After 21 years in the U.S. Army, Ramon didn't take it easy in retirement — he opened a distillery. Preez Distillery in Largo, Florida started as a kitchen experiment in Alaska, grew through word of mouth during COVID, and is now one of the most unique craft spirits operations in the state.

In this episode we sit down with Ramon for a wide-ranging conversation about what it really means to make something by hand, why he thinks the word "craft" has been hijacked by the industry, and how he built a business around hospitality first and sales second. We also work through the full product lineup — a sugar-based vodka, a gin that converts gin haters, a strawberry vodka made from fresh Plant City strawberries, and more.

If you've ever thought about turning a passion into a business — or you just love a great spirits story — this one's for you.📍 Preez Distillery — Largo, Florida🌐 preezdistillery.com—#CraftDistillery #FloridaDistilling #craftwhiskey #DistilleryTour #CraftSpirits #EntrepreneurStory #floridalife #AmericanWhiskey #SmallBusinessJourneySupport Crafted ConversationsEverything you see and hear on this show — including travel — is funded out of pocket. If you believe in our mission of spotlighting the people and stories behind small businesses, you can support the show at:buymeacoffee.com/craftedconvosBuy Me a Coffee allows for simple one-time donations or a monthly contribution. Every dollar goes directly into creating more episodes and giving breweries, distilleries, and makers the spotlight they deserve.Stay ConnectedWebsite: www.craftedconvos.comFollow: @craftedconvospodSubscribe on YouTube: @craftedconvospodProduced by: Allan Cogan, Grant Brown, Nick Post, and Andrew SindallCrafted Conversations Media LLCFull video available on YouTube and SpotifyQuestions or inquiries: [email protected] provided by Artlist.io (copyright information available upon request)Cheers!This episode features conversations about alcohol. Please drink responsibly.

Join me in New Glarus, WI with Todd Kuehl, founder of Whiskey Run, as we explore what it takes to build a small-town craft distillery from the ground up.

From transitioning a winery to whiskey, to grain-to-glass production, distilling philosophy, and the challenges of launching a local spirits brand, this episode is packed with insights for craft spirits lovers, aspiring founders, and anyone curious about American whiskey.

Discover the stories, risks, and passion behind one of Wisconsin’s most exciting craft distilleries.

Connect & Learn More:
Website: craftedconvos.com
Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/craftedconvos
Follow Whiskey Run: @whiskeyrundistillingcompany | @baileysrunvineyardandwinery

Recorded onsite at Whiskey Run, New Glarus, WI – December 27th, 2025.

Copyright Crafted Conversations Media LLC

• EPISODE #73 | The Story Behind Wisconsin’s Most Legendary Beer

I traveled back home to Wisconsin to sit down with Dan Carey, owner and co-founder of New Glarus Brewing Company, to talk about how Spotted Cow became a state icon — and why the brewery chose to stay local.

Recorded onsite at New Glarus Brewing Company in New Glarus, WI.

• Learn More

Instagram: @newglarusbrewing

Website: https://newglarusbrewing.com

• Support Crafted Conversations

This show is funded out of pocket, including travel. If you believe in spotlighting the people and stories behind small businesses, you can support the show at:

buymeacoffee.com/craftedconvos

(One-time or monthly support — every dollar goes into making more episodes.)

• Stay Connected

Website: www.craftedconvos.com

Follow: @craftedconvospod

Subscribe on YouTube: @craftedconvospod

Produced by: Allan Cogan, Grant Brown, Nick Post, and Andrew Sindall

Crafted Conversations Media LLC

Full video available on YouTube and Spotify

Questions: [email protected]

Music: Artlist.io

This episode features conversations about alcohol. Please drink responsibly.

