From idea to bottle: how a new release comes to life.

Creating a new spirit isn't as simple as mixing some ingredients and calling it a day. It's a process that can take months, or even years, from initial concept to finished bottle. Here's how it works for us: **The Idea** It usually starts with a question: "What if we tried...?" Maybe it's a new flavor profile, a different aging technique, or a unique ingredient. We keep a running list of ideas, and when something feels right, we start experimenting. **The Trials** This is where the real work happens. We'll make small test batches, trying different recipes, techniques, and approaches. We taste everything, take notes, and make adjustments. Some ideas work immediately. Others take dozens of iterations. Some don't work at all, and that's okay—failure is part of the process. **The Review** Once we have something we like, we bring in our review panel: a mix of distillers, bartenders, and trusted friends. They taste blind, give honest feedback, and help us refine the recipe. If it doesn't pass this stage, we go back to the drawing board. **The Approval** Only when everyone agrees that we've got something special do we move forward. We finalize the recipe, design the label, and plan the production run. This is when it starts to feel real. **The Bottling** Finally, we produce the full batch, bottle it, and get it ready for release. But even then, we're still tasting, still making sure every bottle meets our standards. The whole process can take six months to a year, sometimes longer. But that's okay. We'd rather take our time and get it right than rush something to market. Because when you're small and independent, every release matters.