Frequently Asked Questions

WHO ARE WE?

Distiller is the very first spirits recommendation and discovery platform. As huge fans of spirits ourselves, we recognized that there was a need for a tool that everyday appreciators could use at the store, bar, or restaurant. While we love the many fantastic forums, books, blogs, and magazines that are dedicated to spirits, they're not the easiest things to use or glean information from quickly while out and about. We created Distiller to be that easy to use companion that was filled with rich content, approachable reviews, and tasting notes created by seasoned experts from the industry. We're not backed by any brands, distilleries, distributors, or holding companies. We are an independent service created and run by people just like you: spirits lovers.

CAN I ADD MY OWN BOTTLES TO DISTILLER?

You can! If we're missing something that you have in your collection, you can start what's called a 'Review Request'. This will create a page for the bottle and will add it to our queue of products for our expert reviewers to review. To get started, make sure you have the most up to date version of the iOS or Android app. Make sure you're logged in, then head to the Search page. Once you've searched for a bottle you'll see a + icon appear in the top right of your screen. If we're missing the bottle, you can start adding it yourself by tapping that + icon. Make sure to read the rules around creating a bottle before you get started.

WANT US TO REVIEW YOUR PRODUCT?

Do you represent a brand looking to have your product(s) reviewed for Distiller? No problem! You can learn more about how to submit your products for review here.

DO YOU HAVE AN API THAT MY BRAND CAN ACCESS?

We do have an API, but it is limited to select partners. If you would like to learn more about becoming a partner and accessing our API please reach out to us at [email protected] to tell us about what you're working on. We look forward to chatting with you!

CAN MY BAR, STORE, BRAND OR RESTAURANT WORK WITH DISTILLER?

Absolutely! Email us at [email protected] and let's chat about the possibilities. Even if you don't have something specific in mind but just want to learn more about us, or tell us about you, we'd love to hear from you.

PRESS INQUIRIES

For press inquiries, please contact us at [email protected]. Thanks!

WHO WRITES THE REVIEWS FOR DISTILLER?

Next to every review in Distiller you will see the name of the person who rated, reviewed, and tasted that product. Each review is written by a member of our carefully curated Tasting Table of spirits experts from around the industry. They are spirits buyers at respected retailers, bar tenders, spirits writers, spirits educators, and spirits competition judges. You can meet them all here! We're bringing new members to the Tasting Table all the time, so if you're interested in learning about how you can join our growing team, please reach out to us at [email protected]!

CAN BRANDS PAY TO GET THEIR SCORES HIGHER?

Absolutely not. Every review you see in Distiller is completely objective and uninfluenced by the brands themselves. While we may work with brands to provide samples, marketing, tasting events, and other fun perks for Distiller users, they will never be able to influence the reviews themselves. You can head over to our VALUES page to learn more.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU REVIEW NEW SPIRITS?

Every. Single. Day. That's right, we add multiple new reviews to Distiller every single day. We review all of our spirits in house, specifically for Distiller. It takes a bit of time, but we feel it's important to craft brand agnostic reviews that speak directly to you, the Distiller user.

WANT TO SHARE FEEDBACK?

We love hearing from Distiller users! Do you have an idea you'd like to see implemented into Distiller? Perhaps there's a feature you're dying to see, or maybe you're having an issue with the app or website that we aren't aware of. No matter the reason, we want to hear from you. Just reach out to us at [email protected] and we'll get back to you shortly!

WHEN SHOULD I USE DISTILLER?

Anytime, really! With that said, most people are using Distiller while they're out at the store, at a bar, or at a restaurant looking for something interesting to try. With simple reviews, easy to understand ratings, and clear scores, it's easy to read about many products at once while you're trying to make a decision on the go.

I WANT TO WORK AT DISTILLER!

Hey, that's great! We're hiring all the time for positions on our marketing, engineering, and tasting teams. You can see a list of our open positions on our Jobs Page. If you're interested in learning more about what we're looking for, please reach out to us at [email protected]. We can't wait to hear from you!

