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 sales@abs-commercial.com 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 sales@abs-commercial.com 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.

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.

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 sales@abs-commercial.com 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 sales@abs-commercial.com 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 sales@abs-commercial.com 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 sales@abs-commercial.com 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).

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 sales@abs-commercial.com 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.

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 brewery using former wooden beer vessels as fermentation vessels for spirits cleaning and CIP from a brewer’s point of view, with dedicated equipment for certain mashes pushing low-pH fermentations for flavorful distillation fermenting with Brettanomyces strains before distillation brewery experiments for distilling that didn’t work building interesting approaches to gin with spruce, peppercorn, rooibos tea, barrel aging, and more making gin with non-neutral base spirit using finishing casks for spirits with unique character overcoming challenges of canned cocktails in formulas, homogenization, and packaging 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 sales@abs-commercial.com 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.

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 sales@abs-commercial.com to discuss your customized distilling needs.

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 brakes 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 sales@abs-commercial.com to discuss your customized distilling needs.

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!

Olivier Ward got his start in gin in the mid-oughts, working on projects for Hendricks, and the he hasn’t been able to shake the gin world since. The people, places, and processes captivate him, and building or telling those brand stories has been a major focus for the better part of the past two decades. As chief gin judge for the IWSC, he tastes thousands of gins in any given year and has a context for flavor and approaches that few possess. Now, with Everglow Spirits (https://everglowspirits.com), he’s taking a fresh approach to both education and consultation, helping distillers (and would-be distillers) articulate their visions and understand the challenges of creating and growing brands. In this episode, Ward and host Molly Troupe discuss: Thinking about gin beyond just flavor Opportunities and risks in direct-to-consumer sales The common mistakes that brands make, and how great brands hone their focuses Finding resonance beyond baseline expectations for quality The variety of creative approaches and tasting profiles around the world Base spirits and their impact on gins Categorizing for competition with process in addition to flavor 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. Jim Kuhr, VP of Manufacturing at Red Boot Beverages says, “G&D has been with us since the early days. Their knowledgeable engineers and service techs are there when we need them. We’re in the midst of a large expansion, and they have been right there with us to select chiller solutions for today and the future.” Reach out for a quote 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!

There aren’t many problems in whiskey that Sherrie Moore hasn’t tackled and solved. Over her 30+ years at Tennessee’s renowned Jack Daniel’s distillery, she’s worked in just about every role imaginable—from chemist and processing manager to barrel warehousing manager and, eventually, director of whiskey production. She’s since directed whiskey production for Nearest Green Distillery, and for the past few years she has expanded her scope to help smaller brands dial in processes, products, and operations. In this episode, Moore and host Sydney Jones discuss: Understanding tradition before getting into experimentation Jack Daniel’s experiments to reduce the angel’s share Managing a distillery through periods of overproduction and rebalancing Understanding the impact of toast versus char Newer research from ISC Barrels on barrel preparation Creating greater consistency, not just quality Understanding the dynamics of barrel warehouses Evaluating with the eyes to understand flavor Collecting data on consumer preference through tasting-room experiments 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. Jim Kuhr, VP of Manufacturing at Red Boot Beverages says, “G&D has been with us since the early days. Their knowledgeable engineers and service techs are there when we need them. We’re in the midst of a large expansion, and they have been right there with us to select chiller solutions for today and the future.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com

David Fisher’s love of spirits started with bartending in London and followed a winding path, eventually passing through pandemic-era New York City into sensory analysis and blending back home in Australia. Now the senior spirits blender at award-winning Archie Rose Distilling (https://archierose.com.au/) in Sydney, Fisher has one of the most respected noses in the business. In this discussion with host Molly Troupe, Fisher shares his thoughts on the importance of confidence to sensory and blending, and knowing your weaknesses as well as your strengths. He also discusses: stopping to smell the flowers (and everything else) in collecting sense memories the aromatic purity of gin botanicals versus the integrated matrix of whiskey the overarching importance of balance bridging New World flavors and Old World elegance the effects of Australian temperature swings on barrel aging backing up sensory data with numbers, and making the connections with production choices making distinctive whiskey with malts smoked by unusual local woods 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. Jim Kuhr, VP of Manufacturing at Red Boot Beverages says, “G&D has been with us since the early days. Their knowledgeable engineers and service techs are there when we need them. We’re in the midst of a large expansion, and they have been right there with us to select chiller solutions for today and the future.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com

