Joe O'Sullivan

Joseph (Joe) O’ Sullivan - Master Distiller, Minden Mill

● Member of American Single Malt Whiskey Commission
● Member of Estate Whiskey Alliance
● Apprentice to Steve McCarthy, the first maker of American Single Malt
● Previously Master Distiller at Clear Creek Distillery and Hood River Distillers
● Contributor to American Single Malt Certification program by Edinburgh Whisky Academy

In 2023, Joseph (Joe) O’Sullivan was named Master Distiller for Minden Mill Distilling, a foundational property in the Foley Family Wines and Spirits portfolio located in Minden, Nevada. At Minden Mill’s 22,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility, Joe oversees the creation of Minden Mill Straight Bourbon, Straight Rye Whiskey and American Single Malt whiskeys, as well as High Ground Estate Vodka and Evil Bean Coffee Liqueur.

Joe is a passionate advocate for American Whiskey, actively shaping its future through his involvement in key industry organizations. As a member of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission, he contributed to the years-long efforts to promote, protect and ratify American Single Malt as a new, distinct spirits category that adheres to strict production standards. Through these collective efforts, the Standard of Identity for American Single Malt Whiskey was certified by the TTB in 2024. His expertise is also recognized by the Edinburgh Whisky Academy, where he was featured in their American Single Malt certification program. A fervent champion of the American craft spirits movement, Joe is also an active member of the newly formed Estate Whiskey Alliance, where he has been an outspoken advocate of the "ground-to-glass" movement.

Before becoming Master Distiller at Minden Mill, Joe worked as a carpenter, a roofer, and a plumber in his hometown of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Growing up in a tourist destination with only one busy season, he learned to be nimble and never limited himself to one occupation to make ends meet. He credits this ability to pivot from one task to the next, while maintaining consistent quality in his work, a life skill that has served him in every facet of his career.

In 2005, as the craft spirits industry took flight, Joe joined spirits world luminary Steve McCarthy, founder of Clear Creek Distillery in Hood River, OR. Alongside McCarthy, known as “the godfather of American Single Malt,” Joe did everything from barrel and equipment repairs to sales, building “liquid to lips” credibility. He started first as a distillery mechanic and barrel coordinator and eventually became apprentice to Steve during one of the brand’s most foundational periods. Thanks to his “workman’s approach to craft” while working under his mentor McCarthy, O’Sullivan went on to define and promote American Single Malts.

In 2010, Joe moved to New York City where he served as a consultant to many of the region’s modern distilleries and was responsible for running day-to-day operations at the highly regarded Greenhook Ginsmiths. As Head Distiller, Joe, along with owner Steve DeAngelo, developed the brand’s award-winning Old Tom Gin, as well as a regional sloe gin variant made from beach plums.

In 2017, Joe returned to the Pacific Northwest following his time in NYC to work as Master Distiller for Hood River Distillers, where his work centered around American Single Malt, fruit brandy, and collaborating with his team on future innovations.

With two decades of experience crafting fine spirits, Joe oversees operations at Minden Mill, including grain selection, distillation, and maturation processes. He and his team employ innovative techniques that pay homage to the history of the rugged Nevada region, producing award-winning spirits that capture the unique character of the Carson Valley.
Joe lives in near the Minden Mill Distillery in Carson City, NV with his wife, two cats, and their pet bunny. While he enjoys a cold beer in the summer, his favorite drink remains a pour of Minden Mill American Single Malt with a single ice cube, year-round.