1: Hosts Sydney Jones and Molly Troupe Share Their Favorite Distilling Techniques

Explicit content warning

03/05/24 • 64 min

Welcome to Episode 1 of the Craft Spirits & Distilling Podcast, featuring hosts Sydney Jones, head distiller for FEW Spirits in Chicago, and Molly Troupe, master distiller for Freeland Spirits in Portland, Oregon. Recorded live at the ACSA trade show and convention in Denver, this conversation introduces the podcast and the hosts via a deep dive into their favorite distilling techniques.

Along the way, they discuss:

distilling fresh ingredients at lower temperatures with a rotovap
navigating the TTB GRAS (generally recognized as safe) list
proofing with liquids other than water
barrel maturation in hot climates
enzyme protocols for difficult grains
whiskey-blending strategies
purposeful yeast selection, for more characterful whiskey fermentations
the flavor impacts of different factors in whiskey cask aging

And more.

Brought to you by:
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Along the way, they discuss:

distilling fresh ingredients at lower temperatures with a rotovap
navigating the TTB GRAS (generally recognized as safe) list
proofing with liquids other than water
barrel maturation in hot climates
enzyme protocols for difficult grains
whiskey-blending strategies
purposeful yeast selection, for more characterful whiskey fermentations
the flavor impacts of different factors in whiskey cask aging

And more.

Next Episode

2: Ale Ochoa Takes a Scientific Approach to Sensory Evaluation and Whiskey Blending

Ale Ochoa is an expert sensory scientist and master blender with years of experience building sensory teams both large and small. In this episode, she outlines key parameters for sensory programs and outlines both simple and more complex ways of deploying sensory tools to improve blends, identify flaws, create more compelling descriptions, and make better spirits.

Through this episode, she covers:

Understanding flavor and aroma interactions in blends
Identifying flaws and setting thresholds for fixes
Training and validating sensory panelists
Testing methods for identifying flaws as well as positive attributes
Evaluating results in statistically significant ways
Calibrating your palate and training on attributes
Telling stories through whiskey blends

And more.

Brought to you by:
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