Professor Bob Howell has been with Whiskey University since late 2020. He earned his Bourbon Diploma on March 2nd, 2021 and his Associate Degree on May 24th, 2021.

Bob is a Florida native, born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale, and has been a practicing Attorney focused on Real Property, Estate Planning and ATF Regulatory matters since 1992. 

His family, originally from Scotland and Ireland, came to North Carolina in 1760 and had a family history of distilling.  He has been an avid whiskey and wine fan for most of his life and has been making regular trips to Kentucky for nearly 20 years.  His love of whiskey has also brought him on trips to the Scottish Highlands, Islay, Glasgow, and as far away as Taiwan.

Bob is one of the Co-Founders of the Ft. Lauderdale Whiskey Society.  With nearly 3,000 members, the Society has been holding whiskey themed events and monthly Meet-Up tastings for the past 7 years. On June 8th, 2021 Howell earned his Bachelors of Science Degree with 25 classes, at Whiskey University. On October 13th, 2021 Bob became a "Master Bourbon Taster" by earning his Bachelor of Arts Degree with 30 classes and the rank of Captain in the Bourbon Brigade.

Bob is also a Producer and On-Air Host of Sips, Suds and Smokes, the largest whiskey/beer/food themed Radio Show and Podcast in the US, with an average weekly audience of over 8.5 million listeners.  The show is available on over 250 terrestrial radio stations on National Public Radio, Canada Community Radio, iHeart Radio, CBS Radio, the Pacifica Radio Network and SiriusXM as part of their NPR Remix.  The show is also available online on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, PRX.Org, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, Podbay FM and just about anywhere you can listen to a podcast.  Sips, Suds and Smokes is the proud winner of many awards for their broadcasts, including the 2019 iHeart Radio Podcast Awards, the Taste Awards – Viewer’s Choice Award, the Gold Medal for the Best Radio Show/Podcast at the John Barleycorn Awards by the Society of Spirits Writers and Marketers, and has been a multiple honoree at the Webbie Awards.  Over the years, Bob has professionally reviewed over 1000 different whiskies from all over the world.

Bob’s second love is his passion for charitable work.  He is a member of the Bourbon Mafia, a non-profit organization composed of high-end bourbon enthusiasts, distillery owners and industry professionals.  The group uses their love of our native spirit to raise money for local and national charities through rare bottle auctions and other themed events.  He also is a fundraiser and supporter of Honor Flight, a national veteran’s charity, and uses his contacts in the whiskey world to help raise funds to honor our surviving WWII, Korea and Viet Nam Veterans. Bob is proud to hold a WSET Level 1 Spirits Award, a Certificate in Scotch Whiskey from the Edinburgh Whisky Academy and is an Executive Bourbon Steward from the Stave and Thief Society. In his spare time, Bob is also a Certified BBQ Judge and a Certified Steak Judge and travels to competitions across the southeastern United States.

Bob has the following “Designations” & Credentials:

”Kentucky Colonel”

”Chartered Master Whiskey Taster”

(from Whiskey University)

”Executive Bourbon Steward”

(from the Stave & Thief Society)

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