Joe Combs started his Whiskey University studies after seeing it being promoted on social media. Joe enrolled in the Tennessee Whiskey certificate program starting in January 2026 and officially enrolled in the Associate of Science Degree the following March 2026. Joe has gone on to earn his Bachelor of Science Degree and has intentions to go all the way with Whiskey University, taking all the courses provided.

Joe was born in Radford, Virginia and moved to St. Simons Island, Georgia in 1976. Joe attended public schools, in Virginia and Georgia, and graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture in 1990. Following graduation he moved back to the Golden Isles and began working with Ussery Rule Architects. Shortly after graduation from Aubirn University, Joe was introduced to the fire service and while continuing to work with the Architectural firm, Joe became a volunteer firefighter with the Glynn County Fire Department and progressed through the rakes to Division Chief in 2002. Joe retired from the Fire Service as a Division Chief in 2021. Currently, Joe is the contract administrator for Ussery Rule Morelan Architects, P.C. located on Saint Simons Island, Georgia with projects in Georgia, Florida, North & South Carolina, and Tennessee. He currently lives in Brunswick, Georgia with his wife Aimee and our many 4-legged fur-babies.

Joe’s collection of whisk(e)y began in 2003 following an event he co-hosted with just a handful of basic whiskies, that were not consumed at the event. Joe’s interest in whisk(e)y only smoldered while in the Fire Service and it wasn’t until following his retirement that his interest and enthusiasm in whisk(e)y began to grow. His thirst for knowledge led Joe to enroll in courses offered by the Wizard Academy / Whiskey Marketing School, the Edinburgh Whisky Academy, Moonshine U (Stave & Thief Society), and ultimately Whiskey University. When not actively taking courses, Joe can be found presenting tastings on the amber liquid to several local groups and Co-founded the Golden Isles Whisk(e)y Society, Inc., a non-profit corporation with a focus on education and exploration of whisk(e)y. Joe maintains a social media presence, JoesWhiskeyDen and has a personal whisk(e)y/cigar/literature resource library featuring nearly 400 Scotch whiskies and over 700 total whiskies.

Outside of the whiskey world, Joe’s been very active over the years, and held a variety of offices with several non-profit groups and community-oriented organizations. As a result, Joe understands the importance and necessity of networking with other like-minded individuals and organizations. In his spare time, Joe enjoys riding motorcycles, photography, hunting, fishing, boating, the outdoors, and of course organizing whiskey tastings.

Joe’s passion for learning and understanding the history and process involved with whisk(e)y production led Joe to take his first courses with Whiskey University, and ultimately his decision to continue furthering his education and knowledge with Whiskey University. Joe earned his Associate of Science Degree with Whiskey University June 2026 and immediately enrolled in the Bachelor Program with his first two majors, the Tennessee Whiskey Major and the Craft Whiskey Major. Joe earned his Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Tennessee Whiskey, August 2026 and is on track to complete the Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in Craft Whiskey, Fall 2026. Joe is looking ahead and committed on proceeding to the Master Programs starting with the World Whiskey Major October 2026 and Scotch & Irish Whisk(e)y Major January 2027.