The Spirits Business Podcast

This year (2026) marks 20 years of High West, an American whiskey brand founded in Park City in Utah. It was one of the first modern distilleries in American whiskey, and an indisputable leader in the rye whiskey renaissance. For such a milestone occasion, it felt only right to sit down with both High West’s master distiller Isaac Winter, and director of sensory and product development Tara Lindley to hear more about how the brand has helped to popularise rye whiskey during its modern resurgence. We also covered how blending and sourcing whiskey became respected as part of American whiskey’s story and culture, and what the next 20 years could look like for High West and the wider whiskey category.

Keep up to date with the latest spirits and cocktail news from The Spirits Business here:

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/

Follow along on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/spiritsbusiness/

Keep updated on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/spirits-business/

Follow along on X (formerly Twitter):

https://x.com/spiritsbusiness

Find us on Threads:

https://www.threads.net/@spiritsbusiness

Take a look at our videos on our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpiritsBusinessMagazine

The Spirits Business Podcast is hosted by Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business. This podcast episode was edited by Matchbox Motion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if one of Poland’s most historic spirits could be on the brink of a new beginning? Starka is a centuries-old rye vodka-based spirit, aged in oak for years – and sometimes decades – creating something that sits intriguingly between vodka and whisky. And now, its historic distillery in Szczecin is up for sale.

So, what makes Starka so unique, what potential lies in its extraordinary stocks and heritage, and what might its next chapter look like? In today’s podcast episode, I’m joined by David Lesperance to find out more about Starka, learn about the sale process, and what he and his team at Lesperance Associates are looking for in the next owner. 

Keep up to date with the latest spirits and cocktail news from The Spirits Business here:

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/

Follow along on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/spiritsbusiness/

Keep updated on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/spirits-business/

Follow along on X (formerly Twitter):

https://x.com/spiritsbusiness

Find us on Threads:

https://www.threads.net/@spiritsbusiness

Take a look at our videos on our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpiritsBusinessMagazine

The Spirits Business Podcast is hosted by Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business. This podcast episode was edited by Matchbox Motion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since 1993, Chopin has been spearheading the luxury, super-premium vodka category. This is a brand that was one of the early adopters of promoting how good-quality base materials can create flavoursome vodka, and debunking the age-old assumption that vodka is neutral – because as fans of this versatile spirit will confirm, it is anything but. I recently connected with the founder and CEO of Chopin Tad Dorda to learn more about the brand’s establishment and what it’s like overseeing Poland’s last family-owned vodka maker.

Keep up to date with the latest spirits and cocktail news from The Spirits Business here:

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/

Follow along on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/spiritsbusiness/

Keep updated on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/spirits-business/

Follow along on X (formerly Twitter):

https://x.com/spiritsbusiness

Find us on Threads:

https://www.threads.net/@spiritsbusiness

Take a look at our videos on our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpiritsBusinessMagazine

The Spirits Business Podcast is hosted by Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business. This podcast episode was edited by Matchbox Motion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spirits fans will likely know Speyside in Scotland for its world-class whiskies, but there’s one distillery that’s showing a different side to the Scottish region, and that’s Glenrinnes Distillery, which is showing Speyside can also make brilliant clear spirits like vodka and gin. After taking a little time out to rethink its branding and marketing strategy, Glenrinnes is back with Eight Lands Vodka and Gin – the same delicious, award-winning liquid, a brand new packaging design, many lessons learned and even bolder ambitions. Keep listening to hear more from founder Alex Christou. 

Keep up to date with the latest spirits and cocktail news from The Spirits Business here:

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/

Follow along on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/spiritsbusiness/

Keep updated on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/spirits-business/

Follow along on X (formerly Twitter):

https://x.com/spiritsbusiness

Find us on Threads:

https://www.threads.net/@spiritsbusiness

Take a look at our videos on our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpiritsBusinessMagazine

The Spirits Business Podcast is hosted by Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business. This podcast episode was edited by Matchbox Motion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since October 2025, Stuart Maxwell has been the chief operating officer at Proof 8, a technology company that strives to improve efficiency and transparency across the spirits industry. Our conversation for this podcast episode starts by gauging Stuart’s expertise on the current state of the spirits industry, particularly whisky, and what the first half of 2026 has been like for Proof 8. But the main focus of our discussion centres on the development of digital deeds, and the Warehousekeepers and Owners of Warehoused Goods Regulations (WOWGR) reform that came into effect last year. Technology is moving quickly across all industries, and spirits is no exception – and Stuart gives great advice on how to utilise the latest tech to boost business and create more efficient, transparent ways of working.

Keep up to date with the latest spirits and cocktail news from The Spirits Business here:

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/

Follow along on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/spiritsbusiness/

Keep updated on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/spirits-business/

Follow along on X (formerly Twitter):

https://x.com/spiritsbusiness

Find us on Threads:

https://www.threads.net/@spiritsbusiness

Take a look at our videos on our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpiritsBusinessMagazine

The Spirits Business Podcast is hosted by Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business. This podcast episode was edited by Matchbox Motion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liqueurs have long been positioned as a supporting act in the drinks world, but in recent years they've played more of a starring role in cocktails and other serves. One company that knows more than most about the versatility of liqueurs is Creamy Creation, a leading business-to-business (B2B) developer and manufacturer of cream liqueurs. Our podcast host, Melita Kiely, recently caught up with Matthew Benny, chief commercial officer for the Americas at Creamy Creation, to discuss both the category and company in detail. The conversation starts by debunking some common misconceptions about liqueurs before also covering trends shaping the category, how to discover new opportunities for growth in a challenging economy, and the future direction Matthew envisions, both for the broader liqueur category and Creamy Creation.

