Redwood Empire Whiskey - Meet Our Team

JeffMASTER DISTILLER

Jeff Duckhorn has combined his wine country heritage with the mindset of a maker, be it bread, beer or kombucha, into a successful career as our Master Distiller. We think of him as an “accountant gone rogue”, since he originally started his career as a number cruncher, later signing on to explore new frontiers of spirits production. Jeff has been brewing for over twenty years, he has “always loved dabbling in fermentation and making all sorts of stuff at home.” Considering Jeff's natural talents, paired with his passion for whiskey, Jeff is now in a position where he clearly belongs. In his free time, you'll find him gardening, fishing, hiking, or camping with his family.
LAURENHEAD DISTILLER

Lauren Patz grew up in the Napa Valley, the daughter of winemakers. From an early age she learned to love good food and drink. After teaching English in Japan and working at a chocolate factory she joined Spirit Works Distillery in 2013. Eventually taking the mantel of Head Distiller and the responsibility for all distillery operations and product development she discovered her true calling in craft spirit production. She has been a judge for the American Distilling Institute since 2017 and taught distillation seminars and workshops to forward her mission to act as a resource in the distilling community. Her distilling mantra is passion, palate, and patience.
DANIELDISTILLERY ASSISTANT

Daniel Antone joined the distillery in the fall of 2019 and is involved in all aspects of production. His previous 3 years of wine production and bottling prep experience makes him a valuable asset to the team. Daniel, known as ‘Mr. Positive,’ is always ready to roll up his sleeves and get the job done with a smile on his face. When not helping make great spirits, he loves fishing off the Norcal coast in his sea kayak.
STEVESPIRITS BOTTLING MANAGER

Steve Castro has been working for us in the bottling department for well over a decade. He has seen just about every packaging configuration in his time on the line. Now, as Spirits Bottling Manager, he is in charge of bottling production and quality, making sure the Redwood Empire keeps flowing. Steve loves hitting the local dirt on his mountain bike in his free time or sipping on fine Tequila.
MARIA "KIKA"ASSISTANT DISTILLER

During her 10 years in the wine industry, Maria 'Kika' Rivera learned the ins and outs of production, harvest and wine aging in Sonoma County. Interested in everything spirits, she later traded in wine barrels for whiskey barrels. She couldn’t be happier pursuing her newfound passion and getting her hands dirty in the Redwood Empire Distillery. In her downtime, you’ll most likely find her outdoors, spending time with her two children.
ROBERTDISTILLER

Robert Hawkins has been a mechanic for over 16 years. His skills were instrumental in building the distillery and assembling and installing almost all the equipment. He is often referred to as the “MacGyver” of the team, coming up with innovative solutions for improving our whiskey. Enthusiastic about the process, Robert quickly became a distiller for Redwood Empire, enjoying every single moment and stating that this is hardly a “job” for him, rather a passion. As a California native, most of his time is spent outdoors, usually on the lake, enjoying his home state with his wife and two sons.