Season 3 Ep. 8: Don’t Drink and Blast: The Explosive Story of Powdermen Spirits

Tasting Notes:  Boom 💣 — we’re lighting the fuse on this one! In this episode, Jason sits down with Vince from Powdermen Spirits, a Connecticut distillery that blends craftsmanship, danger, and family legacy in every pour. From the blasting pits of New England to the barrels of Flyrock Corn Whiskey and Blackwick Bourbon, Vince shares how his father’s life in explosives inspired a one-of-a-kind spirits brand with the unforgettable motto — “Don’t Drink and Blast.”They dive deep into the history, science, and heart behind Powdermen — exploring how a moonshiner’s recipe, a double gold medal win, and a love of local sourcing have shaped their rise in the craft whiskey world. ⚗️✨🧨 In This Episode:🔥 From Blasting Caps to Bourbon:How Vince and his father Frank turned decades in the drilling and explosives business into a distillery that honors the grit and tradition of real powder men.🍿 The Legend of Charlie:The man, the myth, the moonshiner — how a Special Forces veteran and “beaver dam blaster” inspired Powdermen’s first whiskey recipe and spirit of rebellion.🏆 Double Gold at San Francisco:Vince relives the shock and joy of winning Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition — and what that validation meant for their small Connecticut operation.🌾 Local Roots, Real Grains:Why they insist on working with nearby farms like Pleasant View Farms and the Thrall Family Farm, using 90% corn and 10% malted barley for a distinctly Connecticut flavor.🧪 Engineering Meets Distilling:Vince’s inner mechanical engineer shows up big — from experimenting with small barrels and accelerated aging to chill filtration hacks and the science of “slow proofing.”🔥 Accelerated Aging, Not Shortcuts:How Powdermen uses temperature cycling and a controlled-heat process to replicate years of maturation — pushing innovation while staying true to bourbon’s soul.🥃 Blackwick Bourbon & Flyrock Corn Whiskey:Jason tastes through several batches — including Batch Six (Double Gold Winner) and Batch Ten C (Cask Strength)— unpacking notes of coconut, spice, fruit, and a hint of danger.🧠 Whiskey Nerd Heaven:Learn about Uranus’ Principle, saponification, slow proofing, and why Vince keeps a “southern engineer’s curiosity” alive in every experiment.👨‍👩‍👦 Family Business with Fire:From his sister designing labels to his father mentoring distilling runs, this is a tight-knit crew doing things their way — small batch, full heart, and New England tough.🥇 Tasting Highlights:Blackwick Batch Six: 🥥 Coconut-forward, rich and oily, layers of sweetness and spice, five years and ten months in a 15-gallon barrel.Blackwick Batch Ten C (Cask Strength): 🍓 Sweet fruit and oak in perfect balance, aged one month with accelerated heat method, proofed at 104.Batch Nine: ⚡️ A “happy accident” blend that turned a failed experiment into a bold, oaky win.🌐 Connect with Powdermen Spirits:👉 powdermenspirits.com📍 Simsbury, Connecticut📸 Instagram: @powdermenspiritsco🎙️ Connect with Jason & The Dram Amateur Podcast:Instagram: @dram_amateurYouTube | Facebook: The Dram Amateur Podcast🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts