Whiskey University has Instructors in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area:

Map of Ohio with several counties highlighted in red, indicating a specific region in the southeastern part of the state.

Our faculty currently serves areas in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania (1,584,064); Delaware County, Pennsylvania (566,747); Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (830,915); Bucks County, Pennsylvania (628,270); Chester County, Pennsylvania (560,745); and Berks County, Pennsylvania (428,849); in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area.

  • Whiskey University’s Faculty

  • Commodore Jim Rush

  • Capt. Michael Kutner

  • Lt.Jr.Gr Josh Contrucci

  • Lt.Jr.Gr Jeremy Nelson

  • Sgt. Carol Berger

  • Pvt. Shenine Farmer

Whiskey University is also currently looking for Instructors In Philadelphia Metropolitan area

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Commodore Jim Rush

Email address:     JimR@WhiskeyUniv.com

A man with a bald head and beard dressed in a suit and tie, holding a framed diploma from Whiskey University, standing in a room with books and bottles in the background.

Jim Has The Following “Designations” & Credentials:

” Chartered Master Whiskey Taster”

(from the Whiskey University)

”Certified Bourbon Steward”

(from the Stave & Thief Society)

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Round wooden badge with black text reading 'Maker's Mark' at the top and 'AMBASSADOR' at the bottom, featuring a laurel wreath design, a star, and the letters 'S IV' in the center.
Certificate of completion from Whiskey University awarded to Jim Rush for a Master of Arts Degree with a Double Major in the Bourbon Capital Region and Bluegrass Region. The certificate is decorated with images of whiskey bottles and a gold emblem at the bottom featuring the letters W, E, and U.
A table showing four columns with the names Maker's Mark, Tenn Squire, 5 Keys Club, and Coopers Club. Each column has a note that states "Not Enrolled."
Logo for Whiskey Thieves featuring the words 'Member of Whiskey Thieves' with a black, red, and white color scheme and the words 'SAGAMORE SPIRIT RYE' in the center.
Logo of the Tennessee Squire, a member of the Tennessee Squire Association with a circular design featuring a horse and rider in the center.
Logo with text 'Member of Blade and Bow, 5 Keys Club' and a circular emblem featuring 5 keys and the text 'Stitzel-Weller Distillery, Established 1935'.
Logo for Wilderness Trail Distillery featuring a compass-like design with a tree and the letters 'WT' in the center. Text includes 'Member of Wilderness Trail Distillery' and 'Wilder. Trail Family Tree'.
Logo for Nelson's Green Brier Distillery Coopers Club with green and gold circular design
A circular logo with the text "High West Distillery" around the top and "Park City - Utah - Dst. 1" around the bottom, featuring two stylized horseshoe designs and a mountain range in the center. Above the logo, the words "MEMBER OF" are visible, and below it, the text "High West Club" is written in gray and in italics.
Six light gray circles with text inside. From left to right: 'WHISK THIEVES NOT ENROLLED,' 'KINGS CIRCLE NOT ENROLLED,' 'WHIS SOCIETY NOT ENROLLED,' 'FAMILY TREE NOT ENROLLED,' 'WHISK BARON NOT ENROLLED,' and 'HIGH WEST NOT ENROLLED.'
A badge with the text 'Member of Cherry Heaven Hill Distillery' and 'Bardstown Society' underneath.
Text reading "Member of Wyoming Whiskey" with options for "Whiskey" and "Baron" below.
Logo with text 'Member of Kings Circle' and 'George Remus'

Capt. Michael Kutner

   Email address:     Michael@WhiskeyUniv.com

Michael.jpg

Michael Kutner has been a member of Whiskey University since September 2020. In 2012 Whiskey University began offering Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees. They also began offering Certificates and Degrees in Rye Whiskey beginning in 2020.. Michael earned his Bourbon Diploma on December 29th, 2020.

Capt. Kutner is the founder and president of DistilledLeadership.com, a leadership coaching and change management consulting company based near Philadelphia, PA. Distilled Leadership combines 25 years of leadership experience at the world’s global companies (including the 150-year old American Whiskey and Bourbon industry) with science-based theories of leadership development, distilled into executive coaching programs for those ready to move beyond their current level of success.

Michael’s passion for bourbon began eight days into a 5000 mile road trip that started in Philadelphia and had so far taken him to Arkansas. On October 23, 2013, he headed East from Arkansas and wandered through Kentucky and came upon a sign that read, “Jim Beam Distillery, 17 miles”. He thought, “what the hell, let’s go”. Within minutes of arriving, he was hooked – fascinated by the history of the brand, the legendary members of the Beam family, and most of all, the amazing smells of fermenting mash and aging barrels stacked in rickhouses.

