nelson brothers hot sauce is available for purchase directly to consumer in iowa! JUst send me an email here to arrange a pick up/ship.

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The Driftless Distiller

Hello! Casey here. I'm a distiller of bourbon, rye whiskey, brandy, gin, and vodka. I've worked with multiple start-up distilleries, organic distilleries, and have been a part of all aspects of that world. I'm experienced with milling, mashing, distilling, bottling, sales, record keeping, outreach, equipment repair, tour guiding, and spirit tastings amongst other experience. I love exploring creativity and innovation in the distillation world!

Finding ways to improve production plans and maximize efficiency is something I really enjoy. Bridging the gap between the magic on the production side of things and the experience of a cocktail program of a distillery or bar is something really important to me! 

I am currently available for distillery consultation and select contract work!
You can reach me at [email protected]

About my distilling journey...

2015 to 2017 I managed Moonshine Distiller, a home distillation equipment online retail store. I learned how to distill through home stills and a whole lot of experimentation. During this time, the owner decided to start Idlewild Distillery in Winter Park, CO. With only about four people at the beginning, it was an all-hands-on-deck affair, and I jumped into all the moving pieces of a distillery start-up. This meant helping with milling and mashing, learning how to craft cocktails and make cuts during the distillation.

2018 to 2020 I moved back to Wisconsin to be part of another start-up distillery. At La Crosse Distilling Co. I started as a jack-of-all trades guy who did a lot of behind the scenes work. After their inexperienced "Master Distiller" was in the weeds, I worked as the Assistant Distiller to help steer the ship. I could get all Anthony Bourdain - Kitchen Confidential here as to all the wild things I experienced, but honestly, I learned a ton there about running a tight production schedule, reaching deadlines and perhaps unrealistic goals, sales pushes, organic distilling, mashing, lots and lots of milling, and how to make things happen... no matter what.

2020 to 2024 I moved to Decorah, IA and accepted a position as Head of Production/Distiller at Rockfilter Distillery. Here I honed in my skills as an organic farm distillery bourbon and rye whiskey distiller. I found ways to maximize production and really get numbers up as far as number of distillation runs and mashes go. I barreled over 500 barrels while there, all of which I feel extremely proud of... seriously good bourbon! After feeling like I had reached my ceiling, I refocus my interest in distilling into consulting and focusing on my other passions in life like Nelson Brothers Hot Sauce and music!

Nowadays, I am consulting for an exciting new start-up distillery in Wisconsin, and have been experimenting with my own compound gin blends from foraged botanicals!