From distiller to distributor, there are few roles that Eoin Bara has not tried his hand at. The founder of Mór Irish Gin created his digital distribution company Tipple to offer flexible solutions for direct-to-consumer and business-to-business distribution – a challenge he felt first hand while growing Mór Irish gin. Eoin goes into detail about the challenges he sees brands facing when it comes to growing distribution, and how Tipple is creating new ways to grow. He also shares details about what it was like to grow a gin brand to the point of sale, and shares some candid insights into what he’d do differently if given the chance to go back and do it again. This episode is an important listen for any spirits business seeking distribution and open to hearing about less traditional routes to market.

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The Spirits Business Podcast is hosted by Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business. This podcast episode was edited by Matchbox Motion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode of The Spirits Business Podcast we’re sharing a special recording from our International Women’s Day panel discussion in March, which was a conversation centred on the role mentorship plays in the spirits world. We explore mentorship from both sides of the relationship, looking at what mentors gain, how mentees can make the most of mentoring opportunities, and why meaningful mentorship doesn’t always happen through formal programmes. Sometimes, the most impactful support begins with a simple conversation with someone you look up to and trust. There’s also lots of advice shared about fundraising to grow your business, climbing the career ladder, and learning how to be your strongest advocate. So, whether you’re seeking a mentor, considering becoming one, or simply looking for inspiration, this episode is a reminder that support and opportunities can come in many different forms.

Keep up to date with the latest spirits and cocktail news from The Spirits Business here:

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The Spirits Business Podcast is hosted by Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business. This podcast episode was edited by Matchbox Motion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nestled in the English countryside in Wiltshire, is Witchmark Distillery. A whisky distillery first and foremost, the distillery is also creating award-winning gins and vodka – and it’s even bottled its new make spirit – as it waits patiently for the first casks of its whisky to reach three years old. I headed to Witchmark Distillery in December to see the historic site the distillery calls home, and to chat with Jon Carson, co-founder and commercial director of Witchmark, who shares his whisky journey, why sustainability was a complete non-negotiable for the B Corp-certified company, the challenges and exciting opportunities that come with building a new whisky distillery from the ground up, and the longer-term vision for Witchmark.

Keep up to date with the latest spirits and cocktail news from The Spirits Business here:

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The Spirits Business Podcast is hosted by Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business. This podcast episode was edited by Matchbox Motion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With close to 30 years in the whisky business to his name, Brian Kinsman perhaps needs no introduction. The malt master for William Grant & Sons is renowned for leading the whisky development of some of the most beloved Scotch whisky brands, including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Monkey Shoulder, Grant’s and, more recently, The Famous Grouse. Brian is always incredibly generous in sharing his story, knowledge, insights and advice. On this episode, he is no different, reflecting back to the early days of his career and weighing in on important topics regarding whisky, such as single malts versus blends, and prestige versus more affordable, premium products. And for any Formula One fans among our listeners, we also take a deep dive into the global Glenfiddich and Aston Martin Formula One partnership from Brian’s perspective.

Keep up to date with the latest spirits and cocktail news from The Spirits Business here:

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The Spirits Business Podcast is hosted by Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business. This podcast episode was edited by Matchbox Motion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Agave spirits have been a particularly hot commodity over the last decade. And in the last couple of years, countries outside of Mexico have looked to utilise their nations' agave supplies and create their own takes on agave spirits. Leading the charge in India is Maya Pistola, India’s first aged 100% agave spirit, which was founded by Rakshay Dhariwal, who’s originally a restaurateur by trade. However, Maya Pistola’s story very nearly ended before it had even begun when a fire destroyed its original distillery on the cusp of the brand’s launch. But Rakshay decided to take this test he’d been given, and double down on his belief that he was onto something really special. He tells me more about his journey, the development of what he’s calling ‘agavepura’, and his outlook for the future of the non-Mexican agave category.

Keep up to date with the latest spirits and cocktail news from The Spirits Business here:

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https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpiritsBusinessMagazine

The Spirits Business Podcast is hosted by Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business. This podcast episode was edited by Matchbox Motion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keep up to date with the latest spirits and cocktail news from The Spirits Business here:

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Is there anything in spirits Olivier Ward has yet to turn his hand to? Possibly yes, possibly no – but goodness, he’s done a lot. From co-founding and being editor of Gin Foundry, to establishing Spirits Beacon for Enotria, and then founding Everglow Spirits in 2024, his experience is vast. Everglow Spirits offers everything from free editorial resources on spirits categories, to advanced courses on distillery operations, and how to build distilleries. When he’s not travelling the world consulting on new distillery builds, Olivier is a fierce champion of spirits knowledge, and noticed a gap in the market for more data and information on distilling in the UK – particularly for craft producers. Earlier this year, he launched Spirit of the Nation, a UK Distilling Census and an important step in curating more information about the UK’s vast distilling landscape. In this episode, we talk through his career and insights in detail, as well as some of the key findings from the UK Distilling Census results. And no matter the size of your distillery, or spirits business, this is an episode that’s not to be missed.

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The Spirits Business Podcast is hosted by Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business. This podcast episode was edited by Matchbox Motion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pedro Mendonça is almost a year into his into his role of global senior vice-president for Bacardi and rums. His experience is vast, spanning more than 30 years in the spirits industry, and working for the likes of Diageo, leading teams in Latin America, Asia Pacific and worldwide. As you’ll hear during our conversation, at Bacardi, Pedro’s focus is on building on the rum brand’s 163-year legacy. Pedro speaks with such honesty about his approach to purposeful brand growth – and it’s not solely about education; people, relationships, movement, and enjoyment are all just as important to the future success of the brand, and the rum category as a whole. We also cover the topic of rum’s premiumisation journey, the significance of the globally name-called Bacardi and Coke order, and exciting areas of opportunity for the category.

Keep up to date with the latest spirits and cocktail news from The Spirits Business here:

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Take a look at our videos on our YouTube channel:

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The Spirits Business Podcast is hosted by Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business. This podcast episode was edited by Matchbox Motion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While most of us are tied to computers, mobiles or any other form of technology for most of the working day – and let’s face it, probably in our spare time too – Geraldine Kavanagh’s experience is the polar opposite. Her passion for outdoors led her into foraging, which she has turned into a full-time career, creating award-winning gins at Ireland’s Glendalough Distillery. In this episode, Geraldine and I discuss her love of nature, the challenges and ease of sourcing botanicals in the wild, and tips for anyone eager to safely try their hand at foraging. I guarantee you will want to switch off from the digital world and head outside after hearing Geraldine’s story and words of wisdom in this episode.

Keep up to date with the latest spirits and cocktail news from The Spirits Business here:

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Find us on Threads:

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Take a look at our videos on our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpiritsBusinessMagazine

The Spirits Business Podcast is hosted by Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business. This podcast episode was edited by Matchbox Motion.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.