Whiskey Lore®: The Interviews

🎙️ Ep. 121 - Dr. Pat Heist: Wilderness Trail Distillery (Final Episode on "The Interviews" Feed)

FINAL EPISODE ON THE INTERVIEWS FEED Please look up the Whiskey Lore Podcast and subscribe for future interviews. I am consolidating feeds. All older interviews have been moved to that main Whiskey Lore Podcast feed. In this conversation, Drew Hannush interviews Dr. Pat Heist, co-founder of Wilderness Trail Distillery, exploring the journey from a small farmhouse distillery to a significant player in the whiskey industry. They discuss the scientific approach to distilling, the impact of the Renewable Fuels Act, the evolution of fermentation practices, and the importance of data collection in whiskey production. Dr. Heist shares insights on the sweet mash process, the challenges of scaling operations, and the future of whiskey innovation. TAKEAWAYS Wilderness Trail Distillery started as a small farmhouse distillery. Dr. Pat Heist and Shane Baker's partnership began in rock and roll. Firm Solutions was established during the 2006 economic crisis. The Renewable Fuels Act significantly impacted the distilling industry. Fuel ethanol production shares similarities with whiskey production. The distillery focuses on scientific methods in fermentation. Wilderness Trail has expanded its operations significantly since inception. Data collection is crucial for understanding whiskey production variations. Sweet mash production is a key focus for Wilderness Trail. The distillery aims to innovate and improve whiskey quality. Hear an extended version at whiskey-lore.com/patreon

Clay Shwab: The True Story of the Man Behind George Dickel's Whisky

When it comes to whisky legends, George Dickel has one of the most confusing. Was he a distiller or wasn't he a distiller? Who is this Victor or Manny Shwab that gets a mention during the historical breakdown on the tour. Did George ever own the Cascade Hollow distillery? And if he didn't who did? Plus, where did the slogan for their whisky "Mellow as Moonlight" come from? My guest today, Clay Shwab, is the great-grandson of the man who had a vision for George Dickel & Co, laid his own money on the line, and helped bring George Dickel's Cascade whisky into the 20th century. He just wrote a new book called Manny Shwab and the George Dickel Company: Whisky, Power and Politics During Nashville's Gilded Age and we're going to dig into some of the stories, compare notes, and introduce you to one of the most fascinating whisky origin stories you've never heard.

Finding Colorado's Grains of Distinction with Al Laws of Laws Whiskey House

Back during the Pandemic, I was chatting with a friend of my from New Mexico about whiskey and I noticed on the Zoom call how many bottles of Laws Whiskey House spirits he had on his back shelf. He was a real fan. And that piqued my interest. So when I was traveling back from California on a major road trip, I made a quick stop into the Denver-based distillery. It didn't take me long to fall in love with their San Luis Valley Rye. I heard stories that this rye was hand picked from wild rye growing in this region. Was this some romanticized tale that was going around or was it true? Who better to ask than the man behind not only that rye, but also a four grain bourbon, wheat whiskey, and malt whiskey. Join me for my conversation with Al Laws.

The History of the American Still (Part 2) with Alan Bishop

This week, I continue my conversation with Alan Bishop as I toss him one of the little gems I found in my research about Kentucky Bourbon. The question must be asked, when did Kentucky move from pot stills and log stills to the modern column and thumper/doubler combination? We might be pretty close to an answer. It is time to move on to the late 19th century and learn what distillers like James C. Crow and other legends were using in their distilleries and why. And we'll find out Col. E.H. Taylor's opinion about Kentucky's modern distilling tools.  Enjoy this week's dig into the history of distillation.

The History of the American Still with Alan Bishop

While digging into the history of Kentucky Bourbon, I kept hearing this nagging voice in my head saying - you need to understand stills to tell this story. Yes, I do know modern stills and have seen them used on both sides of the Atlantic. But these big column stills are not what American whisky was originated on. And, in fact, some of those old style stills have all but disappeared, such as the three-chamber still, kettle stills, and saucer stills. Knowing that Alan has dabbled in all different types of distillation using a variety of stills, I felt it was time we had a discussion about the evolution of stills and how American's have made whisky from the early days. In this first part of our conversation, we'll focus heavily on the stills and techniques of early distillers. Then next week, we'll see the evolution in distilling and see how we got to where we are today. Enjoy this fun deep dive.