CRAFTED
Episodes
Home Distilling: Big Macs, Meme Spirits & 16th-Century Recipes w/ Jesse Wilson of ‘Chase the Craft’
24 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Distillation has been a common topic here on Crafted as of late, and we have had the pleasure of speaking with some of the most important names in the...
Amateur Hour: Camera Gear w/ Jonathan Ellsworth and Justin Bobb
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Recently, Jonathan has been going deep down the rabbit hole of camera gear and lighting, and the strikingly handsome Justin Bobb has been his spiritua...
Amanda Thomson on How Noughty AF Wine is Achieving the Seemingly Impossible
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Amanda Thomson loved enjoying a glass of wine to wind down the evening, but she also needed to be high-functioning first thing in the morning. That cr...
'How Does a Small Craft Brand Break Out? SennzaFinne Shares Their BluePrint
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a spirits landscape full of massive brands and mega marketing budgets, what differentiates a craft producer? SennzaFinne, the Seattle based amaro p...
Caviar 101 with Black River Caviar
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Caviar. Is there any word — or food — that more quickly conjures up associations of luxury and opulence? But caviar isn’t just a thing to serve ...
The Whiskey that Set a Land Speed Record: Montgomery Distilling
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Not every distillery owner has a land speed record to their name, but Ryan Montgomery of Montgomery Distilling does. So Eli talked with him about all ...
HiFi Audio, Aesthetics, & Design w/ Heaven 11’s Itai Azerad
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A famous philosopher once said, “Without music, life would be a mistake.” We agree. And while music is all around us, it’s easier and easier to ...
Travel Coffee Gear, Hand Grinders, & Coffee Roasting with Calibration Coffee Lab’s Alex LeBlanc
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you make great coffee on the road? Jonathan talks with Alex LeBlanc, the owner and head roaster at Calibration Coffee Lab, to talk about our re...
Nib Making, Engine Turning, & Hand Chasing: the Art of Pen & Pencil Making with Giles English of Yard-O-Led
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Since 1822, Yard-O-Led has been making some of the finest pens and pencils in the world. They’ve survived wars, they created the “self-propelling ...
“Get Thee To A Cheese Monger!” Cheesemaking w/ Jasper Hill Farm
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jasper Hill Farm is one of the most respected names in American artisan cheese, and in today’s episode, Jonathan & Eli talk with Zoe Brickley —...
Jonathan Gagné on Astrophysics, Coffee, & The Physics of Espresso
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan Gagné is producing some of the best work in the world in terms of increasing our understanding and appreciation of coffee. And his new book,...
The Business of Craft Beer
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With all the economic & cultural shifts swirling about these days, we wanted to get a handle on the state of craft beer: what does the current lan...
Coffee Gear, Pt. 5: One-Year Update on Jonathan’s Coffee Setup & Journey
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when an obsessive gear reviewer dives headfirst into the expansive world of espresso? It’s now been over a year since our last update o...
The Cast Iron Comeback: Field Company Co-Founder, Stephen Muscarella
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fact: Cast iron is having a moment. And that’s true even while the cast-iron skillet has never lost its standing as one of the most iconic of culina...
Ghia’s Journey from ‘Shark Tank’ to the Mainstream
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ghia is a drink brand that isn’t trying to be beer, wine, or spirits — and definitely not a “mocktail.” It’s bitter, bold, and built for peo...
OUR GUY WON! Celebrating CRAFTED co-host, Eli Brown, on His Grant Award + What's Next for His Project
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On CRAFTED ep. 75 we told you a bit about the proposal Eli submitted re: N/A cocktails. Welp, Eli was awarded the very competitive ‘Raise the Bar’...
What is ‘Amaro’ & Why is Bitter Better? Sennza Finne on a Spirit You Should Know
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Amaro is bitter, complex, and a little mysterious — and most people have no idea what it actually is. So in this episode, Eli talks with the folks b...
Knives & Knifemaking w/ Jamison Chopp of Acre Forge
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan talks knives and knife making with Jamison Chopp, a bladesmith who works with a group of individual knife makers at Acre Forge, in Portland, ...
