Hosts: Lew Bryson, Liz Rhoades, and Marty Duffy

What You’ll Learn: Join a trio of drink industry veterans in weekly conversation on whiskey, spirits, distilling, marketing, and the current state of the drink industry. This week, the group looks back on 2+ years of shows and reflects on the knowledge gained along the way!

About the Hosts: 

• Liz Rhoades, founder of Spirit Safe Consulting, former research scientist for DIAGEO, distilling consultant, spirits writer for The Whiskey Wash & presenter.

• Lew Bryson, former managing editor for Whisky Advocate Magazine for 20 years, whiskey author, beer/whiskey writer and presenter.
  
• Martin Duffy, former DIAGEO Master of Whisky for the Midwest, DIAGEO Reserve Brand Ambassador for The Republic of Ireland, North American Brand Representative for Glencairn Crystal.

Hosts: Lew Bryson and Liz Rhoades

What You’ll Learn: Join a duo of drink industry veterans in weekly conversation on whiskey, spirits, distilling, marketing, and the current state of the drink industry. This week, Murphy Quint, director of operations and head distiller at Cedar Ridge Winery and Distillery, joins the group.

About Murphy Quint: 

Born in Minnesota and raised in Iowa, Murphy Quint began his career distilling spirits at age 15; helping the family open Cedar Ridge Winery and Distillery, launch award winning Iowa products, and set out to build a legacy of whiskey to the Midwest. Today, as Head Distiller and Director of Operations at Cedar Ridge Distillery, he oversees the Distillery, Winery and Vineyards—blending and bottling of every barrel of spirits on the brand’s 75-acre property in Swisher, Iowa. As one of the few winery and distilleries in the United States, Quint has gained a unique understanding of how wine influence can impact the flavor profile of whiskey.

About the Hosts: 

• Liz Rhoades, founder of Spirit Safe Consulting, former research scientist for DIAGEO, distilling consultant, spirits writer for The Whiskey Wash & presenter.

• Lew Bryson, former managing editor for Whisky Advocate Magazine for 20 years, whiskey author, beer/whiskey writer and presenter.

Hosts: Lew Bryson and Liz Rhoades

What You’ll Learn: Join a duo of drink industry veterans in weekly conversation on whiskey, spirits, distilling, marketing, and the current state of the drink industry. This week, Christian Krogstad, founder and master distiller at Westward American Single Malt Whiskey, joins the group.

About Christian Krogstad: 

As one of the visionaries behind America’s craft distilling resurgence and the creator of several award-winning spirits brands, Christian Krogstad is the founder and master distiller of Westward® American Single Malt whiskey, a spirit that represents the culmination of his lifelong quest to produce a whiskey that embodies the spirit of the Pacific Northwest while drawing inspiration from Oregon’s deeply-rooted brewing culture. In his role, Christian oversees production and innovation for Westward® American Single Malt whiskey, an award-winning whiskey distilled from Pacific Northwest malted barley and aged in American Oak barrels, as well as the other award-winning products produced at the Westward distillery, including Krogstad® aquavit, Volstead® vodka, and Casa Magdalena® rum.

About the Hosts: 

• Liz Rhoades, founder of Spirit Safe Consulting, former research scientist for DIAGEO, distilling consultant, spirits writer for The Whiskey Wash & presenter.

• Lew Bryson, former managing editor for Whisky Advocate Magazine for 20 years, whiskey author, beer/whiskey writer and presenter.

Hosts: Lew Bryson and Liz Rhoades

What You’ll Learn: Join a duo of drink industry veterans in weekly conversation on whiskey, spirits, distilling, marketing, and the current state of the drink industry. This week, Dr. Anna Sulan Masing, drinks writer and editor, joins the group.

About Dr. Anna Sulan Masing: 

Dr. Anna Sulan Masing is a food, drink and cultural writer, and academic. She is co-founder of Cheese magazine, and the public research platform Sourced which investigates our global food and drink systems. Anna Sulan’s podcast series Taste of Place, by Whetstone Radio Collective, is a narrative journalistic series that looks at nostalgia through the story of pepper. Her debut book, Chinese And Other Asian, will be published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in February 2024.

About the Hosts: 

• Liz Rhoades, founder of Spirit Safe Consulting, former research scientist for DIAGEO, distilling consultant, spirits writer for The Whiskey Wash & presenter.

• Lew Bryson, former managing editor for Whisky Advocate Magazine for 20 years, whiskey author, beer/whiskey writer and presenter.

