In this episode of “The VinePair Podcast,” Dr. Pat Heist, co-founder, co-owner, and chief scientific officer of both Ferm Solutions and Wilderness Trail, discusses his path from microbiology and plant pathology to distilling whiskey.
When Heist first met Shane Baker, a mechanical engineer, they played in a rock band together. Long nights on the road resulted in long conversations about shared interests, eventually leading them to start Ferm Solutions, a company that specializes in selling yeast and technical support to distilleries.
After about a decade of working closely with hundreds of distillers and breweries, the pair had collected incredible knowledge about making spirits. That, coupled with Heist’s expertise in microbiology and Barker’s mechanical engineering background, led them to start Wilderness Trail Distillery in 2013.
Since then, the duo has applied their collective knowledge to the art of whiskey. Bits and pieces gleaned from distillers of all spirits and more — rum, tequila, kombucha, to name a few — have resulted in a confident and innovative approach that maintains tradition.
Tune in to the episode to learn more about Wilderness Trail Distillery and what sets it apart.
