Eighteen months after Doug Hall founded Brain Brew Custom Whiskey, the Cincinnati distiller took two of eight Double Gold Medals at the North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition. He also is a lecturer, best-selling author, tv and radio host, and is a chemical engineer by education. He was Master Marketing Inventor at Procter & Gamble – shipping a record nine products in 12 months. For his pioneering work turning innovation from an art into a science Hall was awarded a Doctor of Laws from the University of Prince Edward Island and a Doctor of Engineering from the University of Maine. He works with two of the top three spirits companies, developing new products.
We thought he might have something to share with the rest of the wine and spirits world, so we interviewed him right before Christmas. Then we decided the interview was too good to post when all the world (including us) would be focused on other things. So we put off posting it. Here it is, and here are some of the Benjamin Franklin-like gems you’ll hear:
- Great products are meaningfully unique.
- You have to be product first, marketing second. You have to have a better product.
- You have to have a culture that is proactive. When you see a problem, fix it.
- The more you know, the smarter you get.
- Wood is the magic that brings out the flavor.