During Prohibition, the logistics of moving alcohol included smuggling barrels of whiskey in secret compartments, barreling down unpaved rural roads at high speeds, and concealing bootlegged booze in gas tanks. One hundred years later, transporting alcohol is a far less precarious endeavor. The Albany Distilling Company, founded in 2011 and producers of Ironweed Whiskey, Quackenbush Rum, and ALB Vodka, partners with Shaker Logistics as its transporter of choice. We caught up with owner John Curtis and his team to talk about their success and the unique transportation needs of the alcohol industry.
Shaking Up the Beverage Industry
The Albany Distilling Company, or ADCo, has become a big part of their namesake’s small city charm. Through a focus on quality and affordability, as well as partnerships with other upstate New York businesses like Nine Pin Cider Works and Death Wish Coffee, ADCo has established themselves well in their home market. A partnership with Jet Blue Airlines took them into the skies, and their ALB Vodka is now served on all Jet Blue Flights.
Their success didn’t come without weathering industry challenges. Shifting demand makes it difficult to forecast their production needs, and the supply of raw materials is constantly in flux.
“We’re here because we’re gritty,” John said. “We’ve got a remarkable and committed team behind us, which has allowed us to take advantage of the good times and weather the lean times. We’ve truly been very fortunate for that.”
Liquor Logistics Solutions, Served Neat
As John and his team work around supply challenges, they often face a frustrating barrier to reaching their customer base: transportation. Lucien Schallehn, Head Distiller & Production Manager at ADCo, spoke with us about the difficulties of shipping alcohol.
“Transporting alcohol is unlike anything else. There aren’t many carriers who have the license to do it. Sometimes we’re working with a carrier and don’t find out they can’t move our product until it’s too late. But Shaker takes care of it, and it’s wonderful.”
Behind the scenes, Shaker’s team works hard to help ADCo reach their customers.
“There are a lot of legalities to navigate when it comes to transporting alcohol, and it can be too much for a shipper to manage on their own,” said Maggie McKeever, logistics associate at Shaker. “It’s our job to look deeper into these challenges to find a solution that isn’t costly or time consuming for the customer. Most of the time, our customers don’t realize that we’ve spent hours researching markets, negotiating with carriers, or getting details from receivers to make their shipment a success. We keep them updated, but make sure they don’t have to worry about the details.”
Shaker’s team studied alcohol transportation laws to determine the best way to move ADCo’s product with minimal impact on the way ADCo runs their operation. Maggie and the team found that to move a truckload of alcohol across state lines, the driver needs to have alcohol permits in each state they pass through. Carriers with alcohol permits are rare, and paying a carrier to get the appropriate permits for each run could cost the shipper extra money and time. Backed by years of experience shipping specialized freight and a nationwide network of trusted carrier partners, our team created a custom less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation solution that worked.
LTL carriers are subject to different regulations than full truckload carriers and can transport alcohol across state lines in certain quantities without state-specific permitting. Shaker assists ADCo with breaking their full truckloads down into separate, smaller shipments for uninterrupted transit across the country, and provides real-time tracking links for a stress-free experience.
Cheers to a Trusting Partnership
From the heart of New York State to international shores (Shaker even helped send an ocean container’s worth of ALB Vodka to Israel), the Albany Distilling Company isn’t done growing. They are currently working on plans to double their footprint and build a new facility from scratch, customizing the space to better serve their production and logistics needs. As their production increases, Shaker will remain a steadfast partner providing inventive logistics solutions that support their growth.
“Our relationship with Shaker is better than any we’ve had with any other logistics company,” said Lucien. “Their customer service is fantastic, and they offer more services than any other partner we’ve tried. Their reliability means a lot to our operation. Shaker has helped us overcome a lot of roadblocks in the past, and it’s only going to get busier from here.”
Don’t let tricky logistics needs put you on the rocks. Partner with Shaker Logistics today to experience inventive transportation solutions!