On this episode we geek out a bit about the amaro category as we welcome David Bly, founder of Festif Amaro in Los Angeles. David’s a Montreal native who brought a great deal of Canadian influence into the creation of Festif Amaro and Festif Choux, the latter of which incorporates Brussels sprouts into its recipe. David developed a deep appreciation for the amaro category during his two decades working in the bar scenes of both New York and L.A. Creativity and artistry are in his DNA, as he’s also been a filmmaker and an actor.

Host Jeff Cioletti sits down with the team behind American Cane, a new American rum producer in Louisiana. Maggie Campbell, formerly of Privateer Rum and Mount Gay Rum, joins American Cane co-founders Chaz and Darin Vest as CEO. Together, they discuss the past, present and future of the American rum category, as well as what's in store at American Cane.

Today on the program, we’ve got a bit of a special treat. We’re presenting the complete audio from our Best Bars roundtable, which I hosted last month. For the roundtable we invited the personalities behind three of the venues that made our Best Bars in America list, which we showcased in the May/June issue of CRAFT SPIRITS magazine. Our distinguished panel included Natasha Bahrami of the Gin Room in St. Louis—whom you briefly heard at the top of this program—Marc Figueiras of Dullboy and other bars in Jersey City, New Jersey; and Aaron Post of Valkyrie in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Our guests gave us actionable insight on the key elements they look for when they’re adding craft spirits to their product rosters.

Sydney Jones is a supervisor and lead distillery technician at Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Previously, she served as head distiller for FEW Spirits in Evanston, Illinois, and has been working in the distilled spirits industry since 2016. She is also the co-host of the Spirits & Distilling Podcast.

In a wide-ranging discussion about whiskey and distilling, Jones shares details on Heaven Hill’s new distillery and portfolio, her passion for education in the whiskey world, and much more.

Joseph O’Sullivan is the master distiller at Minden Mill Distilling in Minden, Nevada. O’Sullivan started his distilling career in 2005, and was previously the master distiller for Hood River, Oregon-based Clear Creek Distillery. At Minden Mill, O’Sullivan oversees production of the distillery’s estate-made spirits, which include bourbon, rye, and a recently released American single malt whiskey.

For this episode, O’Sullivan sat down with CRAFT SPIRITS magazine editor in chief Jeff Cioletti at the 12th annual American Craft Spirits Convention & Expo this March in Tucson, Arizona. They discuss O’Sullivan’s move from Oregon to Nevada, his passion for sharing knowledge in the spirits industry, the concept of terroir in whiskey, the current and future state of no- and low-alcohol spirits, and much more.

Colin Spoelman is the co-founder and distiller at Kings County Distillery in Brooklyn, New York. He’s also a board member of the ACSA and an author, whose latest book is “The Bourbon Drinker’s Companion.”

In this episode, Spoelman discusses the new law allowing New York distilleries to ship directly to consumers and what it means for the future of craft spirits. He also shares his thoughts on Empire Rye, upcoming releases, his path to distilling, and his latest book.

Erin Lee is the head distiller at FEW Spirits in Evanston, Illinois. Lee became a certified tea sommelier in 2021 and quickly discovered a love for the tasting process. That passion led her into the world of whiskey, and soon after, she was selected for the inaugural class of interns for the STEPUP Foundation—an inclusion and equity program that aims to provide underserved and underrepresented individuals with training, encouragement and opportunities to enter the craft spirits community.

In this episode, Erin shares her journey to becoming head distiller at FEW, and how she’s blending her dual passions for spirits and tea—from the release of FEW Smashing Pumpkins Bourbon to a recent presentation she gave on demystifying tea. She also offers insight into FEW’s core lineup and reflects on the pivotal role the STEPUP internship played in shaping her career.

Jason Parker is the co-founder of Seattle-based Copperworks Distilling Co., which makes American single malt whiskey, a series of gins and vodka, all from malted barley. Parker led Copperworks to become a founding member of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission. And he also serves on the board of directors of the Craft Maltsters Guild.

In this episode, Parker discusses his previous career as a brewer and what led him to distilling; the rise of American single malt whiskey; how Copperworks creates the base for its spirits; which of their whiskeys will be going on a permanent hiatus; and much more.

Episode Sponsor

Bridgetown Brew Systems designs and builds high-quality distilling equipment, including pot, hybrid, and continuous column stills, tailored to your unique needs. From small-batch craft operations to large-scale production, they combine artisanal craftsmanship with modern engineering to deliver exceptional performance. The Bridgetown team works closely with you to provide custom solutions, expert guidance, and lifelong support, ensuring your distillery thrives. At Bridgetown Brew Systems, they’re passionate about helping you craft extraordinary spirits and building a lasting legacy. Find Bridgetown Brew Systems at booth 908 at the ACSA convention, and you can also learn more at bridgetownbrew.com.

Convention Sponsors

ACSA would like to extend a special thanks to our convention sponsors, including:

American Custom Distilling

AnyRoad Lifetime Loyalty

Axtra

Blanc

CF Napa Brand Design

Gatto Rivera Branding

Grandstand

Lallemand Distilling / Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits

Liquor Bottle Packaging International

Monvera Glass Decoration

Paychex

Powell Junia

Speyside Bourbon Cooperage

Thousand Oaks Barrel Co.

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Jordan Cotton is the co-founder and CEO of Washington, D.C.-based rum maker Cotton & Reed. He is also a member of ACSA’s board of directors and the chair of the American Craft Spirits Association's political action committee.

In this episode, recorded at Cotton & Reed’s new facility in D.C.’s Ivy City neighborhood, Cotton discusses the state of American rum and its potential for growth; the ongoing work of ACSA’s PAC; the potential effects of tariffs on craft spirits producers; the distillery’s rum lineup; and much more.

James Donaldson is the co-owner and creative director of Chemist Spirits in Asheville, North Carolina.

The distillery was founded by Debbie Word, and was born of many hours of experimentation with Word’s daughter, Danielle Donaldson, an actual chemist. The distillery and its bar, Antidote, are located in Asheville’s South Slope district, which did not suffer severe damage when Hurricane Helene devastated the region in late September. However, Chemist also has a facility in historic Biltmore Village, which is located alongside the Swannanoa River and experienced flooding.

In this episode, James discusses the current state of things in Asheville a few months after Helene; the challenges of reinventing a historic building in a floodplain; how Chemist helped its community in the immediate aftermath of the storm; the story behind Chemist’s gin and whiskey; the potential for collaborations born out of the storm; and more.