"In this business, you are out to make either perfect whiskey or a quick buck, and those end goals generally lead to wildly different places"

Colin Spoelman is a former rooftop moonshiner from Kentucky who founded Kings County Distillery with David Haskell in 2010. He is co-author of 'The Guide to Urban Moonshining,' 'Dead Distillers' and the most recent 'The Bourbon Drinkers' Companion.'

Colin argues American whiskey has deviated from its traditional production as more brands have entered the space. And as a result, marketing has become deceptive and the market has homogenised.

In this episode, Colin gives a frank perspective on the world of American whiskey and shares his thinking behind creating the distinctive brand and packaging of their premium craft whiskey brand at Kings County, based in New York.

As the first legal distillery on the island, the story

Co-founder and Master Distiller, Alasdair Day, gives us an

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00:00 Introduction & background

06:16 Revitalising the island: community impact and economic

10:32 Building a vision on the Isle of Raasay

15:39 Product expansion and major milestones

23:40 Crafting a brand identity

30:13 Building customer loyalty

38:56 Future growth plans

46:07 Final thoughts

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Learn more about the Isle of Raasay Distillery

Visit the website: https://raasaydistillery.com/

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In 2018, after returning from a vacation, husband and wife, Rick and Alaina, founded Unicorn Distillery with an aim to disrupt the market and inspire the ‘what if?’.

Infusing the spirits industry with its all-natural colour-changing spirits, Unicorn Distillery has led the way in standardisation and efficiency within the colour-changing category. After successfully petitioning for the FDA to approve the use of butterfly tea flower, a core ingredient, the distillery’s doors opened in March 2022.

Unicorn Distillery aims to become a global sensation and is already making waves in the travel retail space aboard Princess Cruises. The brand focuses on delivering customer delight and bringing a unique twist to spirits, which were previously limited to the gin market. Rick discusses the brand's appeal to both consumers and bartenders, emphasising the importance of social media and educating audiences.

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00:00 Introduction and background

04:30 Starting Unicorn Distillery

12:30 Discovering the Tea Flower

21:37 Selling within the travel retail space

25:21 Packaging and bottle design

30:21 Global expansion and plans

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Want to learn more about Unicorn Distillery

Visit the website

Get to know Signet

For those of you who don't know us yet, we deliver 'perfect fit' bespoke embellishments and labels, exclusively for ambitious brands in the spirits and wine industry.

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Having launched this year, The Heart Cut has taken the industry at pace, recognised at this year's Icons of Whisky Awards as the independent bottler to watch.

Drawing on her years of experience in the industry as a passionate whisky drinker, educator and brand ambassador for drinks powerhouses like Bacardi and Diageo, she has quite literally bottled her insights and knowledge into a brand that puts the spotlight on new-world whisky distilleries

In this episode, she talks about her take on breaking down unnecessary barriers to enable emerging interest and accessibility to the spirit, the importance of packaging and design to magnify the sensory appeal of the whisky and how important advocacy and education can be for a brand's

 00:00 Introduction and Background

02:04 Entering the Whisky World

10:09 The Role of Bartenders and Advocacy in Whisky

27:02 Gender Barriers in Whisky Marketing

30:56 Introduction to Heart Cut and Independent Bottling

33:41 New World Whisky and Partnerships

39:22 Heart Cut's Name and Aesthetic

44:34 Packaging Design and Future Plans

Want to learn more about The Heart Cut?

Visit their website

Check out Georgie’s LinkedIn

Get to know Signet

For those of you who don't know us yet, we deliver 'perfect fit' bespoke embellishments and labels, exclusively for ambitious brands in the spirits and wine industry.

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To achieve extraordinary success and command a loyal following, be remarkable. Stand out, make a significant impact, and you'll attract a tribe that fervently supports and drives your business forward. Much like ‘Ulysses’ – a book first published in 1922, written by James Joyce, and now considered the most important work of modernist literature. 

00:00 – Introduction & background

05:00 – Challenges and successes

23:38 – The role of luck, storytelling, and packaging

32:45 – Celebrating key anniversaries and historical dates

35:49 – Aligning marketing approaches

47:18 – Limited editions and the future of Ulysses X Art

What happens when you combine a shared passion, New York roots, and a bold dream between two colleagues? You get Upend Gin. Join co-founders Matthew McKee and Chris Lofrese as they share their journey from finance professionals to gin distillers, representing New York with their premium spirit.

With a focus on calculated risks and entrepreneurial reflection, Matthew and Chris discuss the importance of educating bartenders, experimenting with flavours, and the critical role of packaging and branding in delivering a premium experience.

