In this episode of The Sports Umbrella presented by GalwayPlus, host Kelly Okun speaks with Dean Burden, a former insurance executive turned spirits connoisseur. He co-founded The Nashville Distillery with a keen eye for marketing and a start in celebrity golf tournaments as a white label partner.
Dean has found much success with his 4547 whiskey and Big Dog Bourbon, which appeals to golfers. He has found ways to white label his high-quality spirits in a way that charities and corporations use them as a personal touch for fundraising and as unique party favors.
Dean and Kelly also discuss marketing constraints in spirits, potential sports licensing opportunities, industry trends, favorite golf courses and a daily “small wins” mindset that’s useful for all entrepreneurs.
Chapters:
[00:33] Meet Dean Burden: From Insurance to Co-founding The Nashville Distillery
[01:26] Unique Business Model: White Label Spirits
[03:45] Charity Fundraising Playbook
[08:27] Scaling Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Marketing
[14:45] Licensing in Sports: Teams, Leagues and Gifting
[16:18] The Next Five Years: Spirits Industry Trends
[18:30] The Challenges of Marketing Spirits
[22:22] An Entrepreneurial Mindset: Small Wins
