Some revolutions begin with a spark. For Edwin Van Eijk, it started with a question. Why was distilling still stuck in the past?

Before founding iStill, Edwin built a successful career as a change manager, helping companies navigate operational shifts. He was good at it, comfortable in the world of spreadsheets, systems, and strategy. But distilling had captured his imagination. It started as a hobby, something to tinker with on weekends. The more he immersed himself in the craft, the more he realized how outdated the tools were. Copper stills, manual processes, and vague traditions didn’t align with the precision and efficiency he knew were possible.

“I couldn’t find a still that solved all my issues,” Edwin recalls. “The only way forward was designing my own.” That decision didn’t just change his life; it changed an industry. What began as a personal project turned into a global movement. Today, iStill is a market leader, empowering distillers around the world with cutting-edge technology and a fresh perspective.

Edwin’s engineering mindset has always been his compass. He doesn’t romanticize tradition for tradition’s sake. “We’ve left horse carriages behind,” he says. “Everyone has a tiny computer in their pocket. Why are we still treating distilling like ancient magic?” His approach is rooted in logic, but it’s also deeply human. He believes in making things better, not just for the sake of innovation, but to help people thrive.

That belief is evident in every iStill product. The company’s modular stills allow producers to scale without starting over. The technology is 70% more energy efficient and doesn’t require constant supervision, making it ideal for one-person operations. “In many cases,” Edwin notes, “they’re stealing the awards from big distilleries with a lot of employees.”

But for Edwin, the fire isn’t just in the tech, it’s in the craft. He still remembers his first distillation run as “love at first sight,” and that passion hasn’t faded. Though his role as CEO leaves little time for hands-on distilling, he finds joy in tasting his own whiskies, aged patiently in casks. More than that, he channels his energy into helping others. Through recipe development and feedback, he guides customers toward excellence. “It’s rewarding,” he says, “to receive photos from happy customers holding their best spirit awards proudly.”

That sense of purpose extends beyond spirits. When an investor approached Edwin to design a coffee roaster, he didn’t hesitate. Though he had no background in roasting, his fresh perspective led to the creation of the DirectRoaster—an energy-efficient machine capable of roasting coffee, malts, grains, and nuts. “It began as a favor,” he recalls, “but quickly turned into a passion project.” The DirectRoaster, like iStill, challenges convention and invites transformation.

Edwin’s journey hasn’t been without risk. In the early days, he had just enough capital to build one still. Each sale funded the next. At one point, he sat down with his wife and proposed selling their house to finance the first batch. “I’m a family man,” he says. “It was a tough choice. The uncertainty, while four children are depending on you, felt logical, yet unprecedented.” That vulnerability, rarely spoken about in success stories, is part of what makes Edwin’s path so compelling. It’s not just about vision, it’s about courage.

Today, iStill is the market leader in the United States. In some countries, 100% of distilleries use iStill machines. Edwin travels the world, teaching courses and consulting with producers. “Having employees around me, seeing the company grow—it felt surreal and humbling,” he reflects. But he’s not resting on laurels. iStill is evolving into an innovation hub, launching products like the StoneStove—a soapstone-based heating system that stores solar energy and radiates warmth evenly. It’s a bold step into sustainable living, and one that reflects Edwin’s broader mission: to create technologies that serve people and the planet.

Looking ahead, Edwin is preparing to release his own whisky—aged, perfected, and offered in limited batches. “I’m proud of that recipe,” he says. “People are blown away by it.”

At his core, Edwin is still an inventor. Operational responsibilities may pull him away from the workshop, but his heart remains in creation. He’s committed to mentoring other entrepreneurs, helping them unlock their potential and bring their ideas to life. “My door was and still is wide open,” he says. “Guiding others reflects my main mission: enabling more innovative ideas to become reality.”

It’s rare to find a leader who blends technical brilliance with emotional intelligence, who sees business not just as profit but as possibility. Edwin Van Eijk is that kind of leader. His story is not just about distilling spirits, it’s about distilling purpose, passion, and progress into every endeavor. And in doing so, he’s not just changing an industry. He’s inspiring a generation.

From the moment he traded spreadsheets for spirits, Edwin has been driven by a quiet conviction: that things can be better, smarter, more inclusive. He didn’t set out to be a disruptor, but his refusal to accept outdated norms made him one. And now, with iStill’s technology in distilleries across the globe, his influence is undeniable.

What makes Edwin’s journey so compelling isn’t just the innovation, it’s the intention. He’s not chasing trends or headlines. He’s building tools that empower others, that make excellence accessible, that turn passion into possibility. Whether it’s a small producer in an emerging market or a seasoned distiller looking to refine their craft, Edwin meets them with the same commitment: to help them succeed.

And that’s the heart of it. Edwin Van Eijk isn’t just a CEO. He’s a mentor, a maker, a man who saw a problem and built a solution, not just for himself, but for everyone who shares his love of the craft. His legacy won’t be measured in machines sold or awards won, but in the thousands of spirits poured around the world, each one a testament to his vision.

In a world that often celebrates speed and spectacle, Edwin reminds us of the power of patience, precision, and purpose. He’s not just building stills. He’s building a future—one batch, one breakthrough, one bold idea at a time.