Since that day in 2013, Michael has been back to Kentucky (and Tennessee) over 20 times and visited more than 30 distilleries. He has studied the business side of the industry and believes that people like E H Taylor and Albert Blanton were the entrepreneurs of their time – risking their fortunes and their reputations on a passion and a product. Michael believes their successes AND their failures are as relevant and valuable to today’s business leaders as anyone studied in today’s modern universities.

Michael greatly values his Whiskey University education and is committed to spreading the knowledge and fun and passion for this great spirit.

Michael earned his Associate Degree after passing 15 classes on June 29th, 2021. Michael also created and teaches Whiskey U 390, Marketing You and Whiskey U, the first business-oriented course designed to help new WU instructors build their local market. Michael also co-teaches the Maker’s Mark Brands Tastings, with colleague and fellow W.U. professor Andy Chirip. On November 21st, 2021, Michael earned his Bachelor of Science Degree with 24 classes, at Whiskey University and the title of "Adjunct Master Bourbon Taster" and the rank of First Lieutenant in the Bourbon Brigade. On July 31st, 2022 Captain Kutner 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.

Michael is also a Kentucky Colonel, and Tennessee Squire, and takes great pride hosting private tastings for his Pennsylvania and New Jersey friends, and introducing them to the culture and history (and products) of these two great Southern states.

Michael has the following “Designations” & Credentials:

”Kentucky Colonel”

(from the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky)

”Adjunct Master Bourbon Taster”

(from the Whiskey University)

”Executive Bourbon Steward”

(from the Stave & Thief Society)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Certificate titled 'Whiskey University' awarded to Michael Kutner for completing thirty classes in whiskey study, conferring the title 'Master Bourbon Taster' with a major in the Bluegrass Region, dated December 14, 2021, with images of bourbon bottles, a medal, and signatures.
Four golf course enrollment status signs displayed side by side, each with a circular background. The first sign reads '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.'
Wooden circular emblem reading "Member of Maker's Mark Ambassador" with a star and the letters "S IV" in the center, decorated with laurel leaves.
Logo with text 'Member of Whiskey Thieves' featuring a circular design with 'Whiskey Thieves' in the center, and the words 'Sagmore Spirit' and 'RYE' beneath it.
Seal of the Tennessee Squire, part of the Tennessee Squire Association, featuring a horse and rider in the center with circular text
Logo with text 'Member of Blade and Bow', featuring a circular emblem with three keys and the words 'Stitzel Weller Distillery, Established 1935'. Below the logo, it says '5 Keys Club'.
Coopers Club membership badge for Nelson's Green Brier Distillery featuring its logo and name.
A horizontal row of six colored circles with labels inside. The labels read: WHISK THIEVES NOT ENROLLED, KINGS CIRCLE NOT ENROLLED, WHIS SOCIETY NOT ENROLLED, FAMILY TREE NOT ENROLLED, WHISK BARON NOT ENROLLED, HIGH WEST NOT ENROLLED.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Band of Rebels, Rebel Yell Association

Wild Turkey’s Rare Breed Society Member

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A design showing a framed blackboard with a gray border and the words 'Bachelor of Arts Degree' at the bottom.
Seal of the High West Distillery and Park City, Utah, featuring a horseshoe and mountain peaks, with text indicating membership in the High West Distillery, Park City, Utah, and TOUT.
Seal for Cherry Heaven Hill Distillery, MEMBER OF Bardstown Society
Sign with text 'Member of Wyoming Whiskey' and 'Whiskey Baron'
A circular logo with the words "KING'S CIRCLE" and "THE RIGHT HAND MAN" surrounding a fist bump illustration, and text indicating a member named George Remus.

Lt.Jr.Gr Josh Contrucci

Email address:     JoshC@WhiskeyUniv.com

Josh Has The Following “Designations” & Credentials:

”Certified Bourbon Taster”

