Colonel CRaig Duncan
President and Founder, Whiskey University
Colonel CRaig Duncan
Email address: ColonelCRaig@WhiskeyUniv.com
Appointed "Colonel" by both the Governor of Kentucky and the Governor of Tennessee as an Ambassador to the spread the word about the virtues of Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey.
Colonel Craig Duncan
Founder and President of Whiskey University
Colonel Craig Duncan is lifelong whiskey aficionado with a passion for history. He blends these two interests over an elusive glass of single barrel to form a truly unique and informative bourbon experience that you will never forget.
Duncan retired as the Vice President of Sales and Advertising for Tennessee with Gannett Newspapers stationed in Columbia, Tennessee. He has also served the General Manager of the Advertiser News of Spring Hill; Publisher of the Citizen-Statesman and the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Natchez Trace Media. Craig Duncan was born in February 1962 on a U. S. Army Base at Landstuhl Regional near Ramstein Air Base in the German State of "Rheinland-Pfalz". He was raised in Odenton and Gaithersburg, Maryland and now resides in Columbia, Tennessee which is in Maury County. He is happily married to his wife of over 33 years, Melissa Page Duncan and they have two adult children Miles Duncan (with two Grandchildren) and Alexandra (aka Lexie Duncan) Adams.
Craig Duncan was appointed by Governor Paul Patton of Kentucky on October 15th, 2003 as a Kentucky Colonel for being an Ambassador for the Bourbon Industry and espousing the virtues of Bourbon throughout the country on behalf of the Commonwealth. On August 15th, 2015 Colonel Duncan was appointed the title and honor of being a Tennessee Colonel by Governor Bill Haslam of Tennessee as well as an Aide-de-Camp to the Governor’s office for broadcasting the Historic stories that made Tennessee Whiskey so famous and popular.
Colonel Craig Duncan was the leader and one of the three founding members of Whiskey University dating back to September of 2009. In May 2012 those three men started hanging out a few times a month and formally training each other about what they learned about Bourbon or Whiskey. Duncan along with Jason Kyle and Ross Osborne started collecting as many brands as they could find from the eight major (at that time) bourbon distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. They each started contributing to the collection when they went to a local liquor store or traveled to another state or country. After about three years of collecting and contributing, it was nicknamed the Tenn-tucky Whiskey Bar. It now serves as Whiskey University’s unofficial library, the bar has over 2,200 different brands of whiskey (all open). The collection includes almost 1,200 different brands of Kentucky Bourbon, over 350 Tennessee Whiskeys, over 250 Rye Whiskeys (including over 40 from Maryland), 150 Canadian Whiskies and Craft Whiskeys from over 40 of the 50 U. S. States. Currently, without any duplication, it is one of the most diverse collections of whiskey and is one of the largest private collections around.
In 2015 Whiskey University began teaching formal in-person classes to their own social club and to other Bourbon Facebook groups in the Tennessee and Kentucky. In those days, they only taught the three most basic classes in public (they were Whiskey 101, Bourbon 201, and Tennessee Whiskey 202) despite having created about 40 classes at the time. Later they added some intermediate tasting classes about the twelve major distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. In 2016 Whiskey University began offering Bourbon Diplomas, Associate Degrees and a Bachelor Degrees based on the number of courses and tasting each member had taken. Ross Osborne was the first student to earn his Bourbon Diploma on January, 12th, 2016 and the first to earn his Associate Degree on May 5th, 2017. Since then over 68,000 quizzes have been assigned with over 2,000 in person students and 850 Associate Degrees (20 Credits) earned. They now teach over 120 classes in all 50 States, 8 Canadian Provinces, and Puerto Rico. Plans are to expand to the 4 countries of Great Britain as well as Ireland in 2025 are in place.
In that January 2017, the Bourbon Brigade (a non-profit organization separate from Whiskey University) was formed as informal group of 15 guys that got together on a second and fourth Thursdays each month. In 2018 Whiskey University began giving credits for taking field trips to Bourbon or Whiskey Distillery around the country. They also recruited new members that earned their Bourbon Diplomas and taught Bourbon Tasting Classes of their own.
On May 10th, 2018 Carl Ingrum became the first student at Whiskey University to earn his Bachelor of Arts Degree, the title of "Master Bourbon Taster" and the rank of Captain in the Bourbon Brigade after attending 40 classes. In the first quarter of 2019, three students at Whiskey University earned the highest rank and honor offered at the school; Carl Ingrum, Ross Osborne and Dale Robinson all finished the University requirements for their Master of Arts Degrees at 60 classes, the title “Chartered Master Whiskey Taster and the honorary title of Lieutenant Colonel.”
In order to earn their Associate Degree a student must take 20 Tasting classes and quizzes. For a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Bachelor of Arts Degree the student must take 30 and 40 tasting classes and quizzes for credit respectively. Many of these classes have to be Specifically concentrating in two separate Majors. The graduate must also teach a tasting class of their choice in public. In order to earn their Master of Science and Master of Arts Degree the member take 50 and 60 classes for credit respectively and must teach two tasting classes of their choice, a basic and an intermediate class.
