Jeremy Craig is the co-founder and head distiller of Copper Bottom Craft Distillery, located in Holly Hill, Florida (in the Daytona Beach area).

Key details about Jeremy Craig and his distillery:

• The Distillery: He opened Copper Bottom Craft Distillery alongside his wife, Jenni Craig, in 2016. The name "Copper Bottom" is a nod to a 1750s British Royal Navy nautical term for ships lined with copper to increase speed and durability, which also came to signify something genuine and trustworthy.
• Spirits Produced: The craft distillery produces a variety of small-batch artisanal spirits, including rum, vodka, gin, and cachaça.
• "Moonshiners: Master Distiller" Winemaker: Jeremy Craig gained national recognition when he competed on and won an episode of the Discovery Channel hit show Moonshiners: Master Distiller, earning the title of master distiller for his spirits (specifically showcasing his cachaça).
• Location & Visits: Located at 998 N. Beach St. in Holly Hill, FL, the distillery offers public tours and tastings.

Bill Hockett is an acclaimed craft distiller widely recognized for his tenure as the Head Distiller for Dayton Barrel Works Artisan Distillery in downtown Dayton, Ohio. Combining old-school craftsmanship with a deep, hands-on understanding of fermentation and mashing—honed in part through years of early mentorship from legendary figures like Popcorn Sutton—Hockett helped put Dayton's craft spirits scene on the map. Under his leadership, Dayton Barrel Works earned prestigious gold medals at the U.S. Open Whiskey and Spirits Competition for signature creations including Altschul's Corn Whiskey, Miami Valley Rye, and Gypsy Queen Absinthe Blanche.

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Cal Larson is the founder and owner of Soluble Oak, an innovative beverage-industry company based in Spokane, Washington.

Background and Origins

With a professional background rooted in the international lumber business, Cal spent years working closely with white oak. His familiarity with the wood eventually sparked a core question: What if you could extract the desirable flavor characteristics of oak without needing to use an entire barrel?

This curiosity led him to spend years developing a proprietary, patent-pending extraction method.

The Innovation: Soluble Oak

Cal developed an all-natural liquid oak extract (often referred to as "Oak + Nothing") that captures over 200 organic compounds found in American and French white oak—such as vanillins, oak lactones, and tannins.

Instead of waiting months or years for barrel aging, craft beverage makers (for beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails) can use Cal's precision liquid format post-fermentation to:

• Instantly add mouthfeel, polish, and complexity.
• Dial in exact flavor profiles (like vanilla, coconut, and spice) through small batch-testing.
• Simulate barrel-aged characteristics with high consistency.

Environmental Stewardship

A major driving force behind Cal's work is sustainability. Traditional barrel aging requires vast amounts of timber, cooperage resources, and storage space. Soluble Oak’s extraction method uses up to 80% less oak than traditional barrels, drastically reducing waste and environmental impact while streamlining production for modern beverage makers.

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Justin Meredith is an American distiller and artisan spirits competitor from Benton County, Iowa (growing up in the Garrison area and living near Mount Auburn) who rose to national prominence as a winner on Discovery Channel's hit series Moonshiners: Master Distiller.

He captured attention and won his episode—titled the "Chef-Distiller Showdown"—presided over by celebrity guest judge and chef Robert Irvine. His winning performance showcased his deep expertise in culinary flavor profiles and high-proof distillation. During the episode's intense challenges, he successfully engineered three distinct moonshines designed to taste like a full "meal in a jar," which included:

• An appetizer moonshine featuring a complex fruit salad flavor profile.
• A main course moonshine built around a rich, savory brisket flavor.
• A dessert moonshine highlighting a strawberry rhubarb cheesecake profile.

Meredith earned widespread praise from the judges for his bold, expertly balanced flavors and precise proofing, combining a traditional passion for home-brewing and distillation with professional-grade culinary creativity.

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