From Christmas Gifts to Global Glassware: Denver Cramer on Design, Distilling, and Ditching Ads

This week, Robbie and Adam welcome Denver Cramer—industrial designer, entrepreneur, photographer, distiller, and creator of the globally recognized Denver and Lylee glassware brand—to talk whiskey glasses, design philosophy, and whether AI will replace the next generation's jobs. They dig into Starward single malt finished in Lagavulin cask, Melbourne's Four Seasons climate, red wine barrel aging, the grassiness fading into sweetness, Pappy versus Weller 12, blind taste testing Flamin' Hot Cheetos, and why Octomore 8.3 is the ultimate peat monster. Along the way, they debate designing glasses for corn versus barley based spirits, the bourbon glass chode, smelling at the top versus the bottom of the glass, the turbine wine glass that Ryan Reynolds loved, eight years of R&D, passion projects versus commercial products, raising kids in the world before and after AI, teaching them to code with retro video games, making YouTube videos with Legos, screens as tools not babysitters, playing instruments versus making instruments, luthiers versus engineers, planting 400 Pinot Noir vines to learn winemaking, trumpet and piano and guitar, and why the banjo is part drum part guitar part lead singer.
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In this episode:
Chapters

00:00:00 Welcome & Introductions
00:04:00 Tasting Starward x Lagavulin: Red Wine Meets Peat
00:12:38 Ultimate Whiskey Drams & Desert Island Albums
00:28:30 The Science & Soul of Glass Design
00:40:50 From Christmas Present to Global Brand
00:43:00 AI, Kids & The Future of Work
00:57:40 Passion Projects vs Capitalism: Building with Soul
01:07:09 Music, Instruments & The Luthier Mindset
01:13:15 Banjo Performance & Wrap Up

Links
Starward Whisky: https://starward.com.au/
Lagavulin: https://www.malts.com/en-us/brands/lagavulin/
Denver and Liely Glassware: https://denverandliely.com/
Octomore: https://www.bruichladdich.com/
Pappy Van Winkle: https://www.oldripvanwinkle.com/
Weller: https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/our-brands/w-l-weller.html
Scarabus: https://www.scarabus.com/
Compass Box: https://www.compassboxwhisky.com/
Sagamore Rye: https://sagamorespirit.com/
Canon Whiskey Bar: https://www.cannonwhiskeybar.com/
Deltron 3030: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deltron_3030
Jimmy Eat World Bleed American: https://www.jimmyeatworld.com/
Bruce Springsteen: https://brucespringsteen.net/
Gospel Rye: https://gospelwhiskey.com/
Wild Turkey 101: https://www.wildturkeybourbon.com/
Glendronach: https://www.glendronachdistillery.com/
Dalwhinnie: https://www.malts.com/en-us/brands/dalwhinnie/
Intel Pantec Lake: https://www.intel.com/
C.W. Stoneking: https://www.cwstoneking.com/
Mayday Parade: https://maydayparade.com/
Connect with Denver
Website: https://denverandliely.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denverandliely/
Connect with the hosts
Robbie Wagner: https://x.com/RobbieWagner
Adam Argyle: https://x.com/argyleink
Subscribe and stay in touch
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Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1552776603
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhiskeyWebAndWhatnot
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