Fermentation, the Key to Most of the Things You Love (w/ Nile Zacherle, Eli Brown, & Jonathan Ellsworth)
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us love (and love talking about) coffee, wine, or beer, but few of us go around professing our love of fermentation. But after this conversati...
Craft N/A Cocktails & Why They Matter More Than You Think
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Craft N/A Cocktails are on the rise, but there is still much that needs to change in this space — fundamental things like what we should and shouldn...
The Madness of Nile Zacherle, Mad Fritz Brewing
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Madness. That’s what you call it when a former sponsored skateboarder gets a Ph.D. in fermentation, then starts brewing super-premium beer in Napa V...
Steve Matthiasson on Wine, Punk Rock, Bikes, & Fireworks
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Steve Matthiasson is one of the most respected winemakers in Napa Valley, and together with his wife Jill, they make wines under the label of Matthias...
America’s Founding Spirit & the Most Important Distillery You’ve Never Heard Of
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Amateur Hour: Blister reviewer, Zack Henderson, on Paella
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 i...
Reading Culture: Books, Reading, & Indie Bookstores Today w/ Arvin Ram, Owner of Townie Books
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today Jonathan talks about books, book recommendations, the state of independent bookstores, the art of reading, and the craft of writing — and our ...
Amateur Hour: Tequila, with Simon Stewart, Eli Brown, & Troy Rarick
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 te...
Viticulture, Wine Making, & Karaoke w/ Field Recordings’ Andrew Jones
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Amateur Hour: Blister reviewer, Kristin Sinnott, on Making Homemade Ice Cream
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan talks with Blister reviewer & Blister Summit director, Kristin Sinnott, about her lifelong love of ice cream; what we should know about m...
Is This the ‘Top Gun’ for Bartenders?
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 prog...
Tinctures, Traditions, & Taste: the Bitters Creation Process w/ Bennett Bitters
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bitters have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, and in cocktails for centuries. But they receive far less attention than the spi...
Pursuing Excellence in the Service of Others: Jeff Galli, Campione Roman Kitchen
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Mountain Life & Product Design: North Drinkware Co-Founder, Matt Capozzi
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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, N...
Hi-Fi Audio: Capturing the Heart & Soul of Music with Heaven 11's Itai Azerad
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are more ways to listen to music than ever these days, and cheap Bluetooth speakers are everywhere: hanging in your shower, sitting on your kitc...
Lo-Fi Wine Making with Uffe Deichmann, Poppelvej Wines
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest is a sort of pioneer in Australian winemaking; his focus on 'lo-fi' production methods and non-traditional flavors has helped redefine...
Eli Brown & Jonathan Ellsworth: Can We Change a White-Wine Hater’s Mind?
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan Ellsworth’s preferences for red wines over white wines are well established. But in this conversation and wine tasting, we’re going to se...
Gold Medal Gastronomy: Inside the High-Stakes World of the Culinary Olympics
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest today is Chef Paul Jensen, who is the executive chef of fine dining at Big Sky Resort, a former restaurant owner, seasoned culinary competit...
Amateur Hour: Blister reviewer, Kara Williard, on Garlic, Growing Garlic, & Vampires
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan talks with Kara Williard and Eli Brown about one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world: garlic. We discuss hardneck garlic vs softneck ...
The Current State of Alcohol, with Eli Brown & Jonathan Ellsworth
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan Ellsworth talks about this very big topic with someone who is in quite a unique position to have this conversation with: Eli Brown, a 26-year...
The Art & Ethics of Eating Well, with Matthew Halteman
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today, you are going to hear what is essentially an ongoing conversation that Jonathan has been having for about 30 years now with one of his best fri...
Our Reviewers' 2024 Craft Obsessions & 2025 Curiosities
01 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Happy New Year! Today, we are sharing the craft categories that most captivated some of our Blister reviewers in 2024, and revealing some of the categ...
Scott Rao on Quality, Q Ratings, & Coffee
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Scott Rao is one of the most influential people in the world of coffee, coffee roasting, and coffee brewing. Scott is also the owner of Prodigal Coffe...
