DAVID MANDELL

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer

David Mandell is the co-founder and CEO of Kentucky Whiskey House.
Prior to founding Whiskey House, Mandell was the co-founder and former President & CEO of The Bardstown Bourbon Company, (“BBCo”). At BBCo, Mandell created, launched, and managed the company’s Napa-valley bourbon distillery destination experience in Bardstown, Kentucky. Mandell led the development and operation of what is now one of the largest and most sophisticated whiskey distilleries in the United States – – producing custom rye, whiskey and bourbon for prominent brands including Jefferson’s, High West, Belle Meade, Hirsch and many others through its one-of-a-kind Collaborative Distilling Program. Mandell was also responsible for the development and launch of the Company’s bourbon brands, full-scale restaurant and bar, and visitors center. During his tenure at BBCo, Mandell served on the Board of the Kentucky Distillers Association, the Bourbon Capital Community Alliance, and currently serves as the Chairman of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival Board of Directors. Mandell achieved a successful exit when the Company was sold to Pritzker Private Capital in March 2022.

Prior to founding and leading The Bardstown Bourbon Company, Mandell was the founder, President & CEO of The p.i.n.k. Spirits Company, where he developed, created, and launched the first line of ultra-premium spirits infused with caffeine and guarana. Mandell and his team built an organization of 27 full-time employees, achieved distribution in 44 states and five international markets, sold over 75,000 4.5 L cases of p.i.n.k. vodka in 3 years. The Company was awarded the prestigious “Rising Star Growth Brand” Award from the Beverage Information Group in 2008 and 2009 and was named “Top 50 Spirits” and one of the “12 Most Fascinating Vodkas” by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. The p.i.n.k. Spirits Company was successfully sold in May 2009.

Prior to founding p.i.n.k., Mandell was the Chief of Staff to Administrator, Marion C. Blakey, of the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) in Washington, DC. In this role, he was responsible for helping to lead the day-to-day management of the Federal Aviation Administration — a 50,000-person organization, with a 14-billion-dollar budget. Mandell was a key advisor to the Administrator on all policy, press, legal, and management issues and helped lead the development and execution of the first five-year strategic business plan for the agency that tied organizational goals to employees’ pay. Before joining the FAA, Mandell was Counsel to the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board and a corporate litigator at the law firm of Blank Rome in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

John Hargrove

Co-Founder, President & Chief Operating Officer

John Hargrove is the co-founder, President, and COO of Whiskey House of Kentucky. 

Prior to founding Whiskey House, John served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Bardstown Bourbon Company (“BBC”). Joining the company in 2017, John led a distilling team of more than 50 operations employees with an average of more than 15 years each of direct whiskey making experience. During his tenure at BBC, John was responsible for leading the development of the company’s Collaborative Distilling Program, expanding the distillery from 25,000 barrels to more than 115,000, successfully implementing HAACP and ISO certifications, while greatly improving efficiency, brand development, product innovation, process improvement, capacity expansion, and project management. 

Before joining BBC, John served as a Master Distiller and Director of Distillation Operations and Quality Assurance for Sazerac at Barton’s 1792 Distillery. John started with Sazerac as the Quality/Continuous Improvement Manager and quickly rose through the ranks, where he discovered and leveraged his passion for whiskey, bourbon, and rye production. 

John began his manufacturing career at Quaker Oats/PepsiCo, where he had the opportunity to focus on innovation, process improvement and project management. Prior to PepsiCo, John served in United States Army and Special Forces from 2004 to 2012. As a decorated Green Beret, John was a member of  the 5th Special Forces Group in OCONUS and CONUS operations. He successfully completed advanced special operations training in the following areas: Combat Diver Qualification Course in Key West, Combat Dive Supervisor Course, Air Assault School, Airborne School, SERE school, Special Forces Qualification Course, and at the JFK Special Warfare Training Language School, where he learned Arabic. 

John is the recipient of numerous awards and certifications, including the U.S. Army Commendation Medal, Global Defense on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal. Since serving in the military, John garnered a number of other awards and designations, including a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification, Lean Six Sigma Kaizen Certification, and ISO 9001/22000 Food Safety Certification. In 2014, John was recognized by Quaker Oats/Frito Lay/PepsiCo at the annual meeting in Dallas with a Resource Conservation Award as America Foods Supply Chain Sustainability Quaker Resource Person of the Year as well as a Research and Development Special Recognition award from Frito Lay. An Eagle Scout with the Bronze and Gold Palms, John is also a recipient of MO House and Senate Proclamations for scouting in addition to other awards. 

A graduate of the University of Missouri, John actively participated in study abroad programs in the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece and Turkey. Born in Saudi Arabia, John spent his youth in the Midwest. He currently resides in Bardstown KY, The Bourbon Capital of The World. 

DANIEL LINDE

Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer

Dan Linde is the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Whiskey House of Kentucky.

Prior to Whiskey House of Kentucky, Dan was the CFO, COO, and co-founder of the Bardstown Bourbon Company, a leading contract bourbon distiller, a producer of an award-winning brand and a destination on Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail. Dan’s responsibilities included forecasting, operational oversight, business development and strategy. 

Dan has more than 20 years’ experience in senior financial roles including CFO of Northeast Drinks Group, makers of Woodchuck Cider and importers of Magners Cider, Finance Director of Wonderbly, a Google-backed edutainment company; CFO and COO of the Pink Spirits Company, producer of the first line of caffeine infused spirits; and CFO of RF Logics, Inc., the US subsidiary of a Korean security equipment manufacturer. Dan has raised more than $200 million of seed and growth capital in his career. He has distinguished himself in entrepreneurial situations exhibiting good P&L discipline while scaling operations.

Dan began his career in investment banking at USBX Advisory Services, now part of Imperial Capital, where he rose to the rank of Senior Associate.

Dan graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis and holds an MBA in Finance from Pepperdine University.

ROBERT HELMER JR.

Chief Financial Officer

Robert Helmer is the Chief Financial Officer at Whiskey House of Kentucky.

Robert arrived at Whiskey House of Kentucky with nearly two decades of finance expertise, and 15 years specifically honed within the alcohol beverage industry.

Before assuming his role at Whiskey House of Kentucky, Robert sat as the CFO & Treasurer at Trefethen Family Vineyards in Napa, CA. Here, he strategically leveraged his extensive background in finance, technology, and industry connections to strategically position the winery for future growth and scalability. Under his stewardship, Trefethen Family Vineyards embraced cutting-edge software solutions, facilitating swifter reporting, immaculate data integrity, and unparalleled budgeting precision, fostering transparency and propelling growth.

Robert’s career also includes senior financial positions at The Hess Collection Winery and Don Sebastiani & Sons International Wine Négociants. A graduate of Sonoma State University with a BA in Business Administration, Robert kickstarted his professional journey in Audit & Advisory services at KPMG.

Robert established his reputation of disrupting the traditional paradigms of the CFO role by introducing next-generation methodologies, technology, and insights, thereby upholding the pinnacle of financial controls and reporting integrity. His initiatives in automation and data-driven decision-making consistently lead operational efficiency and strategic foresight.

