40: Joe O’Sullivan of Minden Mill Controls the Variables in Dry-Climate Whiskey Maturation

The romance of whiskey maturation meets environmental reality in many parts of the world these days—increasingly hot, dry climates can produce markedly different results than the humid environments of Scotland or Kentucky. That can leave distillers wrestling with the question of whether to lean into process- and environment-driven results, or to manipulate that environment to achieve intentional flavor goals.

For Joe O’Sullivan—master distiller at Minden Mill in Nevada’s high desert, just east of Lake Tahoe—the choice is clear: to prioritize consistency through distillation and maturation processes, so that they can let their estate-grown grain shine.

In this episode, O’Sullivan and host Sydney Jones discuss:

• the impact of terroir on grain, and on distilled spirits made from that grain
  


• losing 3 to 4 percent angel’s share per month in a very dry climate
  


• building a distillery to optimize intended flavors in finished spirits
  


• identifying signature flavor characteristics and optimizing whiskey blends to highlight them
  


• controlling the rickhouse climate to mimic weather patterns in popular distilling centers such as Kentucky and Scotland
  

And more.

G&D Chillers: G&D Chillers understands that each distillery’s chilling requirements are unique. On every distillery project, G&D offers the front-end design and engineering your team needs at no cost to you. Hank Pressley, head distiller at Moon Drop Distillery says, “Early on, we made a decision to partner with quality American-made companies. One of those companies was G&D Chillers, and we are proud of that choice. Our equipment from them has run long and strong. We put our first barrel in our rickhouse in September 2021, and in the next 3 years we have put back more than another 540 barrels. What a great decision to team up with a company like G&D Chillers.” Reach out for a quote today at gdchillers.com.