21. Bourbon & Business Success with Paul Twyford, Winter Park Distilling Co.

What does it really take to build something from nothing? In this episode, Betsy sits down with entrepreneur and craft distiller Paul Twyford, co-founder of Winter Park Distilling Company, to unpack the unglamorous, real-world path from door-to-door dry cleaning to award-winning bourbon.

Paul shares the cheat codes he wishes he had at 28: start with the problem, say yes more often, build relationships that outlast trends, and develop the grit to keep knocking after nine doors slam in your face. We also nerd out on bourbon basics, from Florida corn and mash bills to barrels, char levels, and why “what’s in the bottle” beats the marketing machine.

In this episode we talk about:

Problem-first entrepreneurship and why convenience wins
Rejection tolerance, resilience, and daily decision making
Launching a pickup-and-delivery service with no money and lots of hustle
The leap into craft spirits and navigating heavy regulation
Vodka vs. bourbon vs. gin vs. tequila in today’s market
Mash bills, Florida corn, char levels, and aging decisions that shape great bourbon
Community as strategy and why giving first compounds over time
How to show up as a peer in rooms that might underestimate you

Here are some Key Memorable takeaways:

Start with the customer’s problem, not your resume
Say yes early and often, then refine
Relationships are the real ROI
You do not need to be an expert to begin
Quality in the bottle beats hype

If you are a builder, creator, or leader who wants the honest path to progress, this one will refill your grit tank.

TIME STAMPS:

00:00 – Intro & meet Paul Twyford
03:00 – First business: dry cleaning hustle
07:15 – Facing rejection & building grit
11:20 – Imperfect action and new ventures
15:40 – Relationships over ROI in business
20:25 – Giving back & playing the long game
25:10 – Launching Winter Park Distilling Company
30:05 – Bourbon beginnings & early awards
34:40 – Branding, barrels & Florida corn
38:55 – Market trends: bourbon, gin, tequila
42:00 – Paul’s true “B-side” & closing takeaways

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Connect with Paul Twyford: https://wpdistilling.com/

Connect with Betsy Gardner: https://www.betsygardner.com/

Learn More about Winter Park Chamber of Commerce: https://www.winterpark.org/

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Podcast produced by Hi Hello Labs: https://www.hihellolabs.com/

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

Podcast Episode Details

21. Bourbon & Business Success with Paul Twyford, Winter Park Distilling Co.