Year one of the Spirits & Distilling podcast is in the books, and in this special year-end look back, hosts Sydney Jones and Molly Troupe recount some of their favorite conversations of 2024, discuss the dramatic changes in their own lives, muse on big issues of the past year like the TTB’s adoption of a definition for American Single Malt, and look at the big issues and conversations they’re focusing in on for the next year. Along the way, they discuss: refereeing between the two wolves inside of you developments in agave spirits favorite spirits they’ve tasted over the past year why meat is the last cool frontier in spirits water and its impact on distilling the benefits of higher proof bottled cocktails impacts of AI on distilling new year’s resolutions 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. Jim Kuhr, VP of Manufacturing at Red Boot Beverages says, “G&D has been with us since the early days. Their knowledgeable engineers and service techs are there when we need them. We’re in the midst of a large expansion, and they have been right there with us to select chiller solutions for today and the future.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com

Morgan McLachlan, the Los Angeles–based cofounder of Amass Spirits (https://amassgin.com) and Katy Perry’s nonalcoholic De Soi (https://drinkdesoi.com) brand, has a flair for theatrics that’s only fitting for someone who started her career as a camera operator for film and TV. Every nuanced performance is built on layers, some barely noticeable—but understanding the purpose of those creative choices is essential for McLachlan, as she constructs everything from gins and nonalcoholic spirits to fragrances and other botanical-based products. In this episode, host Molly Troupe and McLachlan discuss: McLachlan distilling background, which began in her own bathtub distilling clementine oranges into a citrus spirit using strategies from the fragrance and culinary worlds to produce compelling botanical blends in spirits the varied impacts of house-made and sourced botanical extracts as well as different extraction techniques challenges when working in the nonalcoholic space with water as a solvent how certain terpenes behave through the distillation process for unexpected results managing challenging botanicals such as cardamom creating gin that’s both classically versatile and noteworthy regulatory challenges with specific ingredients And more. 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. Sid Dilawri from Filibuster Distillery says, “From the design and engineering to installation and start-up, G&D was easy to work with. We’ve had great customer service since commissioning our chiller, and I’d highly recommend them for any distillery system.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

Founded in 2015, Baltimore Spirits is celebrating a decade of distilling in Charm City. Led by cofounder and head distiller Eli Breitburg-Smith, that run has played a notable role in the craft revival of American rye. Their Epoch Reserve has won multiple double golds at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, more recently landing on Fred Minnick’s Top 100 list of American whiskeys in 2024. In this episode, hosted by Sydney Jones, Breitburg-Smith talks about how he got into distilling as a former craft brewer and how Baltimore Spirits was focused from the beginning on bringing pot-distilled rye whiskey back to Maryland. He also discusses: the influence of single-malt on their rye whiskeys making other spirits, including their Shot Tower Gin, unusual apple brandies, and New World amari using Belgian and American ale yeasts to help drive tropical character in the Epoch Rye Baltimore Spirits’ approach to single-malt, and preparing barrels for that spirit what makes Maryland rye whiskey different, including its history the Ja Rule whiskey collaboration, Amber & Opal, featuring honey, smoky tea, and other botanicals making apple brandies aged and blended Solera-style, distilled from smoked apples—and pechuga-inspired, made with smoked ham and seasonal botanicals working with the Maryland Distillers Guild to share technical know-how and push for legislative changes for craft distillers And more. 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. Hank Pressley, head distiller at Moon Drop Distillery says, “Early on, we made a decision to partner with quality American-made companies. One of those companies was G&D Chillers, and we are proud of that choice. Our equipment from them has run long and strong. We put our first barrel in our rickhouse in September 2021, and in the next 3 years we have put back more than another 540 barrels. What a great decision to team up with a company like G&D Chillers.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

Ashley Barnes, master blender at the Blending House, (https://www.theblendinghouse.com) joins host Molly Troupe for an in-depth discussion of the scientific and sensorial approaches to building characterful blends. A former pharmaceutical quality chemist, Barnes was recruited by Buffalo Trace, later moved on to Four Roses, and has worked with (and learned from) some of the greats in the bourbon world. Now, at the Blending House, she works with nondistilling producers to carefully age and blend fine spirits using a variety of creative and data-driven techniques, while tracking environmental data such as temperature and evaporation to better understand long-term flavor development. Over the course of the episode, they discuss: Learning quality, flavor profiling, and profile maintenance from Four Roses master distiller Brent Elliott The challenge of creating different flavors from the same barrel stock Useful analogies for thinking about cohesive blends Both negative and positive selection for minimizing distractions while maximizing cohesion Controlling variables in rickhouse aging for more favorable flavor development Ongoing research on yeast and other topics The basics of labs for both blending quality and bottling quality Sensory strategies for maintaining consistency through varying personal circumstances Building the right lexicon for sensory description And more. 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. Sid Dilawri from Filibuster Distillery says, “From the design and engineering to installation and start-up, G&D was easy to work with. We’ve had great customer service since commissioning our chiller, and I’d highly recommend them for any distillery system.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