Beyond his corporate endeavors, Robert is deeply involved in his community, providing financial and strategic counsel to small enterprises and aspiring entrepreneurs. He serves on the board of various local churches and non-profit organizations, reflecting his commitment to serving others and fostering positive change well beyond the boardroom.

Jim Hunger

Director, Operations

Jim Hunger is the Director of Operations at Whiskey House of Kentucky.

Jim has 22 years of distillery experience and 31 years of manufacturing experience.

Prior to working at Whiskey House, Jim was the distillery manager at the
Sazerac Barton 1792 Distillery. Starting this position in 2016, Jim lead Barton through the startup of a new dryhouse, expansion of the distillery, and upgrade of a boiler house. Jim played a significant role in achieving ISO certification in 9001 and 22000, increasing efficiency to exceed the planned production, and upgrading equipment. Barton went from producing 7 million proof gallons per year to 12.6 million in the seven years that Jim was with Barton’s.  

Before his time at Barton, Jim worked at Jim Beam of Clermont, Kentucky. Jim started as a 3rd shift supervisor and his drive to excel lead him to be promoted to the senior supervisor position. Jim learned the art of distilling from the team, having hands on training with the operators and some of the great leaders of the Jim Beam plant. Jim implemented many improvements for better quality and efficiency at Jim Beam, helping the distillery become ISO certified in 9001, 22000 and 18001.

Jim’s first job in manufacturing was as an operator at ICI explosives in North Bend, Ohio manufacturing commercial blasting agents. His attention to detail and drive for results helped him rise in the company. He was eventually transferred to a new facility in Charlestown, Ind. where he oversaw the bulk production and bagging operation of many types of blasting agents. Jim found many improvements that eliminated most of a 3rd shift production.

Jim has a business degree from Indiana University. He lives in Bardstown with his wife Jennifer of 28 years and their dog Max. They enjoy traveling, camping, and spending time at the Bourbon City Bark Park.

Roger Henley

 Vice President, Engineering & Technology

Roger E. Henley II is the Vice President, Engineering & Technology at Whiskey House of Kentucky.

At Whiskey House, Roger is leading the company’s innovation and efficiency strategies and creating an infrastructure that promotes sustainable growth, highly efficient process solutions, and stakeholder empowerment. This fully integrated manufacturing control system will enable Whiskey House to collect, contextualize, and analyze data that will enable the continual improvement of efficiency and automation.

Roger is an expert in the areas of automation, process control, system integration, and networking with an emphasis on digital transformation. His approach, rooted in agile and continuous improvement, has allowed him to tap into new technologies to devise systems which create actionable insights, enhancing both current and future states of the distillery business.

Roger started his journey in the distillery industry at Sazerac’s Barton 1792 Distillery as the facility process control engineer. Following Barton, Roger joined the Bardstown Bourbon Company, as the Director of Engineering where he played a crucial role in the company’s rapid expansion. His efforts towards data-driven decision-making and process efficiency led to the company winning multiple awards. 

Roger’s innovative contributions to the industry earned him numerous accolades, including the 2023 Microsoft Start-up Grant for business innovation, the 2022 Energy Star Project of the Year award, the 2021 UofL Douglas C. Griffen Environmental Sustainability award, and a 2020 Ignition Discovery award for his work on the SCADA, MES, and IMS systems implemented at BBC.  Recognized by his peers as a subject matter expert in process control, automation, spent grains processing, and sustainability, Roger Henley continues to push the boundaries, driving the American Whiskey industry towards a future defined by data-driven decision-making and sustainable practices.

Roger’s commitment extends beyond his professional life. He’s a regular contributor to the American Lung Association and the Boy Scouts of America, demonstrating his dedication to community service and philanthropy.

Georgine MacLeod

Compliance & Administrative Manager

Georgine joined Whiskey House of Kentucky in February 2024 as the Compliance & Administrative Manager. She has over 35 years of experience in Compliance and Executive Administration.

Most recently, Georgine worked as a Project Coordinator for Buzick Construction. 

Before joining Buzick, Georgine spent 18 years with Sazerac and the Barton 1792 Distillery, where she held several roles, including as Barton’s Regulatory & Administration Coordinator for over 15 years and three years as Sazerac’s Capital Project Program Coordinator. 

During her tenure, Georgine gained vast knowledge and experience with the regulatory requirements of the bourbon industry. She also became well-versed in the processes and procedures of Distillery Operations, Barrel Storage, Regauge, Processing, Bottling, and Finished Goods. 

Over the years, Georgine managed and coordinated multiple key functions throughout the plant, in partnership with the Vice President & Plant Manager, including TTB reporting; plant permitting and licensure; departmental budgeting and cost analysis; distillery production analysis; plant capital planning; project management; event coordination; and employee relations. 

When Georgine moved to the position of Capital Project Program Coordinator for the Sazerac Company, she worked closely with the domestic and international stakeholders at the twenty-plus divisions throughout the Sazerac global network. She coordinated their comprehensive short and long-term capital needs and budgets and helped to find reporting efficiencies through best practice implementation, historical data analysis, and streamlining of equipment purchases with approved vendors.

Georgine began her early career in Banking, where she worked in Commercial Lending and Shareholder Relations at Numerica Financial Corporation in Manchester, New Hampshire. She worked closely with their CFO, submitted quarterly and annual performance results, news releases, and shareholder transactions with the Securities & Exchange Commission. After the New Hampshire banking crisis in October of 1991, she moved to a position with a telecommunications provider, and spent seven years there in an Executive Administrative role for their President & Business Manager, where she honed her skills in corporate recordkeeping, and compliance filings with the Public Utilities Commission.

Born in upstate New York, and raised in New Hampshire, Georgine spent her early years enjoying the beautiful lakes and mountains in the northeast. She was educated at a small private college in New Hampshire, where she earned a degree in Business Science. Georgine and her family relocated to Kentucky in 1999.

Georgine and her husband now reside in the Greenbrier area of Nelson County and have been married for 37 years. They have two grown children, and a menagerie of domestic and farm pets. In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor activities, vacations at the beach, and Sunday afternoon Jeep rides.

KEVIN POWERS

Senior Manager, Logistics & Supply Chain

Kevin is the Senior Manager of Logistics and Warehousing for the Whiskey House of Kentucky located in Elizabethtown, KY. He comes to Whiskey House with over three decades of experience as a Logistics Officer in the U.S. Army and three years in various manufacturing and distillery operations following retirement from the United States Army.

Prior to joining Whiskey House Kevin was the Manager for Logistics and Inventory for Bardstown Bourbon Company (BBC) where he oversaw all shipping and receiving operations for the entire business and materials inventory management for all botling operations to include their own brands as well as co-pack operations for over 42 customers. During his brief time with the company, he implemented process improvements that led to an over 33% decrease in component shortages leading to a 25% increase in production execution.

