Installation/Distillation III
What an honor.
That’s all I can think to say every time we get the chance to throw an event at Shmidt Spirits, especially Installation/Distillation. When we began Shmidt Spirits over three years ago (and a lot longer if you include initial planning and buildout) we had so many plans. We wanted to be a community hot spot, a place people could get together to learn about one another, to discover new and interesting people and ideas, and of course come to love our great spirits.
COVID had other ideas.
When it was safe to open our doors wide once more, one of the first things we did was set ourselves to the task of becoming that place we first imagined we could be. I pitched that our first event should be the big, bold idea I had before we even finished the buildout—an art show featuring local artists. That we survived the pandemic at all was a shock; being able to make this event happen that first time was all the more incredible.
So now, every time we manage to pull it off again it feels like a miracle and a celebration all at once. Being able to help our community return to a sense of communal joy and revelry is a tremendous thing. Helping local artists to find new admirers and buyers is a responsibility and a honor its hard to overstate. These guys come to us with all the passion and grit they have, and its up to us to deliver a great time and a large audience so that their energy is rewarded.
This year was maybe the smallest I/D we’ve done thus far (I blame the rain) but it was still an awesome experience. Musician Dave Zelonka played some incredible music all night long; Arthur Shmidt was mixing drinks on pace with our thirsty public; and the artists gave our attendees some incredible work to admire, take home, and make their own. Watching the crowd linger over especially meaningful pieces, dance to the sweet strains of bluegrass, and swap tastes of cocktails to see who ordered the best drink, it was hard not to feel completely overcome. By gratitude, by humility, and by pride.
We make an unbeatable line of spirits here—we’re not modest about that—but I like to think we offer something more, as well. And events like Installation/Distillation let us know that we’re living up to that promise and energize us to keep at it.
If you made it out, thank you! And if you couldn’t be there, well: we can’t wait to see you next time.
-Brian J. Roan
Master Distiller
