Whiskey University has Instructors in the Memphis Metropolitan Area:

Check on the pages in the Left Nav. Bar in this Section to find Faculty listed Geographically

Our faculty currently serves Shelby County, Tennessee (937,166); Fayette County, Tennessee (40,507); and Tipton County, Tennessee (61,581); Lauderdale County, Tennessee (25,825) as well as Crittenden County, Arkansas (50,902) in the Memphis Metropolitan Area.

Whiskey University’s Faculty

1.) Professor Lt. Col. Donnie Sappington

2.) Major Joe Grimoldi

3.) Captain Glenn Hopper

4.) Professor Captain Nichole Roberts

5.) Lt. Mike Adamson

6.) Lt. Clayton Moore

Professor Lt. Col. Donnie Sappington

   Email address:     Donnie@WhiskeyUniv.com

Whiskey University Partner

Member of the Board of Directors

Whiskey University Recruiter

Professor Donnie Sappington has been a member of Whiskey University since late 2020. In 2016 Whiskey University began offering Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees. Donnie earned his Bourbon Diploma on January 24th, 2021.

Donnie grew up in North Mississippi and currently resides in Memphis, Tennessee; he is married to Paula and has three children and one grandchild. Captain Sappington has worked with Mar-Val Process Equipment in Industrial Valve Sales for over a dozen years, traveling across Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas.  He holds a Master of Health Administration degree from The University of Memphis.

Donnie was one of the first students in West Tennessee to earn his Associate Degree after passing 15 classes on May 25th, 2021. On August 3rd, 2018 Donnie earned his Bachelors of Science Degree with 24 classes, at Whiskey University and the title of "Adjunct Master Bourbon Taster." Professor Sappington taught his first tasting on September 10, 2021, Bourbon 201.  He also teaches “The Big 3” and “Whiskey Row Region.” 

Professor Donnie Sappington earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree and title of “Master Bourbon Taster” at Whiskey University after passing 30 classes while achieving the Rank of Captain in the Bourbon Brigade on September 30, 2021.  Donnie’s Major is in The Bourbon Capital Region.  He is also a Certified Bourbon Steward with The Stave and Thief Society.

Donnie had the typical college experience with “bourbon and coke,” but his whiskey journey really took off a couple of decades later!  In 2012, a summer vacation in Park City, Utah, led him to a whiskey flight tasting at High West’s Saloon.  That flight of rye and other High West American Whiskeys started a journey that has added friends all over the country and the establishment of two Memphis-based whiskey groups.  He proudly serves as President of Agreeable Interlude American Whiskey Society (Memphis) and as Social Chairman of the Memphis Muddy Water Society. 

Professor Sappington looks forward to continuing his education with Whiskey University and sharing with you historical stories and experiences to include Bourbon, Rye and Tennessee Whiskeys. Outside the enjoyment of sharing great bourbons and ryes with friends, family and strangers, Donnie enjoys traveling with family; playing mediocre golf and pickleball; and watching sports.  His sports teams are Mississippi State University, University of Memphis in College Athletics and Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Cubs and he tries to cheer for the Tennessee Titans.

Donnie Has The Following “Designations” & Credentials:

1.) ”Chartered Master Bourbon Taster”

(from the Whiskey University)

2.) ”Certified Bourbon Steward”

(from the Stave & Thief Society)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

3.) Maker’s Mark Ambassador For Life

4.) Tennessee Squire from Jack Daniel’s

5.)Coopers Club With Nelson’s GreenBrier Distillery

6.) Blade And Bow’s Five Keys Club Member

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

7.) Sagamore Spirits Ambassador; A Whiskey Thief

8.) Member King’s Circle- George Remus And M.G.P.

9.) Heaven Hill’s Bardstown Whiskey Society Member

10.) Whiskey Baron from Wyoming Whiskey

11.) High West Whiskey Club, Utah

12.) Band Of Rebels, Rebel Yell Association

13.) Member of the Mellow Moments Club, Four Roses

14.) Wild Turkey’s Rare Breed Society Member

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

15.) President, Agreeable Interlude American Whiskey Society

16.) Social Chairman, Memphis Muddy Water Society

17.) Mid-south Bourbon Brotherhood, Member

Captain Glenn Hopper

Email address:   Glenn.Hopper@Whiskeyuniv.com

Glenn has the following Designations and Credentials:

1.) ”Master Bourbon Taster”

(from Whiskey University)

2.) ”Certified Bourbon Steward”

(from the Stave & Thief Society)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

3.) Blade And Bow’s Five Keys Club Member

4.)Coopers Club With Nelson’s GreenBrier Distillery

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

5.) Sagamore Spirits Ambassador; A Whiskey Thief

6.) Member King’s Circle- George Remus and M.G.P.

7.) Family Tree Ambassador at Wilderness Trail

8.)Bardstown Whiskey Society Member with Heaven Hill

9.) High West Whiskey Club, Utah

Professor Captain Nichole Roberts

   Email address:     Nichole@WhiskeyUniv.com

Professor Nichole Roberts has been a member of Whiskey University since November 2020. In 2016 Whiskey University began offering Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees. Nichole earned her Bourbon Diploma on November 30th, 2020.

1st Lt. Roberts is a medical administrative assistant and bartender in Memphis, Tennessee. Nichole was born in December 1976 in Memphis, Tennessee. She currently resides in Cordova, Tennessee and is single with one kid in college.

Nichole was one of the first seventy students to earn her Associate Degree after passing 16 classes on February 23rd, 2021 and earning the title of a “Certified Bourbon Taster.” Nichole taught her first class on October 25th, 2021 when she taught the "Bourbon 201 Tasting Class.” On September 27th, 2021 Nichole earned her Bachelor of Science Degree with 25 classes, at Whiskey University along with the title of "Adjunct Master Bourbon Taster" and the rank of 1st Lieutenant in the Bourbon Brigade.

