In this episode of Whiskey Rocks, we sit down with Adam Hines — designer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of High Bank Distillery — to go deep into the brand’s meteoric rise and their fearless approach to craft whiskey. From the early days of conceptual design to winning multiple gold medals, Adam shares the bold strategy behind High Bank’s standout line, Whiskey War.

We unpack how High Bank blends award-winning spirits with sharp branding, the mindset behind challenging industry norms, and why disrupting the whiskey world sometimes means throwing out the traditional playbook. Whether you’re a whiskey lover, a brand builder, or just love a good underdog story, this one’s for you.

Topics We Cover:

• The origin and evolution of Whiskey War

• Adam’s transition from creative director to distiller

• Building a brand-first distillery in a product-first industry

• The role of storytelling, design, and bold moves in craft whiskey

• High Bank’s secret to staying scrappy and standing out

• Why the Whiskey War name is more than just a label

Drinks we pour and Joel’s review of them:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DL8fvoes0CR/?igsh=MTF4NGRycWdheng3Ng==

https://www.instagram.com/p/DLyHfZ-MSVV/?igsh=MTJha2xqZGFlaTJnbQ==

https://www.instagram.com/p/DKfqMvbMAWl/?igsh=N3c0enA4dWNuZzRw

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