This Firewater profile delves into what it takes to operate a distillery on a farm, how to differentiate your product in a crowded marketplace, and how to take an established business in a new direction. David Souza is deeply tied to his family's sweet potato farm, being the fourth generation to operate it. When he wanted to open a distillery and make spirits from his family's crop, he was was not just starting a new business, but doing something with his legacy. Sweet Potato Spirits of Atwater, CA is the start of a new adventure for this farmer, marketer, father, and now, distiller. His farm to bottle Corbin Vodka is the first of its kind. Read the full profile on the Firewater Network: http://bit.ly/15OVk7C

Paul Tomaszewski, founder and head distiller at the MB Roland Distillery in Pembroke, KY, shares his insights on growing a craft spirits brand in the shadows of bourbon’s largest names. Listen as he describes his strategies for growth when his flagship product, bourbon, takes years to ready and can sell out in days. Find out how he views the expansion of the craft industry and why he believes producers, big and small, need each other to succeed. Read the full Firewater profile here: http://bit.ly/1KXMQer

The Raff Distillerie is the creation of just one person and the culmination of founder Carter Raff's lifelong dream. This episode goes in-depth with a distiller who spent 14 years planning his San Francisco distillery. The quality of his absinthe and gin prove that it was time well spent. Absinthe, the first product Raff created, has the historical reputation of giving its tipplers hallucinatory trances and Raff's is named after a former "Emperor" from the City by the Bay. Raff's gin is just as unique and recalls the history of two of San Francisco's most beloved residents. Find out how one person can build his entire operation with his own hands, turn it into an international brand, and keep his products closely intertwined with the city he calls home. Read the full Firewater profile here: http://bit.ly/1wUa0st

What happens when a distillery throws out all industry conventions and its founders build their own work space piece by piece? They make unique spirits and an even more unique distillery. Industry City Distillery makes a high quality vodka and a high-proof neutral spirit designed for culinary and artistic experimentation. Beyond the bottle, ICD constructs unique equipment and develops new industry practices to change how spirits are created. Along the way, they decided to improve their yeast too. In this interview, we meet two men who make not only distilled products, but also possibly revolutionary distilling methodology. Read the full Firewater profile here: http://bit.ly/1AAz8JT

The Firewater interview with one of the founders behind the Black Dirt Distillery in Pine Island, NY. Find out how two partners took over a small winery to expand its products and build a new business. Learn how they are taking locally sourced ingredients to the next level, applying a passion for agriculture, a knowledge of pomology, and the desire to work with local farmers to re-create and naturally blend heritage crops. For the team at Black Dirt, it isn't just about making fine spirits, it is about honoring a regional heritage.

Visit the extended profile at the Firewater Network: http://bit.ly/12n2sWr

When you are the fifth generation to inhabit the same family farm, the past is your present. Indian Creek Distillery embraces this history and uses the same 100+ years old stills and recipe to make their traditional whiskeys. Learn about their past and the challenges of running an historic distillery in the modern world.

See the distillery and visit the extended profile on the Firewater Network: http://bit.ly/1yjyjlo

What does a former pilot, telecom engineer, news reporter, and serial entrepreneur do when retirement is not enticing? He starts a family distillery and makes award winning vodkas. Find out how distilling keeps the brothers behind Candella Micro-Distillery together and the education it took to get their enterprise off the ground.

Visit the extended profile at the Firewater Network: http://bit.ly/1HfVKlr

Is this what the rebirth of American industry looks like? Find out in the Firewater interview with the team behind Fairborn, OH's Flat Rock Spirits. Learn about the road that led these distillers from a career in millwrighting to launching their award-winning Stillwrights line of spirits.

Visit the extended profile on the Firewater Network: http://bit.ly/1vLEte7

The Firewater interview with Brooklyn's own The Noble Experiment Distillery. Learn more about this distillery's Owney's Rum and the realities of running an urban distillery.

Visit the extended profile on the Firewater Network: http://bit.ly/1taiGIs