Master distiller leaves Idaho for Hawaii

Bill Scott

Rigby's loss is Maui's gain. Bill Scott, the master distiller behind such brands as Blue Ice Vodka, American Harvest Organic Spirit, Square One, and 44 Degrees North, has taken a job with Hawaii Sea Spirits, in Kula, Hawaii, on the island of Maui.

“(Bill) has mentored me for the past ten years as we took Ocean Vodka from concept to market,” Shay Smith, the company's CEO. While Blue Ice and Teton Glacier were made from Idaho potatoes, Ocean Vodka is made from organic sugar cane and deep ocean mineral water, sourced from a depth of 3,000 feet off the Kona Coast of Hawaii.

For more than a decade at a re-purposed gasohol plant in Jefferson County, Scott distinguished himself as an industry leader in white spirits production (fermentation and distillation), spirits flavoring systems and innovative product development.  During his 18-year spirits career, he has developed award-winning flavoring systems for over 20 premium and ultra-premium distilled spirits brands winning many best-of-the-best ratings in domestic and international competitions.

Where this leaves the Idaho operation is up in the air. "We are helping where we can," he said. "The crew I had in place is the best in the business, I just hope they get the right leadership rolling soon."