In this episode I traveled to Monroe, North Carolina to chat with Kate Kercheva, the wife of the fantastic husband and wife team behind Vetus Distillery who pride themselves on sharing their Bulgarian traditions and roots! I can't thank Kate enough for her generosity and hospitality and I can't wait to make it back to enjoy more of their delicious Rakia!For more information:Be sure to follow: @vetusdistillery on InstagramVisit: https://www.vetusdistillery.comRECORDED NOVEMBER 12TH ONSITE AT VETUS DISTILLERY IN MONROE, NC. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really appreciate a follow and share on social media, subscribe to our YouTube, and be sure to give us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!Everything you see and hear is out of pocket for us, including travel. If you support our mission of showcasing the amazing stories behind these small businesses, do me a favor and head over to buymeacoffee.com/craftedconvosBuy Me a Coffee is an awesome way to help creators like me with simple one-time donations OR a monthly contribution. Every dime goes into giving these breweries, distilleries and more some much deserved limelight.Visit us online at www.craftedconvos.comFollow us on social media: ⁠@craftedconvospod⁠Subscribe to our YouTube at ⁠ ⁠@craftedconvospod ⁠Produced by Allan Cogan, Grant Brown, Nick Post, and Andrew Sindall - as a part of Crafted Conversations Media LLC⁠. Full video is exclusively on YouTube and Spotify! If you ever have any questions or concerns – please reach out: [email protected] music is provided by ⁠Artlist.io⁠ and copyright information can be provided upon request.Cheers!⁠⁠⁠#smallbusiness⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#craftdistilleries ⁠⁠⁠ #craftbreweries⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#craftedconvos⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#americanhistory ⁠⁠⁠⁠#northcarolina #cheers #whiskey #smallbusinesses ⁠⁠⁠⁠#brewery ⁠⁠⁠#craftspirits⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#distillery⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#brewery⁠⁠ ⁠#craftedconvos⁠ ⁠#agriculture ⁠ #stories #interview #history

In this episode I traveled to Bostic, North Carolina in the Golden Valley to chat with Chris Simovich, Zach Shumway, & Rita Cheng - the fantastic team behind Defiant Whisky at Blue Ridge Distilling Company! I can't thank Chris and company enough for their generosity and hospitality and I can't wait to make it back to their beautiful spot in the mountains!For more information:Be sure to follow: @defiantwhisky on InstagramVisit: https://blueridgedistilling.comRECORDED NOVEMBER 8TH ONSITE AT BLUE RIDGE DISTILLING COMPANY IN BOSTIC, NC. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really appreciate a follow and share on social media, subscribe to our YouTube, and be sure to give us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!Everything you see and hear is out of pocket for us, including travel. If you support our mission of showcasing the amazing stories behind these small businesses, do me a favor and head over to buymeacoffee.com/craftedconvosBuy Me a Coffee is an awesome way to help creators like me with simple one-time donations OR a monthly contribution. Every dime goes into giving these breweries, distilleries and more some much deserved limelight.Visit us online at www.craftedconvos.comFollow us on social media: ⁠@craftedconvospod⁠Subscribe to our YouTube at ⁠ ⁠@craftedconvospod ⁠Produced by Allan Cogan, Grant Brown, Nick Post, and Andrew Sindall - as a part of Crafted Conversations Media LLC⁠. Full video is exclusively on YouTube and Spotify! If you ever have any questions or concerns – please reach out: [email protected] music is provided by ⁠Artlist.io⁠ and copyright information can be provided upon request.Cheers!⁠⁠⁠#smallbusiness⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#craftdistilleries ⁠⁠⁠ #craftbreweries⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#craftedconvos⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#americanhistory ⁠⁠⁠⁠#northcarolina #cheers #whiskey #smallbusinesses ⁠⁠⁠⁠#brewery ⁠⁠⁠#craftspirits⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#distillery⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#brewery⁠⁠ ⁠#craftedconvos⁠ ⁠#agriculture ⁠ #stories #interview #history

In this episode I traveled to Pittsboro, North Carolina to chat with Lyle Estill - the esteemed Lion Tamer of Fair Game Beverage Company!I can't thank Lyle and the Fair Game team enough for their generosity and hospitality and I can't wait to make it back! For more information:Be sure to follow: @fairgamebevco on InstagramVisit: https://www.fairgamebeverage.comRECORDED OCTOBER 13TH ONSITE AT FAIR GAME BEVERAGE COMPANY IN PITTSBORO, NC. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really appreciate a follow and share on social media, subscribe to our YouTube, and be sure to give us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!Everything you see and hear is out of pocket for us, including travel. If you support our mission of showcasing the amazing stories behind these small businesses, do me a favor and head over to buymeacoffee.com/craftedconvosBuy Me a Coffee is an awesome way to help creators like me with simple one-time donations OR a monthly contribution. Every dime goes into giving these breweries, distilleries and more some much deserved limelight.Visit us online at www.craftedconvos.comFollow us on social media: ⁠@craftedconvospod⁠Subscribe to our YouTube at ⁠ ⁠@craftedconvospod ⁠Produced by Allan Cogan, Grant Brown, Nick Post, and Andrew Sandal - as a part of Crafted Conversations Media LLC⁠. Full video is exclusively on YouTube and Spotify! If you ever have any questions or concerns – please reach out: [email protected] music is provided by ⁠Artlist.io⁠ and copyright information can be provided upon request.Cheers!⁠⁠⁠#smallbusiness⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#craftdistilleries ⁠⁠⁠ #craftbreweries⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#craftedconvos⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#americanhistory ⁠⁠⁠⁠#northcarolina #cheers #whiskey #smallbusinesses ⁠⁠⁠⁠#brewery ⁠⁠⁠#craftspirits⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#distillery⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#brewery⁠⁠ ⁠#craftedconvos⁠ ⁠#agriculture ⁠ #stories #interview #history #rum

