Professor Dr. Stacy Simpson, DMA

Commodore, Whiskey University
Deputy Midwest States Regional Leader
Indiana State Leader
Whiskey University Partner and Member of the Board of Directors

Dr. Stacy Simpson is a professional musician, university professor, whiskey educator, and member of the leadership team at Whiskey University. She has been a member of Whiskey University since 2020 and serves as Indiana State Leader. She has also been appointed Deputy Midwest States Regional Leader, expanding her leadership role across the Midwest while continuing to lead the Indiana market. Stacy holds the Whiskey University rank of Commodore and is also a Whiskey University Partner and member of the Board of Directors.

As a Whiskey University professor, Stacy teaches courses across a wide range of whiskey styles, distilleries, regions, and historical topics. She has progressed extensively through Whiskey University’s degree and major programs and holds the designation of Chartered Master Whiskey Taster. She particularly enjoys helping students understand not only how whiskey tastes, but also the history, production methods, regional influences, distilleries, and people behind what is in the glass.

Stacy’s interest in whiskey began while she was living in St. Louis and performing with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. A fellow orchestra musician introduced her to Pappy Van Winkle Rye, beginning what became a longstanding interest in bourbon and American whiskey. Over time, that interest grew into collecting, studying, teaching, and becoming actively involved in the whiskey community.

Stacy is also an Executive Bourbon Steward through the Stave & Thief Society. In the Louisville bourbon community, she serves as Vice President and Barrel Selection Chair of The Bourbon Society, the original Bourbon Society, where she is actively involved in member programming and private barrel selections.

Outside the whiskey world, Stacy is Assistant Professor of Trumpet, Director of Bands and Athletic Bands, and Instrumental Music Area Coordinator at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. She conducts the university’s Concert Band, Pep Band, and Brass Ensemble and maintains an active professional career as a trumpet performer and educator.

Her professional performing career includes decades of work with the Louisville Orchestra, performances at Derby Dinner Playhouse, and a season with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed internationally, including appearances in Japan with Trompette Soniques and Monarch Brass, and has presented and adjudicated at the International Trumpet Guild Conference.

Whether she is teaching trumpet students, conducting an ensemble, leading a whiskey class, assisting Whiskey University students through their degree programs, or participating in a barrel selection, Stacy brings the same focus on education, community, and lifelong learning to each of her professional interests.

Stacy Has The Following “Designations” & Credentials:

”Chartered Master Whiskey Taster”

(from Whiskey University)

”Executive Bourbon Steward”

(from the Stave & Thief Society)

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