Waypoint Spirits and UConn School of Engineering jointly hosted an Innovation Connection on July 16 at the newly opened Waypoint Spirits facility in Bloomfield. A mix of UConn professionals, beverage trade professionals and invited guests participated in a panel discussion titled, “Engineer Your Spirits.”
The panel consisted of John Taylor, Co-Owner, Waypoint Spirits; Devin Vogel, Head Distiller, Waypoint Spirits; Jeffrey McCutcheon, Professor, UConn School of Engineering; Dennis D’Amico, Professor, UConn School of Engineering; and Jose Giner, Director of Planning and Economic Development, Town of Bloomfield.
Guests questioned the panel about the “new age” of craft distilling in Connecticut with a range of topics including water use, using locally-sourced crops and marketing products. Robin Ann Bienemann, Entrepreneur in Residence at UConn, said the School of Agriculture and Waypoint Spirits formed a partnership in which the school will grow wheat for Waypoint Spirits to use to produce its Labrador Noon Vodka.
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- The panel: Jose Giner, Director of Planning and Economic Development, Town of Bloomfield; Devin Vogel, Head Distiller, Waypoint Spirits; Dennis D’Amico, Professor, UConn School of Engineering; Jeffrey McCutcheon, Professor, UConn School of Engineering; John Taylor, Co-Owner, Waypoint Spirits.
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- Alex Sacco, Sales and Marketing Manager, Waypoint Spirits and David Rossi, Co-Owner, Waypoint Spirits.
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- Guests were able to sample Labrador Noon Vodka neat or mixed with lemonade. Due to the recent legislation passed in June, craft distilleries in Connecticut are able to perform 2 oz. tastings per person of its liquor products, and customers are able to purchase up to 1.5 liters per person, per day.
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- Devin Vogel, Head Distiller, Waypoint Spirits.
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- Waypoint Spirits glasses.
