Blog
Craft Distillery Regulations: Federal, State and Local Rules Explained (2026 Guide)
The 3 layers of craft distillery regulation in the US: the TTB permit, bond, excise tax, standards of identity, formulas, labels and records; state licensing and sales rules; and the local zoning and fire-code review that decides whether your building works.
Whiskey Certification: Which Program Fits Your Job, What Each Costs, and How to Prepare
The main whiskey certification programs (WSET, Council of Whiskey Masters, Stave & Thief, Edinburgh Whisky Academy and our Spirits Ambassador exams) compared by who they serve, cost and effort, with a preparation plan.
Master Distiller Course: What It Should Cover, What It Costs in 2026, and How to Choose One
There is no master distiller license. Here is what serious master distiller training covers, the 5 formats available in 2026 with real cost ranges, how to choose for your goal, and a plain description of what we offer.
How to Become a Distiller: The 4 Real Paths, What the Job Pays, and a 90-Day Plan
What a distiller actually does, the 4 realistic ways into the trade (floor job, hands-on course, formal program, ownership), the skills that matter, what it pays, which certifications help, and a 90-day plan to get started.
How to Start a Distillery in the United States: Steps, Costs and Timeline (2026 Guide)
The 8 steps to open a craft distillery, in the order they really happen: concept, business plan and funding, a building the fire marshal will approve, the TTB permit, state licenses, equipment, formulas and labels, and opening. With costs, a realistic timeline and the 3 mistakes we see most.
The Angel’s Share: How Whiskey Evaporation Works and What It Costs a Craft Distillery
What evaporates from a whiskey barrel, how fast in different climates and barrel sizes, how it changes proof and flavor, and how to plan for the lost bottles in a small distillery’s costs and TTB records.
Charcoal (Activated Carbon) Filtration in Distilling: What It Removes, What It Strips, and How to Do It Right
Charcoal and carbon filtration are the same process. What activated carbon removes from a spirit, what it also strips, the difference between polishing vodka and the Lincoln County Process, and how to set it up in a small distillery.
Pot Still vs. Column Still: Which Method Each Spirit Needs (and Why Most Craft Distillers Buy a Hybrid)
Pot stills keep flavor, column stills strip it, and most craft distilleries buy a hybrid that does both. What each method does to proof and flavor, what federal rules require for bourbon, vodka, gin and rum, and how to choose.
Copper Stills in Distilling: What Copper Actually Does, and Where You Need It
Copper is a chemical scrubber for sulfur, not magic. Here is where it matters in a still, where it does not, and what to ask before you buy one, with photos from the 250-gallon still our workshop students run.