Caley Shoemaker got her start in whiskey at Denver’s Stranahan’s and went on to distill at Hanger One in Southern California before launching her own distillery, As Above, So Below (https://aasbdistillery.com) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2021. Now, from her home base on the edge of the mountains in a state nicknamed “The Land of Enchantment,” she’s summoning strong spirits with their own particular swagger. In this episode, host Sydney Jones and Shoemaker discuss: • Creating vodka, gin, whiskey, and botanical spirits inspired by place, travel, and experience • Making vodka from a mash with darker grains, for creamy texture and flavor • Aging spirits in the high and dry climate of New Mexico • Managing cuts to balance flavor and character given target aging time and high loss from barrels • Balancing botanicals in gin while prizing flavor over locality • The secrets to her ACSA medal-winning absinthe • Learning through consulting with a potato vodka distillery in Rwanda And more. 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. Hank Pressley, head distiller at Moon Drop Distillery says, “Early on, we made a decision to partner with quality American-made companies. One of those companies was G&D Chillers, and we are proud of that choice. Our equipment from them has run long and strong. We put our first barrel in our rickhouse in September 2021, and in the next 3 years we have put back more than another 540 barrels. What a great decision to team up with a company like G&D Chillers.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

Tequila and mezcal are top of mind when you think “agave,” but Gian Nelson is working to change that assumption. For the past few years, working through his brand Jano Spirits (https://www.janospirits.com), he has partnered with growers who cultivate California agave—a much larger cousin of the classic Blue Weber agave used in tequila—to better understand what it takes to cultivate agave plants that translate into fine spirits. In this episode, Nelson and host Molly Troupe discuss: differences in types of agave plants, from Brix to maturation times farming practices that produce better agave wine-like fermentation for California agave with native and commercial yeast managing methanol production in California agave the impact of aeration leaning into inefficiency And more. 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. Hank Pressley, head distiller at Moon Drop Distillery says, “Early on, we made a decision to partner with quality American-made companies. One of those companies was G&D Chillers, and we are proud of that choice. Our equipment from them has run long and strong. We put our first barrel in our rickhouse in September 2021, and in the next 3 years we have put back more than another 540 barrels. What a great decision to team up with a company like G&D Chillers.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

The process of making rum is rife with lore, but for Brett Steigerwaldt of Lyon Rum (https://www.lyonrum.com) in St. Michael’s, Maryland, breaking down the variables and understanding the impacts of each factor—ingredients, fermentation, distillation, finishing—leads to more refined expression. In this episode, Steigerwaldt and host Sydney Jones discuss: double pot distillation’s impact on flavor and texture in finished rum distilling various iterations of white and dark rum as well as finishing in alternate spirit barrels understanding base ingredients for better perspective on fermentation impact the challenges of working with molasses adapting traditional rum techniques to whiskey, making for greater ester formation working with Rosalie Bay Distillery in Dominica And more. 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. Sid Dilawri from Filibuster Distillery says, “From the design and engineering to installation and start-up, G&D was easy to work with. We’ve had great customer service since commissioning our chiller, and I’d highly recommend them for any distillery system.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

Storytelling is in Devon Trevathan’s blood, and whether she’s distilling unique spirits in Austria, New Orleans, or Australia, or writing about the inspiring technical work of peers for articles for Spirits & Distilling, she remains focused on the dual side of making—pushing outside of one’s comfort zone and finding truth. Through Liba Spirits (https://libaspirits.com), she pursues a nomadic approach, producing spirits with their own stories at often far-flung locales. And with Trovador Rum (https://www.trovadorrum.com), based in Nashville, Tennessee, she applies her developed blending skills to create a synthesis of various rum traditions. But her interests stretch well beyond specific styles and schools, and in this conversation with host Molly Troupe, she touches on: the unique flavor profile and historical significance of peated whiskey navigating the unique challenges of nomadic distilling exploring new ingredients and processes in the context of foreign distilleries working with infusion and maceration in place of barrel aging finding balance between sweetness and bitterness in aperitivo fine tuning spirits with filtration and adjustments And more. 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. Sid Dilawri from Filibuster Distillery says, “From the design and engineering to installation and start-up, G&D was easy to work with. We’ve had great customer service since commissioning our chiller, and I’d highly recommend them for any distillery system.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

