Tara is an ’03 graduate from University of Missouri-Columbia Journalism school. She has extensive experience in marketing and visual communication, as well as event planning, public relations and accounting. She has worked for several international businesses and ad campaigns. In addition, she has over 17 years bartending experience. She’s also probably had more gin than anyone we know. In 2014, she won the Washington Chamber’s Outstanding Young Professional Award, in 2015 she won Washington Chamber’s “Best Website” and in 2016 she won the New Haven Area Chamber’s Volunteer of the Year award. She hasn’t been slacking off since then, she’s was the first Female President of the Missouri’s Craft Distiller’s Guild in 2021, as well as holding several board positions for many non-for-profits in the area. She was made a partner in Jan 2022.

Break the Ice with Tara

Tara, our fearless leader, is the guiding force and glue that binds our team. As COO of Pinckney Bend, she does everything from managing supplies to managing expectations. One thing she would like to accomplish is to make the Midwest “Pinckney Bend Country”. That, or pet ALL the dogs, it’s a toss up.

Her ‘Successful Boss Lady’ character is derived from her exact personality as a successful boss lady. Her success comes from hard work, passion and the loudest laugh known to man. Her fashion sense is derived from what you might see at a Rec softball league after-party where she changes out of her dirty  uniform shirt into a clean one. She loves cooking, dancing, and gardening in her little free time. Fun facts: She is Co-founder of the Riverside Players Theatre Group in Franklin County and has appeared in or worked on over 120 productions across 3 states.

tara@pinckneybend.com

Upon finishing his degree in Broadcast Media at the University of Central Missouri, Keith worked in radio before discovering his passion for spirits. Keith brings years of large-batch cocktail experience as well has a refined palette. He is involved in the developing of new flavors and day-to-day distilling. He also has an eye for art and detail and has become an instrumental voice of reason on many occasions. Keith was tasked with ‘finding people’ years ago and was the lead in assembling the team we have to today. He was made a partner in 2022.

Break the Ice with Keith

Keith is the longest standing employee of the distillery, and it’s easy to see why. He is our Head Gin Distiller and has made more gin then he ever thought humanly possible. When not guiding tastings, you will find him macerating all over the place (we promise it’s science).

Keith’s self-absorbed, know-it-all character is a testament to his love of Art & Science, and he will gladly share (overshare?) his knowledge with you – anytime, anywhere. He is also a huge animal lover and nature lover, having spent time in Auckland, New Zealand. If he wasn’t working here, he would probably work at a zoo. Some say he already does.

keith@pinckneybend.com

Mateo is new to distilling, but is no stranger to the Pinckney Bend Team thanks to his sister Petra. Mateo has a Bachelors degree in Marketing and Management from Lindenwood University. He has a long history in bar service and a longer one in hospitality. Mateo is currently doing anything anyone asks him and is helping with the day-to-day operations. He”ll soon be working towards marketing and service initiatives.

Break the Ice with Mateo

Mateo is the proud father of a three children, who have cool names. He is the ‘quiet’ one of the group, but don’t let that deceive you. He enjoys scary movies, making fun of his many little sisters (Tara, Briley and Petra) and hanging with friends. He also is a master of pulled pork and has elevated the pot luck lunch game here at Pinckney. His only weakness is Vegas Bombs.

Since Mateo was relatively new when we did the Break The Ice Series, his character here is the aloof guy. His tasting guide style would be described as uninformed, yet entertaining. Mateo’s ideal tasting would include Salma Hayek, Halle Berry, Charlize Theron and Ryan Reynolds in bikinis. After that, not much else matters. One of his greatest accomplishments is the time he won a singing contest in college where his price was $100 and 100 chicken wings. But, if his wife asks, it’s the kids.

mateo@pinckneybend.com

Briley is one of our newer distillers and one of our younger team members at Pinckney Bend.Briley graduate East Central College in 2016 with an AA in General Education and Art. She’s been in the service industry since she’s been old enough to have a job and loves interacting with customers. She loves art, skating and Elton John. She’s also active in local community theatre scene and has never missed  a concert.

Break the Ice with Briley

Briley brings a much needed fresh perspective and youthful enthusiasm to our team. Which is the nice way to say she’s much younger than most of us. She’s always keeping us on our toes and keeping us in-the-know of all the things the young kids are doing. It sounds awful.

Her character of the young, angsty Madonna-like girl was inspired by her deeply ingrained rebellious side, her love for rolling skating and her ridiculous collection of jackets and sunglasses. Seriously, this girl has  a lot of outerwear. Her favorite Pinckney Bend product is Apple Ambush because it is, as she says, “fall in a glass”. Trust us, this girl loves herself some spooky season.

briley@pinckneybend.com 

Kevin spent over a decade making wine with our neighbors in Hermann. He did everything there is to do with wine before moving on to a variety of mechanical-focused careers in machining and aerospace. He then realized how much he missed the industry and rang us up. He calls it a mid-life crisis, we call it a welcome home.

