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?
SHOW PARTNER: Check out Nose Your Bourbon social media and etsy so you can train your nose to find the nuances in bourbon. Visit https://www.etsy.com/shop/NoseYourBourbon or noseyourbourbon.com.
Hops & Spirits 