Before joining BBC Kevin worked for Altec Industries in Elizabethtown where he was a Senior Operations Buyer and eventually promoted to the Supervisor for the Buyers Department. In this role Kevin oversaw the team responsible for managing over 33,000 lines of supplies for the custom building of aerial lift vehicles used in the utility industry by companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Cox Communication as well as dozens of other companies. In his time with Altec his team overcame major supply chain challenges that were experienced during COVID 19 and the years following, ensuring the Elizabethtown facility met or exceeded production goals in a time of significant increase in customer orders and supply constraints. Kevin also spent time with GE Appliances a Haier Company immediately following his military retirement where he was a materials Manager overseeing a team of 48 direct reports responsible for supplying four production lines manufacturing over 12,500 washers and dryers per day in a 1.5 million square foot facility. In this role he became familiar with managing union employees and doing so during a new contract negotiation period.

During Kevin’s Army career he served in varying roles of increasing responsibility as a Logistics Officer culminating with his promotion to Colonel where he served as a Senior officer for two major logistics commands. In the first unit he was the Director of Operations responsible for all Logistics operations in Afghanistan and in the other unit he was the Senior Advisor to the Commanding General responsible for all logistics operations throughout the Middle East and neighboring countries. He also spent a year in the US Embassy in Iraq as the Chief of Staff for a 200 person organization responsible for all military coordination with the country of Iraq to include over $250 million worth of equipment sold under the Foreign Military Sales program and for dozens of partner capacity training and education programs executed throughout Iraq, the United States, and in many NATO countries throughout Europe. He also spent over two years in the Army’s Human Resources command as the Director for a department responsible for managing over 133,000 Soldiers in 12 different career fields and 48 specialties throughout the active-duty logistics force.

Kevin has his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Ohio State University and a master’s degree in Strategy & Policy from the US Army Senior Service College. Kevin and his wife Aimee are longtime residents of Elizabethtown, KY. They enjoy traveling, volunteering at their church, and spending time with their adult children and grandkids.

LEeAnn Bagby

Vice President, Human Resources

LeeAnn Bagby joined Whiskey House in February 2024 as the Vice President of Human Resources. 

LeeAnn leads the company’s people operations and is dedicated to creating a culture that attracta and retains the top talent in the industry.  LeeAnn is an experienced HR executive and specializes in change management, organizational development and human capital strategies.

LeeAnn’s 20+ year HR career spans multiple industries, including automotive & industrial manufacturing, food manufacturing, security and investigation and logistics solutions. In her role as Vice President of HR with Metalsa, she managed a team of 30 HR professionals spanning 3 countries supporting 10k employees. She has extensive experience in aligning HR strategy with key operational objectives to drive performance.  

LeeAnn is passionate about employee development, holding both accreditation as an Insights Discovery practitioner and Development Dimensions (DDI) certification.  She has designed front line leadership training initiatives during her tenure with Nestle, Gates & The Tarian Group and prides herself on creating career tracks for employees at all levels of an organization.

LeeAnn is a proud alumnus of the University of Kentucky with an MPA (specialization in Quantitative Analytics) and a BS in Political Science (minor in Russian).  She’s an unabashed data nerd and a strong believer in data-driven decision making.  LeeAnn was on both the softball and rifle teams at UK, having lettered in both.

LeeAnn currently lives in Bardstown, KY with her husband and two sons. Two unusual dogs round out the household with one being part Ewok and the other part velociraptor. Her family is heavily involved in soccer & futsal, with both sons playing nearly year-round. In her free time, you can almost always find her at a soccer pitch.

Patrick Mannion

Digital Solutions Architect

Patrick Mannion joined Whiskey House of Kentucky in November 2023 as a Digital Solutions Architect.

Before his tenure at Whiskey House, Patrick was a Solutions Architect at Intellic Integration, a leader in consulting and services for the Industrial Internet of Things, Digital Transformation, IT/OT Convergence, and Manufacturing Execution Systems. There, he consulted with leaders in Manufacturing and Digital Transformation, architected scalable solutions, and spearheaded the development of custom Manufacturing Execution Systems, notably in the automotive electrification and whiskey distillation sectors.

Patrick’s professional journey began in batch process control and systems integration. He worked on large green-field projects in diverse industries, including technical ceramics, pet food, and midstream oil and gas. Excelling swiftly, he managed multiple process cells right out of college, overseeing control system commissioning, programming for programmable logic controllers (PLC) and Human Machine Interfaces (HMI), and integrating S88 equipment and batch processes. His technical repertoire expanded to include control panel design, plant networking, SCADA development, and advanced PLC programming.

Progressing through his career, Patrick’s technical focus ascended through the layers of Manufacturing Execution System (MES), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) integration and development. He has become a recognized expert in MES systems and backend data architecture. At Whiskey House of Kentucky, he is at the forefront, overseeing the development and architecture of their state-of-the-art technical infrastructure.

Patrick’s academic background contrasts his software-centric career; earning Bachelor’s Degrees in Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering from Colorado State University. He received a national award from the Society of Biomedical Engineering for his undergraduate research in cellular biophysics, and additionally won an award for undergraduate researcher of the year from the college of engineering. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Patrick has a history of leadership, evidenced by his time playing ice hockey, where he captained his team in his senior year.

Patrick has an incredible support system at home in Parker, Colorado, in his wife, Kathryn, their two dogs Blue & Trout, and a little boy on the way – due May 2024 👶.

Michael Palliparambil

Software Developer

Micheal Palliparambil joined Whiskey House of Kentucky as a Junior Software Developer in February 2024.

As a Jr Software Developer, he plays an integral role in building WMS and B2B portal solutions. A recent graduate of Thinkful Chegg’s software engineering bootcamp, Micheal has been passionate about technology for over 3 years, amassing experience through 20+ full-stack projects. He is knowledgeable in front-end and back-end development as he loves to challenge himself by keeping up with the fast-moving tech industry.

With a strong foundation in system design, DevOps practices, and proficiency in technologies like Kubernetes, Docker, Next.js, TypeScript, MongoDB, and PostgreSQL, he prioritizes project efficiency and reliability. Prior to his career in tech, Micheal took an unconventional path, working as a lead flooring technician and later transitioning into flooring sales for over 2 years.

As a self-employed Flooring Consultant in Hanover Park, IL from 2021-2023, he created custom designs, managed product distribution, supervised projects, and excelled in client acquisition. Prior to this, he worked part-time as a Lead Technician at Stanley Steemer (2020-2021), where he led a crew of 3 and was primarily focused on sales. Micheal is a team player, contributed significantly to his organization, he was ranked the second-highest salesperson, and ranked first for the highest number of contracts closed in the organization during his tenure.

Born and raised in Fort Kochi, Kerala, at the age of 15, Micheal moved to Bartlett, IL where he completed his high school. While pursuing an Associate’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Micheal developed his passion for computer engineering, which ultimately brought him to Whiskey House of Kentucky. 

Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, flying, and reading, with favorites like “The Personal MBA” and “The Alchemist.” He obtained his student private pilot license at age 18 and has a passion for aviation as well. His unique background, combining technical prowess with business acumen, makes him a valuable asset.

Micheal’s transition from a technological background to the whiskey manufacturing industry brings a unique perspective to the team, and he is eager to collaborate with Roger Henley and Patrick Mannion in innovating within the whiskey industry.

