craft spirits

Episode 153 – Spearhead Whisky – Calum Leslie

This episode features ⁠Calum Leslie⁠ of ⁠Spearhead Whisky⁠.

Spearhead Whisky is a 100% single grain malted barley which is distilled in a coffey style still. Finished in ex-bourbon barrels and then the liquid spends time in infrared toasted virgin American oak barrels. This creates a spirit that is sweet, light and super approachable for a Scotch whisky. Calum came to Loch Lomond distillery in 2019 as head of innovation. His desire was to introduce new consumers in the brand. This whisky is definitely spearheading a movement. They are doing things differently. Creating new fans one at a time. Pick up your own bottle or order it at the bar. Either neat or as a cocktail. This may become your new favorite and everyday drinker.

www.SpearheadWhisky.com – ⁠Facebook

Available on:

🎧Apple https://lnkd.in/gydMyt2n

🎧 Google https://lnkd.in/g5vbAgGR

🎧 Spotify https://lnkd.in/gVd-HeRi

🎧 iHeart Radio https://lnkd.in/gWkHhQN7
and more…

Highlights From our Discussion:

⁠Bar Convent Brooklyn⁠

⁠Dragons’ Den⁠

⁠Tobermory Distillery⁠

Episode 152 – Cocktails and Spirits Podcast/Valor Spirits with Alfonso and Erik

This Episode features ⁠Alfonso Esquivias Gonzalez⁠ and ⁠Erik Silva⁠ of ⁠Cocktails & Spirits Podcast⁠.

We spoke with Alfonso and Erik to discuss a plethora of subjects. Alfonso is a bartender who is dedicated to his trade. In 2021 he began a journey to discover more about cocktails. He experimented with different recipes. That’s where Erik comes in. He and friends sampled the magic elixirs that Alfonso created. Tequila became a major focus of the next rabbit hole that they went down. Their podcast was created to speak with those that share their passion. We enjoy, taste and share Valor Spirits while meandering through our lively discussion.

Available on:

🎧Apple https://lnkd.in/eFQfq9-c

🎧 Google https://lnkd.in/eDEuK9Pe

🎧 Spotify https://lnkd.in/ethbXsSd

🎧 iHeart Radio https://lnkd.in/e3FuXYda
and more…

Highlights From Our Discussion:

⁠Drinks With Fonz⁠

⁠Agave Thread’s Co.⁠

⁠Mama’s Comfort Food & Cocktails⁠

⁠The Agave Social Club Podcast⁠

⁠Tales of the Cocktail⁠

Bar Convent Brooklyn 2023 – Jackie Williams

Bar Convent Brooklyn was back in Industry City for 2023. This years event was expanded to occupy more space. The booths and activations were bigger and even better. BCB is a party where business gets done. 4,500 industry professionals attended over 2 days. There were 198 brands represented and visitors came from 51 countries and 46 states. 475,000 spirit samples were enjoyed. Sip and savor this recap of the 2 day extravaganza and look to reserve your spot for 2024’s BCB being held on June 11th and 12th.

www.BarConventBrooklyn.com

Available on:

🎧 Apple https://lnkd.in/eNiQJPej

🎧 Google https://lnkd.in/e8gihJK2

🎧 Spotify https://lnkd.in/ewqHAgKz

🎧 iHeart Radio https://lnkd.in/eiRYjDYx
and more…

Highlights From our Discussion:

⁠Cardenxe⁠

⁠Shanky’s Whip⁠

⁠Park Street University⁠

⁠Barrows Intense Ginger⁠

⁠Brooklyn Kura⁠

⁠Standard Wormwood⁠

⁠Fort Hamilton Distillery⁠

⁠Industry City⁠

Episode 148 – Liberty Pole Spirits Grand Opening

This special episode features ⁠Jim⁠, ⁠Ellen⁠, Rob and ⁠Kevin Hough⁠ of ⁠Liberty Pole Spirits⁠.

On July 15th Liberty Pole Spirits entered a new chapter in the history of their whiskey distillery. Friends, family and new fans joined the celebration and filled their new campus to capacity. It was an amazing experience to be part of the festivities and tour this state of the art distillery. The crowned jewel is the largest rickhouse in all of Pennsylvania. This expansive structure provides so much room now to fill and age barrels.

The tasting room and bottle shop are full of history which is befitting to the distilled spirits that are being produced. It’s a comfortable space to sit, relax, sip and enjoy the sights, sounds and the conversations all around. The cocktails are amazing. A perfect balanced and well rounded compliment to the base whiskey being used. We got see the production space from the seating area overlooking the distillery itself.

⁠Episode 31⁠ featured Jim and there you can learn about the history and the humble beginnings of Liberty Pole. This episode provides a glimpse into the excitement of opening day, the experiences leading up to it and some never told stories about the beginning of the distillery.

This is certainly a destination that must be on your bucket list.