Colonel CRaig Duncan’s “Designations” & Credentials:
”Kentucky Colonel”
(from the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky)
”Tennessee Colonel”, Aide de Camp to Governor
(from the Governor of the State of Tennessee)
”Chartered Master Whiskey Taster”
(from Whiskey University)
”Executive Bourbon Steward”
(from the Stave & Thief Society
Supporter and Member of all of the following
Facebook Bourbon Groups in Tennessee & Kentucky
1.) Member, Dad’s Drinking Bourbon, Franklin, Tennessee
2.) Member, The Nashville Bourbon Social Club, Nashville, Tennessee
3.) Member, Nashville Whiskey Society, Nashville, Tennessee
4.) Member, Music City Bourbon Club, Nashville, Tennessee
5.) Member, Nashville Bourbon Barrel, Nashville, Tennessee
6.) Member, The Bourbon Collective, Nashville, Tennessee
7.) Bourbon 615, Nashville, Tennessee
8.) Member, Murfreesboro Bourbon Society, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
9.) Member, Sumner/Wilson Bourbon Social Club, Gallatin. Tennessee
10.) Member, East Tennessee Bourbon Society, Knoxville, Tennessee
11.) Member, Knoxville Bourbon Society, Knoxville, Tennessee
12.) Member, Private Bourbon Society, Knoxville, Tennessee
13.) Member, Midsouth Bourbon Brotherhood, Memphis, Tennessee
14.) Member, Clarksville Bourbon Society, Clarksville, Tennessee
15.) Member, Chattanooga Bourbon Society, Chattanooga, Tennessee
16.) Member, East Tennessee Bourbon Society, Greenville, Tennessee
17.) Member, Tennessee Elite Bourbon Group, Corryton, Tennessee
1.) Member, Bourbon Brotherhood, Louisville, Kentucky
2.) Member, The Original Bourbon Society, Louisville, Kentucky
3.) Member, Bourbon Collectors, Louisville, Kentucky
5.) Member, Bourbon Club of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
6.) Member, Louisville Bourbon Club, Louisville, Kentucky
7.) Member, Bourbon Info Exchange, Louisville, Kentucky
8.) Member, Kentucky Bourbon Society, Lexington, Kentucky
9.) Member, Lexington Bourbon, Lexington, Kentucky
10.) Member, Bluegrass Bourbon, Lexington, Kentucky
11.) Member, The Gentleman’s Club of the Bluegrass, Lexington, Kentucky
12.) Member, Kentucky Bourbon Distillery Tours, Lexington, Kentucky
13.) Member, Historical Bourbon, Lexington, Kentucky
14.) Member, The Bourbon Lifers, Lexington, Kentucky
15.) Member, The Bourbon Club, Lexington, Kentucky
16.) Member, Frankfort Bourbon, Society, Frankfort, Kentucky
17.) Member, Kentucky Bourbon Collection, Frankfort, Kentucky
18.) Member, Kentucky Bourbon Society, Paducah, Kentucky
19.) Member, Bourbon Fanatics, Owensboro, Kentucky
20.) Member, Southeastern Kentucky Bourbon Hunters, Williamsburg, Kentucky
21.) Member, What is on the Bourbon Trail today?, Lexington, Kentucky
22.) Member, Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Bardstown, Kentucky
23.) Bowling Green Bourbon Group, Bowling Green, Kentucky
24.) Member, Tri-State Bourbon Buddies, Grayson, Kentucky
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Alchemist Ambassador with Jefferson’s Bourbon
Band of Rebels, Rebel Yell Association
Member of the Mellow Moments Club, Four Roses
Wild Turkey’s Rare Breed Society Member
Member At Large in Beam Around The World
Collector,International Assoc of Jim Beam Clubs
Founder, The Bourbon Brigade
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Facebook Bourbon Groups in MidAtlantic States
(Maryland, D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware)
1.) Member, Maryland Whiskey, Baltimore, Maryland
2.) Member, Maryland's Whiskey Bourbon Society, Westminster, Maryland
3.) Member, Old Line Bourbon, Gaithersburg, Maryland
4.) Member, My Bourbon Club, Owings Mills, Maryland
5.) Member, Bourbon Bros, Baltimore, Maryland
6.) Member, Backyard Bourbon Club, Cordova Maryland
7.) Member, Bourbon Lovers of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
8.) Member, Virginia Whiskey Syndicate, Arlington, Virginia
9.) Member, Virginia Bourbon, Staunton, Virginia
10.) Member, DMV Bourbon Lovers, Fairfax, Virginia
11.) Member, NoVa Bourbon, Fairfax, Virginia
12.) Member, Coastal Virginia Whiskey Society, Virginia Beach, Virginia
13.) Member, DMV Whisk(e)y Club, Richmond, Virginia
14.) Member, Tri-State Bourbon Buddies, Huntington, West Virginia
15.) Member, West Virginia Bourbon Locator, Wheeling, West Virginia
16.) Member, WV Bourbon Society, Liberty, West Virginia
17.) Member, West Virginia Whiskey Lovers, West Virginia
18.) Member, Bourbon Hunters, Raleigh, North Carolina
