Medium & Craft Distillery Founders
Western U. S. States
(NOTE: FOUNDERS ARE LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
1
Bruce Joseph,
Hotaling & Co.
Anchor head brewer Bruce Joseph took over to a newly created head distiller position and in Dec 1994, they began producing Old Potrero Single Malt Rye Whiskey. In 2023, Bruce Joseph, the master distiller for Hotaling & Co., received the Distinguished Service Award by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) after working in the spirits industry for over 30 years.
2
Steve McCarthy,
Clear Creek Distillery
Steve McCarthy founded Clear Creek Distillery (DSP-OR-6) in 1985 as one of the early craft distilleries in the United States. His vision was to create spirits that rivaled the best European offerings.
3
Brad & Kate Mead,
Wyoming Whiskey
An attorney—he shares a practice with wife Kate—and rancher, Brad Mead is the grandson of former U.S. Senator and Wyoming Governor Clifford Hansen, and the older brother of Wyoming’s current governor, Matt Mead. He once ran for Justice of the Peace, but today, Brad’s happier to talk about Wyoming Whiskey, the distillery he founded with Kate and fellow Jackson attorney David DeFazio, than politics.
4
Greg Metz,
Old Elk Distillery
Greg Metze became Old Elk Distillery’s Master Distiller following a 38-year career at Seagram’s Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, one of the world’s largest distilleries.
During his time at Seagram’s, he specialized in developing bourbon whiskeys, rye whiskeys, exotic whiskeys, batch light whiskeys, gin, and vodka.
5
Steve Nally,
Wyoming Whiskey
High West Distillery was founded in 2006 by David Perkins and his wife, Jane. David, a former successful Silicon Valley biochemist, was inspired to open his own distillery after seeing the parallels between the fermentation and distilling process and his own work in biochemistry during a trip to the Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky when visiting for a family member’s wedding in Kentucky.
6
David Perkins,
High West Distillery
Steve Nally was born in Loretto, Kentucky in, 1950. His family farm joined the Maker’s Mark property. As a young boy he roamed the Maker’s property hunting local game or just hiking the hills owned by the Samuels. He attended Loretto High School. After graduation from high school he bought a small farm.
7
Dave Pickerell,
Many Distilleries
David Steven Pickerell (August 14, 1956 - November 1, 2018) was an American Chemical Engineer turned Master Distiller. He is credited as the founding father of the craft distilling movement, and helped shape the modern American distilling industry as we know it. He once had the nickname “The Johnny Appleseed of American Whiskey” for the multitude of distilleries whose development he played a role in.
8
George Stranahan,
Stranahan’s Whiskey
THIS FOUNDERS HISTORY WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON
9
Lance Winters,
St. George Spirits
Lance Winters is the Master Distiller at St. George. He is also a partner in the company, as well as its President. Before joining St. George, Lance spent 8 years as a U.S. Navy Nuclear Engineer stationed in Alameda, CA, and subsequent time as a brewer in Fremont, CA. Inspired by the ales he was making, he became interested in whiskey and began making it at home. He enjoyed the art of distillation so much he decided to pursue it as a career.