Thomas Soltau spends his days as a newborn intensive care doctor at Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Lafayette. Think about that job: this magical, fragile living thing is born into the world, and if it’s not cared for with meticulous attention to every minor detail, this mewling bairn may not make it. But when it does, when a premature child is coaxed and nurtured into life, everyone in the room is flush with joy. That sounds, to me, like the job of a distiller and makes me think Soltau is unusually qualified to be there when a batch of Seven Three whiskey is born.
What whiskey first made you say fuck yeah?
The first whiskey that really opened my eyes was Macallan 18. I was an intern, the head of the group threw a party at the nicest restaurant in Birmingham. There was an open bar. I’d had good scotch before, this was next-level.
If you weren’t making whiskey, you’d probably be . . .
If it weren’t for making whiskey, I would probably still be a full-time physician.
What’s a fucked up way you drink whiskey you probably wouldn’t tell anyone if you weren’t filling out this questionnaire?
I have a bottle that I never serve from. I keep it in the cabinet, so no one ever sees it. I sometimes grab the bottle and have a nice pull directly from the bottle. It’s something I made. The last bottle to come off the bottling line . . . something from one of my bottling runs that weren’t suitable for the public.
What’s a fucked up way someone you know drinks whiskey that makes you want to throw them off a cliff and seriously, Jesus Hashtag Christ, why, Darryll? Why?
I’m pleading the fifth on this one; anything I say can be self-incriminating . . . bartenders keep trying to serve me something spicy, and I love spicy stuff but don’t put it in my cocktail. My brother makes hot pepper vodka . . . it’s just super trendy right now.
What song will get you onto the floor no matter what?
Songs don’t get me on the floor. Whiskey gets me on the floor.
Give a quote from a movie you obsess over:
“That’s a bold move cotton, lets see how that plays out.”
–Pepper Brooks, Dodgeball
Besides making whiskey, what do you do right?
Taking care of premature infants. I still have a day job.
Sum up the essence of great whiskey with a single word.
Compelling
What moment during your process strikes you as perfect?
Everyone knows about heads, hearts, and tails in a batch of distillation. But hearts isn’t all the same. Hearts has little microcosms within it. There is a moment within hearts when your still, your steam, and everything is balanced perfectly. And the 155-proof spirit coming off the still tastes like . . . I struggle to describe it. its perfection. It’s delicious.
List three whiskies you love that aren’t yours.
- The Balvenie Caribbean Cask
- I had a single barrel 4 Roses OESK, yum
- Anything finished in port barrels
Name the single most underrated or overlooked distillery in your state.
Sugarfield Spirits. I am the head distiller at both Sugarfield and Seven Three. We went a different path at Sugarfield. We started with sourcing bourbon. Sugarfield bourbon made at Sugarfield is taking its sweet time, but I can’t wait to start releasing our own.
Name a whiskey you think our readers never heard of.
Bayou Terrebonne in Houma Louisiana
What was your most embarrassing mistake making whiskey?
The day I thought I broke my diaphragm pump. It just would not pump. I walked the air hose. Made sure everything was plugged in. Took apart a few things. Got on the phone with my supplier. Was talking to customer service. All of a sudden, “boom!” My brother had opened the closed butterfly valve that was keeping everything from working. It was under a fair bit of pressure. Rum was everywhere. I calmly told customer service, “I think we figured it out,” and exited the conversation. I am sure he is still pondering that call.
What are you reading?
New Cidermakers Handbook. Cider making is way harder than whiskey making
What’s a moment in your life that made you realize life is goddam beautiful?
The first time my daughter really smiled at me. Not the fake, I’m smiling, but really I’m peeing my diaper, smile. I mean, the first time I walked into the room to get her, and her face lit up.
Who would you like to see answer these questions?
Brian Rabon of 30A Distillery.
