cris steller

Cris Steller is a founding partner at Aurum Sierra Inc. and American Mule Consulting. Cris has launched distilleries and brands for the past 12 years and has an intimate knowledge of all the pitfalls that are associated with these endeavors. That paired with his knowledge of regulations has made him into one of the premier minds in the spirits industry.

In 2016 Dry Diggings Distillery expanded with the acquisition of Amador Distillery and the Engine 49 brands. This new company is now Aurum Sierra, Inc. and operates out of El Dorado Hills, California. While building the Dry Diggings Distillery, it became apparent there was a need for an organization representing the distilling industry in California. In 2012 the California Artisanal Distillers Guild was founded in Sacramento. Years of working in the nonprofit and trade association industry helped Cris establish and write the by-laws of the guild with 5 founding craft distillers. To date the CADG has passed 4 major pieces of legislation AB #933 in 2013, AB #1233 in 2015, AB #1293 in 2016 and SB #1164 in 2018.