Barley, Fortnum & Mason, and a 10th Anniversary Celebration

What if the land itself could tell the story of your whiskey? This part-two episode brings you the conclusion of our in-depth conversation with Dan Szor, founder and former CEO of Cotswolds Distilling, as he reveals how the unique terroir of the Cotswolds shapes their exceptional spirits. We draw parallels with the Bruichladdich model and discuss how the natural beauty and traditional malting barley of this region contribute to creating a whiskey that truly embodies its essence.

Balancing heritage and modernity, we delve into the complexities of managing barley varieties. Dan shares the success and challenges of using heritage barley like Plumage Archer and the economic realities of sourcing barley for production. Listen as we discuss the vital role of the local community in supporting the distillery and the intricate dance between maintaining product consistency and embracing agricultural heritage.

From Parisian adventures to impactful partnerships, we celebrate the distillery's journey and its innovative spirit. Learn about the significance of high-quality wood in whiskey aging, and the influence of industry veterans like Jim Swan. Reflecting on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dan shares market adaptations, production challenges, and future growth potential. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of building a lasting legacy in the distillery business, culminating in an invitation to join the 10th-anniversary celebration of Cotswolds Distilling.

Thanks everyone for listening, and thank you to Dan for entering the Whiskey Ring!

Key Highlights:

• The influence of Cotswolds' natural beauty and traditional malting barley on their whiskey
• Managing heritage barley varieties and economic realities of whiskey production
• The journey of maturation processes and their impact on whiskey profiles
• Collaboration with Fortnum & Mason and the significance of high-quality wood in aging
• Adaptations and growth during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Celebrating a decade of Cotswolds Distilling's achievements

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Cotswolds Distillery

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Thanks to our Lead Sponsor, Black Button Distillery

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Dan Szor is an expat, a native of New York City who has found a permanent home in the Cotswolds of England, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with rolling hills, flowers, and fruits. With a background in finance, Dan found whisky as a side passion, one he converted into a full-time role in the early 2010s by starting the Cotswolds Distillery.

In Part 1 of our conversation, Dan and I discuss his inspirations - the hedonistic time in Paris getting exposed to whisky through the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and La Maison du Whisky, the barley revelation, and meeting Jim McEwan, that wizard of whisky whose time at Bruichladdich inspired Dan long before a distillery was in the cards.

There's a lot to talk about on the Cotswolds, so we'll have a part two coming out next week to talk more about the distillery itself and the truly excellent single malts coming out.

Thanks everyone for listening, and thank you to Dan for entering the Whiskey Ring!

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Cotswolds Distillery

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Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, BAXUS

• BAXUS Website
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• BAXUS on LinkedIn

Thanks to our Lead Sponsor, Black Button Distillery

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Sitting on the farthest spit of peninsula in Europe, Dingle Distillery is the first craft distillery in Ireland post-consolidation. From its place on the Wild Atlantic Way, Dingle set forth the path for the dozens of Irish distilleries that followed in the last decade-plus.

Managing Director and son of the founder Elliot Hughes joins me to talk through Dingle's history and four expressions: Dingle Single Malt, Samhain, Bealtaine, and La Le Bride. Embracing the culture of their (and County Kerry's) Gaeltacht region, Dingle leans heavily into Celtic lore (try pronouncing the distillery's Gaelic name...I'll wait).

We also talk about the significance of being the first craft distillery to open, joining the long-standing Midleton, Bushmills, and Cooley distilleries that pumped out all the Irish whiskey we drank for decades. It's more than just being the first, it's about setting an example, and they did.

Thanks everyone for listening, and thank you to Elliot for entering the Whiskey Ring!

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Dingle Distillery

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Reviews

• Dingle Distillery Single Malt Irish Whiskey Review
• Dingle Distillery Samhain Single Malt Irish Whiskey Review

Thanks to our Lead Sponsor, Black Button Distillery

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On my first trip to Kentucky in 2022, I needed one more distillery to visit before heading down to Nashville for the Tennessee portion of my trip. I could've gone to a heritage distillery - still haven't been to Jim Beam or Buffalo Trace - but instead, I took a chance on a small distillery in Christian County near the state line: MB Roland.

I got to go on the first-ever Distiller's tour, led by Paul, where we got to fill our own bottles right out of the casks. From there, we went into a makeshift bar under the beautiful visitor's center and sampled many, many more products, from a rye and a single malt to Pink Lemonade Moonshine, a favorite of bachelorette parties (don't knock it - besides being a great revenue source, it does actually taste great!).

What became clear was that this small distillery, founded by a husband and wife team in 2009 in the earliest days of craft distilling in the backyard of the biggest bourbon producers in the world, was trying to do something different. Spirits using local white corn, experimental mashbills, playing around with cask sizes (though most are 53 gallons), and most of all doing what they wanted.

It's a great place to visit with many different whiskies and spirits to try. Take the drive off the beaten path, it's worth it.

