The Master
Distiller
Joal Wolf was born to be a distiller.
Literally.
Joal spent his childhood watching his father, owner of Conneaut Cellars Winery, hand-craft wines; during the 80’s and 90’s, he learned the craft from his father, and developed the passion – and the palette – for fine beverages. As a young man, Joal’s wine education brought him to Europe, where he developed a deep appreciation for local winemaking, and a true understanding of what the French call terroir – the profound influence that a region’s soil, water, elevation and climate have on the beverages produced there.
When Conneaut Cellars launched the first distillery in the Lake Erie region since Prohibition, Joal’s education continued. After receiving formal training from the American Distilling Institute in Louisville, Kentucky and Cornell University’s distilling education program, Joal began crafting a wide range of spirits – vodkas, rums, brandys, and bourbons. Joal’s spirits have won numerous regional and national awards, including a Gold Medal at the 2020 Denver International Spirits Competition and a Double Gold at the 2020 Seattle International Spirits Competition.
A true son of Pennsylvania, Joal is dedicated to producing a rye whiskey that holds true to the original recipes and craftsmanship dating back to the 18th century.
His work at Meadville Distilling is both a throwback to an older time, and a revolutionary approach to the distilling industry. Meadville Rye is real Pennsylvania whiskey, made from Pennsylvania-grown grains, distilled in the northwest corner of the Commonwealth.