewstillery, their team of experienced engineers and designers work with you to develop customized distilling solutions. With their consultative approach, they tailor to your production capacity, space constraints, and budgetary considerations to help you create quality, crafted spirits. Contact them today at [email protected] to discuss your customized distilling needs.
Brewery & Distillery Workshop: (https://www.breweryworkshop.com) IIf you’re planning a distillery or brewery launch, adding a distillery to your brewery, or considering purchasing an existing brewing or distilling business, then visit breweryworkshop.com for more information about the Brewery and Distillery workshop brought to you by Craft Spirits & Distilling and Craft Beer & Brewing. Over four days, you’ll learn what it takes to get a successful craft beverage business off the ground, through panel discussions, working group sessions, technical tours, and more. Get your ticket now at breweryworkshop.com. -
Fourteen years into her career at Clear Creek (https://www.hrdspirits.com/clear-creek-distillery) in Hood River, Oregon, Caitlin Bartlemay recently become master distiller at the respected craft producer. There, she continues to lead a small, hands-on team through seasons of distilling an array of whole-fruit brandies as well as McCarthy’s Oregon Single Malt—the first American craft single-malt whiskey.
In this week’s episode, Bartlemay joins host Molly Troupe for a wide-ranging discussion that includes:
managing public expectations around the master distiller role
the impact of Prohibition on smaller family-run distilleries
the significant challenge in making great fruit brandies
managing the logistics of whole-fruit fermentations
the impact of tank time and cask residence on various brandies
mash consistency’s effects on fermentation and distillation
distilling American single-malt on a single-pass hybrid brandy still
aging spirits in Oregon oak casks
And more.
Brought to you by:
G&D Chillers: (https://gdchillers.com) G&D Chillers understands that each distillery’s chilling requirements are unique. On every distillery project, G&D offers the front-end design and engineering your team needs at no cost to you. Rebecca Harris, president and head distiller of Catoctin Creek recently shared, “Service after the sale is what really separates the quality of a supplier relationship. G&D Chillers has always been a phone call away when we needed them. For a small business like mine, that partnership makes all the difference.” Whether you distill batch by batch or in a continuous operation, for more than 30 years, G&D has had the proven solution. Visit them today at gdchillers.com.
ABS Commercial: (hhttps://abs-commercial.com) For over 11 years, ABS Commercial has been your full-service equipment manufacturer, designing quality distillation equipment ranging from 50L – 5,000L. Whether establishing a new distillery or expanding into a brewstillery, their team of experienced engineers and designers work with you to develop customized distilling solutions. With their consultative approach, they tailor to your production capacity, space constraints, and budgetary considerations to help you create quality, crafted spirits. Contact them today at [email protected] to discuss your customized distilling needs.
Brewery & Distillery Workshop: (https://www.breweryworkshop.com) IIf you’re planning a distillery or brewery launch, adding a distillery to your brewery, or considering purchasing an existing brewing or distilling business, then visit breweryworkshop.com for more information about the Brewery and Distillery workshop brought to you by Craft Spirits & Distilling and Craft Beer & Brewing. Over four days, you’ll learn what it takes to get a successful craft beverage business off the ground, through panel discussions, working group sessions, technical tours, and more. Get your ticket now at breweryworkshop.com. -
While Sydney Jones’ last turn in the host chair was an exit interview of sorts, this episode is her entrance interview with new boss, Heaven Hill (https://www.heavenhill.com) Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll, as she settles into her new role as supervisor and technical lead for the under-construction $150M distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. In this episode, O’Driscoll shares his insight gained from two decades of distilling for respected whiskey brands, and along the way touches on:
Whiskey fermentation philosophy with single yeast ferments
Using liquid yeast in the new distillery for more control
Rickhouse designs and their impact on aging whiskies with different age goals
How distillate recipes become finished whiskies while creating consistency in brands
Agricultural impacts on whiskey from ingredients to staves
Building within an idea of distillery “house style”
Technical and safety improvements he’s implemented through the years
And more.
Brought to you by:
Lotus Beverage Alliance: (https://lotusbevalliance.com) Say goodbye to the complexities of ordering equipment and supplies from multiple vendors, and say hello to the efficiency and simplicity offered by Lotus Beverage Alliance. This new alliance brings together craft-beverage industry powerhouses GW Kent, Alpha Brewing Operations, Stout Tanks and Kettles, Twin Monkeys Beverage Solutions, Brewmation, and Automated Extractions to provide an unrivaled portfolio of craft-beverage equipment and supplies. Experience the convenience of working with ONE vendor … ONE Source… for ALL of your craft-business needs. Visit LotusBevAlliance.com (https://lotusbevalliance.com) now and start streamlining your process today.