Bigger world events have a way of bringing clarity and focus to individual goals, and for Bob Dillon of Dismal Harmony, (https://www.dismalharmony.com) the COVID pandemic gave him just the push he needed to change careers and explore the technical and creative side of craft distilling. Now, from his outpost in Morristown, New Jersey, he’s focused on both serving boundary-pushing cocktails and creating the spirits to make them possible. A recent Best in Show award for his Vidisha’s Masala liqueur from the American Craft Spirits Association’s 2025 competition is proof that his focus on finding new flavor expressions (within the confines set out by the TBB) is paying dividends. In this episode, Dillon and host Sydney Jones discuss: the challenges in opening a craft distillery balancing technical precision and artistic creativity across a range of spirits building a high-end tasting room with a refined cocktail program to support the distillery’s business plan distillery techniques for achieving great results with challenging ingredients working up to the edge of the TTB’s generally recognized as safe (GRAS) ingredients list And more. 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. Hank Pressley, head distiller at Moon Drop Distillery says, “Early on, we made a decision to partner with quality American-made companies. One of those companies was G&D Chillers, and we are proud of that choice. Our equipment from them has run long and strong. We put our first barrel in our rickhouse in September 2021, and in the next 3 years we have put back more than another 540 barrels. What a great decision to team up with a company like G&D Chillers.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

Sara Sergent, master distiller for Alpine Distilling (https://www.alpinedistilling.com) in Park City, Utah, has garnered countless accolades over her career, and today she works with some of the biggest names in the culinary world to bring their ideas to life, while also creating bespoke and diverse spirit expressions for guests at their social club. If there’s an ingredient out there, she’s probably tried it and worked through how it expresses best through distilling. Through the course of this episode, she shares that knowledge with us. Along the way, Sergent and host Molly Troupe cover: distilling challenging florals using vapor extraction to preserve delicate details in sensitive ingredients choosing which form of a plant—from root to flower—to use in distillation research methods for learning more about botanicals juniper variants from distant locales such as Japan and Croatia and their different impacts in gin the range of expression in different-origin angelica root maintaining botanicals in top shape for distilling and drying ingredients in-house the impact of different peeling methods on lemon expression And more. 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. Hank Pressley, head distiller at Moon Drop Distillery says, “Early on, we made a decision to partner with quality American-made companies. One of those companies was G&D Chillers, and we are proud of that choice. Our equipment from them has run long and strong. We put our first barrel in our rickhouse in September 2021, and in the next 3 years we have put back more than another 540 barrels. What a great decision to team up with a company like G&D Chillers.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

In this episode focused on distilling in Florida—host Sydney Jones’ old stomping grounds—she reconnects with industry friends Ric deMontmollin and Zack Wildrick from St. Augustine Distillery (https://www.staugustinedistillery.com) and City Gate Spirits (https://www.citygatespirits.com/home). The high-heat, high-humidity environment there poses challenges for barrel aging St. Augustine’s whiskey, while the flavored moonshines of City Gate aim to evoke experiential memories for both the locals and tourists who flock to the distillery in season. Over the course of the episode, the three discuss: data-driven whiskey aging in Florida’s climate aging concerns where the barrels’ internal temp never falls below 78°F (26°C) avoiding excessive loss via evaporation visually identifying potentially great single-barrel picks making lean cuts for whiskey that ages well in the hot environment finding authentic regional expression in flavored spirits from a neutral grain base adjusting for year-to-year changes in the citrus crop finding the sweet spot between audience, passion, and competency building taste experiences for customers with specific spirit preferences And more. 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. Hank Pressley, head distiller at Moon Drop Distillery says, “Early on, we made a decision to partner with quality American-made companies. One of those companies was G&D Chillers, and we are proud of that choice. Our equipment from them has run long and strong. We put our first barrel in our rickhouse in September 2021, and in the next 3 years we have put back more than another 540 barrels. What a great decision to team up with a company like G&D Chillers.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

For Tyler Glasser of Stranahan’s, (https://stranahans.com) problem solving and creative exploration are best begun with a holistic view, borne from perspectives gained working across the various roles within a distillery. Through his current role as plant operations administrator, he’s gained an appreciation for the part that planning, forecasting, and procurement play in enabling distillers and blenders to produce and construct great spirits, as creating products at the scale of Stranahan’s requires an integrated, cross-discipline push. In this episode, host Molly Troupe and Glasser discuss: How planning and forecasting impact every aspect of the distillery The impact of procurement on the viability of distillers’ labors of love Developing spirits that connect to place and shorten the supply chain Managing stress and setting boundaries The impact of tariffs on an increasingly chaotic forecasting environment Using digital tools and algorithms to plan production and inventory levels Balancing production with market demand while managing capital expenditures And more. 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. Hank Pressley, head distiller at Moon Drop Distillery says, “Early on, we made a decision to partner with quality American-made companies. One of those companies was G&D Chillers, and we are proud of that choice. Our equipment from them has run long and strong. We put our first barrel in our rickhouse in September 2021, and in the next 3 years we have put back more than another 540 barrels. What a great decision to team up with a company like G&D Chillers.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

