Tim Knittel Email & Phone Number

Lexington, Kentucky, Usa

• Full range of spirits beverage alcohol services including tastings, events and industry support• Professional Bourbon education for public events, private events and weddings• Bourbon event design and management• Distillery relations for charity events and fundraiser• Hospitality staff training for Bourbon education and Bourbon cocktails for restaurants, bars and caterers• Bourbon bar development and improvement consulting• Distillery consulting for product development, route-to-market and brand promotion• Distillery hospitality management consulting including tour and tasting experience design • Bourbon industry articles for on-line and print publications targeted to consumers and industry

Churchill Downs

Manage Bourbon and mixology program at Matt Winn's Steakhouse at Churchill Downs, lead Bourbon tastings throughout the property, category media relations

Midway, Kentucky, Usa

"The focus of this minor is to better understand the culture and business of the Bourbon industry. Courses are designed to give students the history of the industry, learn and talk about the Bourbon tasting experience, understand the role of Bourbon in Kentucky’s tourism and hospitality industry and be prepared to gain entry level employment in the Bourbon industry or the supporting tourism industry.Skills and knowledge gained from the curriculum would be beneficial to those seeking employment in the Bourbon industry, tour and visitor center operations, historic and adventure attractions, state parks and the hotel industry."Teaching 400 & 600 Level Courses:• The Bourbon Experience & Hospitality• Destination Branding and the Bourbon Experience• Event Management and the Bourbon Experience• Plus 600-level Capstone

Versailles, Kentucky, Usa

• Bourbon selection and cocktails• Lead private Bourbon tastings and KY Bourbon School public tastings• Provide support for development of operations in multiple departments

Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles Ky

As the Homeplace Host, my role was to create value by utilizing the distillery to tell the brand's story. Performed as the VIP Tour and Tasting Guide when the Master Distiller was unavailable. Responsible for scheduling all VIP guests and personally hosting as needed:• Internal Brown-Forman groups• Distributors• Retailers and retail employees (liquor store sales personnel, bartenders, chefs, etc.)• Barrel Selection customers• Celebrities• Media• Other alcohol-industry trade groupsScheduling, Coordination & Logistics• Managed multiple calendar systems to ensure all visits had the required tour timing, host(s), venues, catering, service and products available and ready• Ensured communication among all site groups including production employees and catering service; as well as created two regular communication meetings• Added events to executives' calendars and briefed executive hosts (Master Distiller, Production Manager, etc.) on visitor groupsExperience Design• Designed the tasting for all distillery guests for the new formal tasting room• Developed new tastings for VIP guests as new products became available• Designed & executed the distillery events for the first 2 years of the Kentucky Bourbon Affair• Designed & executed the Kentucky Bourbon Festival "Exploring the Flavors of Bourbon" held at the My Old Kentucky Dinner TrainDistillery Guests Services Staff Training• Trained staff to lead the new formal tasting & new products as they launched• Trained select staff in VIP hostingTasting & Evaluation• Guided customers through the barrel selections• Performed barrel selections for customers unable to come to the distillery• Trained for spirit evaluation to ensure bottled product met brand standards & had no faultsAdditionally• Maintained inventory of alcohol & tasting supplies• Developed protocols for managing tastings & events• 1 of 6 personnel with security clearance & rotating responsibility for full guest service operations

Woodford Reserve Distillery

Food Service Management• Responsible for three food service operations: sandwich counter, catered events and holiday restaurant.• Worked directly with clients to craft private events to their specifications.• Coordinated execution of events including highly detailed logistics.Staffing• Recruited, trained, supervised and motivated all front of house staff. The focuses were hospitality and ensuring that every guest had a memorable experience.• Developed a bourbon craft bartending training program to teach both in-house and industry bartenders how to properly create bourbon-based cocktails.Financial• Designed financial reporting and analysis tools.• Achieved a 100% increase in net profitability in two years.Tasting & Event Hosting• Lead specialized bourbon tastings for official visitors and industry trade personnel.• Developed and hosted special events including the Culinary Cocktail Classes at the distillery and whiskey dinners for local area private clubs.