A New Kind of Distilling Organization

Written by Reade A. Huddleston, MSc.

When I first started working as a professional distiller, I was lost. Although I was a graduate of Heriot-Watt and had a master’s degree in Brewing and Distilling, I had very little actual hands-on experience in a distillery. As most other distillers will tell you, there is no real one size fits all manual on how to distill, and since most of my knowledge came from books, I had very little practical experience to fall back on. What is more, I knew very few other distillers, so I didn’t really have anywhere to turn to for help. This meant that a lot of the time when problems arose, I was on my own and had to learn on the fly. Nevertheless, I persevered, learned from my mistakes, and after a while, even made some friends that were willing to teach me some things that books just can’t.

For many distillers, my story probably sounds familiar. On the whole, distillers have always been a pretty self-reliant bunch, in part because we had to be. Unlike other professions, such as accountants, architects, and even morticians, there is no centralized body or group that is designed to connect individual distillers and disseminate best practices. Even one of our most closely related professions, brewing, has an organization called the Master Brewers Association of the Americas (MBAA), whose goal is to help individual brewers connect and learn new skills.

True, there are organizations like DISCUS, the ACSA, and ADI, which have all worked in their own ways to bring knowledge and community to the industry. Still, their focus and scope have mostly been about the companies or politics involved in the distilled spirits industry and not the individuals that actually make the spirits. It is high time that our industry fixes this oversight, and it is for this reason that I have decided to help spearhead the creation of a new organization. The Society of Spirit.

Reade A. Huddleston

When I started in this industry 15+ years ago, there was only one organization, and it served an amazing purpose, putting us in one place once a year to network, learn, and become friends. Eventually, it became obvious that there was a need for a member-directed alternative, and so one was created by a group of amazing people. I did what I could to support it, serving on the board and many committees. That is a mature entity and community now and has done amazing things that I’m grateful for and proud to have been a part of. There are others that play a variety of roles as well, some more oriented toward craft and some toward bigger companies.

I still see a need. While the organizations that serve the industry and the many bodies that offer education are providing excellent opportunities, there is little organized evaluation and feedback and no certifications for either education or members of the industry. I would suggest no way of gathering feedback about any of the available education for people entering the industry other than word of mouth. As a co-creator of an informal information-sharing group, I’m deeply aware of how important resource sharing is and how valuable peer review can be and I think it is a good time to formalize it.

The Society of Spirit will fill this critical gap. We will tap membership to build formal rating and evaluation systems and work toward certification of operators and employees who seek recognition for their expertise. This will be created by volunteer members willing to contribute, and anything we create will be approved by the membership. We will build databases of introductory information for people entering the industry. We will provide forums for information sharing that exist to provide an archive of questions and answers and troubleshooting. We will create something together that fills a gap in the industry and make it a better place to work and build businesses.

Johnny Jeffery

I’ve always been willing to admit that I didn't know much about distilling before joining the industry. What saved me, and many others, was the informal gathering of industry peers that went out of their way to welcome new people in, mentor them, and point to a reliable education. Years later, it's still those small groups of individuals and friends that continue to provide the best knowledge, support, and resources to the industry as a whole. The only downside of these peer groups is that unless you meet the right person, you may not even know they exist. So, it's our goal to be the ones to invite you in and, as a community, identify the best education opportunities available to our industry. We aren't a trade group like ACSA, ADI, or DISCUS (you should join them, though, they are awesome) instead, we are a member-focused society of individuals. A platform where you can ask questions and feel supported by your peers. The Society of Spirit is for us all. Sometimes we play Dungeons and Dragons too.

Brian Christensen

My first few years as a distiller were a full-on “trial-by-fire” experience. Literally. I learned the basics on a direct-fired, foothills-fabricated potstill. Sink and swim were my only teachers; my operations manual was a fistfull of posts from home distillation forums.

I was slightly in over my head.

Thankfully, there were some very helpful (and patient) distillers I met when I started attending industry conventions. Connecting with other distillers bridged knowledge gaps, and opened doors for invaluable mentorships. I learned a lot through these connections, and looked forward to spending time with both mentors and peers at annual conventions — there is always so much to learn, and so much to share!

The existing industry organizations are incredible facilitators for connecting distillers and providing education opportunities, but their main missions feel more industry-focused at the macro level, with emphasis on government relations, business development, and marketing strategies. There isn’t yet a formal collective that directly serves the labor pool of our industry, but Society of Spirit is poised to meet that need. Together, we will be building a culture of support, knowledge sharing, and community development. We hope that this will foster a strong, healthy community of craft distillers ready and able to meet the demand of an ever-expanding industry.

John Wilcox

Society of Spirit: FAQ

1) What is SOS?

The Society of Spirit is an organization dedicated to the advancement and success of individuals engaged in the production and business of spirits. Our goal is to create a member-focused platform for the sharing of scientific knowledge and the cross-flow of ideas within the distilling community. To learn more, please check out our mission and vision statements.

5) Can I invite other distillers/industry friends?

Read SOS's mission and vision statements

2) Why are we using Discord?

We chose Discord because it was a readily accessible way to create a strong and engaged community. As this society grows and matures, we will consider other methods for the organization. For now, Discord is an easy, safe place for all of us to get together and communicate; also, it's fun!

3) Is SOS affiliated with any other industry organizations?

No. SOS is its own organization, completely separate from other existing organizations, But we love making friends!

