web01.fireside.fm Sat, 16 May 2026 01:52:10 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Spirits & Distilling Podcast - Episodes Tagged with “Bourbon Whiskey” https://spiritsanddistilling.fireside.fm/tags/bourbon%20whiskey Tue, 25 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0600 Enjoy and learn from conversations with leading distillers as co-hosts Sydney Jones, head distiller for FEW Spirits in Chicago, and Molly Troupe, master distiller for Freeland Spirits in Portland, Oregon, explore the technical and creative processes behind award-winning and storied spirits. It’s a podcast by distillers, for distillers, that covers the broad world of finely crafted spirits—botanical and herbal spirits, fruit distillations, agave spirits, grain spirits, and more. Listen as the hosts discuss every aspect of the process, from ideation and ingredient selection through conversion and fermentation, distilling, aging, finishing, proofing, and packaging. Subscribe to this bi-weekly podcast for tips and techniques that will help you make better spirits. en-us episodic Make and drink great spirits. Spirits & Distilling Enjoy and learn from conversations with leading distillers as co-hosts Sydney Jones, head distiller for FEW Spirits in Chicago, and Molly Troupe, master distiller for Freeland Spirits in Portland, Oregon, explore the technical and creative processes behind award-winning and storied spirits. It’s a podcast by distillers, for distillers, that covers the broad world of finely crafted spirits—botanical and herbal spirits, fruit distillations, agave spirits, grain spirits, and more. Listen as the hosts discuss every aspect of the process, from ideation and ingredient selection through conversion and fermentation, distilling, aging, finishing, proofing, and packaging. Subscribe to this bi-weekly podcast for tips and techniques that will help you make better spirits. no spirits, distilling, distilled spirits, bourbon, vodka, rum, gin, craft, craft spirits. Spirits & Distilling support@spiritsanddistilling.com 9: Nicole Austin of George Dickel Takes a Thoughtful and Contextual Approach to Blending Beautiful Whiskies https://spiritsanddistilling.fireside.fm/9 082b6595-f7e0-46ba-b1eb-20329eeddf23 Tue, 25 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0600 Spirits & Distilling full Spirits & Distilling There’s no one best way to blend whiskey—but for this award-winning distiller and blender, the key is taking an approach that fits the intended goal. 59:15 yes <p>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 <a href="https://www.georgedickel.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">George Dickel</a> 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. </p> <p>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: </p> <ul> <li> how rigorous approaches to blending can lead you astray</li> <li> altering the blending approach based on the age of the spirit and ultimate intention for the release</li> <li> managing blends with very small casks</li> <li> safe assumptions and techniques for validating them</li> <li> understanding gas chromatography and its place in the blending process</li> <li> the challenge in discovering and delivering “house character” that speaks to the blender while resonating with drinkers</li> <li> building a sustainable business structure</li> <li> contemporary projects, including the three-chamber rye blend with Leopold Brothers</li> <li> the multimode consumption of truly great whiskey</li> </ul> <p>And more. </p> <p><strong>Brought to you by:</strong><br> <strong><a href="https://gdchillers.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">G&amp;D Chillers:</a></strong> G&amp;D Chillers understands that each distillery’s chilling requirements are unique. On every distillery project, G&amp;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&amp;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&amp;D has had the proven solution. Visit them today at gdchillers.com.</p> <p><strong>[ABS Commercial:](hhttps://abs-commercial.com)</strong> 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 <a href="mailto:sales@abs-commercial.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">sales@abs-commercial.com</a> to discuss your customized distilling needs.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.breweryworkshop.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Brewery &amp; Distillery Workshop:</a></strong> 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 &amp; Distilling and Craft Beer &amp; 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. </p> distilling, blending, whiskey, rye whiskey, tennessee whiskey, bourbon, bourbon whiskey, whiskey blending 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 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: 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: 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 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: 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: IIf you’re planning a distillery or brewery launch, adding a distillery to your brewery, or considering purchasing an existing brewing or distilling business, then visit breweryworkshop.com for more information about the Brewery and Distillery workshop brought to you by Craft Spirits & Distilling and Craft Beer & Brewing. Over four days, you’ll learn what it takes to get a successful craft beverage business off the ground, through panel discussions, working group sessions, technical tours, and more. Get your ticket now at breweryworkshop.com.

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