Quentin Snider

Reliability & Facilities SR Manager

Most recently, Quentin served as Plant Manager of the Villa Rica manufacturing site for Novolex. Quentin led a team of over 165 employees engaged in blown film manufacturing, where he held overall responsibility for the site P&L, as well as the Operations, Maintenance and Quality departments. During this time, Quentin made significant contributions to the production output, employee retention, preventive maintenance program, site safety metrics and projects to expand the site production capability.

Prior to joining Novoex, Quentin spent over 10 years with PepsiCo, holding progressively larger leadership roles in both the food and bottling divisions of PepsiCo. Beginning as a Maintenance Supervisor at the St. Louis bottling facility in 2021, Quentin was quickly promoted to the Maintenance Manager for the site. In 2014, Quentin was transferred to the Quaker Oats facility in Columbia Missouri where he held both Maintenance BUL and Operations Manager positions. In 2020, Quentin relocated to the Burnsville Minnesota bottling facility as Senior Operations Manager and was quickly promoted to the Manufacturing Plant Director.

During his time within PepsiCo, Quentin was able to assist the Quaker Oats site with its transition to a full 24/7 manufacturing site and 40% increase in manufacturing capacity. Quentin was instrumental in developing and deploying a complete planned maintenance program for the site allowing the site to reduce unplanned downtime to below 4%. Additionally, while Plant Director of the Burnsville site, Quentin lead the team there through the installation of a new manufacturing line that provided a production capacity increase of over 30% for the Burnsville site and the PBNA Central Division, allowing the Division to exceed it’s sales goals for 2022 & 2023.

Enlisting in the US Navy at 17, Quentin began his career in maintenance and machinery repair. After completing training as a repair machinist at Service School Command San Diego, Quentin transferred to NAS Oceana where he spent the remainder of his career maintaining F-14 & F/A-18 aircraft and support equipment. In addition to his regular duties, Quentin was also a member and then leader of the NAS Oceana branch of the Regional Honor Guard, providing military funeral honors for over 100 active duty and retired military personnel throughout Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina.

While at Columbia, Quentin served as the site leader for the EnAble Employee Resource Group, a employee led organization focused on inclusion and support for employees, and caregivers of those with, different abilities. In 2018, the Quaker site in Columbia completed certification and became the first “Autism Friendly Employer” in Central Missouri. An unwavering advocate for identifying and utilizing the strengths of all individuals, Quentin participated in PepsiCo’s “You Belong Here Campaign,” a global video campaign highlighting employees with disabilities in which employees tell their stories of inclusion within PepsiCo and highlight the resources available to employees..

Born in rural Missouri and raised in Georgia, Quentin spent the early years of his life between the two states, spending most summers on his grandparents farm in Northeast Missouri. Quentin is currently a resident of Whitesburg Georgia, near his alma mater, The University of West Georgia, where he lives with his wife and children. In his spare time, Quentin enjoys traveling, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, and raising bantam chickens.

Jerry Hall

Maintenance and Controls Manager

Jerry has 24 years of distillery experience. 

Prior to working at Whiskey House, Jerry was the maintenance manager At Heaven Hill. He was responsible for 3 shift 10 bottling line operation and led a team of 32 multi craft maintenance technicians, 3 controls technicians, 3 stock room attendants and three maintenance supervisors. He was dedicated to team building, maintaining production quality, equipment reliability and continuous improvement. Jerry led the team through several equipment/ line upgrades as well as state-sponsored apprenticeship programs.

Before his time at Heaven Hill, Jerry worked for Angels Envy as a maintenance supervisor/electrician/control. This was a startup distillery, he was responsible for the electrical distribution, PLC controls and commissioning of all equipment. Jerry built the maintenance department from the ground up. He created PM programs, CMMS and parts inventory, and he also oversaw the installation of a new bottling line. 

His first job in maintenance was At Jim Beam Clemont as an Apprentice Industrial Maintenace technician. Fresh out of Technical College, he learned the trade through a structured 4-year apprenticeship program. Jerry learned every aspect of the distillery process from mashing, fermenting, distillation, barrel filling, warehousing, processing, bottling, shipping and all the associated systems that make all this happen. 

Jerry served in the US Army as a Military Policeman and was stationed at Ft. Knox and Honduras. His main duties were law enforcement and a member of the Special Reaction Team. 

Jerry has a two-year degree from ECTC in Industrial Electrical Technology, Jim Beam 4-year apprenticeship (Journeyman Industrial Maintenance certificate), Master Electrical License (KY), Certified welder (AWG), Functional Safety Technician (TUV Rhueinland) and Universal Freon certification (EPA). He am also on the advisory board at ECTC Industrial Maintenace/Electrical programs.

Jerry enjoys fishing/boating and Cleveland Browns football. He like traveling and hiking with my wife Shelly.

Justin Dixon

Senior Manager, Food Safety Quality Assurance

Justin Dixon joined Whiskey House in February 2024 as the Food Safety Quality Assurance (“FSQA”) Senior Manager, where he oversees all ISO compliance, analytical laboratory specifications, and product quality control for the company. 

Justin joined Whiskey House with nearly two-decades of experience in leading quality control, Food Safety, and ISO compliance in advanced manufacturing and distilling. Most recently, Justin was the Quality and Food Safety Supervisor at the Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, where he helped advance quality laboratory process functions and Global Standard Compliance.

Prior to his tenure at Barton, Justin was the Quality Manager at the Takigawa Corporation, where he led ISO 9001compliance, built quality standards to meet global needs of sister plants and production needs at crucial deadlines for the company’s customers. 

Prior to Takigawa, Justin oversaw all plant operations for off shift at Beam Suntory in Frankfort, Kentucky. 

Justin served in the United States Marines for six years. During that time, he was deployed multiple times overseas for Operation Iraq Freedom. As infantry leader, he was trained to shoot, move, and communicate at the highest caliber level to keep all members of his team alive. 

Joshua Marquis

Environmental Health and Safety Manager 

Prior to joining Whiskey House Joshua Marquis was the Senior Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator at Takigawa Corporation America in Bardstown. Much of the time was spent dealing with Regulatory Compliance, with a focus on Air Quality Compliance and Hazardous Waste compliance which included management of a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer. Josh built a safety program and safety culture from ground zero that effectively decreased accidents, injuries and near misses by 90%.

Prior to that he was a Registered Trauma Nurse working at six of U of L’s Emergency Departments. Josh worked at a different facility every day and was expected to hit the ground running and provide the highest level of trauma and disease process related care. He was responsible for administering immediate lifesaving care to patients ranging from newborns to geriatric populations. 

Joshua also  worked as a Registered Trauma Nurse at Baptist Health Hardin (formerly Hardin Memorial) and provided the same level of care as above.

Prior to that Joshua was a Team Leader at AGC Automotive in Elizabethtown, Ky and was responsible for completing the production plan, scheduling and assigning personnel, establishing priorities, monitoring progress, revising schedules, resolving problems, and reporting results. He was also a First Responder and member of the safety team responsible for reacting and providing care to injured associates.