4) What are the benefits of being a member?

Becoming a member of SOS comes with many benefits. First and foremost is that you become part of a genuine community dedicated to the sharing of distilling knowledge and ideas. As the organization grows, benefits will include special access to events and learning opportunities, as well as in-person meetups.

Yes! As we continue to grow, we welcome everyone that is involved in the distilled spirits industry or ancillary industries. Visit

6) How do I invite people? Who can I invite, and how do I do that?

Please use this link to invite people to the discord server: https://discord.gg/ansugthuH8

7) Can anybody join SOS?

Anybody that is involved with the production or business of distilled spirits is welcome to join.

8) Can I volunteer to help build the SOS?

Yes, please join our volunteer chat to get involved a) How do I participate? b) How can I contribute?

First and foremost, simply being active within the discord chat and forum will help us grow our body of knowledge and engagement. If you would like to be even more active, please consider volunteering. You can check out our volunteer channel to learn more about what is going on as well as to become a volunteer.

Post! Our goal right now is to create an active discord community that encourages the cross-flow of ideas and knowledge. Quality posts about real distilling issues are an easy way to do that. If you would like to be even more involved, check out our volunteer channel.

9) Who is in charge here?

Who do I complain to?

Right now, we are run by a small interim board of volunteers. However, if you would like to participate (or maybe stage a bloodless coup for control), we welcome you. Please reach out to one of the board members through direct message on Discord.

Reade Huddleston

Brian Christensen

Johnny Jeffery

Emma Crandall

John Wilcox

Bryan Jennings

Sydney Jones

10) Who’s crazy idea was this organization?

You can thank (or blame) Reade Huddleston and Brian Christensen for the initial thought, but it really became a team effort from the interim board.

11) Is this a political action group?

No, we are not a political action group, and we do not have any plans to get involved in politics.

12) Are there membership dues?

Not yet! Though in the future, we may ask for a small membership fee to help us attain some of our goals.

13) How is this group different from other groups, associations, or guilds?

Most organizations that deal with distilled spirits focus on either companies’ needs or politics. The Society of Spirit focuses on individuals that either work directly with or in the business of distilled spirits. We make no distinction of the size of the organization that someone works for or political affiliation. Our only goal is to provide individuals with the knowledge and tools that they need to be successful when producing distilled spirits.

14) What’s the organizational structure of SOS?

Currently, we are led by an interim board of seven individuals. However, as we grow, we hope to formalize positions. If you would like to help please reach out.

15) There are roughly 60 organizations dealing with the alcohol beverage industry, will they be allowed to have a presence on SOS?

Anyone involved in the production or business of distilled spirits is welcome to join the Society of Spirit regardless of their affiliation; however, at this time we do not allow organizations or companies to join. The purpose of our organization is to highlight individuals, not companies or groups.

Vision & Overview

The goal of the Society of Spirit is to serve as a professional organization dedicated to the advancement and success of individuals engaged in the production and business of distilled spirits through access to continuing education, scientific research, discussion groups, journals, industry publications, and seminars.

Mission Statement

To provide a setting for the certification of knowledge, advancement of research, and fostering of interpersonal relationships within the distilling industry by leveraging the collective resources of the distilling community.

Strategic Goals

▶ CONNECT : Individuals within the distilling industry to better facilitate the cross-flow of ideas.

▶ KNOWLEDGE : Consolidate knowledge related to the distilled spirits industry

▶ EDUCATE : Provide individuals with the educational tools and certifications required to advance within the distilling industry.

▶ SUPPORT : Provide access for members of the industry seeking emotional support resources.

Position Statement

The Society of Spirit is for the betterment of the distilling industry. It is committed to the belief that diversity of thought and practice are the cornerstones upon which our ever-evolving industry is built upon. The Society of Spirit is an organization of professionals in all industries related to the production of distilled spirits. We make no distinction between the size or scale of the various organizations each member belongs to, and we understand that obstacles exist at all levels of distilled spirit production. Our goal is to provide access to answers and help all members on their path to creating better spirits and excelling within the distilling industry. In doing so, we hope to build an inclusive setting where all members can share their viewpoints while respecting each other and furthering our industry dialogue.

Organization Goals

Apart from our organization's Strategic Goals, we have a number of short-term goals that we would like to accomplish. Below is a short list of these goals.

▶ Establishment of a vibrant Discord Community that encourages the crossflow of ideas and education among its members.

▶ Establishment of a continuing education program so that members can further their industry knowledge and growth.

▶ The writing of a General Distillery Best Practices Manual that will be available to all members.

▶ Establishment of an accreditation program to formally certify members as distillers.

▶ Creation of regular regional meet-ups where members can interact and trade ideas in person.

Member Benefits

Members of the Society of Spirit receive a number of benefits. Below is just a short list of what is available.

▶ Access to the community Discord where distillers can freely discuss topics related to the distilling field

▶ Access to educational events put on by the Society of Spirit to further member's industry knowledge

▶ Access to whitepapers or other documents created by Society members

▶ Invitations to in-person meet-ups and other special events

As the organization grows and formalizes we expect these membership benefits to grow as well.

Reade A. Huddleston, MSc. in Brewing and Distilling, is a beverage industry consultant based in Tampa, Florida. He is fascinated with all things drinkable and is always searching for strange and forgotten spirits. If you would like to contact him about said spirits, or anything else, please email him at ReadeHuddleston@gmail.com.