24 - The Path to Whiskey of the Year with Game Changing Distiller Nicole Austin
Today’s expert mentoring session is led by Nicole Austin, a general manager, distiller, and craft spirits expert at Cascade Hollow Distilling Company. Although she was originally an environmental engineer from New York, traveled as far as Ireland and back, Nicole is now located in Tennessee and dedicates her life to crafting whisky.
Nicole admits that the appeal of whisky first came from its “rockstar image,” however, once she became hooked on the science behind making the whisky, as well. Specifically, the distillation process. Her curiosity and passion for whiskey distillation lead her to the interesting history of George Dickel and his connection to the heritage of the beginning of the American distilling during the mid-1800s.
Recently, Nicole and the Cascade Hollow Distilling Company were awarded Whiskey of the Year and Distiller of the Year. She even created her own bottle for the company, too. Nicole is the creator of the original George Dickle Bottled in Bond whiskey bottle that helps keep Cascade Hollow Distilling Co.’s commitment to quality, honestly-produced whisky. She created this with the purpose to show people that George Dickel deserves to also be recognized as a respected figure among other great bourbon distillers.
At the time Nicole was trying to enter the field of craft spirits, there was not a lot of advice or literature about how to get into the industry, however, she pushed through and networked until she eventually became a founding president of the New York State Distillers’ Guild in addition to also serving as a founding board of directors of the American Craft Spirits Association.
As a woman within the industry, it is also important to Nicole for other women to see that women know that it’s possible and that women are aware that this type of job exists and that it is completely possible that you can do it, too. Nicole gives some advice to listeners who are seeking employment, or who may be a woman or a minority who feels like they do not have a place within this field and industry, or who are looking to gain more access to it.
Things You Will Learn
You will learn about innovation in blending, chemistry, and whisky at Cascade Hollow Distilling Company with craft spirits expert, Nicole Austin. You will also learn about the whisky industry as well as some of its historical background, too.
External Links
Check out the distillery’s website: https://www.georgedickel.com/tennessee-whiskies/bottled-in-bond
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