On this episode of the Distillery Nation Podcast, I talk with Sam Filmus of ImpEx Beverages, the US importer behind Kilchoman and a range of premium spirits. Most episodes feature distillers, but Sam brings the view from the other side of the deal: the importer deciding which brands make it to American shelves.
Sam started a wine distribution company in California in 1997, bringing in traditional Moldovan dessert wines. When younger drinkers moved away from those styles, he moved into spirits. The distribution lessons he learned along the way still shape how ImpEx works today.
We talk about his first whiskey, Chivas Regal, and why blends deserve more respect than they get. Sam explains the shift he sees in the market: people buying one great bottle instead of several ordinary ones. That shift rewards higher proofs, single-cask releases, transparency, and a real story.
Sam also shares a hard lesson. A single-cask release priced too high for the market didn’t sell, however good the whisky was. Technical quality alone doesn’t sell a bottle.
We discuss the late Dr. Jim Swan and his influence on distilleries in hot climates and on cask selection. Sam also explains what he looks for in a new partner. Shared philosophy comes first, then the quality of the whisky and the packaging.
His advice for craft distillers who want to grow: don’t bottle before the whiskey is ready, find the right distributor, and price for the market you’re actually in.
Listen to the interview on the web
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