NDPs moving to Distilling

[KyleCBreese]

I am interested to know what NDPs have begun distilling their own whiskey and are just waiting for it to age, while still selling NDP products.

[squire]

That's hard to say because it's not so cut and dried. Even those who are producing may be making only a fraction of the amount required to meet their needs. With major suppliers like MGP in the picture a brand with enough financial backing can go national in a few months and a small distilling operation on premises allows them to say they are "making" their own whisky but cannot possibly make enough to support National distribution now or four years from now.

Whisky distilling is a process that lends itself to industrial scale. As a small distiller I cannot make whisky as cheaply as I can buy it or even make something that's as good as what I can buy ready made. Other than creating a show of distilling for marketing purposes there is no financial incentive for me to even attempt to be other than a "producer" of goods supplied by others augmented by a smattering of my own stuff.

[JKLS]

Check for NDPs that also sell a white dog. Smooth Ambler and High West to start...

[Harry in WashDC]

Some of the info you seek can be found on trade association websites (DISCUS, ADI, ACDA, etc.) which, in turn, link to member distiller/producer websites. If they are making their own white dog or gin, they may also discuss their future business plans for aged whisky so you could check some gin blogs while you check whisky blogs for articles on this. Of course, Sku's blog, http://recenteats.blogspot.com has a stunning listing of distilleries, Part II of which lists nondistiller-producers, most of which are linked so you can click each and see what each says (I've done a few but nowhere close to all). I've not seen a definitive list like you want; I've only seen comments like "we're going to sell our own aged stuff someday". And some I believe more than others.

[squire]

Yeah and we have a special deal to have it delivered by the Easter Bunny.

Edited April 28, 2014 by squire

[Harry in WashDC]

You signed up for that, too? They told me it was a special deal.

[The Black Tot]

Maybe Santa's elves should distill in the off season.

It would be as believable as some of today's labels, anyway.

tbt

[nd2005]

Probably the biggest ones who are (supposedly) attempting to move into distilling their own products on a large scale are Willett/KBD, Smooth Ambler, and Michter's. That said, I think each are a long way away and at will continue selling sourced product for a long time. I also have varying (all low) levels of trust that they are each going "all in" on distilling their own whiskey. And as others have said before - we still have no idea what their finished products will actually taste like and if they will even approach the quality currently associated with their brands.

[squire]

The brands built on sourced whisky will have that flavor profile and it wouldn't be smart to change. What I expect to see is their own make being bottled as some sort of uber premium at an even higher price. Hand crafted don't 'cha know.

[tanstaafl2]

The brands built on sourced whisky will have that flavor profile and it wouldn't be smart to change. What I expect to see is their own make being bottled as some sort of uber premium at an even higher price. Hand crafted don't 'cha know.

I think, but don't know for sure of course, that Smooth Ambler has a chance to be an exception. Their house made product, or at least one of them, is a wheater after all so no need to try to match the sourced stuff, which they have been up front about from the begining as being MGPI product. The already have the Yearling out (which is now at least 2yo in some bottles) so they are making progress.

[squire]

I think Smooth Ambler is in a position to create some interesting, quality products while maintaining their proprietary vattings using sourced product.

I'm less sanguine about NDPs like Michters whose deceptive advertizing has been untrustworthy from the beginning.

[White Dog]

Willett started filling barrels a couple years ago. None of that has yet to be released, but they're doing it.

http://whiskyadvocate.com/whisky/2012/03/30/willetts-making-whiskey-again/

[KyleCBreese]

I really like Smooth Ambler, so I am excited for their products. Unfortunately, I have never come across any Willett products in NJ.

[cowdery]

It is wise to be skeptical of people who talk about distilling their own product if they aren't now doing it. Smooth Ambler is an example of a distillery that has been making its own product all along. High West wasn't distilling right out of the box but they are now.

Willet has been distilling, and distilling rather a lot, for two years. They are a good example of a company that talked for years, about 20 in their case, about what they were going to do and eventually they did exactly what they said they were going to do. I was skeptical and I don't think that was wrong, but they eventually did it and good for them.

Michter's, Nelson's Greenbrier, and Angel's Envy have all made moves in the direction of producing, in that they have spent major money (not just talked), but they're not distilling anything yet. There are not many others who come to mind.

Some who are making product aren't moving in the direction of making anything like the sourced products they're selling, so it's really two separate businesses.

I estimate that most NDP micro-producers intend to stay that way regardless of what they say or imply.

Edited April 29, 2014 by cowdery

[WhiskyToWhiskey]

We all hear about WhistlePig wanting to be the first farm-to-bottle single estate distillery. I guess they started 2 years ago...so in 8 years or so we will find out if Vermont rye can stand up to Alberta rye.

[cowdery]

There is no distillery in Vermont. Any claims that WhistlePig will ever distill anything are fiction.

[Josh]

Two James in Detroit has been distilling and is currently aging a 100% Rye Whiskey. Their current product is a pretty tasty MGPI bourbon finished in Madeira casks.

[WhiskyToWhiskey]

There is no distillery in Vermont. Any claims that WhistlePig will ever distill anything are fiction.

I guess it's best just to assume anything WhistlePig or their CEO claims is false, unless verified by a reliable outside source.

[cowdery]

I think the house-made Two James product was actually made by them at Kris Berglund's Michigan State distillery in East Lansing, much like Journeyman's rye was made at Koval.

[p_elliott]

I heard at the gazebo that Willets is already to start releasing their own made product.?

[KyleCBreese]

It will be interesting to see when these companies finally start releasing their own products, how it will compare to their sourced product. I wonder if they will try to replicate exactly what their sourced product is and continue with that label or if they will create a separate label for their own product?

[Flyfish]

Some who are making product aren't moving in the direction of making anything like the sourced products they're selling, so it's really two separate businesses.

I'm a fan of SA OS and looking forward to the release of their own product. Just hope that it is equal to the quality and value of their sourced bourbon. It doesn't have to taste the same but it should taste at least as good. Because of their handicap regarding economies of scale, I am concerned that SA may not be able to offer their own product at an attractive price. I would be nice if an SBer with inside info (hint, hint) could share some insight as to their long-term marketing strategy.

[WhiskyToWhiskey]

There is no distillery in Vermont. Any claims that WhistlePig will ever distill anything are fiction.

On the WhistlePig facebook page CEO making more claims http://www.wcax.com/story/25371785/whistle-pig-takes-on-distilling-operation-in-vt?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=10101122 is this just more BS or a real plan?

[TunnelTiger]

Jeez this guy is smooth. Stage 5 will making their own barrels from trees grown on the 1200 acre farm.

[flahute]

Smoky Beast blog just did a write up of a private tour of Willett given by Drew Kulsveen. They say Willett has a rye, high rye bourbon, and a wheater aging in their rackhouses.

Link: http://smokybeast.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-pilgrimage-to-bourbon-country.html