Hosts: Lew Bryson and Liz Rhoades

What You’ll Learn: Join a duo of drink industry veterans in weekly conversation on whiskey, spirits, distilling, marketing, and the current state of the drink industry. This week,Tracie Franklin, Founder of Spirited Tracie and Apprentice at Nearest Jack Apprentice Initiative, joins the group.

About Tracie Franklin: 

Tracie Franklin is a whiskey educator, public speaker, consultant, and distiller who lives in Washington D.C. Previously, she traveled the world singing and performing in theatre productions and now uses those skills to share her passion for whiskey with diverse groups. She has shared her knowledge on the small screen with the Today Show, CBS This Morning, and Good Day Chicago.

Tracie enjoys helping curious imbibers find a new appreciation for the vast and delicious world of spirits. She’s been a featured at events for Drexel University, Google, Peloton, Essence Festival, SalesForce, Keeper’s of the Quaich, and Charleston Food and Wine.

Tracie was the first person to join the Nearest and Jack Leadership Acceleration Program with a focus on Distillery Management. This program has allowed her to travel the US working and learning at iconic and innovative distilleries. She’s racked up numerous Wine and Spirits certifications and is pursuing her Diploma in Distillation from IBD. She is a 2020 Icon of Whisky for Best US Scotch Ambassador and is in the Dames Hall of Fame for making a lasting impact on the spirits industry. Follow Tracie’s Spirited Adventures on Instagram @Spirited_Tracie

About the Hosts: 

• Liz Rhoades, founder of Spirit Safe Consulting, former research scientist for DIAGEO, distilling consultant, spirits writer for The Whiskey Wash & presenter.

• Lew Bryson, former managing editor for Whisky Advocate Magazine for 20 years, whiskey author, beer/whiskey writer and presenter.

Hosts: Lew Bryson and Liz Rhoades

What You’ll Learn: Join a duo of drink industry veterans in weekly conversation on whiskey, spirits, distilling, marketing, and the current state of the drink industry. This week, Kevin Smith, Director of Distilling and Brewing at Company Distilling, joins the group.

About Kevin Smith:

Kevin Brent Smith is the Director of Distilling & Brewing for the newly formed Company Distillery in Townsend, TN. Company Distilling was founded in 2021 when a group of highly experienced, Tennessee Distilling industry leaders joined forces to create superior quality whiskies, distilled spirits, and brews to be celebrated while “Gathering Around” in the best of company. Currently, Company Distilling has two production facilities.  The first is in Thompson Station just south of Nashville, TN.  A second and newly opened distillery is located in Townsend, TN less than a mile from the entrance to the Smoky Mountains National Park. Process designs have been completed for a much larger distillery set to open in 2024 in Alcoa, TN. 

Prior to coming to Company Distilling, Kevin worked for the Brown-Forman Corporation in various roles and for a total of twenty-two years. These roles included Distillery Manager, Distillery Quality Manager, Whiskey Technical Resource, and Microbiologist at the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, TN.  Primary responsibilities at Jack Daniels included management and optimization of fermentation and distillation processes, maintenance of production yeast and lactic cultures, optimization of yield and new whiskey organoleptic character. Kevin also served as the Global Technical Resource optimizing fermentation processes at all Brown-Forman distilleries.  

Kevin’s career chronology is hard to work out without knowing that he left Jack Daniels in 2003 yet was recruited back in 2007. In 2003, Kevin transitioned to and spent four years in the Fuel Ethanol Industry, first working for Commonwealth Agri-Energy as Plant Manager/Lab Manager in Hopkinsville, KY. In 2005, Kevin was hired by Lallemand Ethanol Technology and moved to central Iowa. A year later, He was promoted by Lallemand and served the larger Fuel Ethanol Industry as Technical Manager.  

Kevin holds a Masters of Science Degree in Environmental Biology with an emphasis in Microbiological studies from the University of Louisville. 

Kevin has authored a chapter on “Yeasting Practices in the Production of American Whiskies” in the sixth edition of The Alcohol Textbook.   

About the Hosts: 

• Liz Rhoades, founder of Spirit Safe Consulting, former research scientist for DIAGEO, distilling consultant, spirits writer for The Whiskey Wash & presenter.

• Lew Bryson, former managing editor for Whisky Advocate Magazine for 20 years, whiskey author, beer/whiskey writer and presenter.

Hosts: Lew Bryson and Liz Rhoades

What You’ll Learn: Join a duo of drink industry veterans in weekly conversation on whiskey, spirits, distilling, marketing, and the current state of the drink industry. This week, Rob Pinson, Partner and Alcohol and Hospitality Team Leader at Adams and Reese Alcohol and Hospitality practice, joins the group.

About Rob Pinson:

Rob Pinson is a leading member of the Adams and Reese Alcohol and Hospitality practice, representing both local and national clients with their licensing and regulatory needs.

