Executive Committee

  • President - Colonel Craig Duncan

  • Vice President - Lt. Col. Ross Osborne

  • Treasurer - Lt. Col. Wes Stilts

  • Secretary - Lt. Col. Dakota Mercer

  • Office Administrator - Sarah Yow

President - Colonel Craig Duncan

for Craig’s Bio please see “Founder’s” page

Vice President - Lt. Col. Ross Osborne

Email address: Ross@WhiskeyUniv.com

Whiskey University Partner

Member of the Board of Directors

A man in a tuxedo holding a framed certificate from Whiskey University, standing in front of a bar shelf with liquor bottles and a sign that says 'Bourbon'.

Whiskey University Recruiter

Professor Ross Osborne was one of the three founding members of Whiskey University dating back as far as May of 2012. It was in when 2016 Whiskey University began offering Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees. Ross was the first student to earn his Bourbon Diploma on June, 8th, 2016.

Osborne is the owner of three Miracle Ear franchises in Middle Tennessee. Ross Osborne was born in April in 1962 and was born and raised in Columbia, Tennessee which is in Maury County. He currently a resident of Columbia, Tennessee. Colonel Osborne has two local adult children William Osborne and Rachel Osborne.

Ross was the first student to earn his Associate Degree after passing 15 classes on November 30th, 2017. Lt. Col. Osborne is also a Recruiter for Whiskey University. Professor Ross taught his first class on May 31st, 2018 when he taught a highly specialized class on “Booker’s Bourbon.” He also teaches Bourbon 201, “Bourbon Founders,” Jim Beam, (Advanced Part 3) “The Small Batch Collection” and Jim Beam, (Advanced Part 2) “The Olds, Ryes and High Rye Bourbons” On September 27th, 2018 Ross became the second student at Whiskey University to earn his Bachelor’s of Science Degree with 24 classes, the title of "Certified Master Bourbon Taster" and the rank of Captain in the Bourbon Brigade.

Ross Osborne earned his Masters of Arts Degree (our Highest Degree) after successfully completing his 44th class on January 23rd, 2020, the title of "Senior Chartered Master Bourbon Taster" and the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Bourbon Brigade. Whiskey University elected Professor Ross Osborne one of two of the Brigade’s Jim Beam Brands Specialists.

In August 2020 Ross was was elected as an officer of Whiskey University’s Board of Directors as “Vice President” for the Fiscal years of 2021 and 2022.

Ross has the following “Designations” & Credentials:

”Chartered Master Whiskey Taster”

(from Whiskey University)

”Certified Bourbon Steward“

(from the Stave & Thief Society)

Whiskey University certificate awarded to Ross Osborne for earning a Master in Arts Degree with a Double Major in Tennessee Bourbon and Whiskey Reigion, signed and dated for the 28th day of March, 2018, featuring images of whiskey bottles and a whisky-related emblem.
A stylized graphic of a shield with four quadrants, surrounded by leaves. The quadrants contain the letters 'W' and 'U', a barrel, and a stack of books.
A stylized illustration of a crest surrounded by large leaves. The crest has four quadrants with symbols: a 'W', a barrel, a stack of books, and a 'U'.
Four circles with golf club names and enrollment statuses: Maker's Mark (not enrolled), Tenn Squire (not enrolled), 5 Keys Club (not enrolled), Coopers Club (not enrolled).
Wooden circular sign with text 'Member of Maker's Mark Ambassador' and the Maker's Mark logo in the center with a star and 'S IV' inside a circle, surrounded by laurel leaves.
Logo for Whiskey Thieves featuring the words 'Member of Whiskey Thieves,' with a circular design and stylish black, white, and gray text.
Seal of the Tennessee Squire Association featuring a horse and rider, with the text 'Member of Tennessee Squire Association' and 'Tennessee Squire'.
A series of six light gray circles, each containing black text with the names of groups or places, all marked as 'not enrolled'.

