What happens when a grandfather doesn’t let his granddaughter eat the olives from his martini? She has a conniption.
That’s the story Lee Katrincic '06G tells of how he and his wife, Melissa, named their brand of gin. Conniption was what Melissa’s grandmother called the fit the little girl would have if she didn’t get an olive.
“Our Conniption is a fit of inspiration,” says Katrincic.
Inspiration Strikes
Melissa was often suggesting different business opportunities to her husband. It was their mutual love of gin, their complementary skill sets, her entrepreneurial spirit, and a desire to work together that gave life to Durham Distillery, a gin distillery they launched in 2014 in Durham, North Carolina.
“She has a lot of drive and motivation and is very determined,” Katrincic says of his wife. He remembers that originally he imagined himself working for a pharmaceutical company for 30–40 years and retiring. But her persistence won him over.
“In 2013, we were on an anniversary trip in Savannah, Georgia, and she came out of nowhere and said ‘Why don't we make gin?’” says Katrincic. “I pretty much laughed at her.”
After Melissa found a few courses teaching the science and business of making and selling gin, it started to feel more possible for Katrincic. “In 2013, we went to a class in Chicago at a distillery there that was a long weekend to teach you everything involved to get into the business — there is a lot that goes into it. There are regulations, finances, equipment …” Katrincic pauses as his list trails off. “We said, ‘This is the point where we do this or move on.’”
They determined the venture was worth the challenge, and Lee knew he had the right partner. Once he was sold on the idea, he began tinkering with ways to make a product that would stand out among the rest, lending his chemistry background to the mission.
The Science of Success
Both husband and wife have scientific backgrounds. Katrincic is a chemist with a bachelor’s from Penn State and master’s from Lehigh who gained his experience working in the pharmaceutical industry. Melissa earned her physics degree from Bryn Mawr College and studied physics and astrophysics at the University of Edinburgh before earning her master’s certificate in project management from Villanova University. She found her footing in a successful marketing career for companies like Wyeth and Burt’s Bees.
“She’s been doing digital marketing since 1997 and has more business acumen than me. She's our CEO, and I handle the operations side. We always wanted to own a business together.”
Katrincic flexed his chemistry muscles and aimed to create a modern gin. He developed a new cold vacuum distillation process to “treat botanicals the way they were meant to be treated.”
Katrincic says his product offers something for old and new gin lovers. “We are trying to change misconceptions about gin. It doesn't have to have the juniper punch like you are licking a pine tree. People are surprised when they have our gin. We are proud to convert a lot of vodka folks over to gin.” His favorite compliment is when a customer tells him: “We never liked gin until we had your gin."
Better Together
“This is an industry where neither of us knew very much about it, and now she's one of the top female distillers in the country,” Katrincic beams. In addition to being one of the only U.S. females in the U.K. Gin Guild, Melissa is one of the few female gin judges for the American Craft Spirits Association.
They have made a name for themselves in the gin world, earning a 96/100 score from the the Beverage Tasting Institute, an impressive score outranked by only two other gins in the world. Then, in 2017, they received a Double Gold Award at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for Conniption Navy Strength Gin, which led to Constellation Brands realizing their worth and joining as a minority investor, increasing their presence across the country. They are now in 16 states and have cocktails in Disney properties.
“We also just signed a deal to be the official gin of the Florida Panthers,” says Katrincic, pointing to his Florida Panthers T-shirt.
More Than Stellar Gin
The business the husband/wife team has built is more than a product — they deliver hospitality as well. You can visit Durham Distillery, located near Durham Athletic Park where the 1988 film Bull Durham was filmed. The Katrincics offer distillery tours and tastings and opened a cocktail bar in the basement of their distillery in 2020.
The basement space once housed a pine coffin shop, so they aptly named it Corpse Reviver where you can get a selection of martinis, a signature gin and tonic, or one of many other creations, like the Corpse Reviver #2: a nitrogen-infused cocktail with Conniption American Dry Gin, Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Cocchi Americano Absinthe, and lemon. They offer a selection of small bites to complement the drinks and dessert cocktails to complete the menu.
They are proud to have built their family (including two teenage boys) and business in Durham, a city they weren’t born into but have fallen in love with. “We are in an area where the people are very proud of their local establishments,” says Katrincic “We see a lot of people bring their family and friends here around Christmas. They have the same pride we do in what we’ve created here.”
In This Image: Conniption Kinship G&T is made with a specially crafted Elderflower House Tonic that perfectly complements Conniption Kinship Gin.
In This Image: The French 75 was named after a gun known for its accuracy and speed. The drink is said to have such a kick that it feels like being hit by that weapon. Durham Distillery’s French 75 de Violette is made with Conniption Kinship.
In This Image: The dry gin martini is undeniably iconic and epitomizes sophistication, blending crisp gin with a touch of dry vermouth. Durham Distillery’s House Dry Martini with Conniption American Dry Gin is featured on the menu at its onsite cocktail bar.
In This Image: The Dirty Martini with Bacon and Bleu Cheese Stuffed Olives featuring Conniption Navy Strength is always featured on Durham Distillery’s menu at its cocktail bar.
In This Image: The Army & Navy cocktail combines Conniption Navy Strength Gin with bright citrus and savory spices for a delicious gin classic. This is part of the Tiki Menu for Summer 2024 at Durham Distillery’s cocktail bar, Corpse Reviver.
In This Image: Durham Distiller’s Suffering Bastard features Conniption American Dry Gin, Calvados brandy, Demerara syrup, ginger beer, Angostura bitters, and lime. It is served in a Green Face Tiki Mug for a limited time in Summer 2024 as part of the Corpse Reviver Tiki Menu.
In This Image: The Scorpion Bowl served at the Corpse Reviver on the Tiki Menu through the Summer of 2024 serves two to four people and features Conniption American Dry Gin, Diplomático Anejo rum, brandy, Orgeat syrup, Demerara syrup, orange, and lime.
In This Image: The Tasting Room at Durham Distillery offers quick tours Wednesday through Sunday. Distillery tours are also available Saturdays and Sundays through reservations on the website.
In This Image: With a B.S. in chemistry from Penn State University and a master’s from Lehigh University, Lee Katrincic developed the vacuum distilled process unique to Conniption Gin.
