Meet OUR team
These are the folks behind the barrels — the dreamers,
the doers, the distillers, and pourers who make Whiskey Thief what it is. From crafting spirits to hosting tastings, filling bottles to running tours, every member of our crew plays a part in bringing the Whiskey Thief experience to life.
We’re proud of our people. They’re the best in bourbon,
and even better in person.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Louisville
Leadership
WALTER ZAUSCH
CHIEF THIEF, CEO, OWNER
Walter sets the vision, stirs the spirit, and keeps Whiskey Thief boldly barreling forward — one big idea (and pour) at a time.
JEFFREY MARKOWITZ
Chief operating officer
Jeff makes it happen behind the scenes — keeping operations smooth, the team aligned, and the numbers in his head. If it runs well, Jeff has a hand in it.
LISA ROPER WICKER
DIRECTOR OF DISTILLING
With decades of distilling wisdom and a nose for nuance, Lisa brings tradition, intuition, craft, experience, curiosity to every drop.
Operations
CAITLIN HAWS
HEAD OF GIFT SHOP
Caitlin worked her way up the Whiskey Thief ranks — and now runs our Pro Shop and e-commerce like a boss. She manages massive inventories, keeps the gift shop humming, and helps ship never-bourbon-soaked merch to fans all over the country. From stocking shelves to filling Christmas stockings, Caitlin makes sure every shirt, hat, glass, and gift leaves the distillery with a little extra spirit.
STEVE ATKINS
CHEF and HEAD OF FOOD DEVELOPMENT
Steve has turned our tiny food truck into a laboratory of big flavor. With serious talent and zero pretense, he crafts bold, bourbon-worthy dishes that pair perfectly with a pour — and often steal the show entirely. Kentucky's biggest chef in Kentucky's smallest kitchen, Steve serves up scratch-made magic that keeps guests coming back for seconds (and thirds).
WILL SIZEMORE
HEAD OF SPECIAL PROJECTS
Will is our secret weapon – the kind of guy who sees what needs doing and gets it done before anyone asks. From building barrel racks to fixing stills to making magic behind the scenes, he’s everywhere at once and always two steps ahead. Officially, he leads special projects. Unofficially, he’s the glue that helps hold Whiskey Thief together.
NATHAN RICKS
HEAD OF FACILITES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
Part MacGyver and all heart, Nathan can fix just about anything. With a smile on his face and Oasis queued up, he never knows what the day will throw his way — whether it’s tackling the unexpected or keeping the stills humming. Not only a NASCAR fan, he’s our behind-the-scenes problem-solver, ever vigilant watching out for quicksand or coyotes.
Experiences and Events
AMY FOX
HEAD OF EXPERIENCES, LOUISVILLE
With an unmistakable knack for hospitality and a personality that lights up our Louisville location. A true bourbon fan at heart, she stays dialed in on the pulse of the industry — always tasting, testing, and tracking what’s next. Competitive by nature and driven to raise the bar (and our bar), Amy’s not just here to represent Whiskey Thief — she’s here to define what best-in-bourbon looks like, one guest at a time.
MIKE MURPHY
HEAD OF EXPERIENCES, FRANKLIN COUNTY DISTILLERY
Originally from Florida, Mike brings a little sunshine and a whole lot of hospitality to our mother ship. He’s the bearded face behind the thief, often raising a glass for a good cause (like his legendary Movember mustache), and making sure every visitor feels like they’ve found bourbon’s front porch. If you’ve had a great time at the farm, chances are Mike had something to do with it.
ALLISON MOTLEY PURCELL
HEAD OF COMPLIANCE & EVENTS
Wendy to our lost boys, Allison keeps our paperwork like our bourbon—straight and neat. She’s the reason we’re not behind bars (just behind THE bar), keeping us legal, labeled, and licensed to thieve. While the rest of us chase flavor, she chases federal forms. She also keeps our events polished and above board, making sure the good times stay on the right side of the law. In a world of bold risks and barrel-strength pours, Allison is our voice of reason.
Distilling team
BRANDON REYNOLDS
DISTILLER
Brandon is the quiet force that keeps the stills running while the rest of the world sleeps. As our 3rd shift distiller, he's a rock-solid whiskey maker bringing consistency, hustle, and a no-BS attitude to every barrel. He's also our resident crypto expert. While the rest of us chase dreams, he’s chasing perfection – distilling bourbon and decoding blockchains at the same time.
KELLEY TENNILLE
Distiller & GIN MASTER
As our gin whisperer and master, Kelley distills her love for native Kentucky botanical flora alongside wild rebellion in every bottle she crafts. But don’t let the floral notes fool you — she is a bourbon badass with a bonafide outlaw streak, and a Discovery Channel's Moonshiner’s Master Distiller 2023 title to prove it. All that, and a keen sense of humor and great taste in music.
BENJAMIN EAVES
Distiller
Benjamin brings serious whiskey cred to the Thief. Before joining our team, he built a name for himself across the industry – distilling, blending, consulting, and dropping podcast knowledge with his insight and bold palate. Now he’s at our still, crafting single-barrel bourbon the hard way and raising our whiskey standards, one thieve at a time.
Services
JEFF CHESMAN
HEAD OF SERVICES
Jeff is the face behind our contract bottling, distilling, and storage — helping brands bring their spirits to life, from concept to cork. He turns big ideas into bottled reality. "My name is Jeff."
HANNAH MELILLO
DIRECT SALES AND PRIVATE BARREL SELECTIONS
Hannah is the energy behind our Private Barrel Selection program — guiding guests to their perfect pour, while handling everything else, too. She’s a sales pro, bourbon matchmaker, and 100% Whiskey Thief.
LIAM SNYDER
inventory
Liam keeps the trains on time in our warehouse, our inventory on point, and our operations running smooth. Efficient, dependable, and always one step ahead — our resident Eagle Scout in action.
Our EXTENDED FAMILY
PLUTO
CMO (Chief Mouse OFficer)
Pluto may not thieve whiskey, but he’s a fixture at the distillery — napping in sunbeams,supervising barrel tastings, and making sure no mice mess with our mash. With an impressive kill list, he's both curious and cool, and the real spirit animal of Whiskey Thief.
WHISKEY & TANGO
GOAT BROTHERS
The two goat brothers may be the youngest on the team, but they’ve mastered the art of lounging, exploring, and charming guests. Whether they’re playing, head-butting or posing for photos, they bring a little mischief and a lot of fun. Plus, Whiskey is the 2025 Bock-Fest goat race champion!
KNEECAPS
NEW GOAT ON THE BLOCK
A reluctant addition to the Whiskey Thief team, Kneecaps is starting to fit in, loves his goat brothers, and we wouldn't trade him for anything (well, most things).
"I'm here for the food, but not sure I want to be touched."
