Whiskey University has Instructors in the Florence Metro Area:

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Our faculty currently serves areas in Lauderdale County, Alabama (93,564); Colbert County, Alabama (57,227);Lawrence County, Alabama (33,073); Franklin County, Alabama (32,113); Marion County, Alabama (29,341) and Winston County, Alabama (23,540) in the Florence Metro Area.

Whiskey University’s Faculty:

  • Professor Lt. Col. John Rector

  • 1st. Lt. Ryan Averbeck

  • Lt.Jr.Grd John Greaves

  • Lt.Jr.Grd. Karen Richardson

  • Lt.Jr.Grd Larry Wright

Red outline of the state of Alabama with the word 'Alabama' at the top.

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Professor Lt. Col. John Rector

Email address:   1Juice@WhiskeyUniv.com

Whiskey University Partner

Member of the Board of Directors

A man in a suit holding a framed whiskey certificate standing next to a large wooden display cabinet filled with bottles of whiskey and liquor.

Whiskey University Recruiter

John Rector started his official studies with Whiskey University in late 2020. He has been proudly learning, tasting, testing, and making his way up the ranks to a proud Master Bourbon Taster, Bourbon Steward, and Captain in the Bourbon Brigade. In 2016 Whiskey University began offering Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees. John earned his Bourbon Diploma on January 24th, 2021.

John is a native of Tennessee but has called Northern Alabama his home for the last 22 years. Born in Chattanooga and raised in Franklin Tennessee, he stayed in God’s Country to earn his Mechanical Engineering degree from Tennessee Technological University way back in 1991. He challenged himself by working in the Automotive Industry, but now presently works in Extreme Long-Haul Transportation Systems around the Moon.

He continues to enjoy spending time with his “Back Table Friends” from college - sharing a bourbon (or two), stories, and cherished laughs. He designs and produces Hi-Fi speaker systems out of vintage luggage or whatever object is presented to him. Creativity is unlimited, like a bottomless Glencairn.

Rector earned his Associate Degree after passing 15 classes on March 30th, 2021. On July 13th, 2021, John earned his Bachelor of Science Degree with 24 classes, at Whiskey University and the title of "Adjunct Master Bourbon Taster." On September 7th, 2021 Captain Rector advanced to earn the Title of “Master Bourbon Taster” by earning his Bachelor of Arts Degree and the rank of Captain in the Bourbon Brigade. John is pursuing his a Graduate Degree currently.

Captain Rector encourages everyone to sip, experience, and savor the flavors of whatever is presented to you. There is no wrong answer to your flavor profile or what you taste. Every whiskey journey is exciting and personal, but hopefully shared with friends and family every chance you get. He looks forward to sharing a glass with you.

John has the following Designations and Credentials:

”Chartered Master Bourbon Taster”

(from Whiskey University)

”Certified Bourbon Steward”

(from the Stave & Thief Society)

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A humorous diploma from Whiskey University, awarded to John Rector for completing whiskey studies, with images of whiskey bottles and a Whiskey University emblem.
Four white circles with text inside each: 'MAKER'S MARK NOT ENROLLED,' 'TENN SQUIRE NOT ENROLLED,' '5 KEYS CLUB NOT ENROLLED,' and 'COOPERS CLUB NOT ENROLLED.'
Wooden circular badge with black text and design, labeled "Maker's Mark," featuring a star with "S IV" inside, surrounded by laurel branches, and the phrases "Member of" and "Ambassador."
Logo with the words 'Member of Whiskey Thieves' and 'Sagmore Spirit Rye' inside a circle.
Member of Blade and Bow 5 Keys Club logo featuring a circular emblem with a central design of five keys, surrounded by the text "Blade and Bow" and "Member of," with "5 Keys Club" written below.
Application interface showing six circular buttons labeled 'Whisk Thieves', 'Kings Circle', 'Whis Society', 'Family Tree', 'Whisk Baron', and 'High West', each with 'Not Enrolled' below the labels

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Alchemist Ambassador with Jefferson’s Bourbon

Member, Shoals Bourbon & Whiskey Club

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Image of a graduation cap with the text 'Master of Arts Degree' at the bottom.
Seal with the text 'MEMBER OF' above and 'BERRY HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY' around a stylized 'H' logo, with 'Bardstown Society' written below.
Logo for Wilderness Trail Distillery with text "Member of Wilderness Trail Distillery" and "Wilder. Trail Family Tree"
Text reading 'MEMBER OF WYOMING WHISKEY Whiskey Baron' with stylized fonts and logos.
A logo for Kings Circle featuring a black circle with a hand with a raised middle finger, and text reading 'King's Circle' and 'The Right Hand Man.' It also includes the text 'MEMBER OF' and the name George Remus.

1st. Lt. Ryan Averbeck

Ryan is a Kentucky Colonel, Georgia Colonel, Alabama Lieutenant Colonel, and Commander in the Texas Navy and has the following “Designations” and Credentials:

”Master Bourbon Taster”

(from Whiskey University)

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A man holding a diploma or certificate standing next to a wooden display cabinet with liquor bottles and decorations, in a room with wood paneling and decorative items.
Four circles with text inside each. The first circle says 'Maker's Mark', 'Not Enrolled'. The second says 'Tenn Squire', 'Not Enrolled'. The third says '5 Keys Club', 'Not Enrolled'. The fourth says 'Coopers Club', 'Not Enrolled'.
A series of six gray circles with black text inside, listing groups of people not enrolled: Whisk Thieves, Kings Circle, Whis Society, Family Tree, Whisk Baron, High West.

