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: 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.

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: 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, 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: 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.

• 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: 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 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: 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.

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: 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.

• 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: 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

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: 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: 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!

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: 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.

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: 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.