CS&D Podcast 19: A Global Perspective on Gin with Olivier Ward of Everglow Spirits

The world of gin, from the creative and technical side to marketing and sales, is experiencing the same flux that’s affecting the broader craft-spirits world. But Ward—veteran spirits journalist, brand builder, and consultant—offers a broad look at the category, from evolving definitions and flavors to breakthrough marketing.

Molly Troupe Nov 12, 2024 - 3 min read

CS&D Podcast 19: A Global Perspective on Gin with Olivier Ward of Everglow Spirits Primary Image

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Olivier Ward got his start in gin in the mid-oughts, working on projects for Hendrick’s, and he hasn’t been able to shake the gin world since. The people, places, and processes captivate him, and building or telling those brand stories has been a major focus for the better part of the past two decades. As chief gin judge for the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), he tastes thousands of gins in any given year and has a context for flavor and approaches that few possess. Now, with Everglow Spirits, he’s taking a fresh approach to both education and consulting, helping distillers (and would-be distillers) articulate their visions and understand the challenges of creating and growing brands.

In this episode, Ward and host Molly Troupe discuss:

  • Thinking about gin beyond just flavor
  • Opportunities and risks in direct-to-consumer sales
  • The common mistakes that brands make, and how great brands hone their focuses
  • Finding resonance beyond baseline expectations for quality
  • The variety of creative approaches and tasting profiles around the world
  • Base spirits and their impact on gins
  • Categorizing for competition with process in addition to flavor

And more.


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With a Bachelor degree in Chemistry (with an emphasis in forensics) and a Master degree in Brewing and Distilling from the legendary Heriot Watt University, Molly Troupe uses her education and experience to create products focused on localized ingredients and masterful flavor combinations. As Master Distiller and Partner at Freeland Spirits in Portland, Oregon, she has released six different products ranging from gin to whiskey to canned cocktails.

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