So what happens when a retail guy from D.C. decides he’s going to jump into the whiskey business? We’re sitting down with Sid Dilawri, Founder and CEO of Filibuster Distilling, to talk about his journey. After moving from Delhi to the U.S. in 2007, Sid got his start working at a local liquor store where he discovered orange flavored vodka. He wasn’t much of a drinker at the time. But In 2010, his family bought a struggling D.C. liquor store and Sid helped turn it around growing annual sales from under $400K to over $1.2 million simply by changing up the product mix and introducing customers to great bourbon.

After an eye-opening trip to Four Roses to select his very first single-barrel, he worked towards his new idea. Sid launched Filibuster using sourced barrels but eventually transition to a full-scale distilling operation in Virginia, including figuring out how to run a column still himself. With lots of tenacity, Sid gives us an honest look at building a legacy brand for his kids and crafting a true everyday pour.

Show Notes:

• Sid Dilawri shares his journey moving from Delhi to the U.S. in 2007 and learning the retail ropes on the liquor store floor.
• How turning around a struggling D.C. shop in 2010 by pushing bourbon sparked his passion for the industry.
• The Four Roses barrel pick that convinced Sid to leave retail and launch Filibuster.
• Starting with MGP sourced juice, early French oak finishes, and navigating distributor portfolios when craft bourbon was just taking off.
• Transitioning to distilling in Virginia, installing a column still, and teaching himself how to run the equipment when his team walked out.
• The ins and outs of local grain sourcing, fermentation practices, and managing over 6,200 aging barrels.
• Why patience, product quality, and smart pricing matter when building a legacy brand for the next generation.