Joshua served in the US Army as an infantryman, a diesel technician, and a combat medic and spent a combined four years deployed to conflicts in the Middle East specifically in Iraq and Afghanistan. Joshua was trained to respond to wounded Soldiers, Marines, and the local nationals often under gun and mortar fire. He is most proud of the lives he was fortunate enough to have saved during those conflicts.

Joshua was lucky enough to have been part of several industries, careers, and organizations. Between his experience, training and degree in Applied Science, he has been able to use his talents and follow his interests and passions throughout his life as they develop. The underlying theme is a life of service. Joshua says “I believe I was put here to serve my fellow humans”.

In his off time Joshua enjoys spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren. He also enjoys wood working, fishing, rebuilding old cars, and playing guitar.

JT Thomas

Warehouse Senior Manager

J.T. Thomas joined Whiskey House in February 2024 as the Warehouse Senior Manager

Prior to joining the Whiskey House team, J.T. served as the Warehouse Manager at the Sazerac Barton 1792 plant for over a decade. He led a team of 65 employees that focused on barrel entry, regauge, barrel & bulk transfers, FRA compliance, and warehouse rehabilitation projects. During his tenure, J.T. introduced the first initial Safety Focus Team to the Warehouse Department and directly contributed to its implementation strategy and targets. In addition, other safety metrics, quality issues, and efficiency standards were improved to establish a more positive team culture and work environment. J.T. is a firm believer in “Understanding the value of employee respect and establishing the foundation is the lifeblood for a solid organizational team culture for all to enjoy and participate”. 

Before his time at Sazerac, J.T. spent 18 years in specialized transportation logistics and warehousing. During this stint, he received hands on training and acquired his CDL, class “A.”   J.T. began the journey as an Account Manager and achieved the General Manager position at Keyboard International. During this period, J.T. learned several key concepts and lessons in the transportation and warehousing industry; Forklift and Employee Safety, DOT hours of service compliance, Government record keeping, inventory control, and the importance of a solid, preventative maintenance plan. He played a key role in establishing a new product line by co-mingling high end custom motorcycles within the acoustic piano industry. 

J.T. began his career as an Investment Account Analyst with Heitman Financial Group in Chicago, IL, where he spent many hours performing market research, collecting property data comparing commercial properties and analyzing financial projections. 

J.T. graduated from The University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He currently lives in Elizabethtown with his wife Kim and their dog Tango. J.T. enjoys traveling, visiting wineries, lake life & spending time with friends and family. 

Ryan Poe

Distillery Manager

Ryan Poe joined Whiskey House in April 2024 as the Distillery Manager.  

Prior to Whiskey House, Ryan served as Director of Distillery Operations for Barrell Craft Spirits for three years.  In that role, Ryan managed compliance, supply chain, logistics, production planning, barrel & bulk transfers, contract production relations and anything else that came his way.  As a member of a small team, flexibility and appetite for learning were crucial for success.  Ryan has a tremendous amount of respect for the team at Barrell Craft Spirits and wishes them continued success.

Before his time at Barrell, Ryan worked for Sazerac in different capacities.  Most recently, he was a member of the supply chain team as the Allocation Manager.  Ryan planned and managed bourbon and whiskey allocations for all US and global markets and, ultimately, was tasked with protecting the aging whiskey inventory at Sazerac.  Other aspects of the role included demand planning, production planning and acquisition transitions.  Ryan was fortunate enough to work with Sazerac executive leadership and many talented and capable members of the supply chain, marketing, procurement and sales teams while in the role.

Ryan began his Sazerac journey as a distillery supervisor at Buffalo Trace Distillery.  He was responsible for all distillery operations from power generation to grain handling, mashing and fermentation to distillation and dryhouse operations.   Ryan managed a team of 30 union employees from two unions during this time.  During his time at Buffalo Trace, Ryan implemented a new separation technology in the dryhouse, optimized brewing and fermenting efficiencies and contributed to foundational work for BTD’s recent expansions. 

Ryan began his journey in the spirits industry in 2015, working as a production manager at Middle West Spirits in Columbus, OH.  During his time there Ryan participated in the first of MWS’s expansions which added 4 stills, new grain handling, mashing, fermentation and cooling equipment.  Ryan was a part of a three person crew who directly performed every task at the distillery from receiving raw grain through distribution of finished goods.  The hands on experience was foundational for Ryan’s knowledge and enthusiasm in the sprits industry.  

Ryan held a variety of other roles during his professional career ranging from customer service to inventory management to information analysis.  These roles have created a well-rounded employee who has a passion for creating the best whiskey possible with the best people possible.  

Ryan has spent his life in the Midwest, growing up in Indiana and spending time in Ohio prior to settling in Kentucky.  He is happy to share the part of the world with his wife who is from the Caribbean.  They have a lovely little girl together and are enjoying the challenges and rewards of parenthood!  

Alex Martin

Senior Chemist

Alex graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with a focus in analytical chemistry. She started her career in the pharmaceutical industry, making blood plasma based medicine. After 10 years in the pharmaceutical industry, she and her family decided to move to Kentucky where Alex started her career in the whiskey industry. 

Outside of work, she enjoys going to the arcade with her son Declan and attending concerts with her husband, Dustin. She cannot leave out her fur baby, Seger aka “Bob”, he makes every movie night extra cuddly. 

PHIL MAYS

Assistant Aging Warehouse Manager

Phil Mays Joined Whiskey House in May 2024 as the Assistant Aging Warehouse Manager. Phil comes to Whiskey House with over two decades of operational experience.

Prior to joining the Whiskey House team, Phil served as the Barrel Aging Warehouse Supervisor for Sazerac Barton 1792, where he managed 65 Team Members. In this role, Phil’s responsibilities included managing barrel filling, warehouse entry, barrel regauge, barrel transfers between production, warehouses, and internal customers. He was responsible for coordinating and managing all aging inventory as well as coordinating special projects and gathering specific samples for sales, development, and quality assurance.

Prior to his transition to the Barrel Aging Warehouse Department, Phil also served as the Shipping and Receiving Supervisor for 1792. There he provided hands-on management of a 450,000 square foot distribution center containing over 1.5 million cases of premium spirits. He directly supervised 30 employees’ safety, compliance, and quality assurance. He managed and troubleshot customer sales orders utilizing Infor WMS and monitored the entire flow of product to ensure orders were accounted for, picked, and safely loaded. Managed, tracked and documented inventory of component parts and finished goods through Infor WMS, periodic cycle counts and physical inventory. Phil Managed Customs Bonded receiving, shipping and withdraws of imported materials and finished goods.   

Phil proudly served in the United States Army for over 20 years as a Light-Infantryman. He has held numerous high-level leadership and management roles in both combat and garrison. Phil is the recipient of over 40 awards and decorations, including two Bronze Star medals. Phil was inducted as a distinguished member of 2-16 Infantry “Ranger” Regiment and an Order of St. Maurice recipient.

Phil has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from McKendree University. (Phi Kappa Phi, Tau Sigma, and Sigma Beta Delta).

Phil lives in Bardstown with his beautiful wife Catrina, two amazing daughters, Katelyn and Lexy, and their favorite cat named “L”. They enjoy off roading and rock climbing in their Jeeps and conquering as many trails as possible. 