The distilling traditions we enjoy today are often the product of centuries of trial and error from past generations of makers, with ingredients carefully developed for efficiency and effectiveness in given locales. It’s hard to separate the spirit from the place that it comes from because often the very character of that spirit is a result of what grows, what fuels are accessible, and what ferments to a degree that matches the effort involved in extracting sugars. In Mexico and the southwestern United States, the ubiquity of agave has led many distillers to lean into such spirits, with tequila gaining traction as the segment’s most well-known, but similar plants such as the Dasylirion or desert spoon offer an adjacent distilled profile from a plant that often grows wild within its range. For Brent Looby and Desert Door, (https://www.desertdoor.com) the opportunity to ferment and distill a spirit somewhat familiar to modern consumers, but with its own personality and connection to the region, is a driving motivation. And from their distillery just outside of Austin, they’ve garnered medals and recognition for their classic and progressive takes. In this episode, host Sydney Jones and Looby discuss: the challenge in developing an agricultural supply chain for a wild-harvested plant cooking the hearts of the plants to extract fermentable sugars distilling with multiple stills to deliver the ideal flavor profile sotol’s unique earthy and herbaceous flavor, with notes of almond and bread barrel-aged sotol aged in Missouri white oak botanical sotol with regional ingredients such as sage, rosemary, and hibiscus And more. 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. Hank Pressley, head distiller at Moon Drop Distillery says, “Early on, we made a decision to partner with quality American-made companies. One of those companies was G&D Chillers, and we are proud of that choice. Our equipment from them has run long and strong. We put our first barrel in our rickhouse in September 2021, and in the next 3 years we have put back more than another 540 barrels. What a great decision to team up with a company like G&D Chillers.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

In this special episode of the podcast, co-hosts Molly Troupe and Sydney Jones reunite for a panel discussion—not on distilling, specifically, but on how to set yourself up for success while maintaining work-life balance in the spirits industry. Joining the hosts are Maggie Campbell, CEO of American Cane (https://www.americancane.com), and Jennifer Wren. As chief joy officer of the Wren Way (https://www.thewrenway.com), Wren’s coaches women on how to make joy central to their careers. Among other topics, they discuss: the “bugout bag” and why you should pack one, today, even if you love your job why it’s important for leaders to maintain positive work environments tips on how to maintain work-life balance the perils of toxic productivity the importance of setting boundaries and taking breaks watching for signs of burnout the value of a network and keeping up with contacts financial planning for career flexibility And more. 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. Sid Dilawri from Filibuster Distillery says, “From the design and engineering to installation and start-up, G&D was easy to work with. We’ve had great customer service since commissioning our chiller, and I’d highly recommend them for any distillery system.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

Three decades in, you’d think Todd Leopold of Denver’s Leopold Bros (https://www.leopoldbros.com) would have this whole distilling thing locked down, but he’s the first to admit he’s still figuring it all out. Or, maybe it’s more accurate to say that as soon as he has something solved, he finds a new problem or project with a new set of unknowns, to maintain a dynamic state of constant learning. His restless creativity just can’t stay in one place for too long. In this episode with host Sydney Jones, the widely respected maltster, distiller, and reluctant blender considers the distillery’s history and discusses the process and implementation behind a number of things, including: reviving Maryland rye with a focus on fruit over spice rediscovering and commissioning a three-chamber still to facilitate more flavor and aroma in specific spirits distilling great fruit brandies and finding a place for oak-barrel conditioning with fruit spirits very slow proofing to maintain stability using a dunnage warehouse to reduce evaporation and maintain more consistent temperatures for aging spirits maintaining a low entry proof for more breadth of flavor working vinegar into their product portfolio collaborating on vermouth with an award-winning winemaker And more. 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. Hank Pressley, head distiller at Moon Drop Distillery says, “Early on, we made a decision to partner with quality American-made companies. One of those companies was G&D Chillers, and we are proud of that choice. Our equipment from them has run long and strong. We put our first barrel in our rickhouse in September 2021, and in the next 3 years we have put back more than another 540 barrels. What a great decision to team up with a company like G&D Chillers.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

A certain kind of alchemy occurs when everything aligns in the production of rum—ingredients, expressive fermentation, maturation—but the story and the “why” behind great rum is another element that can’t be forgotten. Maggie Campbell and Chaz Vest of American Cane (https://www.americancane.com) are deeply focused on those components that make for interesting rum, driven to tell the broader history of rum production in America—even as they build production capacity and write up their own small piece of that ongoing history. In this episode, Campbell, Vest, and host Molly Troupe discuss: building a background in spirits—from Leopold Bros and Stranahan’s to Germain Robin and Mount Gay—before launching American Cane the historical context of American rum, and the heritage that includes black, brown, and indigenous people in its production the impact of fermentables such as fresh sugar-cane juice and molasses on the development of flavor expressions of terroir in rum via fermentation and ingredients building a sugar mill taking a staged approach to growing the brand, from sourcing through production And more. 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. Hank Pressley, head distiller at Moon Drop Distillery says, “Early on, we made a decision to partner with quality American-made companies. One of those companies was G&D Chillers, and we are proud of that choice. Our equipment from them has run long and strong. We put our first barrel in our rickhouse in September 2021, and in the next 3 years we have put back more than another 540 barrels. What a great decision to team up with a company like G&D Chillers.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