In this episode I traveled to Mount Holly, North Carolina to chat with Robbie Delaney, owner and operator of Muddy River Distillery!I can't thank Robbie and the Muddy River team enough for their generosity and hospitality and I can't wait to make it back! For more information:Be sure to follow: @muddyriverdistillery on InstagramVisit: https://www.muddyriverdistillery.comRECORDED SEPTEMBER 27TH ONSITE AT MUDDY RIVER DISTILLERY IN MOUNT HOLLY, NC. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really appreciate a follow and share on social media, subscribe to our YouTube, and be sure to give us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!Everything you see and hear is out of pocket for us, including travel. If you support our mission of showcasing the amazing stories behind these small businesses, do me a favor and head over to buymeacoffee.com/craftedconvosBuy Me a Coffee is an awesome way to help creators like me with simple one-time donations OR a monthly contribution. Every dime goes into giving these breweries, distilleries and more some much deserved limelight.Visit us online at www.craftedconvos.comFollow us on social media: ⁠@craftedconvospod⁠Subscribe to our YouTube at ⁠ ⁠@craftedconvospod ⁠Produced by Allan Cogan, Grant Brown, Nick Post, and Andrew Sandal - as a part of Crafted Conversations Media LLC⁠. Full video is exclusively on YouTube and Spotify! If you ever have any questions or concerns – please reach out: [email protected] music is provided by ⁠Artlist.io⁠ and copyright information can be provided upon request.Cheers!⁠⁠⁠#smallbusiness⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#craftdistilleries ⁠⁠⁠ #craftbreweries⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#craftedconvos⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#americanhistory ⁠⁠⁠⁠#northcarolina #cheers #whiskey #smallbusinesses ⁠⁠⁠⁠#brewery ⁠⁠⁠#craftspirits⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#distillery⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#brewery⁠⁠ ⁠#craftedconvos⁠ ⁠#agriculture ⁠ #stories #interview #history #rum

In this episode I traveled to Purcellville, Virginia to pay a visit to our friends at Catoctin Creek! In our previous episode with Catoctin, we sat down with the great Becky Harris - but this time around we were joined by her other half, Scott Harris! I can't thank Scott and Becky enough for their generosity and hospitality and I can't wait to make it back! For more information:Be sure to follow: @catoctincreek on InstagramVisit: https://catoctincreekdistilling.com/RECORDED JUNE 12TH ONSITE AT CATOCTIN CREEK DISTILLING COMPANY IN PURCELLVILLE, VIRGINIA.If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really appreciate a follow and share on social media, subscribe to our YouTube, and be sure to give us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!Everything you see and hear is out of pocket for us, including travel. If you support our mission of showcasing the amazing stories behind these small businesses, do me a favor and head over to buymeacoffee.com/craftedconvosBuy Me a Coffee is an awesome way to help creators like me with simple one-time donations OR a monthly contribution. Every dime goes into giving these breweries, distilleries and more some much deserved limelight.Visit us online at www.craftedconvos.comFollow us on social media: ⁠@craftedconvospod⁠Subscribe to our YouTube at ⁠ ⁠@craftedconvospod ⁠Produced by Allan Cogan, Grant Brown, and Nick Post - as a part of Crafted Conversations Media LLC⁠. This episode is part of a partnership with Pacific Legal Foundation.  ⁨@americancraftspiritsassoci2260⁩   ⁨@americandistillinginstitute⁩   ⁨@virginiaspirits⁩  Full video is exclusively on YouTube and Spotify! If you ever have any questions or concerns – please reach out: [email protected] music is provided by ⁠Artlist.io⁠ and copyright information can be provided upon request.Cheers!⁠⁠⁠#smallbusiness⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#craftdistilleries ⁠⁠⁠ #craftbreweries⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#craftedconvos⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#americanhistory ⁠⁠⁠⁠#newjersey #cheers #shenandoa #whiskey #smallbusinesses ⁠⁠⁠⁠#brewery ⁠⁠⁠#craftspirits⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#distillery⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#brewery⁠⁠ ⁠#craftedconvos⁠ ⁠#agriculture ⁠ #stories #interview #history #virginia