Country Malt Group: (https://www.countrymalt.com/distilling) Country Malt Group is proud to support craft distillers across North America with a carefully curated portfolio of the best everyday ingredients and supplies, including malt, adjuncts, fruit, yeast, and more! Visit CountryMalt.com/distilling (https://www.countrymalt.com/distilling) to view their complete list of distilling products, resources, and podcast episodes.
Crafted ERP: (https://www.craftederp.com) Is your brewery, distillery or, ... heck we’ll say it ... “brewstillery” looking for better control of production, finance, compliance, inventory, supply chain, etc.? You want a system that untaps your potential and future-proofs your strategy. You need total visibility into every aspect of your business—and you need it on demand. Visit CraftedERP.com to learn how Crafted meets you where you are today—and prepares you for everything that’s coming tomorrow. CraftedERP.com (https://www.craftederp.com)
Techniblend (https://www.techniblend.com) Craft the perfect blend every time by enhancing the flavor profile of your spirits with TechniBlend’s state-of-the-art blending and batching technology. TechniBlend is the trusted partner of distilleries across the country, providing solutions for unparalleled accuracy and consistency in the distilled-spirits production process. Visit techniblend.com today to discover how our innovative solutions can redefine the art of distillation. TechniBlend (https://www.techniblend.com): Blend the Best! -
In Andy Garrison’s mind, fruit brandies have historically been necessary byproducts of excess—fruit trees produce more food that could be consumed by their owners, so what better way to preserve their bounty than distilling the juice from the leftover fruit? Today, in the age of wide-scale commercial farming, that approach to adding or preserving value from one’s harvest is not an animating factor, and pressing and distilling juice from fruits is one of the most expensive ways to produce a spirit. But do they have to be?
Whether through his work for Stone Barn Brandyworks (https://www.stonebarnbrandyworks.com), or for his own label Tuff Talk Distilling (https://www.tufftalkdistilling.com), Garrison seeks more compelling answers to these questions, through creative and technical exploration. He’s tackled some tough projects, and solved some difficult technical challenges along the way, and shares his insight with host Molly Troupe in this episode. Over the course of the conversation, he touches on:
Historical connections between agriculture and distilling
Finding ways to use distilling to add value to the modern food landscape
Making spirits from challenging, low-sugar ingredients like carrots
Differentiating spirits like potato eau de vie from more pedestrian spirits like contemporary vodka
Turning ramen noodles into a unique spirit
Building flavorful grappa with modern flavor additions like espresso and biscotti
And more.
Brought to you by:
American Canning: (https://www.atulc.com) Looking to expand into aluminum cans but worried about corrosivity, off-flavors, scalping or pin-hole leaks? aTULC is a premium performance can proven to double product shelf-life. Its manufacturing process requires no water, coolants, chemicals, or wastewater treatment. Crafted for higher ABV products, acidic ingredients, emulsions, salt, and sulfites, aTULC is the toughest, most sustainable can for your brand. Contact American Canning for a free compatibility consult or visit aTULC.com (https://www.atulc.com).
Arryved: (https://www.arryved.com) Arryved point of sale combines industry expertise, essential tasting room tools, and a whole lotta love to make running your distillery easier. Scale faster with Arryved’s mobile system that offers flexible service with QR code ordering, detailed reporting, and award-winning customer support. New customers get your first month free when you launch before June 30th, 2024.Visit Arryved.com/spiritsanddistilling (https://www.arryved.com/mvp/distillery/?utm_source=craft_spirits_and_distilling&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=brand_awareness) and mention this ad.
Encompass: (https://www.encompasstech.com) Omnibibulous means “able or willing to drink almost anything.” That’s the attitude of the consumer you’re trying to reach: they’re omnibibulous. So how does your distillery remain competitive? Distillers must future-proof their business with a multi-segment production attitude to meet consumers with the right beverages for the right occasions. Encompass Production Cloud is the software designed to help you lead in the modern beverage industry. Become future-proofed at encompasstech.com (https://www.encompasstech.com).
RMS Roller-Grinder (https://rmsroller-grinder.com) At RMS Roller-Grinder, they design and build quality roller mills and grain handling systems for your specific distilling needs. From idea to installation, they can help with roller mills, augers, control panels, bulk storage, and more. RMS has the right equipment to help you increase efficiency, simplify your process, and create a quality, crafted product. Contact them today at rmsroller-grinder.com (https://rmsroller-grinder.com) to work with their experts on your new distillery build or expansion. -
It may seem like everything that can be done, has been done, but for FEW Spirits (https://www.fewspirits.com) operations director Riley Henderson, novel fermentations offer new opportunities for flavor in familiar spirits such as rye whiskey and bourbon.
