Motlow State Presents Distilled Spirits Program
April 29, 2025
Motlow State is partnering with the Nearest Green Distillery and Jack Daniel’s Distillery to bring students an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Distilled Spirits. This program will allow students to learn the art of distilling on the grounds of Nearest Green, in the heart of Tennessee Whiskey country. Participants will be immersed in Tennessee’s long history of whiskey production and will learn the skills needed to carry on that tradition. While Tennessee Whiskey will be a special focus of the program, production of a full range of distilled spirits including brandy, rum, gin, and more will be taught.
Pictured: Program Director Bruce Boeko
Program Director Bruce Boeko is the founder and former head distiller at Nashville Craft Distillery from 2016 until joining Motlow State this year to lead the Distilled Spirits program. Previously, he spent 20 years as a forensic biologist, ultimately serving as Director of Operations for a large private laboratory performing forensic DNA analysis, parentage testing, and bone marrow typing. He is passionate about the biology, chemistry, and physics of distillation, and he loves teaching all aspects of modern distillery operations. Boeko holds a B.A. in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and an MBA from Tennessee Tech.
The Distilled Spirits program promises to provide an engaging blend of science, art, history, and business so that students will have the opportunity to develop a broad foundation for future success. Courses covering topics like fermentation microbiology, distillation, and distillery safety and sanitation will give participants the technical knowledge of how a modern distillery functions. Regulatory compliance, distilled spirits marketing, mixology, and entrepreneurship courses will place that technical knowledge within the practical context of the business of distilling.
An AAS is a two-year degree that gives students the option to immediately enter the workforce instead of transferring to a four-year university. This means that students who qualify for state scholarships can obtain this degree for free and immediately begin a career in a position such as a distiller, blender, bottling line operator, tour guide, mixologist, or brand ambassador. Due to Tennessee’s deep connection to the distilling industry, Motlow students are in a prime location to launch a successful career. To learn more about the Distilled Spirits program, visit Motlow.edu/DistilledSpirits.