Whiskey University has Instructors in the Tidewater Metropolitan Area:
Check on the pages in the Left Nav. Bar in this Section to find Faculty listed Geographically
Our faculty currently serves Bourbon and Whiskey Tasting Classes in the Cities of Virginia Beach, Virginia (449,974); Norfolk, Virginia (242,803); Newport News, Virginia (180,719); Chesapeake, Virginia (244,835), Hampton, Virginia (137,436); City of Suffolk, Virginia (94,324); Isle of Wight County, Virginia (38,606) and Williamsburg, Virginia (14,954); in the Southeast Virginia Metropolitan Area.
Whiskey University’s Faculty
1.) Professor Lt. Col. Mina Ioranidis
2.) Professor Major Nick Boyle
3.) Lt. Col. Jerry Cox
4.) Major Don Wilson
5.) 1st Lt. Yvonne Daye
6.) Brett Smiley
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Professor Lt. Col. Mina Ioranidis
Email address: Mina@WhiskeyUniv.com
Whiskey University Partner
Member of the Board of Directors
Professor Mina Ioranidis has been a member of Whiskey University since Mid 2017. In 2016 Whiskey University began offering Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees. Mina earned her Bourbon Diploma on May 5th, 2018.
Mina is a Supervisor of Claims Support at Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc. based in Nashville, Tennessee. Captain Mina Ioranidis was born in February 1968 in Toronto, Canada and was raised in Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee. Mina attended the University of Memphis in the late 1980’s. Mina currently lives in Newport News, Virginia. Mina has three adult children Rachel Fischer, Harry Fischer and Maria Fischer.
Mina was one of the first thirty students to earn her Associate Degree and our first lady Graduate ever after passing 15 classes on July 20th, 2019. Ioranidis taught her first class on October 21st, 2020 when she taught the “Bourbon 201” Tasting Class” in Virginia. She also teaches Whiskey 101, “The Big 3,” Tennessee Whiskey 202 and Virginia Whiskey 203. On September 15th, 2020 Mina earned her Master of Arts Degree with 24 classes, at Whiskey University and the title of "Master Bourbon Taster" and the rank of Professor Lt. Colonel in the Bourbon Brigade.
Mina has the following “Designations” & Credentials:
1.) ”Sr. Chartered Master Bourbon Taster”
(from Whiskey University)
2.) ”Certified 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 Green Brier Distillery
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
7.) Sagamore Spirits Ambassador; A Whiskey Thief
8.) Member of the King’s Circle with M.G.P./Remus
9.) Family Tree Ambassador at Wilderness Trail
10.)Bardstown Whiskey Society Member, Heaven Hill
11.) Whiskey Baron from Wyoming Whiskey
12.)High West Whiskey Club Utah
13.) Band of Rebels Member with LuxCo/Rebel Yell
14.) Alchemist Ambassador with Jefferson’s Bourbon
15.) Rare Breed Society Member with Wild Turkey
Master of Science
Master of Arts Degree
Professor Major Nick Boyle
Email address: Nick.B@WhiskeyUniv.com
Captain Nick Boyle has been a member of Whiskey University since late 2021. In 2016 Whiskey University began offering Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees. Nick earned His Bourbon Diploma on February 27, 2022 after passing eight classes.
Nick is a Management Analyst performing the duties of Workforce Development at Norfolk Naval Shipyard located in Portsmouth, Virginia. 1st LT Nick Boyle was born in Detroit, Michigan and raised up North in Gaylord. Nick attended Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for 3 semesters before joining the US Navy in March 1996, where he served as a Nuclear Mechanical Operator and Supervisor on four aircraft carriers, then retired after 20 years in March, 2016. Nick finished his Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Energy Engineering Technology at Thomas Edison State University in October 2016. He went on to receive his Master's degree in Engineering Management from Central Michigan University, graduating in December 2019. Nick currently lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He is married and has two children.
Nick is a graduate of the Spring Class of 2022, graduating from Whiskey University on April 19, 2022, where he has earned his Associate of Science degree with 18 classes, and the title of "Certified Bourbon Taster". Recently he completed his 48th course, earning his Master of Science degree and the rank of Major in the Bourbon Brigade.
