European Lessons on Sustainable Distilling by the Numbers
Sustainability. Where does a distillery get started? Sure, you could take a look around and make a quick list of simple things. You could switch to a green energy provider and bingo, there’s a box ticked. But what difference...
Cutting Edge Processes for Extracting Flavors
Flavor, the ultimate frontier; everything we do comes down to flavor. Flavor extraction is an important part of making a spirit and makes up a large part of the drinking experience. So, what’s new in the world of flavor?...
Exploring Ancient Distilling Technologies
Introduction
Throughout the recorded history of alchemy and distillation, many interesting still designs have been suggested by the renowned philosophers, doctors, and chemists of their time. These scientists sought to improve their stills used for essential oils, mineral acids, and...
Behind the Steel Door
Working for a distillery owner can be an enormous challenge. Okay, maybe that is an understatement - it might be one of the most difficult undertakings that many aspiring distillery professionals will face. Ours can be a murky world...
Filtration Options and Considerations for Distilled Spirits
The filtration of extra-precious liquids such as distilled spirits can be both challenging and intimidating.
The goal of filtration is to improve the product by removing contaminants which mask the quality components that contribute to flavor, color, mouthfeel, etc. In...
Explosion at Colorado distillery
Update: A GoFundMe page has been set up here to help defray expenses for the injured employees.
Video — An explosion and fire at Estes Park, CO, distillery on Saturday, Feb. 27th, sent two employees to the hospital.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqEmNLWOV2I
Fruit & Fire
Leave it to two forward-thinking women to turn tragedy into a potentially new approach to brandy in the region that pioneered and defined the American style: Northern California. As home to trailblazers like Germain-Robin, Charbay, St. George Spirits and...
A Roller Coaster in a Glass
The year is 2019. It’s late June in New York City, and monied Manhattanites can be heard planning their seasonal escape to the Hamptons or other such places of well-to-do frolic as they sip their lattes in the Upper...
London Dry: The Real History of Gin
As a beer-writer of more than 30 years’ standing, I found my curiosity piqued when craft distilling in Britain seemed to be following a trajectory very similar to that of craft brewing. Both fell broadly into two waves: a...
A Craft Distiller on an Apocalypse Mission
My alembic copper pot stills, nestled over open flames, often seem like a throwback to a bygone era. Their stove boxes are designed to be packed with wood, and our distillers are trained to manage temperature and transitions in...
