I’ve been fortunate to spend my career in an industry I love —one built on relationships, craftsmanship, and the stories behind every bottle. After years of building, buying, and selling in the world of beverage alcohol — and having exited through a sale of the business a few years ago — founding Brindiamo Group back in 2012remains one of my proudest achievements. What started as an idea to help brands grow through access to great whiskey and sound strategy quickly became one of the world’s leading providers of bulk bourbon and whiskey. Through the years, we expanded far beyond just sourcing — into barrel ownership, insurance programs, rickhouse facilities across the U.S. and Europe, and strategic advisory work that helped shape the future of whiskey. None of it would have been possible without an incredible team and partners who believed in doing business the right way. Community has always mattered to me just as much as commerce. The Brindiamo Penthouse in Bardstown, KY — built in partnership with the Bourbon Capital Academy and the Kentucky Bourbon Festival — stands as a space to bring people together to celebrate, taste, and learn. Supporting programs like the World Whiskies Awards is another way we continue to lift the category as a whole. Over three decades in this industry, I’ve had the honor of serving on boards from Stoli and Amber Beverage to Bardstown Bourbon Company, Log Still, Four Branches, VoodDoo Scientific and InvestBev — each one a chance to contribute, collaborate, and giveback to an industry that’s given me so much.