19.) Member, RB&B (the Original Raleigh Bourbon & Banter), Raleigh, North Carolina
20.) Member, Bourbon Community of North Carolina, Charlotte, North Carolina
21.) Member, Triad Bourbon and Beer aficionados, Greensboro, North Carolina
22.) Member, Greensboro Bourbon club, North Carolina
23.) Member, NC Bourbon and Co., Greensboro, North Carolina
24.) Member, Southern Bourbon Society, Salem, South Carolina
Facebook Bourbon Groups in Southern States
(Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas)
1.) Member, Alabama Whiskey & Cigar Group, Birmingham, Alabama
2.) Member, Alabama Small Batch, Birmingham, Alabama
3.) Member, North Alabama Whiskey aficionados, Huntsville, Alabama
4.) Member, South Alabama Bourbon, Dothan, Alabama
5.) Member, East Alabama & West Georgia Bourbon Club, Auburn, Alabama
6.) Member, Veterans Whiskey Club, Atlanta, Georgia
7.) Member, BS & Bourbon, Atalanta, Georgia
8.) Member, Bourbon Finders and Braggers, Dalton, Georgia
9.) Member, Southern Bourbon Hunters, St. Petersburg, Florida
10.) Member, South Florida Bourbon Society, Miami, Florida
11.) Member, Palm Beach Bourbon Society, Palm Beach, Florida
12.) Member, South Florida Bourbon Aficionados, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
13.) Member, Pensacola Bourbon Society, Pensacola, Florida
14.) Member, Bourbon Society of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
15.) Member, Bourbon Society of Northwest Florida, Panama City, Florida
16.) Member, Bourbon Lovers of Pinellas County, St. Petersburg, Florida
17.) Member, South Florida Bourbon Boys, Miami, Florida
18.) Member, Miami Bourbon Society, Miami, Florida
19.) Member, Southwest Florida Bourbon Society, Ft. Myers, Florida
20.) Member, Bourbonr, Jacksonville, Florida
21.) Member, The Bourbon Aficionados Collective, Tampa Bay, Florida
22.) Member, Bourbon Nation 2.0, St. Petersburg, Florida
23.) Member, Southeastern Bourbon Finders, Pensacola, Florida
24.) Member, Pensacola Whiskey Society, Pensacola, Florida
25.) Member, Greater Jackson Bourbon & Whiskey Society, Jackson, Mississippi
26.) Member,
Facebook Bourbon Groups in Northeast States
(New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont)
1.) Member, Bourbon Lovers-New Jersey Chapter, Trenton, New Jersey
2.) Member, Central Jersey Bourbon Society, Middletown, New Jersey
3.) Member, Connecticut Bourbon and Whiskey Enthusiasts, Hartford, Connecticut
4.) Member, New England Whisky, Providence, Rhode Island
5.) Member, New York Whisky Enthusiasts, New York, New York
6.) Member, All Things Bourbon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
7.) Member, Portland Bourbon and Spirits Society - Bottle Share, Portland, Maine
Facebook Bourbon Groups in Midwest States
(Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri)
1.) Member, Bourbon Lovers, Chicago, Illinois
2.) Member, Chicago Whiskey Society, Chicago, Illinois
3.) Member, Whiskey Mavens, Chicago, Illinois
4.) Member, Fox Valley Whiskey Society, Chicago, Illinois
5.) Member, Indiana Whiskey/Whisky & Bourbon Collectors, Indianapolis, Indiana
6.) Member, Big 4 Bourbon 2.0, Cincinnati, Ohio
7.) Member, Ohio Bourbon Lovers, Columbus, Ohio
8.) member, Ohio Bourbon Hunters, Columbus, Ohio
9.) Member, Bourbon Lovers-Michigan Chapter (BLMC), Detroit, Michigan
10.) Member, Bourbon Junkies, Midland, Michigan
11.) Member, All Things Bourbon, Miami, Ohio
12.) Member, Brothers in Bond Bourbon enthusiasts, Covington, Ohio
13.) Member, Bourbon Nation, Indianapolis, Indiana
14.) Member, Indiana Bourbon Finder, Indianapolis, Indiana
15.) Member, Southern Indiana Bourbon Club, New Albany, Indiana
Facebook Bourbon Groups in Great Plain States
(Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, North & South Dakota, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas)
1.) Member, Bourbon Lovers Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska
2.) Member, Bourbon Locator, Corpus Christi, Texas
3.) Member, North Dakota Bourbon Drinkers, Bismark, North Dakota
4.) Member, Bourbon with the Ladies, Bismark, North Dakota
5.) Member, Dakota Whiskey Territory, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
6.) Member, Oklahoma City Whiskey Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
7.) Member,
Facebook Bourbon Groups in Mountain States
1.) Member, Denver Whiskey Club, Denver Colorado
2.) Member, Wyoming Bourbon and Whisk(e)y Enthusiasts, Casper, Wyoming