Studio Shed w/ Mike Koenig
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Studio Shed was started in the Boulder, Colorado backyard of their co-founder Jeremy Nova, a pro mountain biker and Olympian. Jeremy needed a place to...
Yu Sasaki on Big-Mountain Skiing, Deep-Powder Skiing, & Running a Successful Food Truck
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What are two of the best things in the world? Deep powder skiing and a great food truck. And today, we’re talking about both with professional skier...
Diner Coffee, Sour Beers, Well-Done Steaks, Putting Greens, & Brand Building with Alex LeBlanc of Calibration Coffee Lab
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Last year, we talked with Alex LeBlanc about starting Calibration Coffee Lab in Greenville, South Carolina (CRAFTED ep #26). Today, Alex is back to up...
Wayfarer Vans w/ Andy Mullins
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Camper vans seem to be everywhere these days, and for good reason — the level of versatility and convenience they offer is hard to ignore. But start...
Chef Mark Connell on Craft & Trust; Tasting Menus; & Olive Oil Candy (Part 2)
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Connell is the executive chef at PARC Aspen, and he’s back to talk about fine dining and the importance of tasting menus; what he learned at Al...
Chef Mark Connell on Skiing & High-End Cuisine (Part 1)
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
“My whole goal in life was to be a ski bum and a chef.” For Mark Connell, the executive chef at PARC Aspen, we can definitely say: mission accompl...
How to Design (and Own) a Well-Crafted, Affordable Home, with Zack Giffin
17 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
These days, owning a beautiful home is often prohibitively expensive, while “affordable” housing too often fails to include quality craftsmanship....
The Vinyl Revival, Records, & Turntables w/ Michael Fremer
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we get a crash course on the vinyl revival and why spinning records on a turntable is a more engaging way of listening to music. Our ...
Sage Cattabriga-Alosa on Pizza Making & Big-Mountain Skiing
04 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
One of the greatest big-mountain skiers of all time is also seriously passionate about making great pizza. So what’s the story here, and what do piz...
La Marzocco Product Designer, Stefano Della Pietra
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
La Marzocco is the most iconic espresso-machine maker in the world, and last month, Jonathan went to the La Marzocco Accademia to talk with their head...
Coffee Gear, Pt. 4: “Hero Espresso” & Jonathan’s Current Setup
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After much deliberation, we’re revealing the machine that Jonathan ended up going with on his quest to create daily doses of “hero espresso” —...
JING Tea founder, Ed Eisler, on Tea, Trust, & the Art of Loving Anything
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan Ellsworth was recently at JING Tea headquarters in London for another CRAFTED conversation with JING founder, Ed Eisler. After a proper tea t...
Cast-Iron Cookware w/ Blister reviewer, Simon Stewart
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today we are discussing a product that people get very passionate about — and even more opinionated about: cast-iron cookware. Jonathan is joined by...
WNDR Alpine founder, Matt Sterbenz, on the Benefits, Culture, & Craft of Saunas
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
WNDR Alpine founder, Matt Sterbenz, aka, the ‘Sauna Shaman’, talks about how Hoji kicked off his obsession with saunas; their numerous benefits; a...
Our Reviewers’ 2023 Craft Obsessions & 2024 Curiosities
28 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
To wrap up the year, we are sharing the craft categories that most captivated our Blister reviewers in 2023, and some of the categories they are most ...
Shaking Up the Wine World: Revelshine founder, Jake Bilbro
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Over 30 billion bottles of wine are consumed each year around the world, and today, we’re talking about why we need to — and can — move away fro...
Amateur Hour: Blister reviewer, Paul Forward, on Arrows
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Last year on CRAFTED, we talked with Blister reviewer, Paul Forward, about the art, ethics, and craftsmanship of traditional bows (episode #8). And th...
Bag Balm President, Libby Parent, on the Origins & Surprising Evolution of a 125-Year-Old American Company
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Based in Vermont — where they still make their products — Bag Balm is an American company with a 125-year history and one very remarkable story. B...
