At Kindred Spirits, we embody the definition of a consultant provided by Harvard Business School, which describes someone who advises on how to modify, proceed in, or streamline a given process within a specialized field. Kindred Spirits combines consulting expertise with engineering specialization to streamline distillery projects. Our team, composed of distillers, engineers, and other experts, efficiently integrates design and regulatory compliance, ensuring quick and smooth project progression.
Starting a distillery is an exciting venture, and experienced business owners know the value of expert guidance. Our consulting group provides tailored support, from specific project aspects to comprehensive support from start to finish, ensuring your success.
There is no "wrong" time to seek advisement, but engaging a consultant early in the planning phase of your distillery project can be particularly advantageous. Doing so can help you avoid costly mistakes such as investing in incorrect equipment, designing an inefficient layout, or setting unrealistic timelines for your business. By harnessing the expertise of a consultant from the outset, you can optimize your resources and set a solid foundation for the success of your distillery venture.
Absolutely. We provide hands-on training tailored to both you and your staff at your distillery using your own equipment. Additionally, we offer general or specialized online training sessions via Zoom. Our goal is to ensure that you and your team receive the specific training you need.
Given the unique requirements and costs associated with maintaining a professional engineer's or architect's license in specific states, our consultants are not mandated to hold current licenses in every state. Instead, we prioritize local compliance and recommend engaging a local architect or engineer to review and sign off on any drawings to be submitted for review. The location of your distillery and the regulations set forth by your local and state government determine the applicable laws and requirements. Utilizing a local professional ensures that your drawings meet local standards and are promptly reviewed and approved, streamlining the regulatory process.
In short, no. We offer flexible consulting arrangements customized to your requirements. Whether you need just a single call or prefer to retain our services at a discounted rate for an extended period, we can accommodate your needs.
We specialize in Building Design, Distillery Operations, Product Development and Marketing & Distribution. Read more below.
We think they love it. But we may be a little biased. Read what they have to say below.

Here’s what our satisfied clients have to say.

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“The best guidance comes from those that have a genuine desire to see you succeed. My friend and colleague, Stephen, is the personification of this idea. Stephen's breadth of knowledge and skill in the field of distilling is absolute– Stephen is a formidable distiller, but also a master tradesman. Stephen can design a distillery, product line, or recipe, just as easily as he can don his welding gloves and install a steam line, mash tun, or still. It's hard to illustrate how uncommon it is for anyone in this industry to have such an extensive range of skills, but Stephen's insatiable curiosity and meticulousness have made him a rarity in the field. All of Stephen's experience and skill are certainly a boon to anyone who wishes to enter into the world of distilled spirits, but his best work comes from an intrinsic desire to help those around him realize their goals, and that is something you won't find anywhere else.”

JOHN BRITTON / Treehouse Distillery
"Working with Steve and Kindred Spirits has been immensely helpful to us as new small business owners. Steve's expertise is both broad and profound, and there is seemingly no question that we've had for which he has not had an answer. We know that by working with Steve to help design our distillery, work through the permitting and licensure processes, and source equipment that we are setting ourselves up for success as best as we can."

JOSH MOSS & WILLIAM BLESSING / Namu Distilling
"Steve has been a great help getting us up and running. He brings an extensive knowledge of the industry as well as taking a very hands-on approach. He works with you to figure out where you're going and then helps get you there."

MEL & MARK RASMUSSEN / Rasmussen Farms Distillery
"Steve is a consummate professional! Through each and every step of the process of launching (and improving) a Distillery Steve guides his clients with grace and strength. He's a wealth of knowledge and resources and offers significantly more value to his clients than many others charging significantly more for their industry expertise."