Building a blend of aged spirits that feels effortless requires both art and craft, and for Jonathan Goldberg of Black Velvet (https://www.blackvelvetwhisky.com) in Alberta, Canada, the key to great blends is nailing the mix of contrasting components and optimizing each from the still through aging, then carefully maturing after blending. The goal isn’t singular standout barrels; the goal is a continuous process that produces quality at volume. In this episode, Goldberg and host Sydney Jones discuss: the art of balance in blending lighter and heavier whiskies using high wines to create harmonious blends pre-blend aging and evaluation as well as post-blend additional maturation maintaining consistency and efficiency with a continuous still the positive impact of used cooperage on lighter distillates And more. 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. Hank Pressley, head distiller at Moon Drop Distillery says, “Early on, we made a decision to partner with quality American-made companies. One of those companies was G&D Chillers, and we are proud of that choice. Our equipment from them has run long and strong. We put our first barrel in our rickhouse in September 2021, and in the next 3 years we have put back more than another 540 barrels. What a great decision to team up with a company like G&D Chillers.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

While we often look at spirits aging through the lens of popular climates and standard barrels—used cooperage in the cool climate of Scotland or new charred oak barrels in hot, humid summers and cold winters of Kentucky—many now-enshrined methods were born of efficiency considerations and political realities more than quality concerns. In places not beholden to specific traditions and regulations, different opportunities present themselves, and different takes on efficiency can become the norm. Take Melbourne, Australia, for example, where this episode’s guest, Jarrad Hucksold, spent almost a decade as head blender for Starward Whisky. The popularity of wine in Australia has created a steady supply of used wooden casks, making them an accessible and flexible vessel for extended maturation. But understanding the way the local environment affects those casks as they mature was key to creating great stock for their blends. In this episode, Huckshold and host Molly Troupe discuss: taking a winemaker’s approach to whiskey maturation how fortified wine barrels interact with aging liquid inside them re-coopering and re-charring used barrels for better spirits aging managing sulfur in used wine barrels reactive maturation environments and avoiding over-extraction because of temperature fluctuations training one’s palate for the precise sensory work of blending maintaining consistency in blends through solera aging And more. 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. Sid Dilawri from Filibuster Distillery says, “From the design and engineering to installation and start-up, G&D was easy to work with. We’ve had great customer service since commissioning our chiller, and I’d highly recommend them for any distillery system.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

The romance of whiskey maturation meets environmental reality in many parts of the world these days—increasingly hot, dry climates can produce markedly different results than the humid environments of Scotland or Kentucky. That can leave distillers wrestling with the question of whether to lean into process- and environment-driven results, or to manipulate that environment to achieve intentional flavor goals. For Joe O’Sullivan—master distiller at Minden Mill (https://www.mindenmill.com) in Nevada’s high desert, just east of Lake Tahoe—the choice is clear: to prioritize consistency through distillation and maturation processes, so that they can let their estate-grown grain shine. In this episode, O’Sullivan and host Sydney Jones discuss: the impact of terroir on grain, and on distilled spirits made from that grain losing 3 to 4 percent angel’s share per month in a very dry climate building a distillery to optimize intended flavors in finished spirits identifying signature flavor characteristics and optimizing whiskey blends to highlight them controlling the rickhouse climate to mimic weather patterns in popular distilling centers such as Kentucky and Scotland And more. 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. Hank Pressley, head distiller at Moon Drop Distillery says, “Early on, we made a decision to partner with quality American-made companies. One of those companies was G&D Chillers, and we are proud of that choice. Our equipment from them has run long and strong. We put our first barrel in our rickhouse in September 2021, and in the next 3 years we have put back more than another 540 barrels. What a great decision to team up with a company like G&D Chillers.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

