CRAFTED

Latest Episodes:

America’s Founding Spirit & the Most Important Distillery You’ve Never Heard Of Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

Brandy doesn’t get the love that it deserves, especially given that it was America’s founding spirit, and no category has a bigger folk hero tied to it (Johnny Appleseed, anyone?). At its core, it’s distilled fruit—wine’s fiery cousin—born from orchards and alchemy, and few do it better than Clear Creek Distillery.

In this episode, we dig into what brandy really is, why it nearly vanished from American drinking culture, and how Clear Creek is helping it make a long-overdue comeback. We also cover pears, patience, and how to make brandy that doesn’t just sip smooth, it sings.

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Clear Creek Distillery

TOPICS & TIMES:

What is Brandy? (3:26)

Johnny Appleseed (8:58)

History of Clear Creek (9:55)

Everett’s Background (14:31)

The USA & Brandy (17:47)

Rise & Fall of Popularity (24:29)

Why Distillers Like Brandy (30:25)

Provenance of Brandy (34:15)

Distillation Process (38:20)

Fir Brandy (45:17)

Checking the Stills & Types of Pears (54:50)

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Amateur Hour: Blister reviewer, Zack Henderson, on Paella May 28, 2025

Show notes

Today on CRAFTED, Eli is joined by fellow Blister contributor Zack Henderson to talk all things paella. What started as a casual interest has turned into a full-blown culinary rabbit hole — and we dig into everything from technique to tradition, with some very unconventional twists.

We also dive into the mysteries of the socarrat; explore a Pacific Northwest take on the dish; and brainstorm potential flavor combinations (some more plausible than others). Along the way, we talk table beer, saffron, Fernet, and confront Eli’s long-running rice curse.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Craft Collective

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TOPICS & TIMES:

Bike Season (1:11)

Why Paella? (3:26)

What is Paella? (7:40)

The Process (10:20)

Best Potential Flavor Combinations (16:15)

The Fernet and Saffron Diatribe (24:35)

Potential Beverage Pairings (34:10)

Paella Mixing and Pan Bottom (41:31)

Serving (43:13)

Paella Rules (46:02)

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reading Culture: Books, Reading, & Indie Bookstores Today w/ Arvin Ram, Owner of Townie Books May 21, 2025

Show notes

Today Jonathan talks about books, book recommendations, the state of independent bookstores, the art of reading, and the craft of writing — and our guest is the perfect person to talk about it all. Arvin Ram is a writer, an avid reader, and the co-owner (along with his wife Danica) of the independent bookstore, Townie Books. Arvin is also the director of the Mountain Words Festival here in Crested Butte, and we also discuss the mix of mountain culture and book culture.

RELATED LINKS

Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

TOPICS & TIMES:

News: Mountain Words Festival (00:47)

We Finally Get Arvin to Blister HQ (2:10)

Arvin's Background (3:50)

Running an Independent Bookstore Today (7:06)

Arvin’s Path to Opening a Bookstore (18:40)

Coffee, Tea, & Bookstores (26:55)

The War for Our Minds (32:55)

Fiction vs Nonfiction Sales Today? (40:11)

Favorite Authors? (41:44)

Arvin’s Own Writing (50:52)

Mountain Words Festival (58:42)

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amateur Hour: Tequila, with Simon Stewart, Eli Brown, & Troy Rarick May 07, 2025

Show notes

CRAFTED co-hosts Simon Stewart and Eli Brown talk with Troy Rarick, the founder of Over the Edge bike shops and the person who first got Simon into tequila, about why tequila might be the quintessential craft spirit; they discuss a fun history of tequila; the different variations of it; and Troy reminisces about filming a Tequila Talk Show. They share some current favorite tequilas; plus advice on how to choose a good bottle; and more.

RELATED LINKS

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Over the Edge

TOPICS & TIMES:

Troy & Simon’s First Tequila Tasting (2:05)

Why Troy Loves Tequila (2:22)

Troy’s “Tequila Talk” TV Show (4:43)

Eli on Mescal vs Tequila (7:51)

The Dusty Bottle on the Shelf (11:04)

Meeting Juan Carlos (12:23)

The Town of Tequila in Jalisco (14:14)

The Different Types of Tequilas (21:45)

Tequila Tasting Glassware (27:47)

A Drop of Water — Or Not (32:09)

The Legend of Casta Weber (37:41)

Tariffs’ Effect on Tequila (46:59)

High-End Tequila in Cocktails (1:00:25)

How Much Should You Spend on Tequila? (1:03:09)

Top Tequila Picks (1:04:15)

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Viticulture, Wine Making, & Karaoke w/ Field Recordings’ Andrew Jones Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

Andrew Jones didn’t set out to make wine. Instead, he spent decades planting vines for other people — some of the biggest names in California (e.g., Beckstoffer). But along the way, Andrew started stockpiling stories — and grapes — and what began as a side project turned into Field Recordings, a brand known for bending rules and bottling attitude. The brand has since been featured in Wine Enthusiast, on Vinepair, and in the New York Times, growing into one of the most talked-about labels in the country. In this episode, Andrew talks with Eli Brown and Jonathan Ellsworth about nursery hustle, breaking the rules, and why wine should be fun, not fussy. We also talk about boxed wine, baseball card philosophy, and Andrew fires off some of the sharpest wine one-liners we’ve ever heard.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

Field Recordings Winery

Field Recordings Instagram

TOPICS & TIMES:

Intro to California Winemaking (2:26)

From Football to Farming (4:44)