(from the Whiskey University)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A whiskey university certificate awarded to Josh Contrucci for completing a course of study in bourbon distilleries, titled 'Certified Bourbon Taster', signed by Colonel Craig L. Duncan, with images of whiskey bottles and respectful decorative borders.
Four circles labeled Maker's Mark, Tenn Squire, 5 Keys Club, and Coopers Club with words 'Not Enrolled' underneath each.
Logo for Whiskey Thieves featuring a black and white design with red accents and text including 'Member of Whiskey Thieves' and 'Sagmore Spirit Rye' inside a circular border
Logo for Wilderness Trail Distillery featuring a tree and the initials WT inside a circular design, with text indicating the name and product line, Wilder. Trail Family Tree.
Six white circles with black text inside. The text in the circles are: "Whisk Thieves Not Enrolled," "Kings Circle Not Enrolled," "Whis Society Not Enrolled," "Family Tree Not Enrolled," "Whisk Baron Not Enrolled," and "High West Not Enrolled."
A black and white seal with the text 'MERRY HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY' and a logo in the center, above the words 'Bardstown Society'.
Logo with text 'Member of Blade and Bow', with a central circular design featuring three keys, surrounded by the words 'Stitzel Weller Distillery' and 'Established 1935', and two small icons on either side.
Four gray circles with black text inside, listing golf club names and enrollment status: Maker's Mark, Tenn Squire, 5 Keys Club, Cooper's Club, all marked as Not Enrolled.
Wooden circular badge with the text 'Member of Maker's Mark Ambassador' and a star with 'SIV' in the center surrounded by laurel leaves.
Logo with the text "MEMBER OF Whiskey Thieves" and additional labels for Sagamore Spirit Rye whiskey inside a circular design.
A row of six large white circles, each with text inside, listing different groups not enrolled: Whisk Thieves, Kings Circle, Whis Society, Family Tree, Whisk Baron, and High West.
Sign with brown background and white text reading 'Associate of Science Degree', bordered by a gray frame.

Lt.Jr.Gr Jeremy Nelson

Jeremy Has The Following “Designations” & Credentials:

”Certified Bourbon Taster”

(from the Whiskey University)

”Certified Bourbon Steward”

(from the Stave & Thief Society)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Certificate with a brown background and white text that reads 'Associate of Science Degree' at the bottom, with a black square area in the center.
Whiskey University certificate awarded to Jeremy Nelson, granting him the title of Certified Bourbon Taster, signed and dated September 20, 2022, with images of whiskey bottles on either side.
Four golf ball tees with labels: Maker's Mark, Tenn Squire, 5 Keys Club, Coopers Club, all marked 'Not Enrolled.'
Logo for Whiskey Thieves with text 'Member of Whiskey Thieves' and 'Sagamore Spirit Rye' inside a circular design.
Logo of Wilderness Trail Distillery featuring a tree with intertwined initials WT, and text indicating membership and the Wilder Trail Family Tree.
Six gray circles with text inside each circle: Whisk Thieves Not Enrolled, Kings Circle Not Enrolled, WHIS Society Not Enrolled, Family Tree Not Enrolled, Whisk Baron Not Enrolled, High West Not Enrolled.
Seal featuring the text 'MEMBER OF' at the top, a circular emblem with the words 'Cherry Heaven Hill Distillery' surrounding a stylized 'HH', and 'Bardstown Society' below.
Four circles with golf club group names: Maker's Mark, Tenn Squire, 5 Keys Club, Coopers Club; all marked as not enrolled.
Six grey circles with black text inside, listing groups not enrolled: Whisk Thieves, Kings Circle, Whis Society, Family Tree, Whisk Baron, High West.
Membership logo for Coopers Club at Nelson's Green Brier Distillery, featuring a green circle with gold accents and text.
Wooden Maker's Mark badge with the text 'Member of Maker's Mark Ambassador', a circular laurel wreath, a star, and the Roman numeral IV inside a circle.
Logo of Blade and Bow whiskey, with text 'Member of Blade and Bow 5 Keys Club', featuring a central emblem with crossed keys and surrounding details.
Text advertisement for Wyoming whiskey featuring the logo and the words "Member of Wyoming Whiskey," with the words "Whiskey" and "Baron" written below.
A black circular logo with the text "KING'S CIRCLE THE RIGHT HAND MAN" surrounding a crown and a hand holding a sword, with the words "MEMBER OF" and "George Remus" and "Kings Circle" written above and below.
A diploma from Whiskey University awarded to Carol Berger for completing a Bourbon Diploma in Bourbon Basic Studies, titled 'Journeyman Bourbon Taster,' with signatures and images of Jack Daniel's and Jim Beam bottles.

Sgt. Carol Berger

Carol Has The Following “Designations” & Credentials:

”Journeyman Bourbon Taster”

(from the Whiskey University)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A framed blackboard with a brown border and the text 'Bourbon Diploma' at the bottom in white.

Pvt. Shenine Farmer

Shenine has the following “Designations” & Credentials:

“Apprentice Whiskey Taster”

(from Whiskey University)

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