Half a decade ago, FEW embarked on a project to explore the impact of fermenting with koji, a mold historically used for saccharification in sake and soy sauce, among other foods and drinks. Results were mixed at first, but through iteration and adaptation, FEW has landed on a process that works consistently and produces flavors that carry through distillation, producing flavor that’s worth the effort.
This episode is also an exit interview of sorts, as host Sydney Jones—current head distiller at FEW—brings her time there to a close before setting off for a new challenge with Heaven Hill in Kentucky. During their conversation, Sydney and Riley also discuss:
- challenges in balancing packaging style with speed, safety, efficiency, and reliability
- managing fermentation with small grains such as rice
- understanding the impact of yeast strains on distilled and aged spirits
- propping up and maintaining a koji culture
- pH adjustment and bacterial protection using citric acid
- finishing fermentation with temperature-friendly kveik yeast
- impacts of new and second-use oak on aging koji-fermented spirit
And more.
Brought to you by:
Techniblend (https://www.techniblend.com) Craft the perfect blend every time by enhancing the flavor profile of your spirits with TechniBlend’s state-of-the-art blending and batching technology. TechniBlend is the trusted partner of distilleries across the country, providing solutions for unparalleled accuracy and consistency in the distilled-spirits production process. Visit techniblend.com today to discover how our innovative solutions can redefine the art of distillation. TechniBlend (https://www.techniblend.com): Blend the Best!
Crafted ERP: (https://www.craftederp.com) Is your brewery, distillery or, ... heck we’ll say it ... “brewstillery” looking for better control of production, finance, compliance, inventory, supply chain, etc.? You want a system that untaps your potential and future-proofs your strategy. You need total visibility into every aspect of your business—and you need it on demand. Visit CraftedERP.com to learn how Crafted meets you where you are today—and prepares you for everything that’s coming tomorrow. CraftedERP.com (https://www.craftederp.com)
Country Malt Group: (https://www.countrymalt.com/distilling) Country Malt Group is proud to support craft distillers across North America with a carefully curated portfolio of the best everyday ingredients and supplies, including malt, adjuncts, fruit, yeast, and more! Visit CountryMalt.com/distilling (https://www.countrymalt.com/distilling) to view their complete list of distilling products, resources, and podcast episodes.
Lotus Beverage Alliance: (https://lotusbevalliance.com) Say goodbye to the complexities of ordering equipment and supplies from multiple vendors, and say hello to the efficiency and simplicity offered by Lotus Beverage Alliance. This new alliance brings together craft-beverage industry powerhouses GW Kent, Alpha Brewing Operations, Stout Tanks and Kettles, Twin Monkeys Beverage Solutions, Brewmation, and Automated Extractions to provide an unrivaled portfolio of craft-beverage equipment and supplies. Experience the convenience of working with ONE vendor … ONE Source… for ALL of your craft-business needs. Visit LotusBevAlliance.com (https://lotusbevalliance.com) now and start streamlining your process today. -
Are distillers really just “dirty” brewers? How do you stabilize ingredients and flavors in canned RTDs? How can water chemistry at the municipal level cause potentially expensive issues with arrested fermentations? Through his career, Reade Huddleston has seen it all, and now as Director of Distillation and Spirits at Monster Brewing (https://www.monsterbevcorp.com), he’s putting into daily use these best practices gleaned from years of brewing and distilling, as well as focused study.
In this episode, Molly and Reade explore a range of subjects, including:
Similarities and differences in brewing and distilling practice
Testing and optimizing RTDs for long term stability
Can liner interactions in RTDs
Testing water quality with taste and odor acceptance tests
Measuring water supply shifts over the course of a day
Common chemicals in supplied water and how to neutralize them
And more.
Brought to you by:
RMS Roller-Grinder (https://rmsroller-grinder.com) At RMS Roller-Grinder, they design and build quality roller mills and grain handling systems for your specific distilling needs. From idea to installation, they can help with roller mills, augers, control panels, bulk storage, and more. RMS has the right equipment to help you increase efficiency, simplify your process, and create a quality, crafted product. Contact them today at rmsroller-grinder.com (https://rmsroller-grinder.com) to work with their experts on your new distillery build or expansion.
Encompass: (https://www.encompasstech.com) Omnibibulous means “able or willing to drink almost anything.” That’s the attitude of the consumer you’re trying to reach: they’re omnibibulous. So how does your distillery remain competitive? Distillers must future-proof their business with a multi-segment production attitude to meet consumers with the right beverages for the right occasions. Encompass Production Cloud is the software designed to help you lead in the modern beverage industry. Become future-proofed at encompasstech.com (https://www.encompasstech.com).