John D.E. “Johnny” Jeffery’s journey into distilling began after a trip to Poland inspired him to make nalewka, a traditional infused liqueur. It’s a journey that’s taken him from Chicago and Michigan State University to craft distilleries such as Death’s Door in Wisconsin, Sante Fe Spirits in New Mexico, and Nevada’s Bently Heritage Estate—all of which he helped to launch. Along the way, he’s embraced a collaborative approach among craft distillers, emphasizing the need to share knowledge so that everyone can make better, more compelling spirits. He continues that work today, advising small distilleries on how to pay attention to customer feedback and create meaningful experiences while maintaining creative traditions. In this episode with host Molly Troupe, Jeffery also discusses: the unusual experience of building a prison still for a California death-row case the importance of having a skilled mechanic in the distillery how sound and music can help identify problems in the distillery balancing intuition with science in R&D projects and whiskey-blending the importance of customer feedback to refining products how storytelling connects the maker with the product and those who enjoy it maintaining authenticity when scaling up And more. 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. Sid Dilawri from Filibuster Distillery says, “From the design and engineering to installation and start-up, G&D was easy to work with. We’ve had great customer service since commissioning our chiller, and I’d highly recommend them for any distillery system.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

If there’s a typical path to becoming the master distiller at Bombay Sapphire, Anne Brock didn’t take it. Besides some bartending experience, her road took her through studying medicine and getting a doctorate in organic chemistry on the way to England to lead production of one of the world’s most popular gins. In this episode, Brock covers a range of topics with host Molly Troupe, from her scientific approach to botanicals and fixatives to consistency of product and the global future of gin. Along the way, she discusses: being ready to deal with short-term crises (such as finding unexploded WWII ordinance in the distillery) the challenges that small distilleries face and the need for adaptability her experience with the single and multi-shot distillation methods for gin the debate over fixatives in gin—such as orris and angelica—and testing their effectiveness sourcing and certifying sustainable botanicals for a global brand the challenges of maintaining consistency despite botanicals that inevitably vary by season and growing region the value of her close collaboration with Alessandro Garneri, Bombay Sapphire’s master botanist the importance of bridge ingredients and experimenting with new botanicals, such as fresh turmeric the current trend toward classic, juniper-forward gins the demand for gin in emerging markets—such as India and China—and, in turn, the flavors that those regions can contribute And more. 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. Sid Dilawri from Filibuster Distillery says, “From the design and engineering to installation and start-up, G&D was easy to work with. We’ve had great customer service since commissioning our chiller, and I’d highly recommend them for any distillery system.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

As a Kentucky native, Alex Castle knew she wanted to work in beverage alcohol before most—bourbon is culturally important in the state, and she wanted to play a part in its continued tradition and evolution. She learned the ropes on pot stills at Alltech and a high-throughput continuous still at Wild Turkey before building out and launching Old Dominick in Memphis. But her return to Kentucky to helm Augusta Distillery (https://augustakydistillery.com) and the Buckner’s brand has ushered in a new chapter of both learning and sharing, as she stashes away barrels of their own distillate for future releases while sourcing older barrels from fellow Kentucky distilleries for limited single-barrel releases. In this episode, Castle and host Sydney Jones discuss: learning the ropes at Town Branch Bourbon and Wild Turkey before building out and launching Old Dominick in Memphis building out Augusta Distillery in a historic Kentucky building the challenges in distillery processes that use Kentucky groundwater building a flavor through-line in aged sourced-bourbon releases barrel rotation as a means of balancing stock for intended age-statement releases the impact of rye on bourbon flavors how location can impact barrel maturation weathering the current spirits-market slowdown And more. 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. Hank Pressley, head distiller at Moon Drop Distillery says, “Early on, we made a decision to partner with quality American-made companies. One of those companies was G&D Chillers, and we are proud of that choice. Our equipment from them has run long and strong. We put our first barrel in our rickhouse in September 2021, and in the next 3 years we have put back more than another 540 barrels. What a great decision to team up with a company like G&D Chillers.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

In this episode, host Sydney Jones sits down with Dave Smith, head distiller at St. George Spirits (https://stgeorgespirits.com) in Alameda, California, to explore the creative process behind one of America’s most pioneering craft distilleries. Founded in 1982 by Jörg Rupf, St. George has helped shape the modern craft-distilling movement through its relentless curiosity, innovation, and devotion to quality. Smith shares how his background in creative writing shaped his approach to distilling, and how the St. George team infuses intention and transparency into every spirit they make—from their American Single Malt Whiskey and Terroir Gin to their Japanese-inspired Baller whiskey, shochu, and umeshu. Drawing inspiration from Stephen King’s concept of telekinesis in writing, Smith discusses how spirits can carry “sense memories," or powerful, transportive moments that connect us through aroma, taste, and place. Over the course of the episode, they discuss: the story and philosophy behind St. George Spirits and founder Jörg Rupf’s influence on American craft distilling Smith’s creative path from writing to whiskey-making sensory storytelling through Terroir Gin and Valley Gin how Japanese techniques influence their process in Baller Whiskey, shochu, and umeshu capturing sense memories and emotional experiences through flavor the artistry of collaboration throughout the spirits chain, from distillers through bartenders and consumers reflections on community, mentorship, and the shared spirit of creativity in the distilling world And more. 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. Hank Pressley, head distiller at Moon Drop Distillery says, “Early on, we made a decision to partner with quality American-made companies. One of those companies was G&D Chillers, and we are proud of that choice. Our equipment from them has run long and strong. We put our first barrel in our rickhouse in September 2021, and in the next 3 years we have put back more than another 540 barrels. What a great decision to team up with a company like G&D Chillers.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