Dearborn Denim founder, Rob McMillan, on Building a Premium, Affordable, & Ethical Apparel Manufacturing Company in Chicago
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dearborn Denim founder, Rob McMillan is a thoughtful guy with some grand ambitions. He’s working on building a big apparel company that ethically ma...
Chef Yia Vang on Hmong Cuisine & Culture; 'Run & Gun' Restauranteering; & Spreading Appreciation
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Yia Vang is a multi-nominated James Beard Award chef; the founder & head chef of Union Hmong Kitchen, and he’s carved out time to compete on the...
Amateur Hour: Atomic's Matt Manser on Scotch (Part 3)
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you define “consistency” — the ability to produce the exact same thing time & time again? Or producing a product that is never exactl...
Amateur Hour: Atomic's Matt Manser on Scotch (Part 2)
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Manser (Atomic Ski Boots), is back to dive into the world of Scotch and independent bottlings. He and Jonathan compare a Bunnahabhain independent...
Assessing Greatness: The Art & Craft of Tennis, Great Sports Writing, & Top 5 Lists
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s conversation explores the broader question of how to assess greatness? To get there, Jonathan Ellsworth and Troy Russ discuss the art & ...
Paradigm Winery’s Marilyn Harris on Napa Valley & the Making of a Modern Wine Mecca
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, Napa Valley is home to some of the most respected wineries and coveted wines being produced, but not too long ago, it was a sleepy farm communi...
Green Beans, Pendulum Swings, & First Crack w/ Royal Coffee CEO, Max Nicholas-Fulmer
21 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, Jonathan headed to The Crown in Oakland, California, which is the Coffee Lab and Tasting Room of Royal Coffee. He was there to sample exper...
Rum Rules: Montanya Distillers’ Karen Hoskin
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re discussing the rules of rum with Karen Hoskin, founder of Montanya Distillers, which produces some of the best rum in the country — ri...
Bravus Brewing Company: Elevating NA Beer
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Not all beer is created equal, and that certainly goes for NA beer, too. So what’s the secret? Bravus Brewing Company has been making some of the ve...
Adventures in HomeBrewing, Distilling, & Coffee Roasting + the Launch of Calibration Coffee Lab
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Before Alex LeBlanc started Calibration Coffee Lab in Greenville, South Carolina, he was a mechanical engineer by trade, a home brewer, a home distill...
Drinking Gold: Coffee Gear, Pt. 3, with ON3P Skis' founder, Scott Andrus
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
ON3P Skis founder, Scott Andrus, is back on CRAFTED to go deep into the weeds about the various gear options out there to make great coffee and espres...
Guitars & Guitar Making with Fretboard Journal’s Jason Verlinde
11 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re talking all things guitars and guitar making with a fantastic guide to this world, Jason Verlinde, publisher of the Fretboard Journal. J...
Tea: Origins, Trends, & State of the Union with JING Tea founder, Ed Eisler
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan talks to JING Tea founder, Ed Eisler, about the origins, production, and culture of tea; “Duckshit” tea; what goes into making an e...
Beer Collabs: A Love Story (New Image Brewing x Offset Bier Co)
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why are there so many collabs in the craft beer world? We talk to Offset Bier co-founder, Conor Brown, and New Image Brewing founder, Brandon Capps, f...
Artist Geoff McFetridge on 'Return to Stoner Forest,' Bigfoot, Collabs, & More
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The artist & designer Geoff McFetridge came to CB to pay us a visit, and in this conversation, he & Jonathan discuss his current show in LA, R...
In Search of the 'Best' Coffee Gear (& Ski Boots), Pt. 2: Sam Higby, First Ascent Coffee Roasters
08 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sam Higby, co-owner of First Ascent Coffee Roasters, joins Jonathan to talk pour overs, grinders, brewing at altitude, programmability, and more. List...
In Search of the ‘Best’ Coffee Gear, Pt. 1: Andrew Gardner, Coffee "Enthusiast"
02 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the best way to make coffee? Very strong opinions abound, and Jonathan is currently caught up in trying to figure out the right answer for hi...
