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.

Molly Troupe Oct 1, 2024 - 3 min read

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

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Adam Spiegel is taking an approach akin to alchemy and applying it to distilling, turning something relatively worthless—excess capacity in the distillery—into gold. The result isn’t just contract distilling and business diversification—it’s room to continue pushing and learning with Corning & Company, beyond the whiskey space that he pursued for the first decade of Sonoma Distilling.

In this episode, Spiegel touches on:

  • finding efficiencies in a challenging craft-spirits business environment
  • understanding the individual needs of a brands and speaking in its voice
  • building a “craft distillery incubator of the future”
  • distilling “California-style whiskey”
  • the mechanics of making black truffle rye whiskey
  • smoking malt for both bourbon and rye
  • American single-malt whiskey

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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