Whiskey University has Instructors in the Durham Metropolitan Area:

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Our faculty currently serves areas in Durham County, North Carolina (327,306); Alamance County, North Carolina (171,415); Orange County, North Carolina (148,884); Chatham County, North Carolina (74,470); Person County, North Carolina (39,127); and Caswell County, North Carolina (22,714) in the Durham Metropolitan Area.

Whiskey University’s Faculty

1.) Lt. Col. Todd Rust

2.) t.b.a

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Lt. Col. Todd Rust

Whiskey University Partner

Member of the Board of Directors

Email Address:  Rickhouse1897@WhiskeyUniv.com

Major Todd Lee Rust has been a member of Whiskey University since September 2022. In 2016 Whiskey University began offering Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees. Todd has earned both his Bachelor of Arts Degree and Master of Science Degree with a double-major concentration in The Bluegrass Region and Bourbon Capital Region of Kentucky from Whiskey University.  Todd is currently pursuing his Master of Arts Degree. Todd holds the Whiskey University designation of Chartered Master Bourbon Taster.

Rust is a registered financial advisor in Raleigh, NC. Todd Rust was born in April, 1960, in Bloomington, IL.  He met his wife, Susan, while he was working as a banker in Dallas, TX, and she was a CPA. After they were married in 1985, they moved two years later to Susan's hometown of Owensboro, KY. and they lived and worked in Kentucky for 20 years before Todd was recruited to join Wells Fargo Advisors (then Wachovia Securities) in 2006 and move to Durham, North Carolina, where they currently live. Todd has "adopted" Kentucky (especially the city of Owensboro) as his "home state". Says Todd, "Kentucky is my home, after all, I will be buried there in Owensboro one day!" Major Rust and Susan have two adult children and two wonderful grandchildren.

Todd developed an enjoyment of the taste of bourbon while living in, where else, Kentucky!! Todd's "gateway bourbon" was Wathan's 8-year-old bourbon (the brown label). But it wasn't just the great taste of bourbon (& ryes & whiskies) that drew Rust, it was the history and the stories surrounding so many of the bourbons, ryes, and whiskies that we enjoy today. “I love history and we can learn so much from it", says Rust. Todd is on the Whiskey University's Board of Directors and serves on the Founders Committee where Todd researches and writes about some of the Master Distillers and people who developed and helped to promote bourbon whiskey to what we experience and enjoy today. In short, Todd has a love of history and a love of bourbon.  Todd has become a collector of bourbons and now really enjoys the Old Forester Series of Bourbons and their "Whisky Row '' line-up.

Todd also really likes the Rabbit Hole Bourbons (“I've yet to taste one I did not like!”, says Rust).  Today his tastes are much broader encompassing many other brands, but Todd now prefers higher proof expressions.  His home bar (called the "Rickhouse") includes over 400 bottles, mainly bourbons and rye whiskeys but also some Irish Whiskeys and Scotch whisky’s.   Rust states: "My tastes may be expanding and developing, but my love for the history of any whiskey I choose to enjoy is foundational to truly creating a rich enjoyment of what I am drinking". This is an industry built up by hard work, dedication, and the un-rushed fact of time! You could not cut corners then and you cannot cut corners now. It must be a "labor of love" to the men and women who choose to work in the various, but equally important, roles within a Distillery.

todd has the following “Designations” & Credentials:

1.) ”Chartered Master Whiskey Taster”

(from Whiskey University)

2.) ”Executive Bourbon Steward“

(from Stave & Thief Society)

3.) Maker’s Mark Ambassador

4.) Tennessee Squire With Jack Daniel’s

5.) Member of the Blade & Bow 5 Keys Club

6.)Coopers Club With Nelson’s GreenBrier Distillery

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

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Our faculty currently serves areas in Durham County, North Carolina (327,306); Alamance County, North Carolina (171,415); Orange County, North Carolina (148,884); Chatham County, North Carolina (74,470); Person County, North Carolina (39,127); and Caswell County, North Carolina (22,714) in the Durham Metropolitan Area.

The service area for Bourbon and Whiskey Tasting Classes in these counties included but are not limited to: Durham County, NC; Durham, NC; Gorman, NC. Chatham County, NC; Fearrington, NC; Goldston, NC; Pittsboro, NC; Siler City, NC. Alamance County, NC; Burlington, NC; Whitsett, NC; Graham, NC; Liberty, NC; Snow Camp, NC; Altamahaw, NC; Julian, NC; Elon, NC; Gibsonville, NC; Saxapahaw, NC; Burlington, NC; Mc Leansville, NC; Haw River, NC; Staley, NC; Mebane, NC County, NC; Broadway, NC; Sanford, NC. Orange County, NC; Chapel Hill, NC; Carrboro, NC; Chapel Hill, NC; Hillsborough, NC; Smithfield, NC; Wilson's Mills, NC; Person County, NC; Roxboro, NC; Timberlake, NC; Caswell County, NC; Yanceyville, NC; and Milton, NC.