George Dickel Gets A New Name And New Distiller

Tennessee has two major distilleries and one of them, George Dickel, hasn’t had a titular Distiller since Alissa Henley left the company in July 2016. That changed last week when the Dickel distillery was renamed for its location as the Cascade Hollow Distilling Co., and Nicole Austin was designated as the renamed plant’s General Manager and Distiller.

What was formerly known as the George Dickel Distillery will now be called Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. George Dickel’s “Handmade the Hard Way” approach to making whisky will remain the same. As General Manager of Cascade Hollow Distilling Co., Austin is charged with developing commercial and innovation strategies for the flagship George Dickel brand, future innovation spirits and the distillery.

“There are so many reasons why I know this position will be a great fit for me, from the jaw dropping beauty of Cascade Hollow to the incredible history of George Dickel,” said Austin. “But, ultimately, it is the freedom to make Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. my home that made up my mind. As a distiller, strategist and mentor, I’ve worn a lot of hats in my career which have prepared me for this moment. Now, it’s time for me to draw from those experiences and build a business that creates a fundamental step change in how people think about Tennessee Whisky. I’m proud to be here and ready to get to work.”

“Nicole is absolutely perfect to lead Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. because she brings so much to the table,” said Sophie Kelly, SVP of North American Whisk(e)y for Diageo. “Not only is she an established chemical engineer and distiller, she has a real business mind, an entrepreneurial spirit and a true vision for the future of the company, its brands and the category. Most importantly, she has all the energy, passion and tenacity to make it real. George Dickel is a hidden gem in our whisk(e)y portfolio and we’re confident Nicole will take it to the next level as she transforms Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. into something truly special.”

Austin graduated from Manhattan College with a major in Chemical Engineering in 2006, before landing her position as a Master Blender for Kings County Distillery in 2010. She then joined Dave Pickerell’s Oak View Spirits consulting firm where she handled everything from raw material sourcing to contract negotiations. Most recently, Nicole served as Project Commissioning Engineer for William Grant & Sons at the Tullamore Distillery in Ireland. She’s also been a fierce advocate for the distilling industry as a founding board member of the American Craft Spirits Association and co-chair of Legislative, Convention and State Guild Committees.