Episode 268 - You've Got a Blend in Me

In this special edition, recorded at the American Distilling Institute's 20th Anniversary Conference and Trade Show, Eric shares his 20th Anniversary Address and Keynote Intro, informally titled, "It's All on Fire." Then, we jump straight into a delighful panel discussion about the art, business, and philosophy of blended whisk(e)y. This is a panel, moderated by Eric Kozlik, consisting of three expert distillers: Lauren Patz (Redwood Empire) Stephen Gould (Golden Moon Distilling) Dave Schmier (Proof and Wood Ventures) Some of the topics we discuss include: What we mean when we say a spirit is a "blend" (and it's a wider range of things than you might expect) The different types of "consistency" you can achieve through blending whiskey Strategies for maintaining consistency across time and batches Ways to use blends to appeal to a new or larger audience Case studies from each of the distillers' portfolios