Dillon Wheatley

Distillery Team Lead

Dillon has 11 years of experience in the spirits industry.  In 2013 Dillon started his career at Barton 1792 Distillery and quickly learned as many aspects of the business as possible.

Dillon has successfully completed two prior distillery startups, Lux Row Distillery and Log Still Distillery.  Dillon is very passionate about making a great product in a safe work environment.  Dillon also led the standard operating procedure program and was heavily involved in the Lock Out/Tag Out procedures at Log Still Distillery.

Dillon attends the University of Kentucky, where he plans to expand his knowledge in the spirits industry.  In 2023 Dillon was awarded the Hank and Kathy Thompson Honor Scholarship.  In August of 2024, Dillon will complete this program and receive a certificate in Distillation, Wine, and Brewing Science.

Brittany Bloodgood

Director of Human Resources

With over a decade of hands-on experience in the ever-evolving world of human resources, Brittany has had the pleasure of working mainly in the manufacturing sector, including stints at top-notch companies like the Gates Corporation and Parker LORD. Armed with an MBA degree, she brings not only practical knowledge but also a solid grasp of how businesses tick, especially when it comes to the crucial connection between people and success.

As a certified training facilitator for respected names like DDI and Korn Ferry, Brittany has found her calling in helping individuals grow and shine. Employee development isn’t just a job for her; it’s her passion. She has led initiatives aimed at creating an environment where learning never stops and everyone has the chance to thrive.

In every role, Brittany’s goal is to make work not just productive but also enjoyable. Whether it’s designing training programs, fine-tuning hiring processes, or nurturing a workplace where people feel valued and inspired, she is all about finding ways for individuals and businesses to lift each other up. With a trove of experiences and a lot of enthusiasm, she is excited to keep bringing positive change to HR, fostering growth, and keeping the spirit of innovation alive.

Dan Goins

Distillery Utility Operator

Dan joined Whiskey House of KY as a Utility Operator in June 2024. 

He has been involved in automotive manufacturing for 30 years, holding various positions in production, quality assurance and supervision.

The Whiskey Industry has always been a hobby/obsession. Getting an opportunity to be a part of this new adventure was something that he could not pass up. 

Dan lives in Elizabethtown with his wife. They have a daughter. He enjoys U of L football/basketball “GoCards”, and is a big Miami Dolphin’s fan “Fins Up!!”

Billy Newkirk

Assistant Distillery Manager

Billy started his manufacturing career as a distillery operator at Jim Beam Clermont under the direction of Jim Hunger.  After 2 ½ years, he left to become an advanced chemical operator at Lubrizol in the Rubbertown area of Louisville, KY working to produce CPVC resin for pipes, fittings, and glue.  Within 3 years at Lubrizol he received a call to transfer back to Bardstown where the Bardstown Bourbon Company had just began production 4 months earlier.  Billy was hired by David Mandell and team as a distillery utility operator working all areas of the distillery including grain, mash cooking, and distilling.  Within 6 months, the first expansion began, where the operation went to 24/7, and he was promoted to Distillery Supervisor where he remained for the next 4 ½ years.  Billy left BBC in 2021 and started working at Takigawa Corporation of America as a Plant Supervisor, followed by a move to Supervisor over the Printing Department.  Although out of the whiskey business for the past 2 years, Billy maintained his relationship with John Hargrove, and made sure to keep in touch with the progress Whiskey House was making, so when the time came he would be ready to jump back in with both feet.  He couldn’t be happier to be a part of Whiskey House, and looks forward to the bright future ahead of this great team.

Dustin Martin

Distillery Supervisor

Prior to working at Whiskey House of Kentucky, Dustin was a Team Lead in the distillery at Bardstown Bourbon Company. Dustin helped with startup of the second distillery as part of the most recent expansion.

Before his time at BBC Dustin worked as a distiller and trainer at the Willett distillery in Bardstown.

Dustin started in the bourbon industry as union operator in the bottling department at Four Roses in Clermont.

Dustin’s first job in manufacturing was as a union operator at CSL Behring in Kankakee, IL. He worked in several departments in the 12 years he was there, including packaging, fractionation, coagulation, sanitation, and warehousing. He was also a union steward, trainer, and was on the safety team.

Dustin lives in Bardstown with his wife Alexandra who is the Sr. Chemist at Whiskey House, and their son Declan. His daughter Emmaly is currently attending college at Indiana training college

Stephen Webb

Laboratory Technician

Steve brings a wealth of scientific expertise and passion to Whiskey House as a Lab Technician. He ensures the quality of raw materials and finished products, upholding the high standards we’ve set here at Whiskey House of Kentucky.

Previously, Steve worked at Barton 1792 Distillery (Sazerac) and thrived in education as a teacher and principal.

Steve’s academic background is impressive: a Bachelor’s in Biology/Earth Science (Morehead State) and a Master’s in Education (Western Kentucky Univ.). To quench his brewing passion, he earned a Master Brewer certificate from the Siebel Institute (Chicago & Munich).

He honed his skills in fermentation theory, quality control, and brewing operations under renowned instructors. Steve even toured historic breweries in Germany and Belgium, a testament to his dedication to the craft.

Steve resides in Bardstown with his wife Billie (retired teacher) and their three dogs. He’s a proud father to Evan, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service; and Zoie, a Sociology instructor at Eastern Kentucky University.

When he’s not at Whiskey House, you’ll find Steve homebrewing, enjoying a good bourbon, or adventuring with his wife.

James “Jimmy” Hensley

Distillery Utility Operator

Jimmy began his career at Lakeland Village in Washington state as a kitchen aid and worked his way to Attendant Counselor 2. He then met his “soon to be wife” and moved back to Kentucky to start a family.  He then transitioned to Bay Insulation as an Operator and worked his way up to Warehouse Supervisor.  He left there to work closer to home and started as a Logistics Operator at Takigawa. From there he worked his way up from Logistics Operator to 2nd shift Production Supervisor.  After hearing about the exciting opportunities happening at Whiskey House, he decided to join their amazing team!

Leo Hobbs

Distillery Utility Operator

Leo joined Whiskey House in June 2024 as a Distillery Utility Operator. Prior to joining, he spent the last 16 years of his career in warehouse fulfillment, working for companies such as Amazon, Chewy, and The Hut Group. During that time Leo worked various positions within the operation from Seasonal Team Member, and finishing with Fulfillment Site Lead.

Leo is passionate about teaching, learning, and continuous improvement. As a leader within his previous organizations, he had been able to validate over 800k in savings through projects he led, while also mentoring others during the process. Helping individuals grow and develop within his teams has been both a rewarding and fulfilling experience for Leo.

During his free time, Leo enjoys spending time with his wife of 13 years and two young boys. For fun, they enjoy family movie nights, hunting, fishing, and going to the ballpark for baseball games and practice.

Ben Nelson

Distillery Team Lead

Ben Nelson is a seasoned professional with 20 years of extensive experience in manufacturing and distillery operations. He spent 16 years at Akebono, where he excelled in various roles, notably serving 10 years as a Group Leader overseeing both machine and assembly lines. His leadership ensured efficient production and adherence to quality standards, contributing significantly to the company’s operational excellence.