Kevin brings a wide-range of abilities, a laid-back attitude and a positive mindset to everything he does. We know – it’s shocking to think he’s related to Greg. Known for being the most reliable lunch bringer on staff, everyone here has learned a thing (or dozen) from Kevin. He’s a proud dad, an avid paddler, a lover of all-things outside and officially the tallest staff member. If you happen to catch him in the gift shop, be nice…he’s skittish. There are very limited known photos of Kevin, but drawing his daughter did of him for Father’s Day 2023 is probably the most accurate.

Petra is a graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Missouri Baptist University Graduate School, and has various smart-sounding certifications. She is Pinckney Bend’s longest-standing weekend warrior, having started her tour of duty in May 2014. Between her career in special education, parenting, and wife-ing, she still finds the time and energy to put in shifts in The Tasting Room… and loves every minute of it! Working at The Still has given her the opportunity to meet some amazing people, learn some interesting things, and sling some delicious spirits. And T-shirts. So. Many.  T-shirts.

Break the Ice with Petra

Petra is what we basically call our Part-time Lifer. Petra prides herself on working behind the scenes and offers moral support to her emotionally stunted co-workers. With more degrees than we care to list (no, we didn’t list them all above either), she loves to make sure we….and you…know how smart she is. Just ask Tara, they have been friends for over 40 years now. Her brother, Mateo, may disagree.

Petra, P, Petey, P-flo (whatever you want to call her) is our resident ‘mean girl’, but in a good way. Her 80s persona is just her with a heavier valley girl accent. She has an incredible ability to insult someone and they laugh and thank her as they hand her tips. She is a certified wedding officiant and has gotten free trips because of it. Her signature cocktail is a MO Cosmo made with Pinckney Bend Corn Whiskey enjoyed on a moonlit gondola. No, we did not make that part up.

Jordan is in the banking industry so it’s redundant to say he enjoys a good story and a good cocktail. But we did anyway. Jordan has over 12 years in direct consumer service and sales. You can find Jordan in the tasting room being loud and enjoying all of our new friends who come through the door. Jordan is proof that persistence and never going away can create friendships. When he’s not excessively hanging around, he enjoys playing the guitar, building scale model airplanes and reading about history.  Jordan is pictured with his lady-friend Sarah.

 

Crystal was going to join us the weekend we closed for Covid-19 in 2020. We are so glad that we she held out and joined us as a weekend warrior. Crystal studied at UMKC and Southeast Missouri State University. She has a degree in Music Education and teaches music in the Washington School District.  Crystal is up for anything and can usually be heard saying “sure”. She loves music, traveling and her puppy.

 

 

Jerry graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison before joining the United States Air Force where he gained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He flew for several commercial airlines before retiring. As a founding partner, Jerry is always eager to lend his palette in helping to develop new flavor profiles.

 

After completing his Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Columbia College, Tom continued his education in biochemistry and molecular biology. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Tom long held a passion for home-brewing, which lead to his eventual distilling of spirits. As partner and Master Distiller, he has developed the flavor profiles for all our award-winning spirits.

 

Don handled much of the early day to day distilling, blending, bottling and barrel maintenance. He was an avid home brewer and was a long-time member of the New Haven Brew Club. Don owned and operated his own construction business for over 30 years and was integral in remodeling and retrofitting most of our buildings and equipment.

Don retired the fall of 2020 and enjoys his horses, his pool and his grand kids.

 

Wayne graduated with a BA in Video Production from Webster University and then followed a career path in motion graphic design and visual effects. He spent time in LA doing film production, directing, stand-up comedy and visual effects before coming back to Missouri. He has extensive experience in all things graphics and still does freelance work. He is an avid fan of D&D, gaming in general and film.

If Wayne had to give an impromptu presentation on any topic he would give it on Magic the Gathering, so feel free to ask him about that when you see him in the tasting room. Creator of Wayne’s Day, a weekly hang out night, he has been known to drink good beer, cheap beer, whiskey and tequila while talking about any and all topics especially that fast zombies are bad. Closely involved in our gin production with Keith, Wayne is responsible for much of our day-to-day gin distilling and batching. Wayne also helps out with other production activities such as bottling and tasting room. Another regular lunch bringer, Wayne is an excellent sandwich maker. 

 

JT, spent 10 years with us here at Pinckney Bend. He was one of the ‘first four’ and was involved in every aspect of the distillery. He has taken his long and varied retail and production experience onto the next opportunity and we know he will bring them much needed energy, as he did here.

As far as we know he still enjoys food, woodworking and being outdoors, not necessarily in that order.

Break the Ice with JT

JT is our main batcher and blender. He is a perfect cross between an exhibitionist and a hermit. If that sounds confusing, the answer is yes. He loves to entertain, and his ideal tasting would consist of the entire group purchasing a beverage on the patio.

JT’s 80s persona, is actually just him in a sweatband. A couple of fun facts about JT; he is wilderness first aid certified, and does not drink alcohol. He is a fairly new first-time dad and LOVES babies, which is good because they speak is language. He can often be found befriending and befuddling telemarketers on his lunch break.