Keep up to date with the latest spirits and cocktail news from The Spirits Business here:

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/

Follow along on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/spiritsbusiness/

Keep updated on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/spirits-business/

Follow along on X (formerly Twitter):

https://x.com/spiritsbusiness

Find us on Threads:

https://www.threads.net/@spiritsbusiness

Take a look at our videos on our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpiritsBusinessMagazine

The Spirits Business Podcast is hosted by Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business. This podcast episode was edited by Matchbox Motion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’re part of the spirits industry, you probably know the name Alexandre Gabriel very well. The founder of Maison Ferrand is particularly well known in the worlds of Cognac, gin and rum. In this episode, Alexandre covers topics such as terroir and provenance and growth across the rum category, and speaks openly about his decision to change what was formerly known as Plantation Rum to the brand known today as Planteray, and all of the challenges that rebranding brought for a brand of this scale. 

Keep up to date with the latest spirits and cocktail news from The Spirits Business here:

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/

Follow along on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/spiritsbusiness/

Keep updated on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/spirits-business/

Follow along on X (formerly Twitter):

https://x.com/spiritsbusiness

Find us on Threads:

https://www.threads.net/@spiritsbusiness

Take a look at our videos on our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpiritsBusinessMagazine

The Spirits Business Podcast is hosted by Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business. This podcast episode was edited by Matchbox Motion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the second year in a row, ProWein reached out to members of the spirits trade to gauge their honest insights into the current state of the industry. The latest findings have just been released, and The Spirits Business was fortunate to get a preview of the results. Editor-in-chief Melita Kiely was joined by three experts to discuss the findings on this podcast episode. First of all, the lead researcher of the annual ProSpirits Report, professor Dr Simone Luce, head of the Institute for Wine and Beverage Business Research at Geisenheim University, along with Paul Dempsey, sales and marketing director for Brave New Spirits, and Gernet Allnoch, partner of Mezcal San Cosme. The group goes into detail about key findings from the report, as well as navigating geopolitical challenges, how to successfully target market expansions, and their outlooks for 2026.

Keep up to date with the latest spirits and cocktail news from The Spirits Business here:

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/

Follow along on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/spiritsbusiness/

Keep updated on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/spirits-business/

Follow along on X (formerly Twitter):

https://x.com/spiritsbusiness

Find us on Threads:

https://www.threads.net/@spiritsbusiness

Take a look at our videos on our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpiritsBusinessMagazine

The Spirits Business Podcast is hosted by Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business. This podcast episode was edited by Matchbox Motion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From distiller to distributor, there are few roles that Eoin Bara has not tried his hand at. The founder of Mór Irish Gin created his digital distribution company Tipple to offer flexible solutions for direct-to-consumer and business-to-business distribution – a challenge he felt first hand while growing Mór Irish gin. Eoin goes into detail about the challenges he sees brands facing when it comes to growing distribution, and how Tipple is creating new ways to grow. He also shares details about what it was like to grow a gin brand to the point of sale, and shares some candid insights into what he’d do differently if given the chance to go back and do it again. This episode is an important listen for any spirits business seeking distribution and open to hearing about less traditional routes to market.

Keep up to date with the latest spirits and cocktail news from The Spirits Business here:

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/

Follow along on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/spiritsbusiness/

Keep updated on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/spirits-business/

Follow along on X (formerly Twitter):

https://x.com/spiritsbusiness

Find us on Threads:

https://www.threads.net/@spiritsbusiness

Take a look at our videos on our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpiritsBusinessMagazine

The Spirits Business Podcast is hosted by Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business. This podcast episode was edited by Matchbox Motion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode of The Spirits Business Podcast we’re sharing a special recording from our International Women’s Day panel discussion in March, which was a conversation centred on the role mentorship plays in the spirits world. We explore mentorship from both sides of the relationship, looking at what mentors gain, how mentees can make the most of mentoring opportunities, and why meaningful mentorship doesn’t always happen through formal programmes. Sometimes, the most impactful support begins with a simple conversation with someone you look up to and trust. There’s also lots of advice shared about fundraising to grow your business, climbing the career ladder, and learning how to be your strongest advocate. So, whether you’re seeking a mentor, considering becoming one, or simply looking for inspiration, this episode is a reminder that support and opportunities can come in many different forms.

Keep up to date with the latest spirits and cocktail news from The Spirits Business here:

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/

Follow along on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/spiritsbusiness/

Keep updated on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/spirits-business/

Follow along on X (formerly Twitter):

https://x.com/spiritsbusiness

Find us on Threads:

https://www.threads.net/@spiritsbusiness

Take a look at our videos on our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpiritsBusinessMagazine

The Spirits Business Podcast is hosted by Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business. This podcast episode was edited by Matchbox Motion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.