Executive Committee
President - Colonel Craig Duncan
Vice President - Lt. Col. Ross Osborne
Treasurer - Lt. Col. Wes Stilts
Secretary - Lt. Col. Dakota Mercer
Office Administrator - Sarah Yow
President - Colonel Craig Duncan
for Craig’s Bio please see “Founder’s” page
Vice President - Lt. Col. Ross Osborne
Email address: Ross@WhiskeyUniv.com
Whiskey University Partner
Member of the Board of Directors
Whiskey University Recruiter
Professor Ross Osborne was one of the three founding members of Whiskey University dating back as far as May of 2012. It was in when 2016 Whiskey University began offering Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees. Ross was the first student to earn his Bourbon Diploma on June, 8th, 2016.
Osborne is the owner of three Miracle Ear franchises in Middle Tennessee. Ross Osborne was born in April in 1962 and was born and raised in Columbia, Tennessee which is in Maury County. He currently a resident of Columbia, Tennessee. Colonel Osborne has two local adult children William Osborne and Rachel Osborne.
Ross was the first student to earn his Associate Degree after passing 15 classes on November 30th, 2017. Lt. Col. Osborne is also a Recruiter for Whiskey University. Professor Ross taught his first class on May 31st, 2018 when he taught a highly specialized class on “Booker’s Bourbon.” He also teaches Bourbon 201, “Bourbon Founders,” Jim Beam, (Advanced Part 3) “The Small Batch Collection” and Jim Beam, (Advanced Part 2) “The Olds, Ryes and High Rye Bourbons” On September 27th, 2018 Ross became the second student at Whiskey University to earn his Bachelor’s of Science Degree with 24 classes, the title of "Certified Master Bourbon Taster" and the rank of Captain in the Bourbon Brigade.
Ross Osborne earned his Masters of Arts Degree (our Highest Degree) after successfully completing his 44th class on January 23rd, 2020, the title of "Senior Chartered Master Bourbon Taster" and the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Bourbon Brigade. Whiskey University elected Professor Ross Osborne one of two of the Brigade’s Jim Beam Brands Specialists.
In August 2020 Ross was was elected as an officer of Whiskey University’s Board of Directors as “Vice President” for the Fiscal years of 2021 and 2022.
Ross has the following “Designations” & Credentials:
”Chartered Master Whiskey Taster”
(from Whiskey University)
”Certified Bourbon Steward“
(from the Stave & Thief Society)
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Wild Turkey’s Rare Breed Society Member
Band of Rebels Member with LuxCo/Rebel Yell
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Treasurer - Major Wes Stilts
Email address: Wes@WhiskeyUniv.com
Whiskey University Partner
Member of the Board of Directors
Whiskey University Recruiter
Professor Wes Stilts has been a member of Whiskey University since July 2017. In 2016 Whiskey University began offering Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees. Wes earned his Bourbon Diploma on November 30th, 2017.
Major Wes Stilts is a Operations Manager at Tenneco. Wes Stilts was born in May 1981 in Nashville, Tennessee and raised in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. He now lives in Columbia, Tennessee. Wes is married to Morgan Dyer Stilts and has two children Aiden Stilts and Callen Stilts. Wes graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at Middle Tennessee State University.
Wes was one of the first dozen students to earn his Associate Degree after passing 15 classes on August 9th, 2018. Wes taught his first class on February 6th, 2020 when he taught the “The Big 3” Tasting Class he also teaches “Whiskey 101” and Barton/1792 Brands. On August 8th, 2019 Stilts earned his Bachelor of Science Degree with 24 classes, at Whiskey University and the title of "Master Bourbon Taster" and the rank of Captain in the Bourbon Brigade.
Wes became only the eleventh graduate student to earn his Masters of Science Degree after successfully completing his 35th class from Whiskey University on December 16th 2020, the title of "Chartered Master Bourbon Taster" and the rank of Major in the Bourbon Brigade. Whiskey University elected Professor Wes Stilts one of two of the Brigade’s Barton/1792 Brands Specialist.
In August 2020 Wes was was elected as an officer of Whiskey University’s Board of Directors as “Treasurer” for the Fiscal years of 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Wes has the following “Designations” & Credentials:
”Chartered Master Whiskey Taster”
(from Whiskey University)
”Certified Bourbon Steward“
(from the Stave & Thief Society)
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Wild Turkey’s Rare Breed Society Member
Band of Rebels Member with LuxCo/Rebel Yell
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Secretary - Lt. Colonel Dakota Mercer
Email address: Dakota@WhiskeyUniv.com
Whiskey University Partner
Member of the Board of Directors
Professor Dakota Mercer has been a member of Whiskey University since 2018. In 2016 Whiskey University began offering Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees. Chris earned his Bourbon Diploma on May 10th, 2018.
Lt. Col. Mercer is the Facilities Manager at the City of Spring Hill, Tennessee. Dakota was born in January 1989 in Columbia, Tennessee. He still lives in Columbia, Tennessee and is married to Heather Mercer.
Dakota was one of the first twenty students to earn his Associate Degree after passing 15 classes on November 18th, 2018. Dakota taught his first class on November 14th, 2019 when he taught the Heaven Hill Advanced (Part 2) “All about Evan & Elijah” he also teaches Bourbon Founders and the Heaven Hill Basic Tastings. On April 10th, 2019 Mercer earned his Bachelors of Science Degree with 24 classes, at Whiskey University and the title of "Master Bourbon Taster" and the rank of Captain in the Bourbon Brigade.
Dakota became only the seventh graduate student to earn his Masters of Arts Degree (our Highest Degree) after successfully completing his 40th class on November 24th 2019, the title of "Senior Chartered Master Bourbon Taster" and the rank of Lt. Colonel in the Bourbon Brigade. Whiskey University elected Professor Dakota Mercer was elected as one of two of the Brigade’s Heaven Hill Brands Specialist.
In August 2020 Dakota was was elected as an officer of Whiskey University’s Board of Directors as “Secretary” for the Fiscal years of 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Whiskey University Recruiter
Dakota has the following “Designations” & Credentials:
”Chartered Master Whiskey Taster”
(from Whiskey University)
”Certified Bourbon Steward”
(from the Stave & Thief Society)
