Medium & Craft Distillery Founders

Midwest & Great Plain States

(NOTE: FOUNDERS ARE LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

1

Robert & Sonat Birnbecker

Koval 

THIS FOUNDERS HISTORY WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON

Koval distillery was founded in 2008 by the husband and wife team of Dr. Robert Birnecker and Dr. Sonat Birnecker-Hart. Both of them left careers in government and academia to start the distillery. They decided together to move to the city they loved to work together more than working exclusively on their own career paths. Dr. Birnecker, a third generation distiller, grew up helping his grandparents at their award-winning distillery and winery.

2

Ron Call,

Green River

THIS FOUNDERS HISTORY WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON

3

Joe & Missy Duer,

Indian Creek Distilling

4

Larry Ebersold,

New Riff

Larry Ebersold over his career has become known as the “godfather of rye whiskey”. Larry holds his Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Louisville attending there from 1967 and graduating in 1972. Larry started working at a distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana in 1972 which at the time was under the ownership of Seagrams. Larry became the Master Distiller and held the title for 20 years at the distillery in a career spanning 38 years.

5

Jay Erisman,

New Riff

Jay and team wanted New Riff to be a “Rye House”, with rye as predominant component in their bourbon and of high rye content ryes. They believe that rye is the driver for very rich and complex bourbons. According to Jay “we had zero desire to be Loretto North, with a gentle wheated Bourbon. Would New Riff ever make a heated Bourbon? Sure! And we have done so.” He goes on to say, “But this is a rye-led distillery, all the way. We make big, spicy rye-centric whiskeys and we don’t apologize for it.”

6

Gary Hinegardner,

Wood Hat Spirits

THIS FOUNDERS HISTORY WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON

7

Paul Hletko,

Few Spirits

FEW Spirits was founded by Paul Hletko in Evanston, Illinois a suburb just north of Chicago in 2011. It was his way to honor his family's history after his grandfather lost his large brewery to the Nazi’s during WW II. Evanston wasn’t exactly the whiskey capital of the midwest. Matter of fact, no liquor had ever been distilled in the city and for 117 years. FEW Spirits is innovating their products to stand out in the whiskey industry. FEW Spirits was acquired in 2022 by Heaven Hill.  

8

Ben Holladay,

Holladay Distillery

Ben was able to purchase the land for the distillery in 1849 after discovering the limestone spring on the site. Ben, a native Kentuckian, knew the water was perfect for producing bourbon. He went to work with his brother David to securing the necessary equipment and materials and was able able to begin distilling whiskey as the Blue Springs Distillery in 1856. The first whiskey was sold for 35 cents for a gallon the following year. Ben transferred ownership of the distillery to David in 1858.

9

Ted Huber & Sons,

Starlight Distillery

As Indiana’s “First Family” of distilling, 7th generation Ted and Greg Huber have continued their family's legacy. Originally a fruit and wine making farm, Huber's Starlight distillery has broadened their portfolio by adding brandy , bourbon and rye to the mix. Located in Starlight, Indiana the distillery was established in 2001. 

Starlight is one of the few American Whiskey producers who use a sweet mash method.

10

Ryan Lang

Middle West Spirits

THIS FOUNDERS HISTORY WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON

11

Kenneth Lewis,

New Riff Distilling

12

Kyle Merklein,

Holladay Distillery

THIS FOUNDERS HISTORY WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON

13

Brian Nation,

Keeper's Heart

THIS FOUNDERS HISTORY WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON

14

Jeff & Laurie Quint,

Cedar Ridge

THIS FOUNDERS HISTORY WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON

15

Guy Rehorst,

Great Lakes Distillery

THIS FOUNDERS HISTORY WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON

16

Ed Ryan,

Hard Truth Distillery

THIS FOUNDERS HISTORY WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON

17

Brian Sprance,

New Riff

Brian joined New Riff in 2014 when it was founded and is their Head Distiller today. He studied under the guidance of consulting Master Distiller Larry Ebersold and today uses his background in fermentation and creates his own spin on various whiskies using grains from his beer background to create new and unique flavor profiles. One example of this different thinking lead to their Winter Whiskey which has a very different mash bill of 65% corn, 20% malted oats, 7% pale ale malt, 5% steel cut raw oats and 3% chocolate malt.