February 19, 2025

26: Caley Shoemaker of As Above, So Below Explores Character and Texture in Vodka Distillation

1 hour 1 minute

Caley Shoemaker got her start in whiskey at Denver’s Stranahan’s and went on to distill at Hanger One in Southern California before launching her own distillery, As Above, So Below in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2021. Now, from her home base on the edge of the mountains in a state nicknamed “The Land of Enchantment,” she’s summoning strong spirits with their own particular swagger.

In this episode, host Sydney Jones and Shoemaker discuss:

• Creating vodka, gin, whiskey, and botanical spirits inspired by place, travel, and experience

• Making vodka from a mash with darker grains, for creamy texture and flavor

• Aging spirits in the high and dry climate of New Mexico

• Managing cuts to balance flavor and character given target aging time and high loss from barrels

• Balancing botanicals in gin while prizing flavor over locality

• The secrets to her ACSA medal-winning absinthe

• Learning through consulting with a potato vodka distillery in Rwanda

And more.

G&D Chillers: G&D Chillers understands that each distillery’s chilling requirements are unique. On every distillery project, G&D offers the front-end design and engineering your team needs at no cost to you. Hank Pressley, head distiller at Moon Drop Distillery says, “Early on, we made a decision to partner with quality American-made companies. One of those companies was G&D Chillers, and we are proud of that choice. Our equipment from them has run long and strong. We put our first barrel in our rickhouse in September 2021, and in the next 3 years we have put back more than another 540 barrels. What a great decision to team up with a company like G&D Chillers.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.

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