2025 TXWA Board of Directors
Natasha DeHart, President
Member Distillery: BENDT Distilling Co. (North Texas Distillery Trail)
Position at Member Distillery: Owner & Blender
Natasha DeHart is the co-founder and blender at BENDT Distilling Co. in Lewisville, Texas. Established in 2012 alongside her husband, Ryan DeHart, Natasha has been instrumental in the company’s evolution, overseeing operations and pioneering innovative whiskey blends.
A graduate of Florida State University, Natasha’s passion for whiskey and blending is complemented by her interests in cooking, learning, and traveling the world. She is also a devoted mother to three children.
Natasha’s entrepreneurial spirit and innovative blending techniques have positioned her as a notable figure in the traditionally male-dominated whiskey industry, contributing significantly to the growth and recognition of Texas whiskey.
Board term: 2023-2026
Nancy Finney, Treasurer
Member Distillery: Hush & Whisper Distilling Co. (South Texas Distillery Trail)
Position at Member Distillery: CPA & Chief Revenue Officer
Nancy serves as the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) at Hush & Whisper Distilling Co. in Bryan, Texas. With over 40 years of experience in her field, Nancy has held Chief Financial Officer (CFO) roles for the past two decades.
During the planning and construction phases of Hush & Whisper Distilling, Nancy played a pivotal role as CFO. In her current position as CRO, she focuses on marketing, corporate direction, and brand development. Additionally, Nancy actively participates in various committees in the area, concentrating on economic development and user awareness.
Nancy holds Bachelor of Business Administration degrees in Accounting and Finance from Texas A&M University and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Her extensive background and leadership have been instrumental in establishing Hush & Whisper Distilling Co. as a notable presence in the Texas whiskey industry.
Board term: 2024-2027
John evans, secretary
Member Distillery: Wilson Valley Mercantile (Hill Country Distillery Trail)
Position at Member Distillery: Owner, Operator, Distiller, Farmer
John Evans is a fifth-generation farmer and the owner, founder, and distiller at Wilson Valley Mercantile, Bell County’s first legal distillery, located near Little River-Academy, Texas. Established in 2022, the distillery embodies a “seed-to-sip” philosophy, utilizing grains grown on the Evans Ranch to produce spirits.
The Evans family’s agricultural roots date back to 1867, with a legacy of farming corn, wheat, oats, and cattle. In 2018, John and his wife, Erica, began constructing the distillery, completing it amidst their ongoing farming and ranching operations. Wilson Valley Mercantile offers a range of whiskey, all distilled from grains cultivated on their farm.
Beyond distilling, John is actively involved in the broader spirits community, including the Texas Distilled Spirits Association. His dedication to preserving and innovating within the family’s farming traditions has positioned Wilson Valley Mercantile as a notable destination on the Texas Whiskey Trail.
Board term: 2025-2028
Chris Seals
Member Distillery: Still Austin Whiskey Co. (Hill Country Trail)
Position at Member Distillery: Co-Founder & CEO
Chris Seals is the Co-Founder and CEO of Still Austin Whiskey Co., the first grain-to-glass distillery in Austin, Texas. An economist by training, Chris was inspired in 2013 when his father, Cleveland, approached him with the idea of opening a distillery. What began as a way to strengthen their relationship grew into a mission: to produce world-class bourbon and rye whiskeys using 100% Texas-grown grains.
Still Austin has become one of the fastest-growing craft whiskey brands in the United States. The distillery produces bourbon and rye entirely in-house from 100% Texas-grown grain and is home to a custom 42-foot Scottish still—the only of its kind in North America. Everyone who works for the company is a co-owner of the business. Shared ownership has instilled an astonishing level of pride in the whiskeys we make, a relentless focus on quality, and a passion to always make it better through innovation and excellence. The company has been a leader in adopting quality-elevating techniques like slow water reduction, which harnessed the extremes of Texas weather into delicious whiskeys with remarkable depth, complexity, softness, and finesse. The team has received widespread recognition from critics and fans alike. Chris has guided the company from a startup vision into a nationally competitive brand, while remaining proudly rooted in Texas.