Amateur Hour: BLISTER founder, Jonathan Ellsworth, on Watches
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today on CRAFTED, our podcast producer extraordinaire, the Strikingly Handsome Justin Bobb, is talking about watches with Jonathan Ellsworth for our l...
Amateur Hour: Atomic's Matt Manser on Scotch (Part 1)
21 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When Atomic Ski Boots Product Manager, Matt Manser, isn’t nerding out about ski boots … he’s nerding out about Scotch. And in this conversation,...
CORK: Holiday Edition
14 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Danielle and Katie Nichols — the sisters behind CORK Natural Wine Shop & Restaurant in Stowe, Vermont — are back on CRAFTED to talk more about...
Art, Gear, & Beer: Blister Artist Series w/ John Fellows & Brandon Capps
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Artist, John Fellows, and New Image Brewing founder & head brewer, Brandon Capps, are back on CRAFTED to discuss our Blister Artist Series collab....
Gelato: Alberto & Julia Bati of My Sugar Gelato Artigianale, Firenze, Italia
23 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This past June, Jonathan Ellsworth stumbled across a gelateria in Firenze (Florence) Italy, that basically changed his life. Because after going there...
Amateur Hour: ON3P Skis founder, Scott Andrus, on Knives
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the ski world, ON3P Skis founder, Scott Andrus, is known for being maniacal about the craft of building skis. But today, we talk with Scott about h...
The Art & Science of Whiskey, with Liz Rhoades, WhistlePig
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We headed back to Shoreham, Vermont, to sit down with the head of whiskey development at WhistlePig, Liz Rhoades, to dive deep into the art and scienc...
Barr Hill Distiller, Ryan Christiansen, on Honey, Bees, Gin, & More
26 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Barr Hill Gin is one of the best products being made in America today. And when paired with the mission of Barr Hill, you’ll understand why the comp...
The Alchemist's John & Jen Kimmich on Sustainability, Beer, & the Bigger Picture (Part 3)
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week Jonathan Ellsworth was back at The Alchemist in Stowe, VT, to sit down with its founders, Jen and John Kimmich, to dive into their philosoph...
Blue Collar Fine Art: Rob Dickinson of Precise Painting
12 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Around here, we all think of Rob Dickinson as skiing royalty. But Rob is also the owner of Precise Painting, an interior and exterior paint and finish...
Amateur Hour: Blister reviewer, Paul Forward, on Traditional Bows
06 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We talk to Blister reviewer (and medical doctor and lead heli guide), Paul Forward, about the art, ethics, and craftsmanship of traditional bows; when...
The Alchemist co-founder & brewer, John Kimmich (Part 2)
22 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With Heady Topper, John Kimmich created one of the most sought-after craft beers in the world, and effectively created the profile of the modern IPA. ...
The Alchemist co-founder & brewer, John Kimmich (Part 1)
14 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With Heady Topper, John Kimmich created one of the most sought-after beers in the world, and effectively created the profile of the modern IPA. In Par...
John Fellows: Artist, Illustrator, & Graphic Designer
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today we are talking with John Fellows, one of our favorite artists, whose signature style can be found across the outdoor industry. We discuss John’...
What is Natural Wine? Danielle & Katie Nichols of CORK, Stowe, VT
31 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What is “Natural Wine”? Is it the same as organic wine, or raw wine? For answers, we talk with Danielle and Katie Nichols, the two amazing sisters...
The Origins & Ethos of Offset Bier, Park City, Utah
25 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Offset Bier has quickly established itself as the best brewery in Park City, and one of the very best in the state, making it a must-stop for any true...
A Very Deep Dive on Coffee w/ Sam Higby of First Ascent
17 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
First Ascent Coffee Roasters might be best known for their instant coffee. So in this conversation, FA owner and partner and coffee roaster, Sam Higby...
New Image Brewing on Constant Experimentation, Inspiration, & Evolution
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we’ve got the very first episode of our latest podcast, CRAFTED. On CRAFTED, we dive deep into the craft world to explore how things get made...
Introducing: CRAFTED
05 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
CRAFTED explores how things get made, and does so with the remarkable people that insist on making things well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...