Masters of Spirits

What a Time to Become a Distiller.

Just 15 years ago, there were fewer than 100 craft distillers in America. Today, there are almost 2,000, creating a global industry valued at more than $7 billion, and growing faster than you can say fermentation. If starting a distillery is your dream, now would be a great time to make it a reality.
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Inside the Industry

Why is Rye on the Rise?

Well, there are multiple reasons. Clay Risen, author of American Whiskey, Bourbon & Rye: A Guide to the Nation's Favorite Spirit touches on a few of them:

“You saw a lot of bartenders going back to pre-Prohibition recipes, finding a lot of things that were rye-driven. And consumers jumped at it. So, that was one thing. And then, I think the other is that there's a lot of curiosity out there these days. People want to try different whiskeys. There's no brand loyalty, there's no style loyalty. So, something like rye comes along and people say, 'Oh, that sounds great. I want to try something new.'"

Read the entire CBS News feature on the resurgence of rye.

Masters of Spirits

Spirits With a Splash of Experience.

Nowadays, people don’t just want a drink, they want a drinking experience. Whether it’s an extraordinary distillery tour or watching a mixologist’s unique bag of tricks, the most memorable pours are ones that immerse their audience in the moment.
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Inside the Industry

Exceptional Follows: Heather Greene

Plop down in your favorite chair with a perfect pour of whiskey to read Heather Greene’s resume:

- author of Whiskey Distilled, A Populist Guide to the Water of Life,

- CEO of Provision Spirits, maker of Milam & Greene and Ben Milam Whiskies,

- the first woman to serve on the Scotch Malt Whisky Society tasting panel in Scotland

The list goes on and on. That’s what makes her one of the best minds and best follows in the biz.

Heather Greene Twitter

Inside the Industry

The Blend Trend.

In the not-too-distant past, “blend” was synonymous with “bleh.” Blended whiskeys were cheap and second-rate, often mixed with poor-quality stock. If you wanted the best tasting whiskey, it had to be straight and aged, with the age listed proudly on the bottle. Oh, how the perception of “blend” has changed. Today, “blended” is no longer a dirty word in the whiskey world. Today’s consumers, especially millennials, care more about a whiskey’s taste and story than its age.
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Get to Know Us

Interview with Pam Soule, Quality Manager and Master Blender

Pam Soule loves bourbon. As a quality manager, she lives and breathes it, literally. Her keen nose and taste buds make sure the products being created are on point from the get-go. And when she’s not living and breathing bourbon, she’s relaxing, spending time with family, reading and taking walks in the fresh air. Meet Pam Soule, whiskey whisperer.
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Then & Now

Sharing the Love of Brown Spirits.

What comes to mind when you think of a stereotypical whiskey ad? It probably includes a middle-aged man holding a lowball glass of his favorite pour, with a headline about standing out or being American or having great taste. Those approaches have worked just fine in the past, so it’s no wonder that whiskey and other dark spirits are consumed almost twice as much by men than women. And that distinguished gentleman in the whiskey ad…he’s about the right age too, as brown spirits are mostly consumed by his demographic.
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Inside the Industry

Exceptional Follows: Elliott Clark

Elliott Clark, aka the mastermind behind Apartment Bartender, has the prestige of being named the top cocktail and spirits influencer by media outlets such as Buzzfeed, Vinepair, Liquor.com and others. His numerous awards and accolades aside, Elliott takes a humble approach to crafting cocktails and content that keep home bartenders coming back for more. He’s part of our new Rackhouse Roundtable series, too.

https://www.instagram.com/apartment_bartender/

Inside the Industry

What’s Your Whiskey’s Age Again?

As a distiller, there’s nothing better than having a high demand for your product. That’s the goal, right? But what if there’s too much demand? This is something many whiskey producers are running into. Their aged whiskeys become so popular they run out of supply. And they can’t just whip up a new batch of an aged whiskey.
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Inside the Industry

You Have the Juice. Now What? The Basics of the 3-Tier Alcohol Distribution System.

You’ve spent countless hours crafting your spirit to obtain the perfect flavor profile. It’s been a labor of love, but now you’ve got to get down to business and actually sell it. So how exactly do you get your spirit on the shelf at retailers?
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Masters of Spirits

Join the Conversation

Because the best kind of friends are the ones who have a passion for spirits and a willingness to share, we’re inviting all of them to join us on Facebook in our Distillery Collective. Here, we’ll be sharing insights, thoughts and wisdom from our long history making exceptional spirits.

Facebook.com/MGPDistilleryCollective

Masters of Spirits

The Rackhouse Roundtable

We asked some intriguing names in the biz to come together and discuss today’s most pressing distilling topics in our Rackhouse Roundtable video series. These folks aren’t afraid to ask the tough questions and give honest answers.

www.rackhouseroundtable.com

Inside the Industry

Canned Cocktails: The Rising Trend of Ready-made Drinks

In the past, ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails had a bit of a bad reputation. They were malt-based, sugary sweet and about as artificial as you could get. But that’s not the case today. Brewers and distillers, including craft companies, have been coming out with higher quality cocktails in a can.
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Masters of Spirits

Songs for Distilling

From bluesy bourbons to rock-and-roll ryes, we have the playlist you need to make every flavor sing.

Get to Know Us

Interview with Sam Schmeltzer, Master Blender & Alcohol Application Chemist

At MGP, spirit blending is a crucial role in our business. It’s our Master Blenders, like Sam Schmeltzer, who create the custom formulations that help brands stand apart. Sam recently earned the distinction of Master Blender after completing MGP’s robust certification process that includes education, on-the-job experience, specialized training, exams, and even a dissertation.
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