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Wild Turkey’s Rare Breed Society Member

Band of Rebels Member with LuxCo/Rebel Yell

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A graduation cap and diploma with a banner reading 'Master of Arts Degree'
Seal with the words 'Cherry Heaven Hill District' encircling a monogram of the letters 'H' and 'H' inside a scalloped border, with the text 'Member of Bardstown Society' below.

Treasurer - Major Wes Stilts

   Email address:     Wes@WhiskeyUniv.com

Whiskey University Partner

Member of the Board of Directors

A man in a suit holding a framed certificate from Whiskey University, standing in front of a wall filled with various bottles of whiskey.

Whiskey University Recruiter

Professor Wes Stilts has been a member of Whiskey University since July 2017. In 2016 Whiskey University began offering Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees. Wes earned his Bourbon Diploma on November 30th, 2017.

Major Wes Stilts is a Operations Manager at Tenneco. Wes Stilts was born in May 1981 in Nashville, Tennessee and raised in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. He now lives in Columbia, Tennessee. Wes is married to Morgan Dyer Stilts and has two children Aiden Stilts and Callen Stilts. Wes graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at Middle Tennessee State University.

Wes was one of the first dozen students to earn his Associate Degree after passing 15 classes on August 9th, 2018. Wes taught his first class on February 6th, 2020 when he taught the “The Big 3” Tasting Class he also teaches “Whiskey 101” and Barton/1792 Brands. On August 8th, 2019 Stilts earned his Bachelor of Science Degree with 24 classes, at Whiskey University and the title of "Master Bourbon Taster" and the rank of Captain in the Bourbon Brigade.

Wes became only the eleventh graduate student to earn his Masters of Science Degree after successfully completing his 35th class from Whiskey University on December 16th 2020, the title of "Chartered Master Bourbon Taster" and the rank of Major in the Bourbon Brigade. Whiskey University elected Professor Wes Stilts one of two of the Brigade’s Barton/1792 Brands Specialist.

In August 2020 Wes was was elected as an officer of Whiskey University’s Board of Directors as “Treasurer” for the Fiscal years of 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Wes has the following “Designations” & Credentials:

”Chartered Master Whiskey Taster”

(from Whiskey University)

”Certified Bourbon Steward“

(from the Stave & Thief Society)

Certificate from Whiskey University awarded to Wes Stults for Master in Science Degree with a Double Major in the Bourbon Capital Region and the Bluegrass Region, dated August 27, 2020. The certificate features images of various whiskey bottles and a Whiskey University emblem at the bottom.
A stylized logo featuring a shield with four quadrants, containing a 'W', a barrel, a stack of books, and a 'U', surrounded by a leaf with multiple veins.
A logo featuring a shield with the letters W, U, and images of a barrel, books, and a hop cone, surrounded by a large stylized hop flower outline.
Four circles with text inside indicating the status of different golf clubs. The clubs are Maker's Mark, Tenn Squire, 5 Keys Club, and Coopers Club, each labeled with 'Not Enrolled'.
Wooden circular emblem with laurel wreath, star and the text "Member of Maker's Mark Ambassador" and "Maker's Mark" at the bottom.
Logo for Whiskey Thieves, featuring text and a circular design with black, white, and red colors, and the words 'Member of Whiskey Thieves Sacamor Spirit Rye'.
Logo of Kings Circle with a hand holding a ring in the center, surrounded by the text 'King's Circle The Right Hand Man,' and the name George Remus below.
Tennessee Squire membership badge with a horse and rider in the center surrounded by the text 'Tennessee Squire Association' and 'Member of Tennessee Squire'.
A series of six gray circles with text inside them. The text in each circle lists names of fictional societies or groups, with the phrase 'NOT ENROLLED' underneath each name. The names are Whisk Thieves, Kings Circle, Whis Society, Family Tree, Whisk Baron, and High West.

