Welcome back guys this was a lot of fun. Today we have Raleigh Hughes the sales lead for Bendt. We talked backstory, we talked process, we talked submarine stills. Use the coupon code GETBENDT24 to get a discount ot there website Bendtdistillingco.com  And now a word from our sponsors

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A native Texan, Raleigh loves golfing, Dallas sports, and sipping cocktails under the big Texas sky. He learned to golf from his grandfather, and actually spent some time playing professionally. He enjoys hanging out on local patios with his pup, Maggie, and spending time with his family. Raleigh joined #teambendt in March 2020.

How does Raleigh #getbendt? BENDT + Lemonade

2011

Before the distillery was born, the DeHarts were homebrewing up a storm in their Dallas home, and Quentin Witherspoon was making rum on the side. A chance visit to Dallas by a mutual US Marine Corps friend of Ryan & Quentin brought the original partners together, and after a night of drinking whiskey and plotting an exciting venture into craft distilling,
a plan was formed.

2012

A warehouse was leased, permits were applied for, and a still was being built by hand. And Witherspoon Distillery had become a party of four - Quentin Witherspoon, Ryan DeHart, Natasha DeHart and Laurent Spamer formed the founding management, production, sales and marketing teams. By late summer 2012, Witherspoon Distillery was approved as a fully legal and operational craft distillery. The learning process had begun, a small distributor was on board, and Quentin’s River Rum was making its way into the market. Before long, the crew discovered what would become a never-ending issue - growth in the distilling industry comes with a need for space. And whatever space you think you need, you’ll need significantly more by next year.

2013

Distillery intern Christy Cockrell became the first of several additions to the WD team in the summer of 2013. Little did we know at the time that her project, a grain-to-glass malt whiskey that was later branded as “Cross Timbers”, would eventually alter the direction of the distillery from rum to whiskey.

On September 1, 2013, Texas law changed to allow distillers to pour samples, and on a limited basis, sell cocktails and bottles directly to consumers. That week was spent constructing a bar from fencing remnants, creating a limited cocktail menu, and inviting friends and family for the first ever Witherspoon Distillery tour. On Saturday, September 7th, the first distillery tour took place, the Maple Old Fashioned and Hemingway cocktails were served, and the first official guests visited.