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Detecting Flavor Drift in the Craft Distillery

For distillers of any size, the concept of flavor drift can be confusing and worrisome—yet it’s an inevitable part of any product’s life cycle. Here’s what to know about flavor drift and how it can affect your products.

CS&D Podcast Episode 16: Adam Spiegel of Corning & Company and Sonoma Distilling Takes a Reactive and Responsive Approach to an Evolving Spirits Market

The president of Corning & Company reimagined and reconfigured Sonoma Distilling into a house of brands—some are owned, others are partnerships—but quality and experimentation are still top of mind for this award-winning master distiller.

The Wider World of Agave Spirits

While agave is native to the Americas and strongly associated with Mexico, the plant can thrive in similar environments around the world. Brands in Africa, India, and Australia are among those that aim to widen the reach of agave spirits with plants grown closer to home.

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The Cocktail Trends that Distillers Need to Know Today

What’s hot at the bar has a direct relationship to which bottles are mostly likely to get a spot behind it. For distillers who want to meet the mixology moment, here’s a look at real-life cocktail trends developing in 2024 and moving on into 2025.

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Distilling American Single Malt Whiskey

Boulder Spirits distiller Justin Baier walks you through the process and materials of making an American single malt whiskey and what they’re learning along the way.

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Getting the Most From Your Lab Still

Whether you’re evaluating a new grain, prototyping a new recipe, or checking the proof of a liqueur, a lab still can be an essential tool for small distilleries.

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The Impact of Seasonality on Spirits in the Barrel | Video Tip

To everything, there is a season... but to a barrel-aged spirit, there are several. Those fluctuations in temperature play a key role in how the wood affects the liquid’s flavors. In this clip from his video course, Santa Fe Spirits master distiller Stephen Julander discusses climate, barrel placement, and more.

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How to Turn a Stock Spirits Bottle into an Eye-Catching Package

Each failure to impress is a missed chance to get someone to try your spirit—yet packaging is expensive, especially on a smaller scale. Here’s how some craft distilleries are elevating lower-cost bottles for brands that shine on the shelves.

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Combining Yeasts for More Complex Spirits

Distiller’s yeast strains are efficient workhorses, but depth of flavor isn’t their specialty. By co-pitching characterful ale yeast strains with other trusted strains—and experimenting to achieve the desired outcomes—craft distillers can get the best of both worlds.

CS&D Podcast Episode 15: Maplewood Finds Creative Fermentation, Botanicals, and Finishing Opportunities at the Intersection of Brewing and Distilling

This award-winning Chicago brewstillery finds innovative ways to connect their disciplines—and not just for the narrative, but firstly for the flavor.

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The Cultures that Set Bajan and Jamaican Rum Apart

Caribbean distillers produce rums in a range of styles, but those from Barbados and Jamaica are often the most misunderstood. Local yeast and fermentation methods play key roles in their distinctive character.

Producing a Rougher Spirit Meant for Longer Aging | Video Tip

Santa Fe Spirits master distiller Stephen Julander explains why they produce a somewhat rougher distillate whose compounds break down and transform over years in the barrel.

A Moment for the Martini

The martini is an undeniable classic with timeless appeal, yet it’s also evolved over the years. Here’s a look at the modern history of the martini, as told via recipes that give craft spirits pride of place.

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Seaweed Is Making Waves in Spirits

Craft distillers are taking advantage of the savoriness and salinity of kelp and other ocean algae, producing locally rooted, umami-driven spirits that evoke the sea.

Distiller’s Perspective: Winning with Brandy at Willow Creek

Founded a little more than a decade ago by Opolo Vineyards in Paso Robles, California, Willow Creek Distillery has a reputation for its award-winning brandies. Here, U.S. Marine turned head distiller Kevin Coulton explains their approach to high-quality fruit-based spirits—from sourcing fruit to making use of saignée. As told to Ryan Pachmayer.

CS&D Podcast Episode 14: Nic Christiansen of Barrell Craft Spirits Pieces Together the Blended Whiskey Puzzle

As blender and manager of blending operations for Barrell, a brand committed to sourcing and blending rather than distilling, Christiansen finds creative ways to marry distinct flavors in whiskey without muddling their individual characters.

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