🎙️ From Filmmakers To Whiskey Trailblazers: Anna Axster + Wendelin von Schroder
Wed Nov 19 2025
Two cousins. Countless miles. One bold mission: bring whiskey to a new generation - and a new audience.
In this episode of The Whiskey Hue, we sit down with AnnaAxster and Wendelin von Schroder, founders of Lodestar Whiskey, who went from filmmakers turned accidental music execs - running their own label and touring America - to building a whiskey brand that’s rewriting the rules.
They share how green-room pours with country starsturned into a full-blown love affair with the craft: from the viscosity and sweetness of their high-rye bourbon and single-malt blend, to why color, flavor, and texture aren’t accidents.
We dive deep into what it takes to source barrels, launch in Southern California, and build community before chasing sales.
And we talk representation - why it’s time whiskey spoke to women who’ve been left out of the conversation for far too long. It’s smooth. It’s fiery. It’s full of heart - just like the whiskey itself.
Pour a glass, hit play, and discover how these two arelighting a new path in the world of spirits.
EPISODE TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intros
04:30 Lodestar Quick Intro
06:12 But First! Their Music Industry Escapades
13:30 Where the Whiskey Love began – First sips with Dads, to Green Rooms of Country Stars
17:50 Blended Whiskeys: consistency
20:53 Bringing Women into the World of Whiskey
24:22 Flavor, Color, Texture, Not by Accident.
27:22 What makes a Bourbon a Bourbon?
30:00 Sourcing the Barrels
33:00 Critical Mass for Sales
37:00 Launch a Whiskey, Build a Community First
42:50 Representation Matters To Women Consumers
53:00 Burn some Oak, taste some Vanilla
57:00 Flaviar: Whiskey Club
1:02:00 Anna and Wendelin celebrate their industry peersThis episode is part of the ‘Prof P’ series on the Whiskey Hue Stream. Recorded in part for my Fordham Gabelli students.
Please Rate, Review, Subscribe and Share with a Friend! Means a lot to us - thank YOU!
For more info on:1. Venture, Tech, Sports and Investing, visit: AtulPrashar | LinkedIn
2. Learn Venture Capital Investing for less than a dinner in NYC: “VC: IdeationThrough Execution”: https://tinyurl.com/APsVCCourse
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Two cousins. Countless miles. One bold mission: bring whiskey to a new generation - and a new audience. In this episode of The Whiskey Hue, we sit down with AnnaAxster and Wendelin von Schroder, founders of Lodestar Whiskey, who went from filmmakers turned accidental music execs - running their own label and touring America - to building a whiskey brand that’s rewriting the rules. They share how green-room pours with country starsturned into a full-blown love affair with the craft: from the viscosity and sweetness of their high-rye bourbon and single-malt blend, to why color, flavor, and texture aren’t accidents. We dive deep into what it takes to source barrels, launch in Southern California, and build community before chasing sales. And we talk representation - why it’s time whiskey spoke to women who’ve been left out of the conversation for far too long. It’s smooth. It’s fiery. It’s full of heart - just like the whiskey itself. Pour a glass, hit play, and discover how these two arelighting a new path in the world of spirits. EPISODE TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intros 04:30 Lodestar Quick Intro 06:12 But First! Their Music Industry Escapades 13:30 Where the Whiskey Love began – First sips with Dads, to Green Rooms of Country Stars 17:50 Blended Whiskeys: consistency 20:53 Bringing Women into the World of Whiskey 24:22 Flavor, Color, Texture, Not by Accident. 27:22 What makes a Bourbon a Bourbon? 30:00 Sourcing the Barrels 33:00 Critical Mass for Sales 37:00 Launch a Whiskey, Build a Community First 42:50 Representation Matters To Women Consumers 53:00 Burn some Oak, taste some Vanilla 57:00 Flaviar: Whiskey Club 1:02:00 Anna and Wendelin celebrate their industry peersThis episode is part of the ‘Prof P’ series on the Whiskey Hue Stream. Recorded in part for my Fordham Gabelli students. Please Rate, Review, Subscribe and Share with a Friend! Means a lot to us - thank YOU! For more info on:1. Venture, Tech, Sports and Investing, visit: AtulPrashar | LinkedIn 2. Learn Venture Capital Investing for less than a dinner in NYC: “VC: IdeationThrough Execution”: https://tinyurl.com/APsVCCourse