American Independent Bottlers Open New Markets for Craft Distillers
Historic independent bottling giant Gordon & MacPhail caused quite a stir when they announced in 2022 they would no longer be purchasing new make for filling casks. The move followed the opening of their own distilleries, but also came...
Are You Ready for a Brand Ambassador?
You’re an owner of an emerging brand. Your mission statement and vision are solid, and you make great products. How do you build your brand, convey your brand story, and connect with consumers outside your distillery?
One possibility? Brand representation....
Compass Box Duality Combines Craft and Legacy Whiskies
Compass Box, the London-based independent bottler and whisky maker of ethereal Scotch blends and blended malts, has traditionally sourced its whiskies from Scotland’s long-established heritage distilleries. In June of 2023, they broke with tradition to collaborate with Bimber Distillery,...
American “Chartreuse”
Earlier this year, the internet exploded over news that the Carthusian monks who have been making Chartreuse in its current form since 1840 were putting a ceiling on their production. In a short letter they noted that they had...
Porchjam Distillery Takes the Bolder Choice in the Big Easy
A calm, tropical touch from the north Caribbean is gusting through balconies in the French Quarter, taming the sultry breath of New Orleans as visitors pass long storm shutters and old torches in the night. A few strangers head...
The Road Ahead for American Single Malt
On the evening of April 4, 2023, many of the members of the Manhattan Whiskey Club (run by yours truly) got their very first taste of American single malt. The club gathered at DXA Studios for a preview tasting...
What’s at Stake with DTC
Brian Facquet will never forget watching his best friend wander off into the night.
It was a fall evening in 2016. His friend, also named Brian, was with him at a gathering on a boat in the marina at Annapolis,...
Whiskey Clubs Open New Marketing Possibilities
The Roman poet Horace had already noticed in 23 B.C.E. how much carefree camaraderie flourished with communal libations. “Whom will Venus pick to be judge of the drinking?” he wrote. “To me it’s sweet to lose my mind —...
The View from the Top of the Hill
TOPO distiller Scott Maitland isn’t trying to be contradictory. He just happens to have found his way into an industry with a lot of rules and baggage that he has no use for. He also happens to be the...
