Wendy Peveich never planned to be here. A cardiovascular nurse practitioner working the front lines during COVID, she stumbled into whiskey as a creative outlet during the darkest days of the pandemic. That accidental passion has become Archer Eland—a 100% rye whiskey brand out of Ohio that she founded, blends, and runs as a team of one.

In this conversation, Wendy walks us through the entire journey: teaching herself whiskey through YouTube videos and standing next to legends like Fred Johnson and Steve McNally, helping build another brand before betting on herself, and the terrifying moment she bought her first finishing barrels and had what she calls her first "hyperventilating episode."

We get deep into the four expressions that make up Archer Eland's debut collection—Solstice, Aurora, Cashmere, and Suede—and the personal story each one tells. Wendy blends from end to back, reverse-engineering flavor profiles while eating pizza and salad to see how the whiskey plays with food. Aurora was her "problem child" that had to be recalculated four times. Cashmere was the moment she finally exhaled and thought, "I'm going to be okay."

This is a conversation about audacity, intentionality, and building something meant to outlast you.

Guest: Wendy Peveich, Founder & Blender, Archer Eland

Distillery Partner: Middle West Spirits (Columbus, OH)

Products Discussed: Archer Eland Solstice (104 proof), Aurora (110 proof), Cashmere (126 proof), Suede (126 proof)

Find Archer Eland: OHLQ stores (Ohio), shop.middlewestspirits.com

Connect: @embellishpod on Instagram and TikTok | www.embellishpod.com

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