Nick has the following “Designations” & Credentials:
1.) ”Chartered Master Bourbon Taster”
(from Whiskey University)
2.) ”Certified 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 Green Brier Distillery
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
7.) Sagamore Spirits Ambassador; A Whiskey Thief
8.) Member King’s Circle- George Remus and M.G.P.
9.) Heaven Hill’s Bardstown Whiskey Society Member
10.) Family Tree Ambassador at Wilderness Trail
11.) Whiskey Baron from Wyoming Whiskey
12.) High West Whiskey Club Utah
13.) Alchemist Ambassador with Jefferson’s Bourbon
14.) Band of Rebels, Rebel Yell Association
Bachelor of Arts
Master of Science Degree
Lt. Colonel Jerry Cox has been a member of Whiskey University since late 2022. In 2016 Whiskey University began offering Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees. Jerry earned His Bourbon Diploma on March 5, 2023 after passing ten classes.
Jerry’s career in Architecture ended in 2019 after 42 years of business. A “Navy Brat”, he lived in multiple U.S. states and European countries until settling in Virginia Beach in the early 1960’s. Developing an interest in design in the 8 th grade and graduating from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1977, he founded “Cox, Kliewer & Company, P.C.” and completed over 17 million square feet of commercial facilities in 27 states before retiring in 2019. Jerry has been married to Susan since 1978 and has three “children” and four grandchildren. Jerry & Sue bought a second home in Ontario, NY in 2019 in order to be closer to family and promotes Whiskey University in the Rochester, New York and Southeast Virginia markets.
Jerry is a graduate of the Spring Class of 2023, graduating from Whiskey University on April 11, 2023, where he has earned his Associate of Science degree with 19 classes, and the title of "Certified Bourbon Taster". Cox completed his 29th course, earning his Bachelor’s of Science degree. Recently he completed his 38th course, earning his Bachelor’s of Arts degree and the rank of Captain in the Bourbon Brigade.
Much of his business involved entertaining Clients and he eventually went from wine to white spirits, but his interest in whiskeys began in the 2017. Following the “Bourbon Trail” in 2018 with three friends, the history, the processes, and the connections to the founding of the United States only expanded and solidified his passion. So, in 2020, he co-founded the “Coastal Virginia Whiskey Society”, serving on the Executive Committee as the “Whiskey Wrangler” responsible for researching and acquiring new and existing varieties of whiskeys for quarterly tastings.
Whiskey University became an interest in 2018 as it was simply a great vehicle to continue his passion for history and information. What began as a passing interest has grown to a hunger for more and more information. Jerry has completed majors in the “Bluegrass Region, Bourbon Capital and in Craft Whiskey” as he continues to expand his studies. Jerry became a “Chartered Master Whiskey Taster” with the rank of Lt. Colonel in the Bourbon Brigade after taking his 57th class and earning his Master of Arts Degree in November of 2023.
Jerry Has The Following “Designations” & Credentials:
1.) ”Chartered Master Whiskey Taster”
(from the Whiskey University)
2.) ”Certified Bourbon Steward“
(from Stave & Thief Society)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
3.) Maker’s Mark Ambassador
4.) Member Of The Blade & Bow 5 Keys Club
5.) Coopers Club With Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
6.) Sagamore Spirits Ambassador; A Whiskey Thief
7.) Member King’s Circle- George Remus and M.G.P.
8.) Heaven Hill’s Bardstown Whiskey Society Member
9.) Coopers Club With Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery
10.) Family Tree Ambassador At Wilderness Trail
11.) High West Whiskey Club Utah
12.. Founding Member: Coastal Virginia Whiskey Society
Master of Science
Master of Arts Degree
Major Don Wilson
Don has been a member of Whiskey University since late 2022. In 2016 Whiskey University began offering Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees. Don earned his Bourbon Diploma on March 1st, 2023.
