The Noble Experiment . . .
The first time that Bridget reached out to me to ask if she can be added to our site I saw the name of her distillery and I smiled, I thought what a cool idea to display what distilling really is. I know that there are loads of science, planning, budgeting, marketing, selling, and creating. But in the end, it’s all just one BIG experiment! After chatting with Bridget a little, I decided that she needed to share her adventures with us here at Whiskey Fans and she happily agreed! You will be hearing much more from her in the future, and I hope you all continue to stay tuned to follow her story as she turns an old New York building into an amazing distillery.
Hi Whiskey Fans! My name is Bridget Firtle.
My pre and post graduate and professional background is in finance. After completing my MBA, I went to work for a very reputable, mid-sized hedge fund as an investment/financial analyst. I was responsible for global alcoholic beverage research and investing (most of the bigger, publicly traded companies). I began to grow very passionate about watching the growth in the craft beer market and as I started to notice the comeuppance of craft spirits I really couldn’t stop thinking about opening my own distillery in NYC partly because I was so disillusioned with Wall Street but mainly because it seemed like my calling. I come from a long line of Brooklyn-based entrepreneurs (one grandfather even owned a bar on famed Flatbush Ave); I love many kinds of spirits and have a desire to create my own portfolio to add to that list; I’m a huge supporter/consumer of small business/local products; and the house I grew up in still houses a basement speakeasy for the rum runners that used to litter the shores of our NYC based beach town during prohibition! With all signs pointing in what I believed to be the right direction, I made the leap forward in the Spring of 2011. I wrote a business plan and started marketing to some investors. After some skepticism from critics and some success from a small group of very supportive people I closed the books in the Fall and left my job by the end of the year. Currently, I AM ALL IN. All my savings (+). Living back with my parents. etc…
In the next 6 weeks I plan to start distilling! I am so excited my dream (and thought for every second of every day for a LONG time haha) is about to come to fruition. Although, I’m so nervous/anxious/stressed it’s really rewarding to get satisfied each step of the way. There is a ton of work that lies ahead but I will BE SO HAPPY to get the start-up construction/legalities/paperwork out of the way. I am Truly looking forward to making some unique rum just in time for the summer and putting our American whiskeys to rest in barrels for a couple of years.
I would like my future customers to know that I aim (as a current one-woman-show) to hand-craft innovative, unique spirits from all natural and organic ingredients that will help to revive an industry that this country once prided itself on! Our products and company will embrace the best of NYC both old and new — inclusive of supporting other small, local entrepreneurial efforts. I really would like to embrace the support of the NYC community and give back in whatever ways I can!
Stay up to date with Bridget and The Noble Experiment at http://tnenyc.com/blog/ and of course here at thedistilledlife.com!
