Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Kessler.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started 451 Spirits in 2014 after spending several years in the Beer and Liquor Department at Weiland’s Market. My natural curiosity lead me to learn how things were made and why they taste the way they do. I felt there was an opportunity to explore new flavor profiles within the realm of distilled spirits rather than making the same spirits that have been made the same way for hundreds of years. My background as an artist and musician tends to push me to explore new boundaries. Over time, the space has evolved and now has a big focus on music and art as it serves as both my practice space and art studio in addition to the distilling aspect. It’s been quite a journey to come full circle.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not. For starters, just getting into the distilling business involves jumping through a lot of hoops. Once licensed you’re then looking into marketing and financing your vision. I was extremely lucky to have some partners that believed in me who have since moved on. Just when it felt like we were starting to make headway with our admittedly odd spirits, Covid hit and put the brakes on the DIY, in-person marketing we had relied on. There’s also the ever-changing field of regulatory issues since distilling on this scale is still a relatively new thing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve never enjoyed working for other people. I’ve been an artist, musician, and skateboarder for most of my life. What I strive to do with 451 Spirits is bring that creativity to others through distilling. As for what I’m most proud of? Honestly just pulling it off as long as I have without the money that most distilleries have. I chalk that up to coming up in the DIY punk rock and skate scene, learning how to make things happen with little resources. Product-wise, they’re all my kids but the fact I was able to introduce a pizza-flavored spirit into the world and even win an award with it is pretty insane.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
That’s a tough one, I honestly had a great childhood. I’m still full of teen angst, probably because my parents were always taking me to skateparks and punk shows, so I had nothing to rebel against. I guess just being surrounded by a large family that was full of love. Going to the grandparents on the weekends, seeing all my cousins, it was great. Definitely makes getting older tough though as time does its thing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.451spirits.com
- Instagram: 451 Spirits
- Facebook: 451 Spirits
