Steven Feller (Steve) has been a member of Whiskey University since November 2022. Founded in 2016, Whiskey University offers various levels of education in whiskey studies. Steve graduated Summa Cum Laude with his Master of Arts degree in 2024, given the title "Master Bourbon Taster," and holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Bourbon Brigade.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Steve is passionate about studying how bourbon and whiskey shaped America. He lives on the Mason-Dixon Line in a town across the Ohio River from the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Archaeologists staying on his Urban Farm uncovered remnants of Maize grown by ancient Indian farmers. They carbon-dated it and discovered it is the oldest record of Maize being grown in North America. Today, his home is built on the site of an ancient Indian hunting camp that overlooks the historical paths later traveled by George Washington, Meriwether Lewis, President Ulysses S Grant, and George Remus.

Before Prohibition, 80% of U.S. bourbon and whiskey traveled through these trails, and the “Bourbon Train” still operates weekly out of Kentucky. Even today, new paths are being blazed. In 2024, Steve became one of the inaugural members to explore the Ohio Distillery Trail on the Little Miami Trail and the Ohio Buckeye Trail from trailheads in his town.  

Steve has a rich family history in whiskey. His grandfather, who emigrated from Germany, modified a pressure cooker to distill “hooch.” Steve still possesses his grandfather's wine press. Although he doesn’t own a still, he does have several experimental new charred oak barrels of aging Buffalo Trace white dog in his basement. He uses them for educational purposes as an instructor, urban farmer, and chief sustainability officer, teaching and coaching organizations on sustainability practices.

His family inspired Steve's bourbon journey.  One Mother's Day, his wife Betty suggested they explore the Kentucky Bourbon Trail at Maker’s Mark. During the COVID shutdown, they co-authored the eBook “The Path to Becoming a Certified Bourbon Steward,” which became a top download on Amazon. 

After his son earned his Associate Degree in 2022, he encouraged him to enroll at Whiskey University. Steve received his Associate Degree in 2023 and continued his studies to earn a Bachelor of Science with a major in Tennessee Whiskey and a Bachelor of Arts in the Bluegrass Whiskey Region. He earned a Master of Science degree with a major in the Mid-Atlantic Rye region, a Master of Arts degree with a major in the Bourbon Capital Region, and an additional major in the Craft Whiskey Region. 

Steve continues to expand his knowledge and whiskey collection. In 2025, he plans to complete the remaining required classes for majors in the Whiskey Row, Canadian Whisky, and World Whisky regions.  He hopes one day to be granted the rank of Colonel in the Whiskey University Bourbon Brigade.

Steve has the following “Designations” & Credentials:

”Chartered Master Whiskey Taster”

(from the Whiskey University)

”Certified Bourbon Steward”

(from the Stave & Thief Society)

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