Arryved: (https://www.arryved.com) Arryved point of sale combines industry expertise, essential tasting room tools, and a whole lotta love to make running your distillery easier. Scale faster with Arryved’s mobile system that offers flexible service with QR code ordering, detailed reporting, and award-winning customer support. New customers get your first month free when you launch before June 30th, 2024.Visit Arryved.com/spiritsanddistilling (https://www.arryved.com/mvp/distillery/?utm_source=craft_spirits_and_distilling&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=brand_awareness) and mention this ad.
American Canning: (https://www.atulc.com) Looking to expand into aluminum cans but worried about corrosivity, off-flavors, scalping or pin-hole leaks? aTULC is a premium performance can proven to double product shelf-life. Its manufacturing process requires no water, coolants, chemicals, or wastewater treatment. Crafted for higher ABV products, acidic ingredients, emulsions, salt, and sulfites, aTULC is the toughest, most sustainable can for your brand. Contact American Canning for a free compatibility consult or visit aTULC.com (https://www.atulc.com). -
Master distiller Lisa Wicker may have taken an unconventional path through her career, shifting from wine to distilled spirits, but that’s hardly the only decision she’s made that some might deem unusual. For Wicker, spreading out and exploring adjacent but interesting fields has improved her approach to distilling and blending much more than intense focus could. Now, she pulls on all that background to hone fermentations with atypical grains, tighten distillations, and blend with identifiable character in mind.
In this episode’s conversation with Sydney Jones, Wicker discusses:
- Cold mashing corn for more characterful distillation
- Using malted rye and barley
- Testing heirloom corn varieties for distilling potential
- Lessons learned from winemaking
- Building through notes in whiskey brands for flavor identities
- Blending with partial barrels to achieve flavor balance
- Blending strategies to soften the edges of younger, wilder whiskies
And more.
Brought to you by:
Lotus Beverage Alliance: (https://lotusbevalliance.com) Say goodbye to the complexities of ordering equipment and supplies from multiple vendors, and say hello to the efficiency and simplicity offered by Lotus Beverage Alliance. This new alliance brings together craft-beverage industry powerhouses GW Kent, Alpha Brewing Operations, Stout Tanks and Kettles, Twin Monkeys Beverage Solutions, Brewmation, and Automated Extractions to provide an unrivaled portfolio of craft-beverage equipment and supplies. Experience the convenience of working with ONE vendor … ONE Source… for ALL of your craft-business needs. Visit LotusBevAlliance.com (https://lotusbevalliance.com) now and start streamlining your process today.
Country Malt Group: (https://www.countrymalt.com/distilling) Country Malt Group is proud to support craft distillers across North America with a carefully curated portfolio of the best everyday ingredients and supplies, including malt, adjuncts, fruit, yeast, and more! Visit CountryMalt.com/distilling (https://www.countrymalt.com/distilling) to view their complete list of distilling products, resources, and podcast episodes.
Crafted ERP: (https://www.craftederp.com) Is your brewery, distillery or, ... heck we’ll say it ... “brewstillery” looking for better control of production, finance, compliance, inventory, supply chain, etc.? You want a system that untaps your potential and future-proofs your strategy. You need total visibility into every aspect of your business—and you need it on demand. Visit CraftedERP.com to learn how Crafted meets you where you are today—and prepares you for everything that’s coming tomorrow. CraftedERP.com (https://www.craftederp.com)
Techniblend (https://www.techniblend.com) Craft the perfect blend every time by enhancing the flavor profile of your spirits with TechniBlend’s state-of-the-art blending and batching technology. TechniBlend is the trusted partner of distilleries across the country, providing solutions for unparalleled accuracy and consistency in the distilled-spirits production process. Visit techniblend.com today to discover how our innovative solutions can redefine the art of distillation. TechniBlend (https://www.techniblend.com): Blend the Best! -
Ale Ochoa is an expert sensory scientist and master blender with years of experience building sensory teams both large and small. In this episode, she outlines key parameters for sensory programs and outlines both simple and more complex ways of deploying sensory tools to improve blends, identify flaws, create more compelling descriptions, and make better spirits.
Through this episode, she covers:
Understanding flavor and aroma interactions in blends
Identifying flaws and setting thresholds for fixes
Training and validating sensory panelists
Testing methods for identifying flaws as well as positive attributes
Evaluating results in statistically significant ways
Calibrating your palate and training on attributes
Telling stories through whiskey blends
And more.