⁠800 Adios Drive⁠, ⁠Washington, PA⁠ –⁠724-503-4014⁠ –⁠ www.LibertyPoleSpirits.com⁠ – ⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Available on:

🎧 Apple https://lnkd.in/eaGzkbFt

🎧 Google https://lnkd.in/eYNTzZ_K

🎧 Spotify https://lnkd.in/erYH2yRR

🎧 iHeart Radio https://lnkd.in/e2Te36MT
and more…

Highlights From Our Discussion:

⁠Pittsburgh Whiskey Friends

Episode 147 – Cardenxe Sotol – Luigi Ambrosi

This episode features ⁠⁠Luigi Ambrosi⁠ ⁠of ⁠⁠Cardenxe⁠.

The journey bagan around a passion for music. Luigi went on an adventure to discover a near extent music genre in Mexico. He and his co-founder found themselves immersed in an area where Sotol grows and is distilled. They fell in love with the moment, the spirit of the music and the drink. Sotol is a Northern Mexican traditional ancient spirit. It is produced from the Sotol plant, which is not an agave. This episode provides the opportunity to learn about this delicious spirit and Cardenxe.

www.CardenxeSotol.mx-⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠

Available on:

🎧 Apple https://lnkd.in/e2rgCYx3

🎧 Google https://lnkd.in/enHvJ5X5

🎧 Spotify https://lnkd.in/eZXmqy5p

🎧 iHeart Radio https://lnkd.in/eYNFrsei
and more…

Highlights From our Discussion:

⁠Bar Convent Brooklyn⁠

Episode 146 – Barrow’s Intense Ginger – Josh Morton

This episode features ⁠Josh Morton⁠ of ⁠Barrow’s Intense Ginger⁠.

Josh started making the ginger liqueur in his kitchen for his friends ten years before it became a product that he sold. As he calls it, “A Happy Accident”. His inspiration was lemon cello that he enjoyed during his visit to Italy. Josh was disappointed by what he drank when he returned to the United States. A chef friend gave him some tips and tricks on how to make the lemon cello the correct way. With each experimental batch he refined the recipe. Once ginger was added it became clear that he was on to something special. Each time he made it he added more ginger and less lemon. What exists today is a delicious liqueur that is versatile and simply amazing. Don’t take our word for it… pick up a bottle today and experience Barrow’s Intense Ginger Liqueur for yourself.

86 34th St Brooklyn, NY 11232 – ⁠⁠⁠⁠(917) 597-1084⁠⁠⁠⁠ – www.BarrowsIntense.com -⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Available on:

🎧 Apple https://lnkd.in/eGmQtuEE

🎧 Google https://lnkd.in/e9E2cxUG

🎧 Spotify https://lnkd.in/ewydPak8

🎧 iHeart Radio https://lnkd.in/ey3cJbr8
and more…

Highlights From our Discussion:

⁠Industry City⁠

⁠Bar Convent Brooklyn⁠

⁠Brooklyn, NY⁠

⁠Japan Village⁠

⁠Sahadi’s Market⁠

⁠Fort Hamilton Distillery⁠

⁠Standard Wormwood Distillery⁠

⁠Big Alice Brewing⁠

⁠Gun Hill Brewing Co.⁠

⁠Brooklyn Kura⁠

⁠Mix & Match App⁠

⁠New York Distillers Guild⁠

⁠Hometown BBQ⁠

⁠Red Pump Spirits⁠

⁠P.F. Changs⁠

⁠Rabbit Hole Distillery⁠

⁠MuleMosa.com⁠

⁠Base4stands⁠

⁠The Bard Distillery⁠

⁠Wine Enthusiast⁠

⁠Drink Hacker

Episode 145 – Imbibitude – Kevin

This episode features ⁠⁠Kevin of ⁠⁠Imbibitude⁠.

For Kevin it began with an interest in cocktail making and mixology. It was an experience with one cocktail in particular that peaked his interest in peated whisky. Kevin grew up experiencing his grandfather’s enjoyment of bourbon. This lead to learning more about all types of spirits. To date he has visited 49 states and over 100 distilleries. We talked cocktails, distilleries, the bourbon trails and so much more in this episode.

Available on:

🎧 Apple https://lnkd.in/eT7DXZbB

🎧 Google https://lnkd.in/e5Ur6GSr

🎧 Spotify https://lnkd.in/e6TSBPDY

🎧 iHeart Radio https://lnkd.in/efsr932y
and more…

Highlights From our Conversation:

⁠Kentucky Bourbon Trail⁠

⁠Kentucky Craft Bourbon Trail⁠

⁠The Fox Bar & Cocktail Club ⁠

⁠Canon ⁠

⁠Two James Spirits⁠

⁠High Wire Distilling⁠

Episode 141 – Laird & Company – Vincent Capitolo and Gerard Laird Dunn

This episode features ⁠Vincent Capitolo ⁠and ⁠Gerard Laird Dunn⁠ of ⁠⁠Laird & Company⁠.