Don is presently serving our country (over 36 years now) as a Captain in the United States Navy. He enlisted at age 17 and has worked his way up through the enlisted and officer ranks. He’s traveled the world visiting over 50 countries and served in combat tours in Afghanistan (twice) and Iraq. He has commanded forces both at sea and ashore. He is an Information Warfare Officer and earned a dual Master’s Degree in Strategic Leadership & Digital Transformation from the Italian Ministry of Defense’s Center for Defense Higher Studies in Rome. He has an undergraduate degree in Information Technology Management from Trident University and is also a graduate of the United States Naval War College. He is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional.
Wilson was awarded his Associate of Science Degree after passing 18 classes on April 11th, 2023 while also earning the titles of Certified Bourbon Taster from Whiskey University and the Stave & Thief’s Society’s Certified Bourbon Steward. Don elevated his whiskey knowledge by completing his Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in the Bourbon Capital Region on June 6th, 2023.
Don loves bourbon and having someone to share a pour with. His enthusiasm to understand what is behind every bottle and the whiskey industry in general led him to Whiskey University. Done most recently earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree on October 4th,, 2023 and the title of Master Whiskey Taster and holds the rank of Captain in the Bourbon Brigade.
Don is currently pursuing his Master of Science Degree with a Double Major at Whiskey University.
Don Has The Following “Designations” & Credentials:
1.) ”Chartered Master Bourbon Taster”
(from the Whiskey University
2.) ”Certified Bourbon Steward“
(from Stave & Thief Society)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
3.) Member of the Blade & Bow 5 Keys Club
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
4.) Sagamore Spirits Ambassador; A Whiskey Thief
5.) Member King’s Circle- George Remus and M.G.P.
6.) Heaven Hill’s Bardstown Whiskey Society Member
7.) Family Tree Ambassador At Wilderness Trail
Bachelor of Arts
Master of Science Degree
1st Lt. Yvonne Daye
Email address: Yvonne@WhiskeyUniv.com
Yvonne has the following “Designations” & Credentials:
1.) ”Certified Bourbon Taster”
(from Whiskey University)
2.) ”Certified Bourbon Steward“
(from Stave & Thief Society)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
3.) Maker’s Mark Ambassador
4.) Member of the Blade & Bow 5 Keys Club
5.) Coopers Club with Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
6.) Sagamore Spirits Ambassador; A Whiskey Thief
7.) Member of the King’s Circle with M.G.P./Remus
8.) Family Tree Ambassador At Wilderness Trail
9.)High West Whiskey Club Utah
10.) Whiskey Baron from Wyoming Whiskey
11.) Alchemist Ambassador with Jefferson’s Bourbon
Associate Degree
Bachelor of Science Degree
Brett Smiley
Brett Has The Following “Designations” & Credentials:
1.) “Apprentice Bourbon Taster”
(from Whiskey University)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
We teach Bourbon Classes, Bourbon Experiences, Bourbon Tastings, Bourbon Education, and Bourbon Events as well as Whiskey Classes, Whiskey Experiences, Whiskey Tastings, Whiskey Education, and Whiskey Events. We teach a total of over 100 different classes.
Our faculty currently serves Bourbon and Whiskey Tasting Classes in the Cities of Virginia Beach, Virginia (449,974); Norfolk, Virginia (242,803); Newport News, Virginia (180,719); Chesapeake, Virginia (244,835), Hampton, Virginia (137,436); City of Suffolk, Virginia (94,324); Isle of Wight County, Virginia (38,606) and Williamsburg, Virginia (14,954); in the Tidewater Metropolitan Area.
Our faculty currently serves Bourbon and Whiskey Tasting Classes in the Cities of Virginia Beach, VA; Norfolk, VA; Newport News, VA; Chesapeake, VA, Hampton, VA; Williamsburg, VA; Portsmouth, VA; Suffolk, VA; Franklin, VA; Poquoson, VA; and the following Counties Gloucester County, VA; Isle of Wight County, VA; James City County, VA; Mathews County, VA; Southampton County, VA and York County, VA the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Metropolitan Area.