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00:00 | Introduction and background

05:05 | Taking calculated risks

11:33 | Representing New York

18:25 | Educating bartenders

30:59 | Packaging and branding

39:41| Design and budget

41:55 | Focus on quality and brand

43:02 | Future plans: building a distillery

Silent Pool is a brand that focuses on craftsmanship, provenance, and storytelling – capturing the very essence of English high-end craft. Having expanded its product range and market strategy, and recently being acquired by William Grant & Sons, the brand is set for accelerated growth. But how has Silent Pool managed to maintain its heritage whilst keeping up with soaring sales in both the duty-free and supermarket retail space?

In this episode, Ian discusses the inspiration behind Silent Pool and the challenges he faced in the early stages. He shares insights into building a successful brand and the thinking behind the iconic Silent Pool bottle in a premium positioned marketplace.

00:00 Introduction

02:01 The story behind Silent Pool

06:07 Embracing craft

10:00 The creation of Silent Pool Distillers

19:50 Creating a distinctive bottle design

25:48 Expanding the product range and market strategy

35:08 The importance of physical retail and brand experience

38:13 Acquisition by William Grant and expansion

46:02 Defining Silent Pool's Brand Essence

How did Sammy Verghese go from nightclub promoter to CEO of Degen Distillery - a brand-new player in the premium drinks market, driven by his passion for technology and backed by Google?

In this episode, we discuss the significance of developing a growing community, creating exclusivity using blockchain systems, and entering the industry as a disruptor partnered with the biggest craft brewer in Europe, BrewDog.

Timings

00:00 Introduction and background

03:54 Underpinning the values and concept of Degen

09:34 Entering the market with BrewDog

11:52 Introducing the premium drinks industry to the tech

24:46 Creating an original brand identity

38:20 Taking Degen Distillery to the next level. What’s next?

Sherwin and Tim, Co-Founders of Tarsier Spirits, discuss

In this episode, we explore strategic distinctiveness, building a brand on a startup budget, and overcoming the challenges in the industry of finding the right partnerships and collaborations that fit your brand values.

Overall, their journey emphasises the value of trusting your instincts, being ok with continuous improvement and iterative design, and the absolute criticality of authenticity in creating a unique and successful brand.

01:25  Filling the Gap in the Gin Market

03:11  The Importance of the Tarsier Emblem

04:19  Giving Back to Conservation

06:37  The Process of Starting a Business

10:58  Learning about Gin Distillation

12:26  Building the Brand on a Startup Budget

14:39  The Importance of Authenticity

20:56  Selecting the Right Distributors

27:10  Differentiating Tarsier from Competitors

28:30  The Evolution of Tarsier's Branding and Packaging

32:23  Considerations for Packaging Design

36:22  Lessons Learned from Packaging Iterations

42:25  Sustainability in Packaging

Want to learn more about Tarsier Spirits?

Follow Sherwin and Tim on LinkedIn

Tarsier Spirits website⁠⁠

Get to know Signet

For those of you who don't know us yet, we deliver 'perfect fit' bespoke embellishments and labels, exclusively for ambitious brands in the spirits and wine industry.

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Irish whiskey continues to experience steady growth globally, thanks to new international markets, a heightened focus on luxury, and the category’s ability to innovate.

One such trailblazer is Jack Teeling, Founder and Managing Director of Teeling Whiskey Distillery. Earning recognition at this weeks' World Whiskey Awards 2024, we explore how the brand that – like its iconic phoenix emblem – helped Irish Whiskey rise from the ashes of an old-fashioned, out-of-date reputation and become a powerful global contender.

We discuss this emergence, and what it took for the brand to command its place in the premium, luxury international marketplace with a younger consumer base.

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:30 Starting Teeling Whiskey Company

08:14 Working with Family

10:18 The Rise of Premium Whiskey

12:43 Creating a Youthful Irish Whiskey Brand

17:19 Standing Out on the Shelf

20:43 Packaging and Branding

23:17 Different Collections and Consistency

28:18 Digital Engagement and Packaging

32:52 Bacardi Partnership and Expansion

Want to learn more about Jack & Teeling Whiskey Distillery?

Follow him on ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Teeling Whiskey ⁠website⁠

Get to know Signet

For those of you who don't know us yet, we deliver 'perfect fit' bespoke embellishments and labels, exclusively for ambitious brands in the spirits and wine industry.

Follow us on:

⁠Instagram⁠

⁠LinkedIn⁠

YouTube