Following his tenure at Akebono, Ben transitioned to Barton 1792 Distillery, where he honed his expertise in distillery operations. During his 4 years at Barton, Ben played a pivotal role as a Distillery Utility, leveraging his skills to maintain equipment, optimize processes, and uphold safety protocols. His dedication and problem-solving abilities were instrumental in enhancing productivity and ensuring compliance with industry regulations.

Ben’s career exemplifies a strong commitment to excellence, operational proficiency, and leadership in both manufacturing and distillery environments. His hands-on experience and strategic insights continue to drive success in every role he undertakes.

Brandon Habenstein

Distillery Supervisor

Brandon Habenstein is one of the founding Distillery Supervisors at Whiskey House of Kentucky.

Brandon is a Louisville native and graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. After years of bartending in Louisville, he became enamored with all the different production methods of beers, wines, and spirits.

Brandon joined the founding team of Monnik Beer Company in 2015 as the Beverage Director. He implemented an acclaimed beer cocktail program and logged many hours volunteering with their brewmaster, the late Scott Hand. There he learned the nuances of small-scale craft beer production, styles, and fermentations.

Brandon travelled west to Willamette Valley, Oregon, and delved into the intricacies of both viticulture and vinification. After filling and storing the last barrels of the 2016 vintage, he had a solid foundational knowledge of industrial fermentation and beverage production. While there was plenty of opportunity to remain on the west coast and pursue a career as a winemaker, there was still far too much to learn about distillation. This led him back home to Kentucky.

In 2018, Brandon joined Bardstown Bourbon Company as a Mixologist & Brand Ambassador where he played an integral role in designing the beverage program and the Visitor’s Experience. As a Spirits Specialist, he became an accomplished whiskey blender. Brandon blended both Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Fusion Series #1 and Discovery Series #2, helping to establish the early success of the brand by being awarded Gold and Double Gold at San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and being named #11 on Whiskey Advocate’s Top 20 in 2019. In 2021, he transferred to the Still Operator position. Brandon resigned from the company in 2024 as a Distillery Team Lead, bringing his vast skill set to Whiskey House of Kentucky.

Edwin “Allan” Hart

Laboratory Technician

As a dedicated science enthusiast, Edwin “Allan” has always been curious about how things work. He fondly recalls taking apart various objects to explore their inner workings, and sometimes even managing to put them back together!  Edwin “Allan” holds a bachelor’s degree in science from Lindsey Wilson College, with a focus on Biology and Chemistry. With over 20 years of experience in the chemical industry, he has worked as a Lab Technician and Operator. Notably, Edwin “Allan” has spent a decade specializing in GCs (gas chromatographs).

Currently residing in West Point, KY, on a family farm that has been home for 120 years, he takes pride in his three adult daughters’ accomplishments. Edwin “Allan” thrives in the lab environment and is excited to contribute to the collaborative team at Whiskey House, where customer service is paramount. He feels both humbled and proud to be part of this organization and is committed to its success.

Hilary Hamilton

Laboratory Technician

After dedicating 14 years to being a stay-at-home mom, Hilary entered the professional workforce in 2020 as a Quality Technician with Takigawa.  It was in this role that she discovered a passion for ensuring product excellence.

Though new to the whiskey industry, Hilary is eager to contribute to her team’s success and is thrilled to be a part of an organization that values innovation, strong leadership, and a collaborative spirit.

Dillon Goodman

Distillery Utility Operator

Dillon joined Whiskey House in June of 2024.  Prior to Whiskey House he spent the last two years at Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, KY as a Distillery operator and Lead operator.

Prior to his time in the spirits industry, he spent 6 years in the automotive industry at AGC in Elizabethtown, KY in a production support role.

Dillon and his wife Haley reside in southern Hardin County with their cat Juniper. He loves everything UK athletics and enjoys his free time playing golf with friends.

Ben Gibson

Distillery Supervisor

After years in the craft beer industry in Nashville, Ben and his family decided to move to Bardstown, Kentucky.

Before joining Whiskey House, Ben spent two years at Willett Distillery.

In his free time Ben enjoys fermenting hot sauce and mead at home, and hiking at Bernheim Forest.

Joshua Cecil

Distillery Team Lead

Prior to Whiskey House, Josh worked in the distillery industry with James B. Beam Distilling Co.  He was a part of the warehouse team for 4 years.  He was also a part of the individual barrel relay in 2020. He helped train numerous employees of the safety and functions of the warehouse dept. He moved over to distillation his last 3 years with the company. He went to distillery as a relief and learned all aspects of the distillation process from start to finish.

He then moved to Lux Row Distillers as a shift supervisor in the distillery. He was a part of the start-up of the expansion that took place within the distillery. He helped establish training with the employees on all functions of the distillation process. He helped his team be aware of good procedures to use while working at the distillery. He also helped create a safe work environment for his team while there. He was able to guide his team to new heights during his time there. He has plans to attend the University of Kentucky to earn certificates in distillation.

William “Buddy” Stumph

Shipping & Receiving Associate

William “Buddy” Stumph joined the Whiskey House of Kentucky team on June 17, 2024, and will serve as the Shipping & Receiving Associate.  Buddy has over 15 years of experience in shipping and receiving, with several of those years being spent operating forklifts and other types of machinery in various roles.

Prior to joining the Whiskey House team Buddy served as the Shipping & Inventory Clerk for Bardstown Bourbon Company since June 2022. In this role he was responsible for the tracking, receiving, storage, and inventory of all raw materials related to the bottling operations for Bardstown Bourbon Company products and those for their extensive list of customers. This included making sure all production materials – glass, corks, capsules, labels, and corrugate were at the facility on time with enough materials on hand to cover the production run as well as 10% extra for breakage or quality issues. Buddy routinely had to make runs with the company box truck to the offsite warehouse based on last-minute production changes and/or customer component shortages. He was also responsible for creating BOLs for materials needed to have partner carriers bring those items from local warehouses and the company warehouse partner in central Ohio. These responsibilities included but are not limited to coordinating the arrival of any components with customers, scheduling dock times with local carriers to ship and receive components, inventory of components when they arrived, sending the customers confirmation of receipt, doing a post-run count to adjust on hand inventory, and providing the customers with their updated inventory counts. He played a pivotal role in keeping the bottling line up and operational. This is where he met our Logistics and Supply Chain Integration Senior Manager, Kevin Powers, where together they helped decrease component shortages and increase production execution.

Prior to Bardstown Bourbon Company, Buddy was a part of the Saddle Creek Logistics team, a third-party logistics company that provided storage and distribution of finished goods for Sazerac, and their extensive list of brands such as Buffalo Trace, Bartons 1792, New Amsterdam Vodka, and several other brands in spirits industry. He was promoted to Warehouse Lead, a role in which he was responsible for the training and equipment certification of all new hires, and recertification when needed, assigning loads, keeping inventory on barrel stock, cycle counts, and weekly audits were all part of his duties as well.

