This episode of The Craft Spirits Podcast is part of a special series of conversations with some of the founding members and first board members of the American Craft Spirits Association, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Our guest is Paul Hletko, the founder of Evanston, Illinois-based FEW Spirits. Since FEW is part of Samson & Surrey, which was acquired by Heaven Hill Brands in 2022, the distillery is now an alumni member of ACSA. FEW was also a founding member of ACSA, and Paul was on the association’s first board and served as its second president. In this episode, he discusses his early memories of ACSA and FEW’s future.

34: Paul Hletko Of FEW Spirits

Our latest guest on The Craft Spirits Podcast is Jamie Hunt of Fast Penny Spirits, a Seattle-based company that makes amaro. In this episode, Hunt discusses her love of amaro and how her former experience as a vp of digital strategy helped her launch Fast Penny during the pandemic. She also shares details about the company’s Pretty Penny giveback program and becoming a Certified B Corporation.

Click below to read more about Fast Penny Spirits in a recent issue of CRAFT SPIRITS magazine. 

https://issuu.com/americancraftspirits/docs/craftspirits_marapr2023/52

37: Jamie Hunt of Fast Penny Spirits

Our latest guest on The Craft Spirits Podcast is Bruce Tyler, the co-founder of Weldon Mills Distillery in Weldon, North Carolina. Tyler is a former active duty member of the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps who opened the distillery with his friend and business partner Michael Hinderliter at the start of the pandemic in 2020. One year later, the distillery’s corn whiskey, Rockfish, claimed best in show at the Heartland Whiskey Competition. In this episode, Tyler—who is also the vice president of the North Carolina Distillers Association—discusses the surprise of that Heartland honor; the distillery’s bourbon and other products; a second location in Durham; plans for a bed & breakfast near the distillery; an upcoming North Carolina bourbon and spirits festival; and more.

38: Bruce Tyler of Weldon Mills Distillery

Mark McLaughlin is the co-founder of Baltimore-based Old Line Spirits. McLaughlin and distillery co-founder Arch Watkins met in the Navy flying EA-6B Prowlers. After more than a decade of service, they both happened to move to the same neighborhood in Baltimore and left their civilian careers to open Old Line Spirits in 2017.

In this episode, McLaughlin discusses his and Watkins’s time in the Navy; buying a distillery from another pair of veterans; their lineup of American single malt whiskey, including a Navy strength whiskey; and their relationship with Middle West Spirits. He also touches on the distillery’s rum and some upcoming special releases.

51: Mark McLaughlin of Old Line Spirits

William Goldberg is the co-founder and head distiller of Oak and Grist Distilling Co. in Black Mountain, North Carolina. 

The distillery is located in the devastating path that Hurricane Helene charted across Western North Carolina in late September. Fortunately, Oak and Grist was in large part spared of damage and all of its employees are safe. 

Goldberg, who is a graduate of nearby Warren Wilson College, recently joined Jon Page, who also lives in the area, to discuss his own experience in the storm, how Oak and Grist is helping the community in Helene’s aftermath, the long road to recovery for Western North Carolina, and the future of the distillery.

Help support Oak and Grist’s staff:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/aid-oak-grist-team-through-hurricane-recovery?qid=985e46050c8567fc9b5ba91d61aa5dbd

Buy Oak and Grist products online:
https://www.oakandgrist.com/spirits

52: William Goldberg of Oak and Grist Distilling Co.

Ryan Lang is the founding head distiller and CEO of Middle West Spirits in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 2008, Middle West Spirits combines a reverence for traditional whiskey-making techniques with innovative practices.
 
In this episode, Ryan discusses his path to starting Middle West Spirits and how his grandfather and some Irish distilleries provided some inspiration for the distillery; the role of Ohio agriculture in Middle West’s products; the company’s recent expansion; and some of the economic headwinds and market access challenges currently facing craft spirits producers.

53: Ryan Lang of Middle West Spirits

Tom Bard is the co-founder of The Bard Distillery in Graham, Kentucky. Together with his wife, Kim, Tom launched The Bard Distillery in 2019, repurposing a 100-year-old school campus—the very same school Tom attended as a child.

With a degree from the University of Kentucky, Tom brings a strong background in industrial quality control and continuous improvement, skills he honed over many years in motorsports, where he first met Kim. Just this year, Tom also joined the American Craft Spirits Association’s Board of Directors.

In this episode, Tom dives into his family’s deep connections to Bardstown; how his experience uniquely positions him for success as a distiller; the distillery’s flagship spirits and their exciting plans to further develop the property; and more.

54: Tom Bard of The Bard Distillery

Jordan Cotton is the co-founder and CEO of Washington, D.C.-based rum maker Cotton & Reed. He is also a member of ACSA’s board of directors and the chair of the American Craft Spirits Association's political action committee.

In this episode, recorded at Cotton & Reed’s new facility in D.C.’s Ivy City neighborhood, Cotton discusses the state of American rum and its potential for growth; the ongoing work of ACSA’s PAC; the potential effects of tariffs on craft spirits producers; the distillery’s rum lineup; and much more.

58: Jordan Cotton of Cotton & Reed

Jason Parker is the co-founder of Seattle-based Copperworks Distilling Co., which makes American single malt whiskey, a series of gins and vodka, all from malted barley. Parker led Copperworks to become a founding member of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission. And he also serves on the board of directors of the Craft Maltsters Guild.

In this episode, Parker discusses his previous career as a brewer and what led him to distilling; the rise of American single malt whiskey; how Copperworks creates the base for its spirits; which of their whiskeys will be going on a permanent hiatus; and much more.

Episode Sponsor
Bridgetown Brew Systems designs and builds high-quality distilling equipment, including pot, hybrid, and continuous column stills, tailored to your unique needs. From small-batch craft operations to large-scale production, they combine artisanal craftsmanship with modern engineering to deliver exceptional performance. The Bridgetown team works closely with you to provide custom solutions, expert guidance, and lifelong support, ensuring your distillery thrives. At Bridgetown Brew Systems, they’re passionate about helping you craft extraordinary spirits and building a lasting legacy. Find Bridgetown Brew Systems at booth 908 at the ACSA convention, and you can also learn more at bridgetownbrew.com.

Convention Sponsors
ACSA would like to extend a special thanks to our convention sponsors, including: 
American Custom Distilling
AnyRoad Lifetime Loyalty
Axtra
Blanc
CF Napa Brand Design
Gatto Rivera Branding
Grandstand
Lallemand Distilling / Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits
Liquor Bottle Packaging International
Monvera Glass Decoration
Paychex
Powell Junia
Speyside Bourbon Cooperage 
Thousand Oaks Barrel Co.
Top Shelf Logistics

59: Jason Parker of Copperworks Distilling Co.

Joseph O’Sullivan is the master distiller at Minden Mill Distilling in Minden, Nevada. O’Sullivan started his distilling career in 2005, and was previously the master distiller for Hood River, Oregon-based Clear Creek Distillery. At Minden Mill, O’Sullivan oversees production of the distillery’s estate-made spirits, which include bourbon, rye, and a recently released American single malt whiskey. 

For this episode, O’Sullivan sat down with CRAFT SPIRITS magazine editor in chief Jeff Cioletti at the 12th annual American Craft Spirits Convention & Expo this March in Tucson, Arizona. They discuss O’Sullivan’s move from Oregon to Nevada, his passion for sharing knowledge in the spirits industry, the concept of terroir in whiskey, the current and future state of no- and low-alcohol spirits, and much more.

New tracks tagged #American craft spirits