Hall of Fame

Inductee number 83 into the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame is Lance Winters, master distiller at St. George Spirits.

Winters is recognized for his love of throwing aside the traditional conventions and expectations of the spirits world, instead using his imagination and artistic flare. He came to St. George Spirits in 1996 after time spent as a US Navy nuclear engineer, and subsequently working as a brewer. Over time, Winters was motivated by the desire to make whiskey out of his favorite ales and quickly became interested in distillation. He approached St. George Spirits founder Jörg Rupf with a bottle of homemade whiskey as his resume and has been with the distillery ever since.

Winters is driven by a need to create beautiful spirits that beguile the palate and capture the imagination, utilizing his technical skill and palate to create many award-winning spirits for St. George.

In the 26 years since joining St. George, Winters has been instrumental in expanding the company’s portfolio and catalyzing its growth from a dedicated eau de vie distillery into an innovative craft distillery. Under his watch, St. George has launched many of the iconic spirits that the distillery is best known for, including St. George Single Malt Whiskey and Baller Single Malt Whiskey.

Winters is also St. George Spirits’ president and a partner in the business, and is proud that it has remained distiller owned and operated throughout its 40 years. Many congratulations to Lance Winters on this award.