Episode 292 - Flavored Whiskey: Breaking the Taboo

Eric leads a panel discussion about flavored whiskey at the 2024 American Distilling Institute Conference and Trade show in Baltimore, Maryland. The esteemed panel includes:

• Virginia Miller, The Perfect Spot, World's 50 Best
• Brad Nichols, Flavor Man
• Sara Sergent, Alpine Distilling
• Keven Szady, Murlarkey Distilled Spirits

We cover a range of important topics in this discussion, all related to the art and craft of bringing flavored whiskeys to market in a crowded and opinionated market. Some of the specific threads we pursue include:

• Who's drinking flavored whiskey and how we can grow that demographic
• Using chefs, bartenders, and culinary inspiration as fuel for product development
• Navigating the regulatory grey areas pertaining to flavored whiskey and distilled spirits specialties
• Optimizing your formulation when using both fresh botanicals and manufactured specialty flavors
• How to approach branding and product placement of flavored whiskeys within an existing portfolio with other, non-flavored whiskeys.
• What might set a "high-end" flavored whiskey apart from the perceived "low-brow" options that currently crowd the shelves.
• And much, much more