IamA 29 year old veteran who has started his own bourbon company, goes to school full time, bartends part time, and does ROTC. Tomorrow will be one of the best days of my life as my product hits it's first shelves AM(literally)A!

What do you recommend I do to try and stay under the radar at Benning for BCT/AIT?

Just don't be a dickhead. Stay awake on fireguard and help your peers out... they will reciprocate and you will be a good person. In any walk of life empathy goes a long way

How do you feel about marketing this as bourbon outside of KY?

It's technically a bourbon whiskey but I feel fine marketing as such because I follow all the standards required of bourbon, mine is just younger than required. I would never call mine Kentucky Bourbon because it isn't. I simply want to introduce as many people to bourbon as possible, and I think this helps do so.

Can you ELI5 what the difference is between scotch, Irish whiskey, and bourbon? Does it have to do with the number of times its distilled or is there more to it than that?

Also I really like the idea to package the bourbon in small barrels made from aging barrels, that's pretty neat!

Scotch is typically made from a malted barley while bourbon is made primarily from corn. Irish whiskey differs from scotch because it is triple distilled and made primarily from kiln-dried malted barley, while scotch is twice distilled barley smoked in peat. Honestly words can't assist as much as just tasting a quality sample of each style but hopefully that helps.

I was in the JROTC in high school in the late 90s. I was hot shit on the drill team, and man do I miss that. Do you know of any jobs for adults where I can be praised again for being really good at getting dressed, without signing up for a job that might entail killing people?

My best suggestion is to monetize yourself on Instagram or another such platform. Few people probably have the keen eye you learned for attention to detail so if you focused on something like I dunno tying the best knots for ties (or something) you would probably excel.

Presumably you still run the bourbon company - how's are the tariffs being levied (or planning to be levied?) impacting your day-to-day?

Technically the current administration has actually made things more affordable... but I remain cautious of the fact that overnight things could change. I think thats the best way to answer this great question.

How would you suggest someone to prep for academy?

Someone once told me if you work out and look good in the uniform you'll be fine. I promise that's the case. Follow one of the many workout plans available online because realistically if you can do pushups/situps/run fast you will distinguish yourself from your peers early on.

I'm in Michigan, where can I get a bottle of your stuff to try?

My stuff is an introductory bourbon, I just want more people to try it, so I made as smooth a bourbon as I could. Currently it's only available in CT, I hope to move to other states as quickly and efficiently as possible.

How do you feel about football players kneeling during the anthem? Do we, as citizens, owe blind allegiance to the country/symbols of our country?

No. You have the right to free speech, I've fought for that in the past and I'll always believe it.

If you had to compare your bourbon to a current brand that's in the broad market, what brand would you say the taste is similar to?

It's difficult for me to do so, it wont intrigue bourbon enthusiasts searching for the oldest/highest proof bourbons. I do genuinely believe it has the in your face bourbon taste of quality bourbons but a smooth finish. Tasting will be believing.

Will I be able to score any of this in Australia?

Not yet, I am extremely hopeful these are issues I can deal with going forward, I will do by best to keep you and all others updated.

What inspired you to create this bourbon company?

I noticed that people in the bar I worked at that didn't know what they wanted order things like Patron/Tanqueray because the bottles pop. I want to re-invision what the backs of bars look like going forward. I'm bored of glass, it's been too many years.

First and foremost, let me thank you for your service! I’m planning on joining the Air Force as soon as I graduate, so I’d like to know what to expect when I enlist. What was your experience like?

My experience was awesome because I joined and focused on the people and ideas that made me join. A lot of people get jaded because they join for reasons other than what their conviction is. Focus on yourself and the people you joined for and you will experience success.

What's your favorite color?

Also what advice would you give someone who wants to get into the craft of alcohol?

My favorite color is Carolina Blue. As far as alcohol is concerned you will have to make concessions unless money is no object to you. I set out with the goal of making a desirable product and introducing people to bourbon, I think I have that product in my hand right now, but I have to see what people think. Acquiring quality product is expensive, and you can NEVER accept a zero day. I thank Reddit for the "No Zero Days" post because I haven't taken one throughout this process, sticking to that mentality has helped.