Working extensively with distilleries, breweries and wineries on licensing matters, Rob helps his hospitality clients navigate through the complex approvals for manufacturing, self-distribution and other compliance issues at all levels. He provides counsel to alcoholic beverage manufacturers and retailers in transactional matters in which licensing issues play a critical role.

Rob assists businesses across the country with applying for and obtaining initial licensing, maintaining all necessary permits and licenses, and handling on-going regulatory obligations, such as formula and label submissions.

Rob can be reached in our Nashville office at 615.259.1407 or by email at rob.pinson@arlaw.com.

About the Hosts: 

• Liz Rhoades, founder of Spirit Safe Consulting, former research scientist for DIAGEO, distilling consultant, spirits writer for The Whiskey Wash & presenter.

• Lew Bryson, former managing editor for Whisky Advocate Magazine for 20 years, whiskey author, beer/whiskey writer and presenter.

Hosts: Lew Bryson and Liz Rhoades

What You’ll Learn: Join a duo of drink industry veterans in weekly conversation on whiskey, spirits, distilling, marketing, and the current state of the drink industry. This week, Maria Pearman, advisory principal at GHJ, join the group.

About Maria Pearman:

Maria Pearman, CPA, is an expert in the beverage alcohol and specializes in internal accounting processes, financial reviews, budgeting, cash flow forecasting, financial strategy and succession planning.

Maria is a featured speaker, author, and instructor on topics in the beverage alcohol space. She has taught courses at the University of Vermont and Portland State University.

She is also the author of Small Brewery Finance, published by the Brewers Association in 2019. She resides in Los Angeles.

About the Hosts: 

• Liz Rhoades, founder of Spirit Safe Consulting, former research scientist for DIAGEO, distilling consultant, spirits writer for The Whiskey Wash & presenter.

• Lew Bryson, former managing editor for Whisky Advocate Magazine for 20 years, whiskey author, beer/whiskey writer and presenter.

Hosts: Lew Bryson and Liz Rhoades

What You’ll Learn: Join a duo of drink industry veterans in weekly conversation on whiskey, spirits, distilling, marketing, and the current state of the drink industry. This week, Joe and Kelly Blazosky, co-founders of Adirondack Barrel Cooperage, join the group.

About Adirondack Barrel Cooperage:

Adirondack (ADK) Barrel Cooperage is owned and operated by Joe & Kelly Blazosky in Remsen, New York. ADK Barrel is the only cooperage in Central New York. We artfully blend the precision technology of European woodworking equipment with skillful craftsmanship to build high quality American White Oak (Quercus alba) barrels. 

As New York State began to focus on the craft beverage industry as a key economic driver, Kelly and Joe identified the lack of cooperage availability as a gap in the industry supply chain. Together they started Adirondack Barrel Cooperage, taking it from entrepreneurial concept to fully operational within three years, serving 100+ distilleries, wineries and breweries with premium high-quality barrels.

Adirondack Barrel Cooperage sources only the best 36-month air dried export grade American white oak, uses precision CNC stave jointing, and blends advanced charring and toasting techniques with traditional coopering methods to produce the finest high-quality barrels with unparalleled consistency…The graceful way to age!

About the Hosts: 

• Liz Rhoades, founder of Spirit Safe Consulting, former research scientist for DIAGEO, distilling consultant, spirits writer for The Whiskey Wash & presenter.

• Lew Bryson, former managing editor for Whisky Advocate Magazine for 20 years, whiskey author, beer/whiskey writer and presenter.

Hosts: Lew Bryson and Liz Rhoades

What You’ll Learn: Join a duo of drink industry veterans in weekly conversation on whiskey, spirits, distilling, marketing, and the current state of the drink industry. This week, Eric Rosentreter, brand ambassador for Woodinville Whiskey Co., joins the group.

About Eric Rosentreter:

Eric is a Woodinville Brand Ambassador for IL, WI and MN.  He worked for over a decade at the globally renowned Delilah’s, served as the Tasting and Production Coordinator at the Beverage Testing Institute and was a Regional Brand Ambassador for the Deutsch Family Wine and Spirits whiskey portfolio.  During the pandemic Eric stayed quite busy working full time at Warehouse Liquors and conducting virtual whiskey tastings/classes through The Beer Temple.

About the Hosts: 

• Liz Rhoades, founder of Spirit Safe Consulting, former research scientist for DIAGEO, distilling consultant, spirits writer for The Whiskey Wash & presenter.

• Lew Bryson, former managing editor for Whisky Advocate Magazine for 20 years, whiskey author, beer/whiskey writer and presenter.