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Member, Edinborough Whiskey Academy

Band of Rebels Member with LuxCo/Rebel Yell

Member, Jeffersons Bourbon

Member, Michters

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Gray plaque with black rectangular area and white text that reads "Bachelor of Science Degree".
A certificate from Whiskey University awarded to Ryan Averteck, a Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in the World Whisky Region, titled 'Master Bourbon Taster,' signed by Colonel Craig L. Duncan and Bob Howell, with decorative borders and Whisk ey University logos.
Wooden circular emblem with the text 'Member of Maker's Mark Ambassador' and the Maker's Mark logo, including a star and the Roman numeral 'IV' in the center, surrounded by laurel branches.
Logo of Whiskey Thieves featuring the words 'MEMBER OF Whiskey Thieves' and a circular design with the names 'Sagamore Spirit Rye'.
Member of Blade and Bow 5 Keys Club logo with circular design, featuring text and a crest with five keys in the center.
Logo of Nelson's Green Brier Distillery Coopers Club with green and gold circular design and text 'Member of Nelson's Green Brier Distillery Coopers Club'
A circular logo with the words 'Member of High West Distillery' around the border. Inside the circle, there is a graphic of two hands holding a mountain and a heart-shaped line graph. Below the logo, the text 'High West Club' is written in gray.

Lt.Jr.Grd John Greaves

John has the following Designations and Credentials:

“Certified Bourbon Taster”

(from Whiskey University)

”Certified Bourbon Steward“

(from Stave & Thief Society)

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A certificate from Whiskey University awarded to John Greaves, certifying him as a 'Certified Bourbon Taster'. The certificate features images of two bourbon bottles and official signatures.
Four large gray circles each containing a name and 'NOT ENROLLED' text, from left to right: Maker's Mark, Tenn Squire, 5 Keys Club, Coopers Club.
Round wooden Maker's Mark emblem with 'MEMBER OF' at the top, laurel wreath design, 'S IV' in the center, and 'AMBASSADOR' at the bottom, with 'Maker's Mark' text below.
Six light gray circles, each containing black text: "WHISK THIEVES NOT ENROLLED," "KINGS CIRCLE NOT ENROLLED," "WHS SOCIETY NOT ENROLLED," "FAMILY TREE NOT ENROLLED," "WHISK BARON NOT ENROLLED," and "HIGH WEST NOT ENROLLED."
A graphic representing an Associate of Science Degree with a black square paper badge and brown border, featuring white text at the bottom stating 'Associate of Science Degree'.

Lt.Jr.Grd. Karen Richardson

Karen has the following “Designations” and Credentials:

”Certified Bourbon Taster”

(from Whiskey University)

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Four circles with labels, the first says 'Maker's Mark NOT ENROLLED,' the second 'Tenn Squire NOT ENROLLED,' the third '5 Keys Club NOT ENROLLED,' and the fourth 'Coopers Club NOT ENROLLED.'
Six circles with text inside, listing groups not enrolled: Whisk Thieves, Kings Circle, Whis Society, Family Tree, Whisk Baron, High West.
Plaque reading 'Associate of Science Degree' with a black square and gray border.
Certificate from Whiskey University awarded to Karen Richardson for completing course in whiskey tasting, signed by Colonel Craig L. Duncan, with decorative border and whiskey-themed logos.

Lt.Jr.Grd Larry Wright

Larry has the following Designations and Credentials:

“Certified Bourbon Taster”

(from Whiskey University)

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A certificate from Whiskey University awarded to Larry Wright for completing a course of study in bourbon distilleries, granting the honorary title of 'Certified Whiskey Taster' with the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade in the Bourbon Brigade, signed by Colonel Craig L. Duncan.
Four circles each containing text: 'MAKER'S MARK NOT ENROLLED', 'TEN SQUIRE NOT ENROLLED', '5 KEYS CLUB NOT ENROLLED', 'COOPERS CLUB NOT ENROLLED'.
A circular logo with the text 'MEMBER OF Whiskey Thieves' and 'SAGAMORE SPIRIT' and 'RYE'.
A series of six gray circles with black text, listing different groups not enrolled in a program: Whisk Thieves, Kings Circle, Whis Society, Family Tree, Whisk Baron, High West.
A black chalkboard framed in wood with a brown border, and the text 'Associate of Science Degree' in white at the bottom.
Logo for Nelson's Green Brier Distillery Coopers Club.

Cities or towns in this service area for Bourbon and Whiskey Tasting Classes include Athens, AL; Ardmore, AL; Elkmont, AL; Lester, AL; Mooresville, AL; Decatur, AL; Eva, AL; Falkville, AL; Hartselle, AL; Priceville, AL; Somerville, AL; Trinity, AL; Tuscumbia, AL; Cherokee, Leighton, AL, Muscle Shoals, AL; Littleville, AL; Muscle Shoals, AL; Sheffield, AL; Tuscumbia, AL; Moulton, AL; Courtland, AL; Hillsboro, AL; Moulton, AL; North Courtland, AL; Town Creek, AL; Russellville, AL; Hodges, AL; Phil Campbell, AL; Red Bay, AL; Russellville, AL; Vina, AL; Haleyville, AL; Addison, AL; Arley, AL; Double Springs, AL; Double Springs, AL; Haleyville, AL; Lynn, AL; and Natural Bridge, AL.