Craft Spirits Podcast

Mark McLaughlin is the co-founder of Baltimore-based Old Line Spirits. McLaughlin and distillery co-founder Arch Watkins met in the Navy flying EA-6B Prowlers. After more than a decade of service, they both happened to move to the same neighborhood in Baltimore and left their civilian careers to open Old Line Spirits in 2017.

In this episode, McLaughlin discusses his and Watkins’s time in the Navy; buying a distillery from another pair of veterans; their lineup of American single malt whiskey, including a Navy strength whiskey; and their relationship with Middle West Spirits. He also touches on the distillery’s rum and some upcoming special releases.

Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski are the co-founders of Lost Lantern, an award-winning independent bottler of American whiskey based in Vergennes, Vermont. The company’s tagline and mission are one in the same: shining a light on the independent spirit.

Ganley-Roper has a background in wine and spirits retail, as well as working in operations for several startups. And before co-founding Lost Lantern, Polonski was a Senior Whisky Specialist at ​Whisky Advocate​. He’s also a recent addition to ACSA’s board of directors.

Ganley-Roper and Polonski met in 2014 and left their jobs to go on a road trip that helped start their company in 2018. They launched their first product in 2020 and opened their tasting room in the fall of 2023. Along the way, they also got married. In this episode, they reminisce on that road trip, discuss their process, dive into their summer bourbon collection and much more.

Phil Steger is the founder and CEO of Minneapolis-based Brother Justus Whiskey Co., and a recently elected member of the American Craft Spirits Association’s Board of Directors.

Before opening the distillery, Stegerl earned a law degree from the University of St. Thomas. He also has experience running humanitarian aid and preserving centuries-old manuscripts belonging to monasteries in conflict zones. Eventually, Steger channeled his loves and learnings into one big work: whiskey.

In this episode, Steger discusses his eureka moment for deciding to make whiskey; getting his law degree while making plans for the distillery; how he learned about the real Brother Justus; making cold-peated whiskey; and much more.

Olivia Stewart is the president of Oxbow Rum Distillery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a recently elected member of the American Craft Spirits Association’s Board of Directors.

Stewart grew up running through rows of sugarcane on her family’s farm and later pursued a career in the art world. But during the pandemic, she went back to her roots to run the family distillery. Stewart relaunched the brand as Oxbow Rum Distillery with new lines of premium craft rums made from their own fresh-pressed cane juice and high-grade molasses.

In this episode, Stewart discusses farm life; her career path and assuming leadership at the distillery; how she and her dad nearly sold off the distillery; and the company’s recent gains and bright future.

Greg Eidam is the master distiller for Gatlinburg, Tennessee-based Sugarlands Distilling Co. and a recently elected member of the American Craft Spirits Association’s Board of Directors. He oversees the production of Sugarlands Shine, Appalachian Sippin’ Cream, High Rock Vodka and Roaming Man Whiskey, as well as Sugarlands research and development, and engineering projects.

In this episode, Eidam discusses the distillery’s growth; the inspiration behind the flavors for Sugarlands’ moonshines and sippin’ creams; the distillery’s partnerships with celebrities like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and brands like Eggo Waffles; his background as a civil engineer; and more.

Our latest guests on The Craft Spirits Podcast are Aleks and Maks Zhdanov, twin brothers and co-founders of 3BR Distillery in Keyport, New Jersey. Drawing inspiration from their grandfather, who was a moonshiner in the Soviet Union, the distillery specializes in pea-based and other unusual spirits.

In this episode, the brothers discuss the meaning behind the distillery’s name and their heritage; the realities of operating a distillery in New Jersey; a new spirit; and more.

Our latest guests on The Craft Spirits Podcast are Megan Campbell, Renée Newton and Sean W. Richards—the new owners of Montanya Distillers in Crested Butte, Colorado.

In this episode, the trio talks about how they came together to join a partnership; their plans to honor the distillery’s past while also asserting their vision for its future; the current state and future of the American rum industry; and they also tease some upcoming products.

Our latest guests on The Craft Spirits Podcast are Kallyn Romero and Laura Walters of Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse of Denver. Romero is the co-founder and a Colorado native and Walters is a head distiller who studied winemaking at Oregon State University and got her start in the spirits industry at Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey.

In this episode, Romero and Walters discuss the benefits of making craft spirits in Colorado; launching Ironton and crafting gin, whiskey and a wide range of spirits; their pride in being a women-owned and -distilled company; and much more.

Our latest guests on The Craft Spirits Podcast are Mollie Lewis and Hannah Lowen of New Riff Distilling in Newport, Kentucky. In June, the distillery announced that next spring, founder and CEO Ken Lewis will retire, and Mollie (Ken’s daughter), Lowen and Denny Gorman will assume leadership. Lowen, who currently serves as vice president of operations, will become CEO. Mollie, currently the sales director, will become president. And Gorman will transition from director of engineering and logistics to COO.

In this episode, Mollie and Hannah discuss the leadership transition and maintaining family ownership; how Mollie’s and Hannah’s backgrounds in wine and political organizing, respectively, help them in the whiskey business; new expressions and renovations at the distillery; and much more.

Our latest guest on The Craft Spirits Podcast is Murphy Quint of Cedar Ridge Distillery in Swisher, Iowa. As head distiller and director of operations, Murphy oversees the distillery, winery, vineyards, campus grounds and facilities. As Cedar Ridge is one of the few winery and distilleries in the United States, Murphy has gained a unique understanding of how the influence of wine can impact the flavor profile of whiskey. During his tenure at Cedar Ridge Distillery, Murphy has helped the distillery overcome legacy brands to become the number one selling bourbon in Iowa.

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In this episode, Murphy discusses the growth of American single malt whiskey; the success of Cedar Ridge’s bourbon; the distillery’s partnership with the band Slipknot; and much more.