JEFF STONE / Resource Label
"I have had the pleasure of working with Kindred Spirits since 2021 and can confidently say that their expertise and professionalism in the distillery business is unmatched. Steve Tomori has not only demonstrated deep industry knowledge and insight but their ability to match customer needs with the right solutions has had a meaningful impact on the client's growth and success. I highly recommend Kindred Spirits to anyone seeking a knowledgeable and reliable consultant in the distillery industry. Their integrity, business acumen, and dedication to client success make them an asset to any business relationship"

SCOTT BIRKNER / Dogwood State Bank
"Two years ago, we started on a journey to pursue our dream to open a craft distillery in NJ. We were extremely lucky to find Steve at Kindred Spirits and partner with him as our Distillery Consultant. Two years later, halfway through construction and six months from opening, I can confidently say that if it wasn’t for Steve, our dream would have remained just that, a dream. His knowledge of the industry, process, spirits, buildout, and operations of a distillery is invaluable. His expertise and industry relationship saved us hundreds of research hours and his patience to guide us though the complexity of opening a distillery is incredible. We here at Living Spirits truly feel we have found a core member of our team, and we are looking forward to building our success together for the years to come.”

WILLIAM TAL / Living Spirits
“When we got fed up with the pricing systems of the big-name distillery management programs, we wanted to find another option. We reached out to Steve to help us start our own spreadsheeting system to manage records and get all the information we need for TTB and state level reporting. We are SO HAPPY we went this route! We love our system that Steve helped us create. Steve is very easy to communicate with, very responsive and has an impressive wealth of industry knowledge. Steve and Kindred Spirits provides us with such great guidance and expertise, we are able to operate in full confidence with our record keeping and reporting!

NIKOLE SULLIVAN / Siesta Key Rum
"I collaborated with Steve throughout the planning and development of our large-capacity distillery project. His dual expertise as both an experienced mechanical engineer and knowledgeable distiller provided us with invaluable insights that would have been impossible to find elsewhere. Steve guided us through engineering plans and equipment selection with technical precision while simultaneously offering practical production knowledge that comes only from hands-on distillery experience. This unique combination accelerated our complex project timeline and strengthened our operational planning. His proactive approach and consistent availability ensured we met our project deadlines with confidence. I would certainly engage his services again for future distillery ventures."

CRISTA FREEMAN / American Cane
“Kindred Spirits and Steve have my highest recommendation. I met with Steve early in my planning process, about a year and a half before our grand opening. I shared what I wanted to produce, and Steve made recommendations on which type of equipment to buy. When the equipment arrived, Steve and I installed it together. For my first production runs of distillation, Steve was on-site and assisting. I can say with confidence that we only made it to our grand opening because of the hard work and dedication of Steve and his team. If you’re thinking about opening a distillery, put Steve on retainer yesterday! If you already have a distillery, Steve can help solve any problems you may be having.”

ANDY SZWEJBKA / Hidden Ships Distillery
“We reached out to Kindred Spirits at the beginning of 2024, as we were in the planning stages to increase the capacity of our rectifying plant. Even though I have been in the spirits for over a decade, I quickly realized that I was in over my head in planning for the scope of this new operation. Steve understood the various aspects of what needed to be accomplished, helped us plan out every aspect efficiently (even helping with tedious city approval) and worked with us to implement a final system that has helped us achieve our goals. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to build out or upgrade a spirits facility.”

STEPHEN CORRIGAN / Latitude Beverage
“Working with Kindred Spirits for our new distillery startup was an absolute game-changer. From day one, Steve provided expert guidance that helped us set a strong foundation for our distillery. Steve took the time to truly understand our vision and goals, offering personalized advice tailored to our unique needs. What stood out most was his hands-on approach and willingness to be involved every step of the way, including helping move pallets and even setting up shelving. Thanks to his expertise, we were able to optimize our operations, reduce costs, and avoid costly mistakes. Highly recommend Kindred Spirits to anyone looking to start a new distillery!”

MING HAN CHUNG AND JAMES KIM / Minhwa Spirits
“Steve has been amazing to work with. His knowledge on distilling is endless, and his patience with me and my staff was so appreciated. He has a way of explaining things that makes it easy to learn and retain the knowledge.”

MARILYN REICHSTEIN / Crush Distillery