Caviar & Chips

On this episode of Caviar & Chips, Hannah and Nate sit down with two of the most respected names in American whiskey: Jane Bowie and Denny Potter, co-founders of Potter Jane Distilling.

After years working side-by-side at Maker’s Mark—Jane leading blending and innovation, Denny serving as Master Distiller, the duo made a bold, once-in-a-lifetime decision: to leave the comfort of a legacy brand and build their own distillery from the ground up in Springfield, Kentucky.

In this conversation, Jane and Denny open up about:

- how their friendship and shared vision began at Maker’s Mark

- designing a $50M distillery to reflect their values and flavor philosophy

- what they’re building for the next generation of whiskey drinkers

- the chaos, heart, and hilarity of entrepreneurship in bourbon country

It’s a rare behind the scenes look at two industry leaders reinventing what a modern bourbon distillery can be.

As Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Desolas Mezcal, Sammy Halpern oversees the brand’s global operations and growth strategy, managing production in Mexico alongside distribution across the United States, Canada, and emerging international markets. Working closely with CEO and founder GG Mirvis, Halpern leads the company’s sales and brand development efforts, driving Desolas’ continued expansion as one of the most innovative and awarded mezcal brands in the world.

Before joining Desolas in August 2023, Halpern served as Managing Partner and Global Brand Director at Blue Run Spirits, where he helped build the company from its early days to its largest growth period. Prior to that, he spent several years at Moët Hennessy, managing the portfolio’s development in Florida — an experience that gave him a deep understanding of brand building from the supplier side of the wine and spirits industry.

Halpern began his career at Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, where he learned the business from the ground up, managing on- and off-premise sales routes with the Coastal Wine and Spirits division — the powerhouse behind the Moët Hennessy and Diageo portfolios.

With over a decade of experience spanning brand development, sales, operations, and distribution, Halpern brings a 360-degree understanding of what it takes to grow a brand from startup to global success.

Halpern’s vision for Desolas centers on education and transparency, ensuring today’s consumers understand not only what they’re drinking, but the craftsmanship and tradition behind each bottle. His focus is on expanding Desolas’ reach while empowering founder GG Mirvis to continue leading as the brand’s visionary face and creative force. Halpern credits his time at Blue Run and Moët Hennessy for shaping his strategic and entrepreneurial perspective, which he now channels into scaling Desolas Mezcal to its fullest potential.

Caviar & Chips chats - Sammy's journey, what makes Desolas unique, Paddle Sports and the best places to eat in Miami.

Hannah recaps drinks from Disney World and Nate discusses upcoming events on his docket.

Nate kicks things off with his Chicago stop at Chubby Cattle, where waygu and caviar stole the show. Hannah gets all the details on the grand opening of Bazaar at The Venetian and the infamous $120 duck at Casa Playa in Encore. Along the way, Nate admits he’s never heard of The Duck Song or K-Pop Demon Hunters, don’t worry, Hannah makes sure he’s caught up.

In this episode, Nate and Hannah chat back to school prep with fresh haircuts and testing the “speed” of new shoes.

Most of all though, it's fantasy football season so they talk about their teams and what brands they would draft for a fantasy spirits line-up.

Hannah tests out Reece Sims' Flavor Camp Scotch pronunciation guide, which is extremely helpful.

In this episode of Caviar & Chips, Nate Gana and Hannah Hanley sit down with Dawn Davies MW, Head Buyer at The Whisky Exchange and one of the most respected voices in the drinks world. Dawn shares her journey from sommelier in some of London’s top restaurants to leading one of the world’s most influential spirits retailers.

We dive into:

- How to properly pronounce some of the trickiest Scotch brand names

- Dawn’s take on wellness and mindful drinking in the industry

- How she balances leadership, mentoring, and creativity at The Whisky Exchange

- Her current top 10 whiskies of the moment

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In this episode of Caviar & Chips, hosts Nate Gana and Hannah Hanley sit down with a true pioneer in American whiskey: Murphy Quint, Director of Operations and Head Distiller at Cedar Ridge Distillery.

Murphy shares the story of growing up on a family-owned vineyard in Iowa and watching it evolve into one of the most respected craft distilleries in the U.S. He talks about the quiet advantage of flying under the radar while building a deep inventory, how it helped shape their standout American Single Malt, and what it means to raise his own children in the business.

From exploring the vineyards to walking the brick rickhouses and blending floors, a visit to Cedar Ridge is a unique, sensory experience. This is a conversation about legacy, patience, and the evolution of American whiskey—don’t miss it.

Featured Topics:

The roots of Cedar Ridge in winemaking

Inventory strategy and distilling patience

American Single Malt’s rising profile

Family, heritage, and raising the next generation in spirits

Follow, rate, and share if you love whiskey, parenting in business, or great storytelling in the world of drinks.

In this episode, we’re diving headfirst into Hannah's high school reunion which had a stop at On Blended Knee Winery (OBK Winery) in Tacoma. We also break down Nate's latest Nashville parties, and finally—yes, finally—we spill the story behind the name Caviar & Chips: equal parts classy and chaotic.

Grab a drink, lower your expectations, and press play. Thanks for listening!

Nate and Hannah are back with a fresh episode of Caviar & Chips. Nate recaps his Europe trip and Hannah talks about Idaho. They also discuss how to say Glenmorangie (spoiler alert - Dr. Bill Lumsden had to correct Hannah in a top 1 life embarrassing moment) and whether Duolingo should have a Scottish version of how to say Scotch brands.

Thanks for the continued support and please like, subscribe and follow along!

Nate sets the record straight on what happened in the stuck elevator and spoiler alert, Hannah is not sympathetic to his woes. Also, Hannah learns why she's never heard of Port Ellen Distillery before. Nate chats through the Scotland distillery tour he's hosting and more.

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