It’s been well over 10 years ago I remember telling my close friend and bartender I wanted to learn to drink whiskey, so he started me with various cocktails over some time. At what point I do not remember, but I went from cocktails to drinking bourbon neat. When something interests me enough I try to learn more and there just happened to be a bourbon class being taught locally I decided to pay the fee for. That was my bourbon steward class, which really changed the world of bourbon for me. Prior to my class in July 2019 I maybe had 3-4 bottles on my home bar, now I have a China cabinet full of various bourbons and whiskeys. Bourbon is such a social element and Peggy Stevens Noe summed it up best in her recent book “Which Fork Do I Pair With My Bourbon” – “Bourbon is not just a spirit. It's a lifestyle”. You can easily have an hour long chat with complete strangers over a pour of bourbon and walk away with a new friend. That’s something that makes bourbon special for me and to be part of such an incredible community of folks literally all over the world.

Nichole has the following “Designations” & Credentials:

1.) ”Master Bourbon Taster”

(from Whiskey University)

2.) ”Certified Bourbon Steward”

(from the Stave & Thief Society)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

3.) Maker’s Mark Ambassador

4.) Tennessee Squire from Jack Daniel’s

5.)Coopers Club With Nelson’s GreenBrier Distillery

6.) Blade And Bow’s Five Keys Club Member

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

7.) Sagamore Spirits Ambassador; A Whiskey Thief

8.)Bardstown Whiskey Society Member with Heaven Hill

9.) High West Whiskey Club Utah

10.) Mellow Moments Member, Four Roses

11.) Wild Turkey’s Rare Breed Society Member

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

12.) Mid-south Bourbon Brotherhood, Member

13.) Member, Bourbon Women

Major Joe Grimoldi

Email address:     Joe.Grimoldi@WhiskeyUniv.com

Joe Grimoldi has been a member of Whiskey University late in 2020. In 2016 Whiskey University began offering Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees. Joe earned his Bourbon Diploma in General Whiskey Studies on March 31st, 2021.

Joe was one in the fourth nationwide semester of Whiskey University’s “Train-the-Trainer” program and went on to earn his Associate Degree after passing 15 classes on May 20th, 2021. Grimoldi teaches “Whiskey 101, Bourbon 201” and Tennessee Whiskey 202.” On July 13th, 2021 Joe earned his Bachelors of Science Degree with a Major in The Bourbon Capital Region at 24 classes from Whiskey University with the title of "Adjunct Master Bourbon Taster" and the rank of First Lieutenant in the Bourbon Brigade.

Grimoldi is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from McKendree University (Lebanon, IL) and Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Southern Illinois University (Edwardsville, IL). Though originally a Scotch enthusiast, Joe became fascinated with bourbon and its history while residing briefly in Northern Kentucky. Joe and his wife Celeste recently moved to the Memphis area in November, 2020.

Joe has the following “Designations” & Credentials:

1.) ”Chartered Master Bourbon Taster”

(from Whiskey University)

2.) ”Certified Bourbon Taster”

(from the Stave & Thief Society)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

3.) Maker’s Mark Ambassador

4.) Blade And Bow’s Five Keys Club Member

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

5.)Bardstown Whiskey Society Member with Heaven Hill

6.) Whiskey Baron From Wyoming Whiskey

7.) High West Whiskey Club Utah

8.) Band Of Rebels, Rebel Yell Association

9.) Rare Breed Society Member with Wild Turkey

Lt. Mike Adamson

Mike has the following “Designations” & Credentials:

1.) ”Certified Bourbon Taster”

(from Whiskey University)

2.) ”Certified Bourbon Steward”

(from the Stave & Thief Society)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

3.) Maker’s Mark Ambassador

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

4.) Sagamore Spirits Ambassador; A Whiskey Thief

5.) Band of Rebels, Rebel Yell Association

Lt. Clayton Moore

Clay has the following Designations and Credentials:

1.) ”Certified Bourbon Taster”

(from Whiskey University)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

2.)Coopers Club With Nelson’s GreenBrier Distillery

We teach Bourbon Classes, Bourbon Experiences, Bourbon Tastings, Bourbon Education, and Bourbon Events as well as Whiskey Classes, Whiskey Experiences, Whiskey Tastings, Whiskey Education, and Whiskey Events. We teach a total of 96 different classes.

Our faculty currently serves Shelby County, Tennessee (937,166); Fayette County, Tennessee (40,507); and Tipton County, Tennessee (61,581); Lauderdale County, Tennessee (25,825) as well as Crittenden County, Arkansas (50,902) in the Memphis Metropolitan Area.

Cities or towns in this service area for Bourbon and Whiskey Tasting Classes include Memphis, TN; Germantown, TN; Collierville, TN; Cordova, TN; Bartlett, TN; Lakeland, TN; Arlington, TN; Eads, TN; Fisherville, TN; Millington, TN; Ellendale, TN; Hickory Hill; Covington, TN; Brighton, TN; Monford, TN; Atoka, TN; Drummonds, TN; Mason, TN; Burlison, TN; Stanton, TN; Summerville, TN; Oakland, TN; Rossville, TN; Moscow, TN; Grand Junction, TN; and Whitesville, TN; Ripley, TN; Gates, TN; Halls, TN; Henning, TN; Ripley, TN. We also service these cities and towns of Marion, AR; West Memphis, AR; Crawfordsville, AR; Proctor, AR; Turrell; AR; Earle, AR; Tyronza, AR; and Hughes; AR.