Topic: A Sip of Knowledge with Johnny Jeffery, Head Distiller at Bently Heritage Estate Distillery and Co-Founder of Good Guy Distillers

Hosts: Liz Rhoades, Lew Bryson, & Martin Duffy

What You’ll Learn: Join a trio of drink industry veterans in weekly conversation on whiskey, spirits, distilling, marketing, and the current state of the drink industry. This week, Johnny Jeffery of Bently Heritage Estate Distillery and Good Guy Distillers joins the group.

About Johnny Jeffery:

Johnny Jeffery is the Head Distiller for Bently Heritage Estate Distillery in Carson Valley Nevada. A once upon a time sound engineer and musician, his previous work in athletic training and physical therapy led to a fascination with food systems and sustainable agriculture. He entered the Food Chemistry program at Michigan State University in 2008 where his advising professor was actively working in spirits. His Masters degree in Food Chemistry led him down the rabbit hole of spirits production as an economic development tool. The passion that emerged for spirits, particularly distilleries in areas where they could fit nicely into existing agriculture has given him the opportunity to work on distilleries all over the country, from facility design and equipment selection, to product design and expansion planning. The Bently Heritage distillery is currently in production of bourbon and rye for release in 2024, and malt whiskey in 2028. Johnny is an ex-ACSA board member, and GGD co-founder.

About the Hosts: 

• Liz Rhoades, founder of Spirit Safe Consulting, former research scientist for DIAGEO, distilling consultant, spirits writer for The Whiskey Wash & presenter.

• Lew Bryson, former managing editor for Whisky Advocate Magazine for 20 years, whiskey author, beer/whiskey writer and presenter.

• Martin Duffy, former DIAGEO Master of Whisky for the Midwest, DIAGEO Reserve Brand Ambassador for The Republic of Ireland, North American Brand Representative for Glencairn Crystal.