Page A8 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor January 3, 2013

By Heidi Kerr-SchlaeferThe Surveyor

Somewhere out in the Atlantic Ocean two copper stills are on their way from Spain to Berthoud, Colo. The 400-liter gin still and 800-liter whiskey still are part of a new business venture called K.J. Wood Distillers, owned by John Wood and his father Kenneth Wood.

An entrepreneur at heart, John has been involved in several successful busi-ness ventures over the years, but none as close to his heart and home as his new distillery. From the partnership with his father to his family’s historical connec-tions to the spirits he will distill, this business is extra special.

John is a longtime home brewer, but over time he realized that distilling was a great niche business to open in Ber-thoud, and there was another reason he decided to go the distillery route.

“The other big driver was that over the last 10 years or so I’d really ma-

tured or graduated my tastes from beer to whiskey. Whiskey is really just beer grown up,” said John.

The more he learned about whiskey and distilling, the more he loved it. John connected with other local distillers of high-quality spirits and felt as though he fit in well with this collaborative group of individuals.

In addition to whiskey, K.J. Wood Distillers will feature gin, a drink with deep roots in the Wood family.

“My mother’s mother was Assyrian and hails from the northern mountains between Iraq and Turkey. That region produced one of the three more re-nowned juniper berries that were used by the British to create gin,” said John. “That gin came out of India, where one of my British grandfathers was born and raised.”

Both of John’s parents hail from Great Britain, and John has dual citizen-ship. He plans to make three slightly different types of gin designed around his Assyrian connection, the British Raj connection and his father’s parents, who come from the dry gin culture of Great Britain.

“In the first six months the first gin will be released, in the second six months the next one, and then at the 18-month mark the third will be re-leased. At the end of that two-year pe-riod, having marketed each one individu-ally, I will bundle them all together in a three-bottle set, which also harks back to a British tradition from the ‘50s of releasing bottle sets,” said John.

The historical significance of what John is doing is not lost on him, and he hopes to introduce a new generation to the art of great distilling and top-shelf gin. He believes gin is going to have a re-naissance and wants to be on the cutting edge of that revival.

“The first product we’ll produce will be gin, and shortly thereafter we’ll release a white whiskey,” said Wood. “White whiskey is the youngest of the

whiskey-age profiles.”The K.J. Wood Distillers tasting room

will be designed to cater to locals and connoisseurs of high-end spirits. John believes that a fine spirit should lead to moments of quiet reflection, and he hopes his products will provide that ex-perience for successive generations.

In addition to creating first-rates spirits, John wants to build a family-owned company. This small-batch, craft distillery will be designed so that in 10 to 15 years John can bring his children into the business.

John and Marcy Wood have three children and, while they live in south Loveland, all their kids are enrolled in Berthoud schools. Marcy owns ZOGA Wellness, located in the same build-ing as the distillery, at 403 Fifth St. in Berthoud.

“The location of the distillery was im-portant because I didn’t want it to take me away from my family,” said John. “Also, after looking at a map of distill-eries in Colorado, it made sense to open in Berthoud.” John hopes to have his first product bottled and ready for sale in July 2013. You can follow the distillery’s progress on their Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/KJWoodDistillersInc.

Berthoud to get spiritedK.J. Wood Distillers, Inc. set to open this summer

Courtesy photos John Wood looked at a map of distilleries in Colorado and decided Berthoud was the best place for his new business, K.J. Wood Distillers, Inc.

Winterize your new yearBy Pamela GilsenanThe Surveyor

Like it or not, one-two-three winter has arrived. Maybe this is the year to be organized and just enjoy the season. Ev-erything may not go down perfectly, but it will reduce your stress and emergency expenses if you plan ahead.

Ah, yes, the car. We need to get around in the winter, so getting the car checked out is a smart move. Do you need a tune-up before there’s a foot of snow on the ground — or an oil change? What about checking your antifreeze levels? And tires — check, inflate, bal-ance and rotate. Keep the gas tank full too. Where’s your snow brush? Were you planning to use your credit card to scrape off the windshield ice again this year? Emergency supplies are impor-tant even if you don’t plan on getting stranded. Battery cables, a blanket, a jug of water and some power bars don’t really take up too much space. You probably know of a few more items to stash in your trunk.

The house. Inside — check the storm windows or make plastic ones. Test doors for drafts and caulk as neces-sary. Get door mats to keep the dirt and moisture outside. Change your furnace filter and wrap your water heater in a heater blanket if it is an unheated part of your house. Close heater vents and shut off rooms you don’t use. Stock the freezer/pantry so you don’t have to go out in nasty weather to get groceries or supplies. Have emergency supplies in case of a power outage, too. Outside — mow the lawn, mulch the flower beds and plant the bulbs. Cover or put away the BBQ grills, patio furniture and toys. Maybe it is time to find the snow shovel too.

The people — review each family member’s winter and snow apparel for cold resistance, fashion and size. Is it warm, does it fit and is it attractive? Don’t expect kids to wear it if it doesn’t meet those specifications. If your kids help you pick out their winter wear, expect them to wear it. But don’t be suckered into buying clothes so trendy they don’t coordinate with anything else in the closet. Factor in growth potential too. Does everyone have gloves and mit-tens, hats and boots, socks and leggings, pants and sweats? And where is the place they belong when they aren’t be-ing worn? If cost is an issue, look at new ways to find balanced wardrobe pieces. Scour the community for different new and used sources for clothes. Use cou-pons for larger ticket items or negotiate for multiple sets of boots and jackets. Don’t forget used clothing stores and church rummage sales. “Share around” your excess used clothing with friends and family. Or consider taking clothes and winter gear to a consignment shop for a few bucks. Keeping everyone warm and dry all winter could mean less illness and more comfort. With appro-priate warm clothes, gear and shoes you can keep your thermostat several degrees lower too.

These few ideas are to make the rest of the winter season go well. You will still have enough surprises from the cold and snow. Remember winter is sup-posed to be fun.

John’s father Kenneth is part owner in the business and his family’s British and Assyrian roots will influence the distillery’s offerings.