If you pay any attention to the world of alcohol (especially whiskey), you’ve noticed the esteemed title of “master distiller.” Have you ever wondered what exactly a master distiller does, where the name came from, how someone gets this job, and why they are so important to the functions of the distillery? Well, if you have, you’re in luck. We’re about to take a deep dive into master distillers.
I’ve spent years writing about alcohol and I’ve found myself wondering from time to time about the title of “master distiller.” If you’re anything like me, you’ve wondered the same. If so, you’re in luck. We reached out to John Campbell, Master Distiller at Oxnard, California’s Sespe Creek Distillery, to give us a little background on what the job entails.
What is the history of the term?
What is the history of the term master distiller? When and where did the title originate? Well, according to Campbell, the term originated in Kentucky in the 1800s.
“It has become used more broadly in the whole alcohol industry and especially in the late 1900s into the 2000s.”
He adds, “Marketers have really used this coming through the late 1990s until now to highlight the status of the person who manages their brand.”
How does someone become a master distiller?
You might be surprised to learn that there is no formal certification needed to be a master distiller. To begin your journey to a master distiller, you first must start at the bottom.
“A master distiller is a person who has served an apprenticeship, if you like, and has a complete understanding of all the component parts that go into creating quality spirits,” he says.
He adds, “They should have knowledge from both a functional and technical perspective and understand what needs to happen all the way from preparation of the grains used in the mash bill to have the understanding of what type of liquids blend well together and add layers to create a good alcoholic drink.”
What does a master distiller do?
The master distiller is at the top of the distilling ladder. They must wear many different hats, including overseeing the whole production process (distilling, aging, and more), quality control, recipe development, and even need to be the face of the brand.
“Ultimately, they are responsible for all aspects of the alcohol that they are producing, says Campbell. “They are capable of doing all the parts and roles and supporting all the areas that work together to create a good alcoholic drink.”
Why are master distillers important?
A master distiller knows it all when it comes to distillation. That means distilling, blending, aging, etc.
“There’s an efficiency component as well – distilleries that employ a master distiller don’t necessarily head a separate distiller and blender, for example, on the team,” he says.
“A master distiller is able to do and understand the requirements for both roles. It can also give huge credibility to your brand if you say this was created by our master distiller, which will ultimately help raise the profile of the spirits you’re making.”
Bottom line
Campbell says that true master distillers are actually very rare creatures, a little like unicorns.
“Most companies may even claim to have a master distiller, but when you look under the hood, the team is made up of a distiller and a blender to support the brand. Companies can also have somebody straight out of college who may technically know a role but has never gotten their hands dirty completing it and thereby not served their apprenticeship, but be called a master distiller because it helps with the image of their brand,” he explains. “A true master distiller can do it all.”
