COPPERWORKS

Jason was raised in Kentucky and may have a touch of bourbon in his blood. Maybe that’s what got him into craft beer brewing in the early days before there was even a microbrew scene in Seattle. With degrees in chemistry and microbiology and a love of fine beer, he became the first brewer at Pike Place Brewery in 1989. He went on to refine his craft with Fish Brewing Company, Redhook, and work as Brewmaster at Pyramid Breweries. He partnered with Micah Nutt to open Copperworks in 2013. A long-time advocate for craft brewing, craft malting, and craft distilling, Jason served as Board Member and chair of the Washington Distiller’s Guild. He led Copperworks to become a founding member of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission and now serves on the Board of Directors of the Craft Maltsters Guild.

Jeff is a recovering attorney, having left his law firm job in New York City for the Northwest to focus on his passion for fine spirits. He cut his teeth in Seattle by helping to launch Letterpress Distilling. Always an avid beer fan, Jeff spent a month in Belgium seeking out some of the world’s best beers. His interest in complex flavors and craftsmanship led him to explore American whiskey. Countless bottles later, he realized he had fallen in love with spirits and the art of mixing drinks. Jeff joined Copperworks in time to help bottle the first batch of spirits and now directs sales and a huge range of other functions at Copperworks. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Craft Spirits Association.

With a background in computer programming, Micah has been a skilled and passionate homebrewer since the 1980s. He and Jason spent two decades homebrewing together before cofounding Copperworks Distilling Company. Micah oversaw the development of the distillery and headed the production department until his retirement. In 2018, Micah was named Distiller Emeritus, having trained several distillers to follow in his footsteps. He now enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife. Among his many talents is wood working; he rebuilt and refined the stunning antique bar featured in Copperworks’ tasting room in downtown Seattle.

Jack recently moved from sunny San Diego to Seattle in search of a new adventure. While studying and playing soccer at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, Jack felt a connection with the Pacific Northwest and, after graduating in 2020, found his way into the spirits industry thanks to a fellow alumnus. Jack finds that when it comes to craft spirits, people are committed to producing an excellent product they are proud to share and he enjoys being part of the collaborative nature of the industry. He currently works on a wide variety of special projects at Copperworks and helps manage a soccer league in the Seattle area.

Mara is a native Pacific Northwesterner with a passion for learning, exploring, and sharing a dram. After years behind a desk, she took a deep dive into the world of whiskey and found her true calling. Since 2018, she has been pouring spirits while creating and operating tasting rooms and bars. Creating an atmosphere that is warm and inviting is paramount: Mara believes the experience a guest has begins the moment the door is opened, and a greeting is shared. A gregarious person by nature, Mara loves connecting with family and friends near the waters of the Salish Sea, and, true to her PNW roots, is a pluviophile.

Hailing from Houston, Texas, Skinny made his way to Seattle in 2016. After a decade as a professional brewer, during which he oversaw barrel aging, special projects, and a recipe development program, Skinny made the transition to distilling by joining the Copperworks team. With a passion for quality and efficiency of process, Skinny takes pride in the act and art of creating. He enjoys building vintage motorbikes and vehicles, playing music, and spending time in the wilderness where he draws inspiration from the Pacific Northwest’s diversity of climates and scenery.

Stefanie brings over 30 years of bookkeeping and accounting experience to the Copperworks team. She has previously worked for such esteemed organizations as the San Francisco Ballet, Lucasfilm, and Glide Memorial Foundation. A classical singer and voice teacher, she plays regular gigs in the greater Seattle area in a band alongside her husband. Stefanie is part time and works about 10 hours per week.

Thomas joined Copperworks in 2019 after several years distilling at Sound Spirits Distillery, the first distillery opened in Seattle following Prohibition. Originally from Kentucky, Thomas came to the Pacific Northwest by way of Texas where his career in spirits began behind the bar. In early 2021, Thomas took charge of production operations at Copperworks. Driven by quality and with a clear passion for his craft, he is fascinated by the transformative process of distilling and sees “something very romantic about the relationships in nature and in distillation,” believing that the how and why of doing something is just as important as the technical process.