In 1698 Samuel Laird came from Scotland and settled in the new world. He was a well experienced maker of scotch. While grain wasn’t plentiful, apples certainly were. This was how the apple jack and apple brandy business was launched. This episode provides us the opportunity to learn how Apple Jack is produced. 1780 is the year that is used as the beginning of Laird & Company becoming a business. Laird’s has been witness and a part of the the history of the United States since its inception. This is the oldest distilled domestic brand. For Gerard the introduction to Laird’s was summers spent working in the family business. Each summer he came back and his grandfather gave him more responsibility. During his junior year of college he realized that working for Laird & Company was where he belonged. Today, Laird’s remains true to their values while broadening their horizons by creating and expanding their product line. After the podcast we were priveliged to experience a number of the new expressions. You can learn about them on this podcast episode.

One Laird Road, Scobeyville, NJ 07724 – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(732) 542-0312 – www.LairdAndCompany.com – ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Available on:

🎧 Apple https://lnkd.in/e8cfyfQe

🎧 Google https://lnkd.in/eWcnP2JK

🎧 Spotify. https://lnkd.in/e3wWq2wq

🎧 iHeart Radio https://lnkd.in/eYrqEgcw
and more…

Highlights from our discussion:

⁠Colts Neck Inn⁠

⁠Jim Beam⁠

⁠Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory⁠

⁠Scobeyville, NJ⁠

⁠Roger Wilco⁠

⁠Wilco Whiskey⁠

⁠Mike Rowe⁠

⁠Von C Brewing Co.

Episode 136 – Cudia Cocktail Consulting – Michelle Cudia

This episode features ⁠⁠Michelle Cudia⁠ of ⁠Cudia Cocktail Consulting⁠⁠.

Michelle started working at Tria Taproom as a bar manager. They were looking to extend their draft cocktail program. At the time she didn’t have any experience with craft cocktails. She set out to write the whole plan for the bar. She was able to spread her “cocktail nerdiness” to events and the public. In 2019 Michelle launched Cudia Cocktail Consulting as an official business. She works with weddings, birthday parties, bachelor and bachelorette parties. Just about anything that you can imagine that could enjoy sensational, one of a kind, cocktails that create a memorable event. She’s always ready for discussion of cocktails and helping businesses take their program to the next level. Cocktails are meant to be celebratory!

www.CudiaCocktails.com – ⁠Instagram

Available on:

🎧 Apple https://lnkd.in/gKEhkyi9

🎧 Google https://lnkd.in/ggT9jvCh

🎧 Spotify https://lnkd.in/gXP_VkSh

🎧iHeart Radio https://lnkd.in/g-maMd-k
and more…

Highlights From our Conversation:

⁠Josh Douglas⁠

⁠Widows Peak Distilling Company⁠

⁠Ranstead Room⁠

⁠Tria Philly⁠

⁠The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Company⁠

⁠Philadelphia Distilling⁠

⁠Canyon Shayer⁠

⁠Tiffanie Barriere⁠

⁠Main Line Center for Bartending⁠

⁠The Black Squirrel Pub and Haunt⁠

⁠⁠Bees Knees Cocktail⁠⁠

⁠K’FAR Philadelphia

Episode 133 – Catoctin Creek Distilling Company – Becky Harris

This episode features ⁠⁠Becky Harris⁠⁠ of ⁠⁠Catoctin Creek Distilling Company⁠ ⁠.

Becky and Scott founded Catoctin Creek in 2009. At the time there were about 200 distilleries in the United Sates and 6 in Virginia. They began with a vision of making rye whiskey which was “the whiskey” up until prohibition in the Mid-Atlantic States. At Cotoctin they use batch pot still distillation. This is the key to deriving the most flavor from the rye grain. In the beginning it was difficult to get farmers to take a chance on this little craft distillery. Today those farmers are glad that they did. Catoctin produces some of the finest rye whiskey’s. Combine that with the delicious cocktails in the tasting room and you have a recipe for continued growth and success. We enjoyed our fascinating conversation about history, the spirits industry and Catoctin Creek Distilling.

120 W Main St, Purcellville, VA 20132 – ⁠⁠⁠⁠(540) 751-8404⁠ – www.CatoctinCreekDistilling.com – ⁠⁠Facebook⁠

Available on:

🎧 Apple https://lnkd.in/emNimJEK

🎧 Google https://lnkd.in/eHQ_nmMS

🎧 Spotify https://lnkd.in/eD_8rhvC

🎧iHeart Radio https://lnkd.in/eXHCvphN
and more…

Highlights from our discussion:

⁠Every Home a Distillery⁠

⁠American Craft Spirit Association⁠

⁠Mt. Defiance Distillery⁠

⁠Jack Rose Dining Saloon⁠

⁠MGP⁠