Craft Methods and Human Beings

Distillers and cellarmen we are fortunate to work closely with: dedicated & gifted human beings

Crispin Cain American Craft Whiskey Distillery

Richard Braastad Maison Surrenne

Joseph Corley Germain-Robin

Hector Vasquez Los Nahuales

Craft Distillers Sales & Marketing

In 2003, Managing Director of Sales & Distribution, Don Sutcliffe brought his rich beverage alcohol industry experience and disciplined management skill set to Craft Distillers. Over the past thirty-plus years, Don has held senior national sales and marketing management positions with the Remy Martin Group, Compari- Codorniu, Rosemount Estate, and Veritas. Don believes the hallmark of great brands and companies is the ability to express authentic vision through genuine relationships; developed by people who truly care about what they do and with whom they do it.

Emily Kunhardt, based in New York City, manages distribution in the Northeast. She started in wine retail, worked as a broker for 9 years, then represented Germain-Robin on the West coast 1994-2004. For Craft Distillers, she moved to New York in 2004.

Keith Nakamura manages distributionWest of the Rockies, including our largest market, California. He has extensive experience managing large distributors: Western regional manager for Blackstone/ Martin Ray, then for Pacific, a division of Constellation. Keith was Don’s first hire for Craft Distillers, in 2004.

Barbara Fredell, who holds an MS in Marketing Communications, manages distribution in in the South and Southeast. She started out in wine with Heritage, then spent 6 years as Midwest regional manager for Riedel. She placed Riedel in Target. She has been with Craft Distillers since 2005..

Chris Stevens, based in Denver, manages distribution in the Midwest. A CSW and CSS, Chris started out in the restaurant industry in management and purchasing, where he developed his love for wine and spirits. Don discovered him managing a large wine territory for Young’s Market and brought him on in 2008.

Ansley Coale taught a graduate seminar on Tacitus’ Histories and Roman Numismatics at U C Berkeley, served as apprentice to a dhow-builder on Lamu, walked from Lahoul to Cham, renovated Victorian buildings in San Francisco, co-founded the Germain-Robin distillery, performed Argentine tango before paying audiences, founded the marketing company Craft Distillers, walked three times from Oaxaca to Juquila, and helped a few humans.