Meet our Distillers

To look at the production team at Oregon Spirit Distillers, you’ll find a story of how amazing spirits aren’t simply made. World-class spirits are a product of a solid worth ethic and a growth mindset. Many of us worked our way up in the production department due to that solid work ethic, an unwavering commitment to quality, and most importantly, an enthusiasm for learning. We humbly nod to those who showed us the way, their ability to teach, and a willingness to share.

We are thankful for the body of knowledge created and passed down from generations of distillers that helps us make traditional and authentic spirits from scratch and by the senses. Our goals are lofty, and we accomplish them because of our strong team dynamic. It’s in our name, we are the spirit distillers of Oregon Spirit Distillers. We are proud to work together and make spirits we love to enjoy.

BRAD IRWIN
Owner

Whiskey has three main ingredients: grain, water, and passion. Brad found a natural bounty of all three in his hometown of Bend, Oregon.

In 2009, Brad and his wife Kathy embarked on the journey that would eventually create Central Oregon’s first grain to glass whiskey distillery. Local high desert grain and mountain water were easy to source. The region's unique climate provided plenty of corn, barley, wheat, and rye. Crisp and pure water from the Cascade Mountains was abundant. Brad’s passion for history, tradition, and quality is delivered in every drop that Oregon Spirit Distillers produces.

After 10 years in the role of Head Distiller, Brad has passed the honor to his carefully selected distilling team. As the owner, he can now focus on growing Oregon Spirit Distillers as a national brand and make time for his other passion, his family.

BRANDY PIEPER
Production Director

Brandy moved to Bend in 2016 to join the Oregon Spirit Distillers team. She graduated from the University of Tennessee with a BS in Biology. Prior to moving west, she worked in food microbiology and made dinnerware for a pottery studio. Working at Oregon Spirit Distillers is perfect for her scientific and creative background.

Through her time at Oregon Spirit Distillers, Brandy has held many roles. She describes her journey here as an apprenticeship; growing with Oregon Spirit Distillers as they have gone from a Pacific Northwest brand to a nationally distributed brand. Currently leading a team of 11, she oversees all distillation and production operations as the Director of Production. She plays a key role in annual forecasting, planning, and executing while also staying hands-on in product quality, barrel selection, and special projects.

When she’s not championing workplace culture with enthusiasm, Brandy’s passions lie in cooking and exploration. Her skills in the kitchen serve to fuel her many outdoor pursuits, which include split-boarding, bike touring, mountain biking, and traveling. Her favorite labor of love to enjoy is a neat pour of Oregon Spirit Distillers Rye Whiskey or any cask strength sample that needs assessing.

TANNER TISDEL
Head Distiller

Tanner is a native Oregonian. He was born in Portland and raised in Bend. As an adult, he’s always worked in and around the alcohol industry. His career at Oregon Spirit Distillers began on the bottling line. Here he became familiar with the final stages of the production process: filling, labeling, and sealing all our products by hand. With passion and a solid attitude, he worked his way from the ground up to Production Distiller and now oversees the distilling process on a daily basis.

When he’s not watching the still, you can find him keeping an eye on his ducks and chickens at home. Tanner also enjoys mountain biking and hiking followed by his favorite drink: an Oregon Spirit Distillers Wheat Whiskey on the rocks.