Transition from Nursery to Winemaking (6:22)

The Birth of Field Recordings (12:50)

Terroir & Storytelling (14:12)

Nurseries & Vines (22:21)

Economics of Wine Pricing (26:07)

Field Recordings: Quality & Accessibility (27:24)

Finding Unique Properties for Winemaking (29:44)

Making Wine Enjoyable for Everyone (42:12)

Understanding Wine Pricing (47:31)

Navigating the Wine Aisle: Tips for Beginners (48:11)

Quality Control, Ingredients, & Additives (51:45)

The Natural Wine Movement (58:27)

Future Trends? (58:32)

Andrew’s Recommendations: New Varietals (1:04:35)

“Topped-Up” Wines (1:14:31)

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amateur Hour: Blister reviewer, Kristin Sinnott, on Making Homemade Ice Cream Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

Jonathan talks with Blister reviewer & Blister Summit director, Kristin Sinnott, about her lifelong love of ice cream; what we should know about making ice cream at home; and why she always hunts for small-batch ice cream when she’s traveling.

RELATED LINKS

Check out the Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

TOPICS & TIMES:

How Kristin’s ice Cream Habit Started (2:36)

Being Picky about Food (8:36)

Getting into Making Ice Cream (14:45)

Ice Cream vs Coffee (18:42)

Cookbooks for Ice Cream (22:23)

Eggs vs no Eggs (23:27)

Linden’s Ice Cream Reviews (26:14)

Ice Cream vs Gelato (28:54)

Kristin’s Current Practices (31:28)

Coffee vs Ice Cream Equipment (37:05)

Pro Tips (42:08)

Affogatos (47:29)

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is This the ‘Top Gun’ for Bartenders? Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

We’re all familiar with ‘Top Gun’ — a school that separates the best of the best. But what if we told you there is an elite certification program designed to test the best bartenders in the business? Today, we’re discussing that program — Bar 5 Day — with Steve Olson and Doug Frost.

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Check out the Blister Craft Collective

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BAR 5 Day

BAR Documentary

TOPICS & TIMES:

Their Background (2:27)

Bar 5 Origin Story (5:47)

Mentorship (21:34)

Mescal and Decision Points for Bar 5 (33:05)

How They Choose Educators (45:11)

Certifications and Film Tour (1:00:22)

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tinctures, Traditions, & Taste: the Bitters Creation Process w/ Bennett Bitters Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

Bitters have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, and in cocktails for centuries. But they receive far less attention than the spirits in our glass. So today we’re talking with the founders of a bitters company that has taken the craft cocktail scene by storm: Joseph Bennett & Yana Crow of Bennett Bitters. We discuss bitters in general; the complex process they use to produce some of the best bitters currently on the market; the inspiration behind Bennett Bitters; how they got started; and more.

RELATED LINKS:

Check out the Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

Bennett Bitters

TOPICS & TIMES:

How Joseph Got into Bitters (1:32)

What are Bitters?? (8:31)

How Yana Got into Bitters (11:11)

Flavor First (21:23)

Flavor Concepts (23:55)

How Bitters Work (32:39)

Spirits & Proof Levels (37:26)

Quantity vs Time (45:27)

Blends & Batches (56:04)

How One Flavor Profile Informs the Next (1:01:13)

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pursuing Excellence in the Service of Others: Jeff Galli, Campione Roman Kitchen Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

We talk with Jeff Galli, the General Manager and co-owner of Campione, a roman kitchen that was named to the New York Time’s 50 Best Restaurants in the U.S. list in 2023, and was the first restaurant in the state to receive that sort of national attention.

In this episode we explore the philosophy that underpins Jeff’s exceptional approach to hospitality; his background in food and beverage; and the founding of Campione Roman Kitchen, We also discuss restrooms, tile floors, and the yellow bitter conundrum, so this episode has a little something for everyone.

RELATED LINKS:

Check out the Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

Campione Roman Kitchen

Campione Instagram

TOPICS & TIMES:

Reservations (1:13)

Running a Restaurant in Livingston (3:17)

Jeff’s Background (4:55)

Making the Move to Livingston (10:10)

Finding Campione (16:09)

In The Service Of Others (25:12)

The Importance of Bathrooms (28:14)

NYT 50 Best List (33:00)

Analog Restaurants (36:42)

Yellow Bitter Conundrum (46:37)

Redefining the Industry (56:11)

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mountain Life & Product Design: North Drinkware Co-Founder, Matt Capozzi Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

Matt Capozzi has always loved being in the mountains, but he’s also enjoyed an incredible career working in product design for brands like Burton, Nike, Nixon, and Smith. In 2015, Matt had a wild idea to help people ‘bring the mountains home,’ which led to the creation of North Drinkware, which produces beautiful, artisanal products — like handblown glassware — made in Oregon.

Today I talk with Matt about how a life spent designing everything from snowboarding bindings, to wearable fitness tech, to watches led him to the improbable (and rather harrowing) launch of North Drinkware. We also get into the art of glass blowing, the science of crafting your favorite mountains into the bottoms of drinkware, why authenticity is everything, and what the future of North looks like.

RELATED LINKS:

Check out the Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

North Drinkware

TOPICS & TIMES:

Blister Craft Collective (1:20)

What is North Drinkware? (3:12)

Matt’s Love of Snow (7:08)

Designing for Burton, Nike, Nixon, & More (11:44)

The Initial Idea of North (16:05)

The Highs & Lows of Launching (21:55)

How Their Glasses are Produced Today (38:02)