Get a sharper understanding of the American Single Malt category and taste how Bird Creek’s single-varietal whiskeys bring that story to life in the glass.
True Grist: The American Single Malt Experience comes to Seattle Cocktail Week with a seminar built for bartenders and hospitality professionals who want to deepen their understanding of one of whiskey’s most dynamic categories. Hosted by Gina Fossitt, founder of Dandelion BevEd, the session explores the rise of American Single Malt through the lens of single-varietal barley, with practical insight into how those distinctions shape aroma, texture, flavor, and the stories bartenders tell behind the bar.
Attendees will taste through Bird Creek’s unique single varietal bottlings while hearing directly from the founder, the farmer, the maltster and the distiller behind them. You’ll learn how the founder works closely with every partner—from grain cultivation to malting to distillation to final maturation—to achieve the intended character of each expression. The result is a seminar that connects production to service, giving bartenders the tools to better understand the whiskey in the glass, communicate its value to guests, and recognize what makes these bottlings stand out on a back bar or tasting menu.
Why You Should Attend:
Deepen your whiskey knowledge with a focused look at the rise of American Single Malt and the role of single-varietal barley in shaping flavor and identity.
Taste with firsthand context by sampling Bird Creek’s bottlings alongside insight from the founder, the farmer, the maltster and the distiller.
Strengthen your bar storytelling with practical language and production knowledge that can help you sell, recommend, and serve these whiskeys with more confidence.
Track: Spirits + Knowledge
PRESENTED BY
Gina Fossitt
Founder
Dandelion BevEd
With two decades in the beverage industry, Gina has become one of the most respected voices in spirits education, known for translating production science into engaging, practical stories for bartenders, sales teams, and enthusiasts alike. After years behind the bar and leading beverage programs in New York City, she joined the Diageo Masters of Whisky program, where she expanded her technical expertise and developed a teaching style that is rigorous, witty, and highly applicable to the real world.
Gina has built a career at the intersection of education, mentorship, and category leadership. At George Dickel Distillery, she led the ambassador internship program and created a six-month mentorship designed to prepare ambassadors for the IBD General Certificate of Distillation. She later served as U.S. National Ambassador for Lot No. 40 at Corby Spirits and Wine before advancing to Trade and Education Manager, where she led global trade education initiatives and developed training and sales tools for Corby’s Canadian whisky portfolio.
She also spearheaded the creation of the first certification dedicated to Canadian whisky, setting a new standard for how the category is taught and understood worldwide. Through her company, Dandelion BevEd, Gina develops education and engagement programs for suppliers, distributors, and consumers, including the Eh, B, C’s of Canadian Whisky course and True Grist: The American Single Malt Experience. She also serves as an educator for the Edinburgh Whisky Academy and founded “less booze, ALL THE BUZZ!”, a community focused on flavorful, less-boozy drinking experiences.
PRESENTED BY
Matt Stell
Founder
Bird Creek Whiskey
Mark Stell is the founder of Bird Creek Whiskey, an American Single Malt brand based in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 2017, Bird Creek Whiskey is dedicated to sourcing rare and heritage barley varieties to craft distinctive American Single Malts. With over 30 years of experience, Mark has traveled the world in pursuit of the rarest coffees for his first passion—specialty coffee. As the founder of Portland Coffee Roasters, a nationally recognized brand and winner of the prestigious Roaster of the Year award, he has become an expert in sourcing rare commodities and collaborating with farmers to perfect their products. Mark’s true passion lies in discovering and developing barley varieties that can elevate the American Single Malt designation.
PRESENTED BY
Don Scheuerman
Co-Founder: Palouse Heritage Farmsted, The Grain Shed Co-Op, and Barm & Wallops Public House
Don Scheuerman is a 4th generation grain grower and co-founder of Palouse Heritage Farmstead, The Grain Shed Co-op (Spokane, Washington) and Barm & Wallops Public House (Pullman, Washington). He was raised on the family wheat and barley farm located between the rural Eastern Washington communities of Endicott and St. John, Washington. He has worked on agricultural trade and development projects for the State of Alaska, Russian and Vietnamese State and private companies, and in the Eastern Washington retail food sector. His passion is to establish biodiverse organic heirloom landrace grain varieties as a distinct category in the food and beverage culinary space. We offer our products to artisanal brewers, distillers and bakers. Palouse Heritage advocates for the transitioning of small and medium agricultural enterprises from the industrial carbon-based fossil fuel complex to the emerging local, regional, regenerative earth friendly environment of delicious nutrient dense natural flavors in reconnecting the urban & rural communities.
PRESENTED BY
Ryan Myhre
Director of Operations
Talking Cedar Brewery and Distillery
Ryan brings a strong blend of scientific training and hands-on industry expertise to the beverage alcohol world. He holds a PhD in Biochemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and a Master Brewer certification from UC Davis. With 14 years of experience in the beverage alcohol space, he has built a career rooted in both technical skill and a deep passion for craft. A true foodie and dedicated beer and spirits enthusiast, he pairs professional excellence with personal curiosity. Above all, he is a proud father of four amazing young men.
PRESENTED BY
Brian Estes
Partnerships
LINC Malt
Brian is a lifelong eastern Washingtonian. He’s been at the LINC Cooperative since 2017, where he eats, sleeps and breathes all things malt. Brian has great fondness of the places, people, food and drink of our region, and considers experiencing a sense of place to be one of the great joys in life.
PRESENTED BY
Bill Myers
Fifth Generation Farmer
Bill Myers is a 5th Generation farmer in the best grain growing area in the world. He raises Baronesse Barley and other small grains in Whitman County Washington. Providing Baronesse Barley and watching people enjoy its unique flavor is his passion.
Bartender’s Circle Summit: Industry Session
This session is part of the Bartender’s Circle Summit and is strictly intended for members of the global hospitality industry. To attend this masterclass, you must have a BCS Class Pass. Our summit programming at Pacific Place is a dedicated space for professionals to sharpen their craft, delve into spirit categories like Cognac and Pisco, and learn from the industry’s most respected leaders.
Want to see the full curriculum? Find out more here.
Ready to level up? Get your Class Pass below.