Interview with Ian Hart, Distiller at Sacred Spirits
When small-batch “craft” spirits were already sweeping the US, they were virtually nonexistent in London prior to 2008. Some confusion with local laws meant few were attempting to open small distilleries in the city. That is, until pioneering Sipsmith...
Distiller Interview with Scott Blackwell & Ann Marshall of High Wire Distilling
High Wire Distilling Company, Charleston’s first operating distillery since Prohibition, paved the way for a craft-spirits revival in South Carolina. Husband-and-wife duo Scott Blackwell and Ann Marshall were steeped in the food and drink industries. After selling their popular...
Interview: Spirit Hound Distillers, Craig Engelhorn & Wayne Anderson
A “little” brewery by the name of Oskar Blues brought Craig Engelhorn and Wayne Anderson together. Meeting and working there in the late 1990s/early 2000s, their distillery idea cooked for years before they opened Spirit Hound Distillers in Lyon,...
Interview with Distiller Christian Krogstad at House Spirits Distillery
No conversation about spirits in Portland—and Oregon as a whole—is complete without talking about pioneering House Spirits Distillery (https://housespirits.com). Christian Krogstad was early to the craft-distilling “game,” opening the distillery in 2004 after years as a brewer and winemaker—with...
Interview with Distiller Joseph Myer of Myer Farm Distillers
From farming to playing piano, painting to writing poetry, Joseph Myer—aka Joe—has led quite the artistic life. Creativity is in his blood and bones. But so is farming. Born in Ithaca, NY, growing up on a fifth-generation farm in...
Interview with Jaime Windon of Lyon Distilling Co.
Born and raised in Laurel, Maryland, Jaime Windon is Maryland through and through, eventually going to college in Baltimore. But her experience — and her palate — were shaped by also living in San Diego, London, South America, Florida,...
Interview with Francesco Amodeo of Don Ciccio & Figli
One of the biggest proponents in the country of Italian-style amaro with American expression and ingredients is Francesco “Ciccio” Amodeo, president and founder of Think Italian LLC and Don Ciccio & Figli.
Born in the small Italian town of Furore...
Interview with Ryan & Wood Distilleries
In the seaside Massachusetts town of Gloucester, Bob Ryan, his wife, Kathy, and son Doug, along with Bob’s nephew, Dave Wood, opened Ryan & Wood Distilleries (ryanandwood.com) in 2006, bringing spirits production to his hometown in the form of...
Interview with Davorin Kuchan of Old World Spirits
Old World Spirits (OWS)/Kuchan Cellars has pioneered in a number of areas since master distiller Davorin Kuchan launched this Bay Area-based distillery in 2005 with the motto, “Good Stuff Needs No Special Effects.” OWS is CCOF Organic Certified, sourcing...
Limestone Branch Interview with Steve Beam
Though you’ll recognize the famed whiskey name Beam, brothers Steve and Paul Beam opened their Limestone Branch Distillery in February 2012 as a completely independent craft distillery in the town of Lebanon on the Bourbon Trail Craft Tour, in...
