Dear Friends and Fellows:
If you’ve tracked our trajectory from the beginning, you know that New Scotland Spirits wouldn’t exist without John Curtin’s inexplicably gracious guidance. As the founder and CEO of the Albany Distilling Company, our partner distiller, he’s been instrumental in nudging us in the right direction—through regulations, industry trade craft, distilling techniques, etc.—throughout the past four years. (Has it really been four f***ing years?!) And over the past 18 months, ADCo co-owner Rick Sicari has joined the “bend-over-backwards-to-help-us” party, overseeing our company’s production and working through the logistics of distilling our Helderberg Bourbon Whiskey.
All this charitable altruism in the service of Patrick’s and my dream has more than once compelled me to ask:
What is wrong with these people?!?!
Like, it was just this past week that John took a half hour out of his day—via video teleconference—to walk me through the mechanics of one of the New York State Liquor Authority’s wildly unnavigable and user-unfriendly online reporting platforms.
Naturally, I called Patrick immediately following the tutorial.
“The man is either sick or evil,” I complained, distraught that John had now cast upon me an obligatory debt from which I might never be unburdened. “He will not let me compensate him for his time or help!”
“That,” Patrick responded, seemingly unconcerned, “or he’s just a really nice guy.”
Et tu, Patrickus?
Ladies and gentlemen, scope the below. TELL ME these don’t look like mugshots:
Is it me, or would these photos make a lot more sense stamped with inmate ID numbers?
John and Rick MUST be working some nefarious angle which accounts for their insistent assistance. But until I figure out what it is, all we can do is celebrate the recognition they’ve just received for being pillars of the Upstate New York distiller community.
The Washington Post is out with an article commending John’s creative endeavors as he pilots ADCo through COVID-19’s stormy waters. And we’re thrilled he’s getting such well-deserved recognition (to include a mention of his pioneering role in establishing the Capital Craft Beverage Trail, of which New Scotland Spirits is a proud member).
If you’re a routine reader of a blog, you know that Pat and I have been monitoring the craft distilling industry’s response to the coronavirus since the early days of its outbreak. ADCo has been at the forefront of that response since the jump. Whether its John and Rick’s rapid ramp up of hand sanitizer production within days of COVID-19’s domestic outbreak or ADCo’s innovative business model pivot—selling food from area eateries while mindful of social distancing requirements in their facility (which you can read more about it in the Washington Post article)—it’s clear that our hometown’s flagship distillery is developing a roadmap that struggling craft operations can utilize in forging their own paths through the virus-fueled industry downturn.
So until we figure out the nature of John and Rick’s presumable “long con”—of which New Scotland Spirits is clearly the mark—I hereby declare that we’re proud to be partnered with the owners of the Albany Distilling Company.
That said: watch your back, Patrick.
These jerks are so good that they must be up to no good.
—Jesse