Pot vs. Column for Whiskey Production
The pot still is known for having a higher degree of control and a greater diversity of spirits that can be produced, while the column still offers speed, efficiency, and consistency with the more straightforward addition of automation.
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The Future of American Gin
Jamie Baddour pours a cocktail in the tasting room of Half Moon Bay Distillery, its lower door opened toward frayed beach bungalows and sailboats that glide across sparkling water in the distance. Baddour understands that Half Moon Bay is...
Crafting an Exit Strategy: What to Think About if You’re Thinking of Selling
If you are the founder and owner of your distillery, you have probably referred to it on occasion as your “baby” — and you may have actually lost as much sleep growing your business as you would raising an...
10 Pieces of Advice for Starting Out in the Spirits Industry
Working in the craft spirits industry is different than becoming a doctor, a CPA, or a truck driver. There is no established path. That’s because it’s a world in flux, with hundreds of small businesses made up of people...
Distilleries Embrace Historic Architectural Reuse
Strip away the ads of lush green fields and the well-lit exterior shots, and a simple truth remains: Making spirits is an industrial process. It doesn’t have to be pretty. Some great spirits have been created in spaces akin...
Closing Time
For craft distilling, the story of the last 20 years borders on mythic: Creative makers, imagining a future filled with novel spirits and diverse flavors, poured their hearts and souls into startup endeavors, often maxing out loans and cashing...
It’s Not Magic. It’s Research.
Creating a world-class bourbon is not magic. All it takes is disciplined cycles of creation, research, learning, and recreation. This approach was refined and validated by our sister company, the Eureka! Ranch, over the past 40 years working with...
Liquid Marketing: The Vital Importance of Your Tasting Room Experience in Growing Your Brand
The first exposure I ever had to a tasting room of any sort was at an undisclosed winery in Sonoma County. At the time, I was a buyer managing a small boutique restaurant focused on California cuisine. We boasted...
Distilling Spirits & Crafting Community in St. Louis
Conference attendees and exhibitors streamed into St. Louis, Missouri, during the week of September 19, eager for the excitement of the ADI 2022 Craft Spirits Conference and Expo. Some found themselves in the historic city for the first time....
A Nose for Business
Julia Nourney is an international distillery coach who has been involved with spirits for some thirty years. She’s also a contract blender who helps distillers at all levels improve quality, develop new products, or adapt their portfolios to current...