Thanks everyone for listening, and thank you to Paul for entering the Whiskey Ring!

_________________________________________________________

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MB Roland Distillery

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Thanks to our Lead Sponsor, Black Button Distillery

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Ever seen a square pot still? No? Me neither. Apparently, for moonshiners in the Land Between the Rivers (now Land Between the Lakes) region, square stills were all the rage - they could be loaded into the back of a pickup truck, easily disassembled, and still put out high quality moonshine. And nobody did it better than Arlen Jones, better known as "Casey" because he only sold moonshine by the case.

Casey ended up in prison twice, the final time leading to him getting out of the still-making business for good. Fast forward a few decades, and in a truly ironic twist, the government came calling for him to make one more still (a working one, no less!) for the Land Between the Lakes visitors center - and he did. That still stands today in the Casey Jones Distillery.

When Casey's grandson, AJ, discovered his family's history (it was a poorly held secret), he decided to get into the game himself, too. A decade or so later, they have four mashbills of whiskey, are growing rapidly, and are the official bourbon of not one but TWO eclipses (they were in the line of totality for the 2017 solar eclipse and just outside of it for the April 2024 one).

Finally, they're also members of the State Line Trail with MB Roland in Kentucky and Old Glory Distilling in Tennessee - look for my episode with Paul at MB Roland next week!

Thanks everyone for listening, and thank you to Cody for entering the Whiskey Ring!

_________________________________________________________

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Casey Jones Distillery

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Old Line Spirits returns with some new looks! Since Mark and Old Line Spirits were last on the podcast back in Episode 54, they've made several changes to their brand. An updated label, a bumped-up proof (86 to 95) for the core single malt, and hints of a rye coming sometime in 2024...

Mark and Arch are two Navy buddies who founded Old Line in Baltimore, playing into the rise of American Single Malt. This was one of my favorite distillery visits, and if you find yourself in the DMV area, definitely hit them up for a tour and tasting!

Thanks everyone for listening, and thank you to Mark for returning to the Whiskey Ring!

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Old Line Spirits

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Brian Sprance is New Riff's new master distiller! Aside from some good-natured ribbing from his colleagues, though, you would never know it.

New Riff named Brian Master Distiller after getting the blessing from Ebersold and co-founders Ken Lewis and Jay Erisman. Ten years after he started, he is now at the top.

Brian has been with New Riff since before they started producing, joining in 2013 during the final phase of installation. He's been mentored by some of the best in the industry, including Larry Ebersold of Seagram's/LDI/MGP. His story is exactly what you want in a master distiller - start at the bottom, learn every nook and cranny of the distillery, go through the expansions and changes, ultimately learning the ropes on the job at a single place.

His title is a recognition of the work he's put in - remember, this is a guy who ended up at a distillery because he had a non-compete that blocked him from joining a brewery, and had never distilled before. We as consumers are fortunate that we don't have to wait to taste his mark on the product - it's been there all along.

Whether it's playing with different grains, different malting levels, using peated casks, or sharing those whiskies with legends of the industry (Jim McEwan and John Glaser, anyone?), Brian knows how the New Riff plant will react. He shares his story, how he's grown, and - in my favorite question of the interview - whether he would accept the title of Master Distiller if he joined another distillery.

Thanks everyone for listening, and thank you to Brian for entering the Whiskey Ring!

_________________________________________________________

If you haven’t joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so at patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring

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New Riff Distillery

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Thanks to our Lead Sponsor, Black Button Distillery

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Old Dominick isn't the oldest distillery in Tennessee, but it's no spring chicken either. The brand itself - including a stint as a whiskey blending house - goes back to 1866, the same year a Mr. Jasper "Jack" Daniel was setting up his own stillhouse a few hours east.

158 years later, D. Canale & Co. no longer has a food distribution business, but they do have a thriving distillery. Overseen by their energetic, Kentucky-born Master Distiller Alex Castle, Old Dominick has risen to quickly be one of Tennessee's premier craft distilleries.

Shortly after our interview, Alex announced that she was leaving Old Dominick for her next adventure. In the eight years she spent there, the distillery became a go-to destination in Memphis, putting out world-class Tennessee Whiskey as well as sourced products under their Huling Station line (an homage to the station near which the original D. Canale was based).

The bottom line is this: Old Dominick will of course miss Alex, and she has left her founding imprimatur on the entire portfolio. It is also in a fantastic position to go forward into its next chapter.

Congratulations to Alex on her next move, and best wishes to Old Dominick as they move forward - the great future is just beginning, and this is a distillery you need to watch and visit next time you're craving barbecue.

Thanks everyone for listening, and thank you to Alex for entering the Whiskey Ring!

_________________________________________________________

If you haven’t joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so at patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring

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Old Dominick Distillery

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Thanks to our Lead Sponsor, Black Button Distillery

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