Before coming to the spirits industry, where he found his home, Buddy was applying his skills in the automotive industry. That’s where he worked his way up to Shipping Specialist for LB Manufacturing in Springfield, KY. This role allowed him to acquire some leadership skills and become familiar with the communication aspects of shipping and receiving, as well as planning/keeping a schedule.

Buddy and his wife of 10 years, Kassandra, are both lifelong residents of Kentucky and have spent most of that time in Marion County, where they enjoy the outdoors and spending time with their two teenage kids, Peyton and Kloe. They have two American Bulldogs named Kali & Luca, and a Red Ear Slider Turtle named Tater Tot. They plan to one day own their own farm where they will retire and have several more animals of different types and sizes!

Barry Younkie

Sales Representative

Barry arrived with 40 years of industry experience in both contract distilling and also brand marketing in the early days.  He started in June, 2024.

Barry said, “ Whiskey House is built to make brands grow and be successful.  It is exactly what brands need to differentiate themselves in the market today.  I joined because Whiskey House has what brands need today.  It’s unique in many ways.”

Prior to joining Whiskey House, Barry spent 13 years at MGP with global brands and Craft Distilleries as his customers.  He used his marketing background and distilling experience to help launch many household brands of whiskey and bourbon today.  Customers comment on his creativity, excellent follow up and knack for being able to get it right for customers.  Customer Service is one of his strengths.  He used this background to launch new mashbills to provide new brands to customers, developed the tote program for Crafts to be able to get smaller volumes, created a secondary finishing portfolio for a one-stop shop and also launched the custom gin program.

Barry’s career also included heading up Maker’s Mark for 25 years when it was only available in KY.  He took it around the USA and then around the world. He led 6 brands globally and another 30 brands for the USA, which meant he was always on a plane.

He hopes customers reach out to Whiskey House for solutions.  We are not distracted, as we will not have our own brands – it’s about you.  Long-term contracts are available and preferred, so you are guaranteed supply.

He lives in Louisville and is always ready to show you around the Distillery!

Reed Johnson

Junior Software Developer

Reed joined Whiskey House of Kentucky as a Junior Software Developer in June 2024. As a recent university graduate, he aspires to continue to learn and keep up to date with the most recent evolving technologies and programming languages. At the same time as his studies he was a player of a semi-professional football academy that competed against other academies in the Manchester and Cheshire area. He loves to work with teams of people from all backgrounds and enjoys assisting others where and when he can.

After his three years of studies at the University of Chester, he has found his interest to be in data-related fields such as implementation of machine learning algorithms and database-related developments as well as creation of IoT devices. With those passions in his field he was able to earn an internship last summer as a Mechatronics Engineer at Atlas Copco where he took part in their competitive Global Industrial Internship Program.

Outside of work, he has many stories to share from his adventures growing up moving around the world. From living in Kuwait on Camp Arifjan to England on RAF Croughton, he is not new to adapting to new environments and experiences. Besides his stories he loves to cook, enjoys working out to stay healthy and in shape, and supporting his sports team Manchester United.

Reed is excited to be a part of this fantastic team and looks forward to learning more about the whiskey world and contributing to the goals of Whiskey House of Kentucky.

Alexis True

Lab Technician

Alexis is a Lab Technician at Whiskey House of Kentucky.  She has a proven track record of success as the 4-year Manager of Casey’s Marketing, Inc where she developed new ways to assist the public through quality, precision to detail, and a variety of strategies to build the company’s equity and asset growth with the sales of their food and liquor industry.   She also worked for two years as a Quality Inspector for KY’s Division for Air Quality.  She brings a competitive energetic spirit, along with new innovative ideals to Whiskey House to fit today’s generations. 

Alexis received her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science and several minors (i.e. Kinesiology, Psychology, and Sports Recreation to name a few) from William Penn University in Iowa.  

Alexis is a former 6-year collegiate basketball athlete where she was the team captain for over 4 years, a scouter for the team, and a coach of the collegiate JV team, as well as a coach for the point guards at each University. She was an established point guard where she led her team to many victories during her tenure while at Illinois and Iowa Universities. While in school, she learned she loved Science.

Alexis’ passions include helping kids succeed at their athletic potential, and encouraging anyone that you can do what others think you can’t by persevering and staying focused on the goal ahead of you.    

Alexis resides in Frankfort, KY with her dog, Sky and cat, Mister.  When she is not learning all she can about today’s sciences, she is coaching basketball and softball, or spending time with her family.   

Nathan summerS

Distillery Supervisor

Prior to working at Whiskey House, Nathan got his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Bellarmine University where he earned scholarships for being top of the chemistry program. Two years later he went back to Bellarmine and received a master’s in business administration.

After graduating, he landed an internship at Beam Suntory, where he started his passion for the bourbon industry. There he learned the quality side of the industry. From there, he took his knowledge from Beam and moved to Willett Distillery, moving through the ranks and learned the entry distilling process from grain to glass.

He took that knowledge from rolling barrels to distilling and started his leadership experience at Heaven Hill.  After a year at Heaven Hill, he joined us at  Whiskey House.

JAMES Oeswein 

Director of Engineering

James joined Whiskey House of Kentucky in July 2024 as the Director of Engineering.

James brings many years of experience within engineering, manufacturing, and IT/OT domains across multiple industry verticals, including Life Sciences, Food & Beverage (including several years of distilling experience), Water/Wastewater, Utilities, Industrial Products, Consumer Packaged Goods, Automotive, and Steel/Metals.

James served in the United States Marine Corps as a Military Policeman prior to beginning his formal educational journey at the University of Louisville’s J.B. Speed School of Engineering. Immediately upon receiving his degree in Computer Engineering and Computer Science (CECS), James went to work for Cummins, Inc. as a Laboratory Operations Engineer within the Fluid Metrology team of the Fuel Systems Group. James’ next professional stop was with Flexware Innovation, a manufacturing, IT, and engineering consulting firm, where he greatly diversified his experience as a Senior Systems Engineer, Technical Consultant, Team Lead, and Senior Systems and Solutions Architect.

James is a proud Veteran, husband, and father of two wonderful children. He lives with his wife, Heather, and two children, Victoria and James Peter “Petey” in Kentucky. In his spare time, he enjoys tinkering on cars, shredding on the drums, and engaging in the occasional construction project around the house.

Jessica Kay

Account Manager

With over 10 years of experience in accounting, Jessica has built a diverse career, starting in public accounting in the tax department before transitioning to corporate finance. They quickly rose from Staff Accountant to Controller at a real estate development group, where they played a pivotal role in managing financial operations and contributing to a remarkable 131% revenue growth over three years.

After their success in real estate, Jessica moved into the non-profit sector as a Controller, where they led financial strategy and operations to ensure fiscal responsibility and transparency while supporting the organization’s mission. Now, as Accounting Manager at Kentucky Whiskey House, Jessica manages daily financial functions, including reporting, budgeting, and forecasting, playing a crucial role in the company’s growth in the competitive whiskey industry.

With a reputation for strong leadership, attention to detail, and a strategic approach to financial management, Jessica consistently drives operational efficiency and supports business success across various industries.