Fall 2018 Issue
Craft Is a Way of Life
Alcohol is neither an amusement nor a commodity—at least, not historically speaking. Technically, of course, it’s a food or even a drug, but historically...
Stills with Personality: A look at the Spirits Producers Who Give Their Stills Names
At Montanya Distillers in Crested Butte, CO, Karen Hoskin has assigned names to her trio of rum-producing copper pot stills: Bella, Bellisima and Bellatrix....
A Surge in Craft Bottled-in-Bond Whiskey
Bartenders and bargain hunters have rejoiced in recent years with the return to prominence for bottled-in-bond, or bonded, whiskeys. I’ve long said the best...
What’s in a Glass?
Sensory perception is such an intangible thing. There are so many variables at play in evaluating a spirit, from the emotional and environmental factors...
The Power of Branding: A Strategic Approach to Design
An Excerpt from the book Branding:Distilled by Cynthia Sterling of Sterling Creativeworks
The craft spirits category is young, thriving and growing at a phenomenal pace....
Was the Emerald City a Mirage? How Portland, Oregon, has Gone from ...
In 2010, five distillers who’d set up shop near one another in southeast Portland got together to see if some cooperation could lift all...
Taking Sustainability Deep
In this day and age of jargon and dubious news, we hear terms such as green, sustainable, carbon footprint, renewable and eco-friendly daily. We rarely...
Life After Acquisition or Investment: The Decision & the Aftermath
Check the industry news headlines from the past few years and you’d be forgiven if you thought there was an ongoing game of distillery...
Japanese Whiskey and the Art of Blending
Talk to the typical person who’s a fanatic about Japanese whiskey and you’ll hear a level of reverence that few other spirits ever receive....
Whiskey and Cherry Blossoms
“Whiskey and Cherry Blossoms” sounds like an answer from the game show Jeopardy. Connecting the two requires other words that are just as curious:...
Native Nuts: Liqueurs and Bitters
As autumn arrives in America, one of the great seasonal pleasures is seeing a scattering of nuts across a path and looking up to...
Desert Door Unlocks Secrets of Sotol for the U.S. Market
For ages, sotol has been the regional vaquero drink in the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Durango and Coahuila while merely a popular style of...
Dedicated Follower the of the Craft
Robert Spruill (pronounced “Sprool”) used to have the kind of job many of us would envy: He made movies. His first movie, Squeeze, told...
Looking to the Future of American Brandy
Brandy was produced in the United States when the country-to-be was but a ramshackle collection of colonies. In fact, Laird’s has stood the test...
Math or Money and The Electric Sombrero of Death
Of all the things in a distillery that could spark (pun intended) a fire or explosion, electrical systems and equipment are at the top...
“The One Thing I Didn’t Build Myself Was the Still”
It was nearly six months to the day since he had pushed his burning body across the floor to the fire extinguisher, and Peter...
Blazing a Trail in Paso Robles: Central Coast Distillers Stake Out a New Route...
I’ve packed my car with essential gear and headed to California’s Central Coast. Wine and red oak barbecue country calls for folding knives, wine...
Autry Cellars
Autry Cellars
autrycellars.com
5450 Edna Road
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Tasting hours: 11am-5pm daily
805.546.8669
Steve Autry, a former aerospace engineer turned winemaker, became a fully licensed brandy producer...
Azeo Distillery
Azeo Distillery
https://www.azeodistillery.com
3230 Riverside Ave. Suite 190
Paso Robles, CA 93446
Tasting hours: by appointment
805.835.3740
At In Vino Veritas, a local custom crush facility owned by winemaker Ryan...
Manucci Spirits
Manucci Spirits
wildcoyote.biz
3775 Adelaida Road
Paso Robles, CA 93446
Tasting hours: 11am-5pm Friday-Sunday and by appointment
805.610.1311
info@wildcoyote.biz
Tasting rooms and private casitas for overnight guests at Wild Coyote Estate...
KROBĀR Craft Distillery
KROBĀR Craft Distillery
(at Barton Family Wines)
krobardistillery.com
2174 Hwy 46 West
Paso Robles, CA 93446
Tasting hours: 11am-5:30pm Thurs-Mon and by appointment
833.576.2271
Stephen Kroener and his partner Joe Barton...