John Angus (https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-angus/) approaches the mechanics of flavor creation in spirits through the lens of a chemist but with the soul of an educator, breaking down complex processes and cutting-edge science in practical ways that spirits makers can use and drinkers can understand. He uses the tools of analytical chemistry to unlock the mechanisms that form flavor and aroma through the distilling and maturation processes, and makes complex processes more accessible. In this episode, host Molly Troupe and Angus discuss: the complex chemistry of cask finishes and how port, sherry, rum, cognac, and madeira casks influence flavor how environmental factors such as temperature and humidity make every barrel unique why modeling maturation poses such a scientific challenge processes for sensory evaluation and documentation that even small distilleries can regularly employ using infographics to simplify complex chemical interactions And more. 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. Hank Pressley, head distiller at Moon Drop Distillery says, “Early on, we made a decision to partner with quality American-made companies. One of those companies was G&D Chillers, and we are proud of that choice. Our equipment from them has run long and strong. We put our first barrel in our rickhouse in September 2021, and in the next 3 years we have put back more than another 540 barrels. What a great decision to team up with a company like G&D Chillers.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

Bourbon is the focus as master distiller Owen Martin joins Sydney Jones to dig into the production philosophies shaping Angel’s Envy (https://www.angelsenvy.com) today, from the Scotch-inspired discipline he brings to cask finishing to the blending strategy behind the brand’s new bottled-in-bond release. Owen breaks down how finishing barrels, entry proof, and batch selection influence flavor direction and why maintaining consistency across blends is becoming more complex as the distillery scales. The conversation also explores Angel’s Envy’s operational expansion, including the new Henry County barreling and blending facility, and how shifting fill/dump operations impacts both workflow and whiskey profile. Owen shares insights into upcoming innovations—new grains, unfinished whiskey, and peated-barrel projects—while offering a practical look at balancing experimentation with a growing core portfolio. In this episode, Jones and Martin discuss: How Owen’s Scotch whiskey background shapes Angel’s Envy’s approach to cask finishing Technical considerations behind the new bottled-in-bond release and its 103-proof maturation Blending strategies for maintaining consistency across batches as the distillery scales Development of peated-barrel and unfinished-whiskey projects Operational shifts with the new Henry County barreling/blending facility Innovation planning with new grain bills, malt whiskey, and future high-end finishes And more. 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. Hank Pressley, head distiller at Moon Drop Distillery says, “Early on, we made a decision to partner with quality American-made companies. One of those companies was G&D Chillers, and we are proud of that choice. Our equipment from them has run long and strong. We put our first barrel in our rickhouse in September 2021, and in the next 3 years we have put back more than another 540 barrels. What a great decision to team up with a company like G&D Chillers.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

Steven Grasse has long enjoyed building brands that stand out—from his earlier days as an advertising exec to his time with William Grant & Sons to today, owning Tamworth Distilling in Tamworth, New Hampshire. In this episode with host Molly Troupe, Grasse reflects on that path, the hard lessons learned from early failures, and why success still comes down to great liquid, intentional packaging, and strong storytelling. He also dives into the philosophy behind Tamworth’s famously unconventional releases—from Deer Slayer (yes, with venison) to Eau de Musk (featuring beaver castoreum)—and explains why differentiation matters more than ever in a tightening market. Along the way, Troupe and Grasse also discuss: the rapidly shifting landscape for craft spirits, from RTDs and THC beverages to changing consumer expectations and the pressure of digital marketing practical advice on testing new products, scaling, and building a realistic go-to-market strategy strategies for standing out in today’s saturated market the impact of RTDs, THC products, and post-COVID market shifts how his agency, Quaker City Mercantile, supports brand development, including the fast-growing nonalcoholic spirit Pathfinder And more. 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. Hank Pressley, head distiller at Moon Drop Distillery says, “Early on, we made a decision to partner with quality American-made companies. One of those companies was G&D Chillers, and we are proud of that choice. Our equipment from them has run long and strong. We put our first barrel in our rickhouse in September 2021, and in the next 3 years we have put back more than another 540 barrels. What a great decision to team up with a company like G&D Chillers.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.