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HOW TO CHOOSE DISTILLERY SOFTWARE YOUR TEAM CAN RELY ON
Distillery software sits at the center of your day. It holds your production records, your inventory, and the data behind every TTB report you file. When your system fits the way you work, compliance becomes a natural part of your routine.
You might be choosing your first system after years of spreadsheets and paper logs or looking for a better fit because your operation has grown. Either way, a feature list or pricing page rarely tells you how a system truly supports you on a busy day. The real test comes once your own data is loaded, and your team starts logging production runs, moving inventory, and pulling reports.
Here are six things distillers should expect from their software, and how we’ve built DISTILL x 5to deliver them.
1. REAL- TIME PRODUCTION TRACKING THAT KEEPS PACE WITH YOUR DAY
Your production day happens one step at a time, and your records should keep pace. Dx5 records your work in real time, the way it actually happens. Start a mash first thing in the morning, log each step as you go, and close it out accurately later in the day, without saving everything for an end-of-day data entry session.
That same flow carries across your whole operation. Dx5 follows your spirits from grain to bottle, so recipes, batches, vessel transfers, bottling runs, and barrel inventory each connect naturally to the next step, the same way they do on your floor. Your records stay current throughout the day, giving you an accurate, up-to-the-minute view of what’s happening in your distillery.
2. VISUAL TRACKING FOR VESSELS, BATCHES, AND INVENTORY
Distillers tend to think in vessels, batches, and barrels, and your software should show you exactly that. Dx5 offers both infographic and list views. You can see what’s in each vessel and where every batch stands at a glance, then switch to a list view when you want the finer details.
When your screens mirror your floor, finding your way around becomes second nature. You can spot what needs attention, click right into it, and get back to work with nothing to memorize along the way. Whether you’re currently tracking production in spreadsheets or working in a system that feels like row after row of database forms, a clearer view of your work is within reach.
3. EASY-TO-LEARN TTB COMPLIANCE FOR NEW AND VETERAN DISTILLERS
Some craft distilleries run lean, and roles can shift over time. A new hire might take over inventory while an owner might log in once a month to run TTB reports. Your software should work for everyone on your team, regardless of their role.
Dx5 is built so anyone who understands distilling can open it and find their way. The visual layout clearly shows how production activity flows into compliance records, which makes the logic behind TTB reporting easier to grasp. Distillers of all experience levels can jump in, see how everything is recorded, and pull what they need without a long refresher.
This makes cross-training simpler and keeps your operation steady when your team takes on new roles.
4. SUPPORT FROM A FAMILIAR, IN-HOUSE TEAM
Great software is only half of the picture. When a question comes up in the middle of a production day, the support team you rely on matters just as much. Our support and development teams are in-house and US based. Nothing is outsourced, and everyone who supports customers or builds DISTILL x 5 works for FIVE x 5. On average, our team members have been with us for more than four and a half years.
Every member of our team, developers included, is trained in both the distilling industry and Dx5 itself. So, when you call or email, you reach someone who understands how your distillery runs and how your operation uses the software. Our team typically replies to support requests within 20 minutes during business hours, and you’ll work with the same team from your first demo onward, so the faces helping you are familiar ones.
And because support and development work closely together, your feedback reaches our developers directly. As Ian Bento of Kō Hana Distillers puts it, “The customer service team at FIVE x 5 was, and continues to be, a superb partner.”
That industry perspective goes back to the start of FIVE x 5’s history. Fx5 started inside a distillery, when a general manager-built software to make his own job easier, and it still shapes how we build Dx5 today.
5. GUIDED SETUP AND DATA MIGRATION, EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
Getting set up on new software can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re bringing records over from another system or transitioning off spreadsheets, you shouldn’t have to manage it alone. When you choose Dx5, our team guides you through your setup step by step, including bringing over your existing records. On go-live day, we handle your starting inventory upload and confirm everything is ready before you begin.
Support continues well after launch:
- A check-in session a few weeks after go-live to answer questions and fine-tune your setup
- Live sessions every week, plus recorded walkthroughs you can watch anytime
- Help articles and training resources for every part of the system
- Complimentary tax classes for any team member seeking a deeper understanding of TTB reporting
And if your team needs a little more time before go-live, just let us know. The schedule works around your operation.
6. AUDIT-READY RECORDS AND COMPLIANCE YOU CAN TRUST
Compliance is one thing you want to feel completely confident about. Dx5 tracks your daily operations as they happen; your monthly TTB reports are already built when it’s time to file, so all that’s left is to verify and submit. Daily production logs help you stay on top of lesser-known CFR requirements, too.
Every action in the system is tracked and organized, giving you a consistent, audit-ready record across months and years of production. And if an audit does come up, our team can connect you with our partner consultants, who have the expertise to guide you through it.
A QUICK CHECKLIST FOR YOUR NEXT DISTILLERY SOFTWARE EVALUATION
Whether you’re choosing your first system, reviewing the one you have, or comparing options, answering these questions can help you find the right fit:
- Does it record your work in real time, following each stage of production from grain to bottle?
- Can you run as many distillation and redistillation passes as a spirit needs, without restarting the production run, and are they reported correctly?
- Does it track your raw materials, including fermentables, and connect that inventory directly to your production reports?
- Could a new team member or a once-a-month user find their way without much help?
- Is support handled by an in-house team that understands your work?
- Will someone guide your setup and stay with you after go-live?
- Does it keep audit-ready records and compile your TTB reports from daily entries, ready to copy into Pay.gov without re-entering numbers by hand?
Want to see for yourself how DISTILL x 5 answers each of these questions? Schedule a demo with our team to see it live in action.
