Inside the Industry

What Are We Learning During the Pandemic?

What a year, huh? The pandemic is certainly one of the most trying times in our country’s history. But as an industry, this challenging time is teaching us a lot about our consumers and making us adapt in ways that can make us even better. So, what have we learned so far from the COVID-19 crisis?
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Inside the Industry

Raise a Glass to Yourself

During the coronavirus crisis, distillers across the country dedicated their time and valuable resources to producing hand sanitizer. We want to say thanks to you all. You make us proud to be in this industry and to call many of you our partners. Cheers!

Then & Now

This Month in Alcohol History

On August 29, 1935, The Federal Alcohol Administration Act was signed into law, authorizing the federal government to regulate the alcoholic beverage industry. The law also mandated that all spirit producers adhere to the three-tier distribution system.

Learn more about the three-tier distribution system.

Distilled Cucumber Gin - Perfect Summer Spirit

Masters of Spirits

Distilled Cucumber Gin – The Perfect Summer Spirit

Take the crisp, fresh flavor of premium gin, then add a crisp, garden-fresh cucumber. That’s the taste of this spectacular spirit. It opens with juniper and spice notes, then finishes with an earthy body that’s as cool as a cucumber. Mix it in cocktail recipes and you’ve got the perfect summer sip.

More about our distilled cucumber gin here.

The Power of Alcohol Brands During Pandemic

Inside the Industry

The Power of Alcohol Brands During the Pandemic

Thinking back to March and April, what brands do you think had the highest increase in engagement on social media compared to last year? It was during the height of the pandemic, so it must’ve been healthcare brands, right? Nope. According to a report from ListenFirst, beverage brands saw the most growth in engagement compared to March 2019, with an increase of over 326%. Engagement with healthcare brands only grew 131%...during a global health crisis.
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Masters of Spirits

Songs for Distilling, Volume 2

This time around, MGP distillers and blenders are the DJs, compiling a playlist of their favorite tunes to turn up while they’re turning out exceptional spirits.

Check out the latest MGP distilling playlist

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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