Whiskey Weeks 2021 continues with Guy Rehorst, founder of Great Lakes Distillery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Guy joins us to talk about bourbon, sustainability, creating a bottled-in-bond gin, importance of sourcing locally/regionally, creating cocktails and how they’ve changed over the years, what’s next for him, what’s next for the distillery and more.

SHOW NOTES:

Guy Rehorst, founder of Great Lakes Distillery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, joins us at the 1-minute mark as Whiskey Weeks 2021 continues.

• Trying their Still & Oak Straight Bourbon  
• How difficult was it launch a distillery in Wisconsin in 2004?
• What drew you to the business as you were the founder of a high tech manufacturer previously?
• Did the idea really come to you when you were out at a restaurant?
• Changing laws to allow tastings/have a tasting room in Wisconsin
• You were a founding member of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) Craft Distillers Advisory Council and a member of the DISCUS Science Committee, why was the important?
• Sourcing locally from Wisconsin/region 
• How does it help to be able to work with growers/know the growers 
• Crafting a pumpkin spirit 
• Sustainability is big thing with you all to the point you do small batch 
• You all have a unique empty bottle buy back program 
• Balancing a variety of distilled spirits 
• Creating a bottled in bond gin 
• Making cocktails and how those trends are changing 
• What has changed over your 20 years?
• Are you still distilling or have they kicked you out of that?
• What’s next for Great Lakes?
• What’s next for you?

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