Brought to you by:
American Canning: (https://www.atulc.com) Looking to expand into aluminum cans but worried about corrosivity, off-flavors, scalping or pin-hole leaks? aTULC is a premium performance can proven to double product shelf-life. Its manufacturing process requires no water, coolants, chemicals, or wastewater treatment. Crafted for higher ABV products, acidic ingredients, emulsions, salt, and sulfites, aTULC is the toughest, most sustainable can for your brand. Contact American Canning for a free compatibility consult or visit aTULC.com (https://www.atulc.com).
Arryved: (https://www.arryved.com) Arryved point of sale combines industry expertise, essential tasting room tools, and a whole lotta love to make running your distillery easier. Scale faster with Arryved’s mobile system that offers flexible service with QR code ordering, detailed reporting, and award-winning customer support. New customers get your first month free when you launch before April 1st, 2024.Visit Arryved.com/spiritsanddistilling (https://www.arryved.com/mvp/distillery/?utm_source=craft_spirits_and_distilling&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=brand_awareness) and mention this ad.
Encompass: (https://www.encompasstech.com) Omnibibulous means “able or willing to drink almost anything.” That’s the attitude of the consumer you’re trying to reach: they’re omnibibulous. So how does your distillery remain competitive? Distillers must future-proof their business with a multi-segment production attitude to meet consumers with the right beverages for the right occasions. Encompass Production Cloud is the software designed to help you lead in the modern beverage industry. Become future-proofed at encompasstech.com (https://www.encompasstech.com).
RMS Roller-Grinder (https://rmsroller-grinder.com) At RMS Roller-Grinder, they design and build quality roller mills and grain handling systems for your specific distilling needs. From idea to installation, they can help with roller mills, augers, control panels, bulk storage, and more. RMS has the right equipment to help you increase efficiency, simplify your process, and create a quality, crafted product. Contact them today at rmsroller-grinder.com (https://rmsroller-grinder.com) to work with their experts on your new distillery build or expansion. -
Welcome to Episode 1 of the Craft Spirits & Distilling Podcast, featuring hosts Sydney Jones, head distiller for FEW Spirits (https://www.fewspirits.com) in Chicago, and Molly Troupe, master distiller for Freeland Spirits (https://freelandspirits.com) in Portland, Oregon. Recorded live at the ACSA trade show and convention in Denver, this conversation introduces the podcast and the hosts via a deep dive into their favorite distilling techniques.
Along the way, they discuss:
distilling fresh ingredients at lower temperatures with a rotovap
navigating the TTB GRAS (generally recognized as safe) list
proofing with liquids other than water
barrel maturation in hot climates
enzyme protocols for difficult grains
whiskey-blending strategies
purposeful yeast selection, for more characterful whiskey fermentations
the flavor impacts of different factors in whiskey cask aging
And more.
Brought to you by:
Techniblend: (https://techniblend.com) Craft the perfect blend every time by enhancing the flavor profile of your spirits with TechniBlend’s state-of-the-art blending and batching technology. TechniBlend is the trusted partner of distilleries across the country, providing solutions for unparalleled accuracy and consistency in the distilled spirits production process. Visit techniblend.com today to discover how our innovative solutions can redefine the art of distillation. TechniBlend: Blend the Best!
Crafted ERP: (https://Crafted ERP.com) Is your brewery, distillery or, heck we’ll say it, “brewstillery” looking for better control of production, finance, compliance, inventory, supply chain, etc.? You want a system that untaps your potential and future-proofs your strategy. You need total visibility into every aspect of your business–and you need it on demand. Visit Crafted ERP.com to learn how Crafted meets you where you’re at today–and prepares you for everything that’s coming tomorrow.
Country Malt Group: (https://CountryMalt.com/distilling) Country Malt Group is proud to support craft distillers across North America with a carefully curated portfolio of the best everyday ingredients and supplies, including malt, adjuncts, fruit, yeast and more! Visit CountryMalt.com/distilling to view their complete list of distilling products, resources and podcast episodes.
Lotus Beverage Alliance (https://LotusBevAlliance.com) Say goodbye to the complexities of ordering equipment and supplies from multiple vendors, and say hello to the efficiency and simplicity offered by Lotus Beverage Alliance. This new alliance brings together craft beverage industry powerhouses GW Kent, Alpha Brewing Operations, Stout Tanks and Kettles, Twin Monkeys Beverage Solutions, Brewmation, and Automated Extractions to provide an unrivaled portfolio of craft beverage equipment and supplies. Experience the convenience of working with ONE vendor…. ONE Source…. for ALL of your craft business needs. Visit LotusBevAlliance.com now, and start streamlining your process today.
