Episode 24: Eli Breitburg-Smith Is Ushering in the Epoch of Rye in Baltimore

Founded in 2015, Baltimore Spirits is celebrating a decade of distilling in Charm City. Led by cofounder and head distiller Eli Breitburg-Smith, that run has played a notable role in the craft revival of American rye. Their Epoch Reserve has won multiple double golds at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, more recently landing on Fred Minnick’s Top 100 list of American whiskeys in 2024.

In this episode, hosted by Sydney Jones, Breitburg-Smith talks about how he got into distilling as a former craft brewer and how Baltimore Spirits was focused from the beginning on bringing pot-distilled rye whiskey back to Maryland. He also discusses:

• the influence of single-malt on their rye whiskeys
• making other spirits, including their Shot Tower Gin, unusual apple brandies, and New World amari
• using Belgian and American ale yeasts to help drive tropical character in the Epoch Rye
• Baltimore Spirits’ approach to single-malt, and preparing barrels for that spirit
• what makes Maryland rye whiskey different, including its history
• the Ja Rule whiskey collaboration, Amber & Opal, featuring honey, smoky tea, and other botanicals
• making apple brandies aged and blended Solera-style, distilled from smoked apples—and pechuga-inspired, made with smoked ham and seasonal botanicals
• working with the Maryland Distillers Guild to share technical know-how and push for legislative changes for craft distillers
  

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.