A Distiller and An Author: Jeff Duckhorn and Paula Moulton.

On this podcast I’ll take a detour from the wine road to talk whiskey. It’s another adult beverage that has really be exploding in the last decade or two. In the California town of Graton, head distiller Jeff Duckhorn and his team are crafting Redwood Empire Whiskey. They’ve gone through a transformation with new branding and adding two more whiskey’s to their line-up.

Then you’ll meet author Paula Moulton. This multi-faceted woman gave up city life to become a grape grower, an author, an accomplished chef, a winemaker and all while raising children. She tells you how you can do it too! Maybe not all of it but even some of it would be cool. Her first book and follow up are called Seasons Among the Vines: Life Lessons from the California Wine Country. Strap yourselves in for another ride On The Wine Road.

The Lost Monarch photo is courtesy of Mario Vaden.  I thank him for allowing me to share that stunning image. 

Half of Redwood Empire Whiskey’s warm barrel room

 

 

 

 

 

The Lost Monarch Giant Redwood

The Lost Monarch with the lovely Kiera providing reference to the size of this giant redwood.

 

This week I’m traveling off the wine road and on to the spirit trail. Spirit Works Distillery has been on my radar for quite some time. I’ve heard nothing but good things about what they craft and witnessed them win an award one evening. It’s an interesting story how Timo and Ashby Marshall came together under extraordinary circumstances and ended up where they are today. That is, creating finely crafted variations of gin, vodka, whiskey, even sloe gin in a sustainably conscious manner with their grain to glass philosophy. I’m impressed with what doing…I even like their gin! (That hasn’t happened since that one night in high school). Learn so much more by clicking the play button.

 

Spirit Works

Ashby and Timo

 

Spirit Works

Lauren Patz, Head Distiller

Spirit Works

The line up

 

Spirit Works

The CARL distillery system

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the story of Frisco Liquor, an American take on Pisco. I received word that a guy in San Francisco was releasing a new liquor which is essentially a white brandy fashioned after the South American grape liquor Pisco. He’s cleverly calling it Frisco (pronounced Freesco). How Charlie O’Connell came to craft this idea stems from his travels to Singapore, Argentina and Chile. He credits a leather-skinned gaucho with a dusty old flask as the genesis of his inspiration. Click below to hear his tale.

   Frisco Liquor
Frisco Liquor