Knox Whiskey Works Announces Hiring of Head Distiller

All Photos: Bill Foster

Knox Whiskey Works, downtown Knoxville’s first distillery of the modern era, is pleased to announce that it has hired head distiller and Air Force veteran Ryan Catlett. Ryan will lead all production functions at the bushel to bottle, small batch distillery located at 516 West Jackson Avenue including grain sourcing, fermentation, distillation, barrel maturation and bottling. “The opportunity to add a talented and experienced distiller to our team at Knox Whiskey Works was too much to pass up. We are excited to announce that Ryan will be leading our distilling efforts in Knoxville,” said Knox Whiskey Works manager Stanton Webster.

Upon graduation from Oak Ridge High School, Catlett served in the Air Force with a focus on fluid dynamics. After completing his service to our country, Ryan turned his lifelong musical hobby into a profession and earned a degree in the recording arts. From Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado to the Heart of Music City in Nashville, Ryan worked as a Production and Audio Engineer. However, a budding passion for home brewing beer and the underlying scientific principles of fermentation led to a natural interest in distilling. Most recently, Catlett furthered his brewing and distilling experience working at one of East Tennessee’s largest distilleries. “I really enjoy the interplay of science and seasonality and my ability to express this professionally through brewing and distilling. Growing up in East Tennessee and spending so much of my time outdoors, I have always had an appreciation for the seasons,” said Catlett.

As an avid outdoorsman and mountain biker, Ryan is making the most of living south of