Chris has a daughter who is a sports marketer, a daughter who is an atrist, a son who loves wrestling, a soon-to-be son-in-law who is a very bright engineer, an interloping cat, and a baby born in 2013: his whiskey distillery. He enjoys live music in the city he has called home for more than 30 years.
Board term: 2025-2027 (appointment)
Jared Himstedt
Member Distillery: Balcones Distilling (North Texas Whiskey Trail)
Position at Member Distillery: Head Distiller
For Jared Himstedt, the craft of making whisky is a relational journey of discovery. Getting to know one's place and one's work are parts of a feedback loop through which we get to know ourselves. It's an ongoing, dynamic conversation with purpose, meaning and growth.
Jared's path wandered through social work, ceramic arts, punk bands, bicycle repair and homebrewing before arriving at distillation. In the early days of Balcones, he did a bit of everything--fabricating equipment, designing labels, making cuts at the stills, driving innovation concepts and blending expressions.
These days, his role is a mix of long-term planning and blending, all while keeping the company's creative and existential goals moving forward to "make it meaningful."
Board term: 2025-2028
Julian Giraldo
Member Distillery: Giant Texas Distillers (South Texas Distillery Trail)
Position at Member Distillery: Head Distiller
Julian serves as the Head Distiller at Giant Texas Distillers in Houston, Texas. With a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Julian brings over 13 years of industry experience to the distillery.
Under Julian’s leadership, Giant Texas Distillers has invested $15 million in cutting-edge technology and facilities, solidifying its position as the largest distillery in Texas and west of the Mississippi. He has been instrumental in developing a diverse portfolio of spirits, including bourbon, rye whiskey, and experimental offerings.
In his personal time, Julian enjoys outdoor activities like camping, mountain biking, stunt kite flying, and traveling with his family to visit wineries and other distilleries around the world.
Board term: 2023-2026
Rob Cordes
Member Distillery: Garrison Brothers (Hill Country Distillery Trail)
Position at Member Distillery: Head Marketing Dude
Rob Cordes is a driving force behind the Garrison Brothers brand—a creative strategist, storyteller, and marketing leader with over 30 years of experience across advertising, branding, e-commerce, and experiential marketing. Since joining Garrison Brothers, Rob has helped transform the small distillery in the Texas Hill Country into one of the most respected names in American bourbon.
As Head Marketing Dude, Rob leads everything from packaging and digital strategy to national campaigns, trade programs, and consumer engagement. His work has helped the brand win major industry awards, grow a fiercely loyal fanbase, and raise millions through purpose-driven marketing initiatives like Good Bourbon for a Good Cause.
Though his background spans industries—from tech to healthcare to lifestyle—Rob found his true calling in bourbon. His work is equal parts strategic and soulful, always grounded in storytelling and guided by a deep respect for craft.
When he’s not working, Rob works on his ranch in Bastrop County, where he paints, restores native habitats, and occasionally takes to the skies as a private pilot.
Board term: 2025-2028
Jake Clements,
Ex-officio
TXWA Member: Texas Whiskey Festival
Position: Founder
Jake is a distinguished whiskey sommelier, creative director, and event producer, renowned for his significant contributions to the Texas whiskey scene. In 2017, he co-founded the Texas Whiskey Festival, an annual event dedicated to promoting and celebrating the diverse whiskeys produced in the Lone Star State. Under his leadership, the festival has grown from featuring 11 distilleries initially, to attracting over 1,200 attendees, showcasing the rapid expansion and appreciation of Texas whiskey.
Through his multifaceted endeavors, Jake Clements continues to be a pivotal figure in the whiskey community, championing the growth and recognition of Texas whiskey on both a state and national level.
Board term: 2024-2027