“I had already been in the restaurant business with my brother Paul for 10 years, then we decided to open our own distillery. We started the whole process in 2009, in 2010 we incorporated & by 2011 we opened the doors.”
Glassroom: Q&A with the Distillers
As part of this year’s Glencairn Glass 20th Anniversary milestone, here at Glencairn Crystal we are delighted to present the Glencairn Glassroom: a compilation of behind-the-scenes Q&A conversations with some of our most innovative and trailblazing distillery customers, talking about their businesses, backgrounds and personal insight into their whisky journey.
Kicking off with our US customers, the Glencairn Glassroom offers distillers the chance to talk candidly about their distillery, how they started out and the industry as a whole. From across the US, we have spoken to some of the most exciting and high profile, distillers, as part of our desire to support and promote our much-valued customers.
In these challenging times we are very keen to work together and support fellow businesses within the spirits industry. Please do get in touch if you are keen to be part of our Glencairn Glassroom movement.
Limestone Branch Distillery: Stephen Beam
“I had already been in the restaurant business with my brother Paul for 10 years, then we decided to open our own distillery. We started the whole process in 2009, in 2010 we incorporated & by 2011 we opened the doors.”
Copper Fox Distillery: Rick Wasmund
“ I was always a fan of whiskey as well as very attuned to the fruit aromas of various wood.”
Journeyman Distillery: Bill Welter
“When the family business was sold in 2006, I decide to pursue my own business, which eventually resulted in Journeyman Distillery in 2010.”
Balcones Distillery: Jared Himstedt
“Everyone in this industry needs to remember that we are doing way more than whisky, and other people are incorporating what we make into some of the most important moments of their lives.”
Whiskey Acres Distillery: Nick Nagele
“An hour after our release, we had 800 people lined up down the road, sold out the food truck and thought we were going to drown in guests. After that, I couldn’t wait to do that again.”
Far North Distillery: Mike Swanson
“I wanted to do something with the family farm and it is true that you can take the boy off the farm, but can’t take the farm out of the boy! While thinking of what we could do with the family farm, I was drinking a whiskey. It then dawned on me.”
Dry Diggings Distillery: Cris Steller
“The name Dry Diggings Distillery comes from the original name of the town from 1848 when gold was being mined before the big gold rush a year later (49ers).”
Ironroot Distillery: Jonathan & Robert Likarish
“I was a law student, but I decided to serve a different type of bar. Friends thought we were crazy since there was still a recession in 2012.”
Heavenhill Distillery: Bernie Lubbers
“I got to work and travel with Parker Beam, who was our distiller for 56 years. Being able to pick his brain, and have him as a mentor can not be measured.”
Copperworks Distillery: Jason Parker
“Here at Copperworks, we try to be as transparent as possible. We publish every recipe for every batch on our website. We feel that if folks want to copy us, they best do it right.”
Blaum Brothers
“In the town Galena, the former #1 tourist attraction used to be the post-Civil War home of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, soon to be U.S. President, but since the founding of the Blaum Bros Distillery, the distillery has usurped the former General’s home for that top spot.”
Wiggly Bridge: Dave Woods
“It all started during a family dinner with a joking statement of “lets make our own whisky.” With a shared love for good whisky and fascination to see how things are made, we decided to explore the idea.”
Grand Traverse Distillery: Kent Rabish
“The different grains, the different types of smoke, the different mashbills. It is like the music of the 60s and how they changed the way we listen to music, the same is happening now in whiskey.”