WHY DO YOU SPELL WHISKEY WITH AN 'E'?

The easy answer is that Distiller was built by a bunch of Americans, and in the United States we spell whiskey with an 'e' when we're talking about the broad category. When we review or write about specific products we respect the rules of the country of origin. Our basic rule of thumb: if it's from the USA or Ireland, it gets an 'e' - if it's from pretty much anywhere else it doesn't.

WHAT DO THE $$$$ SYMBOLS STAND FOR?

Each $ sign stands for a different average price tier within Distiller. These tiers are:

• $ = < $25
• $$ = $25 - $50
• $$$ = $50 - $80
• $$$$ = $80 - $150
• $$$$$ = $150 +

WHAT DOES 'RARE' MEAN ON A SPIRIT PAGE?

'Rare' is used as a catch-all to indicate that a product is either limited-edition, out of production, or limited to a specific geographic region. It is meant to quickly indicate to you that this particular bottle might be hard to find. It is not an indicator of quality and should not necessarily be taken as a suggestion to purchase a product. For instance: An ultra-limited-edition single malt scotch and a craft gin from Japan with limited distribution would both qualify as 'Rare'.

WHAT DO THE DISTILLER SCORES ON SPIRITS MEAN?

Everything you find on a reviewed Distiller spirit page was researched and created by the member of our Tasting Table that is reviewing that specific spirit. Each time a spirit is reviewed, the expert reviewer follows our rubric to assign their final score. Below is a simplified breakdown of our scoring rubric: 0-49: Very poor quality 50-59: Poor quality 60-69: Below average 70-79: Average 80-84: Good 85-89: Great 90-95: Very High Quality 96-100: Incredibly High Quality Note: Factors such as packaging, price, brand, distillery and any other information that does not relate specifically to the spirit in the glass are not factors that Tasting Table members take into account when reviewing spirits.

WHO ARE THE EXPERTS ON THE DISTILLER TASTING TABLE?

Every spirit that is reviewed within the Distiller system is assigned to a member of the Tasting Table. These are spirits industry professionals from all over the world with highly refined palates and intimate knowledge of the spirits they cover. We interview and vet each Tasting Table member extensively to establish the refinement of their palate as well as how deep their knowledge of spirits is. Each Tasting Table member is assigned to one or more spirit categories, depending on their level of knowledge on the subject. For instance, one reviewer may be an expert in the field of Gins, but does not have as much knowledge regarding Rum and other sugarcane spirits. So that reviewer will only review Gins for Distiller. Furthermore, members of the Tasting Table are prohibited from working for a brand in the category that they review to prevent any possible conflicts of interest. Lastly, members of the Tasting Table are explicitly prohibited from accepting any payment or other incentives from brands to positively influence the scores they give to a spirit when reviewing.

WHAT IS DISTILLER PRO?

Distiller Pro is a $10/year membership that provides a completely advertising-free experience on Distiller. Pro users also receive a special Pro-only badge next to their profile picture everywhere they show up in Distiller. To become a Distiller Pro member, head to the Distiller Pro signup page. 

HOW DOES DISTILLER PRO PRICING WORK?

Distiller Pro members pay $10 a year in a single payment. Once you sign up, we’ll charge the card you provided and your account will be active for 12 months. 30 days before your 12 month period is set to end we will notify you of your upcoming renewal. If you’d like to continue with Distiller Pro, you don’t have to do anything. Your account will be automatically renewed. If you do not wish to renew, you can cancel your Distiller Pro membership at any time on your Distiller Pro management page. Your membership will remain active for the full 12 month period regardless of when you cancel, and your membership will not automatically renew. You will then transition into a Distiller Basic account, which is free and shows you advertisements. Your Distiller Pro badge will also disappear. You can re-join Distiller Pro at any time. If you delete your account your Distiller Pro membership will also be canceled. You can update your payment details at any time on your Distiller Pro membership page. For more information about how your information is stored you can read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.