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Wild Turkey’s Rare Breed Society Member

Band of Rebels Member with LuxCo/Rebel Yell

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Certificate featuring a black border, gold background, and the text 'Master of Science Degree' at the bottom.
Seal with the text 'Member of Cherry Heaven Hill Distillery' and 'Bardstown Society' beneath it.
Logo for the Blade and Bow 5 Keys Club, featuring a circular emblem with the text "Member of Blade and Bow" and "5 Keys Club," with a design of five keys in the center, and additional text "Stitzel Weller Distillery Established 1935."
Coopers Club logo with green background, gold border, and white text reading 'Member of Nelson's Green Brier Distillery Coopers Club'.
Seal of the High West Distillery and Tasting Room featuring a mountains and water design with the text 'Member of High West Distillery & Tasting Room, Park City, Utah, Est. 2006,' and the words 'High West Club' below.

Secretary - Lt. Colonel Dakota Mercer

   Email address:     Dakota@WhiskeyUniv.com

Whiskey University Partner

Member of the Board of Directors

Professor Dakota Mercer has been a member of Whiskey University since 2018. In 2016 Whiskey University began offering Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees. Chris earned his Bourbon Diploma on May 10th, 2018.

Lt. Col. Mercer is the Facilities Manager at the City of Spring Hill, Tennessee. Dakota was born in January 1989 in Columbia, Tennessee. He still lives in Columbia, Tennessee and is married to Heather Mercer.

Dakota was one of the first twenty students to earn his Associate Degree after passing 15 classes on November 18th, 2018. Dakota taught his first class on November 14th, 2019 when he taught the Heaven Hill Advanced (Part 2) “All about Evan & Elijah” he also teaches Bourbon Founders and the Heaven Hill Basic Tastings. On April 10th, 2019 Mercer earned his Bachelors of Science Degree with 24 classes, at Whiskey University and the title of "Master Bourbon Taster" and the rank of Captain in the Bourbon Brigade.

Dakota became only the seventh graduate student to earn his Masters of Arts Degree (our Highest Degree) after successfully completing his 40th class on November 24th 2019, the title of "Senior Chartered Master Bourbon Taster" and the rank of Lt. Colonel in the Bourbon Brigade. Whiskey University elected Professor Dakota Mercer was elected as one of two of the Brigade’s Heaven Hill Brands Specialist.

In August 2020 Dakota was was elected as an officer of Whiskey University’s Board of Directors as “Secretary” for the Fiscal years of 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Whiskey University Recruiter

Dakota has the following “Designations” & Credentials:

”Chartered Master Whiskey Taster”

(from Whiskey University)

”Certified Bourbon Steward”

(from the Stave & Thief Society)

Certificate from Whiskey University awarded to Dakota Mercer for Master in Arts Degree with Double Major in the Tennessee Region and Whiskey River Region, signed by the president and featuring images of whiskey bottles.
A logo with a shield in the center containing a W, a barrel, and a stack of books, surrounded by six leaves.
A stylized logo with a shield containing a 'W', a barrel, a stack of books, and a 'U', surrounded by a wreath of leaves.
Four white circles with enrollment status: Maker's Mark - Not Enrolled, Tenn Squire - Not Enrolled, 5 Keys Club - Not Enrolled, Coopers Club - Not Enrolled.
A wooden circular token with the text 'MEMBER OF Maker's Mark AMBASSADOR' around a laurel wreath, a star, and the letters 'S IV' in the center, and the words 'Maker's Mark' underneath.
Tennessee Squire membership badge with a white horse and a rider, surrounded by the words 'Tennessee Squire Association' and 'Member of' on a black background.
Logo for the Blade and Bow 5 Keys Club, featuring a circular design with the words 'Member of' at the top, 'Blade and Bow' around the center, and '5 Keys Club' at the bottom. The center contains a stylized crest with three keys and the text 'Weller Distillery Established 1935'.
Seven gray circles, each labeled with different social groups or locations, with all text reading 'Not Enrolled': Whisk Thieves, Kings Circle, WHIS Society, Family Tree, Whisk Baron, High West.

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Wild Turkey’s Rare Breed Society Member

Band of Rebels Member with LuxCo/Rebel Yell

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A blackboard with a bronze-colored frame and the text "Master of Arts Degree" at the bottom.
A badge with the Berry Heaven Hill Distillery logo, includes a circle with a stylized 'BH' in the center, and text 'MEMBER OF BARDSTOWN SOCIETY' on a white background.