In this episode I traveled to Los Angeles, California to visit the great Lewis Harsanyi - a Hungarian immigrant making some delicious whiskey at Los Angeles Distillery! I can't thank Lewis enough for his generosity and hospitality and I can't wait to make it back! For more information:Be sure to follow: @losangelesdistillery on InstagramVisit: https://www.ladistillery.comRECORDED JULY 12TH ONSITE AT LOS ANGELES DISTILLERY IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really appreciate a follow and share on social media, subscribe to our YouTube, and be sure to give us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!Everything you see and hear is out of pocket for us, including travel. If you support our mission of showcasing the amazing stories behind these small businesses, do me a favor and head over to buymeacoffee.com/craftedconvosBuy Me a Coffee is an awesome way to help creators like me with simple one-time donations OR a monthly contribution. Every dime goes into giving these breweries, distilleries and more some much deserved limelight.Visit us online at www.craftedconvos.comFollow us on social media: ⁠@craftedconvospod⁠Subscribe to our YouTube at ⁠ ⁠@craftedconvospod ⁠Produced by Allan Cogan, Grant Brown, and Nick Post - as a part of Crafted Conversations Media LLC⁠. This episode is part of a partnership with Pacific Legal Foundation. Full video is exclusively on YouTube and Spotify! If you ever have any questions or concerns – please reach out: [email protected] music is provided by ⁠Artlist.io⁠ and copyright information can be provided upon request.Cheers!⁠⁠⁠#smallbusiness⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#craftdistilleries ⁠⁠⁠ #craftbreweries⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#craftedconvos⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#americanhistory ⁠⁠⁠⁠#newjersey #cheers #california #whiskey #smallbusinesses ⁠⁠⁠⁠#brewery ⁠⁠⁠#craftspirits⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#distillery⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#brewery⁠⁠ ⁠#craftedconvos⁠ ⁠#agriculture ⁠ #stories #interview #history #losangeles #culvercity #hollywood

In this episode I traveled to Morristown, NJ to visit Dismal Harmony Distilling and sat down with the mastermind of liqueurs: Bob Dillon!

I can't thank Bob and the Dismal Harmony family enough for their hospitality and welcoming us into their space.For more information:Be sure to follow: @dismal.harmony on InstagramVisit: https://www.dismalharmony.comRECORDED JUNE 27TH ONSITE AT DISMAL HARMONY DISTILLING IN MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEYIf you enjoyed this episode, I’d really appreciate a follow and share on social media, subscribe to our YouTube, and be sure to give us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!Everything you see and hear is out of pocket for us, including travel. If you support our mission of showcasing the amazing stories behind these small businesses, do me a favor and head over to buymeacoffee.com/craftedconvosBuy Me a Coffee is an awesome way to help creators like me with simple one-time donations OR a monthly contribution. Every dime goes into giving these breweries, distilleries and more some much deserved limelight.Visit us online at www.craftedconvos.comFollow us on social media: ⁠@craftedconvospod⁠Subscribe to our YouTube at ⁠ ⁠@craftedconvospod ⁠Produced by Allan Cogan, Grant Brown, and Nick Post - as a part of Crafted Conversations Media LLC⁠. This episode is part of a partnership with Pacific Legal Foundation. Full video is exclusively on YouTube and Spotify! If you ever have any questions or concerns – please reach out: [email protected] music is provided by ⁠Artlist.io⁠ and copyright information can be provided upon request.Cheers!⁠⁠⁠#smallbusiness⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#craftdistilleries ⁠⁠⁠ #craftbreweries⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#craftedconvos⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#americanhistory ⁠⁠⁠⁠#newjersey #cheers #california #whiskey #smallbusinesses ⁠⁠⁠⁠#brewery ⁠⁠⁠#craftspirits⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠#distillery⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#brewery⁠⁠ ⁠#craftedconvos⁠ ⁠#agriculture ⁠ #stories #interview #history #masala