Nick Nagele is a co-founder of Whiskey Acres Distilling Company in DeKalb, IL – Illinois’ first estate distillery. Whiskey Acres grows all of the corn, wheat, rye & barley that they use for distilling. Their product have earned international accolades including Double Golds at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Platinum at Fred Minnick’s ASCOT Awards. Whiskey Acres is also the #1 TripAdvisor rated destination in DeKalb.

Nick manages the daily operations and leads the sales and marketing at Whiskey Acres. He even gets to run the still and make whiskey every once in a while. You’ll often find him hosting a tasting, leading a tour, filling bottles or pouring samples throughout Illinois.

Nick is also a fifth generation farmer and active in his family’s row crop farm in Sheldon, IL. He has worked as an Account Supervisor at Weber Shandwick Corporate Communications and a District Sales Manager for Syngenta Seeds.

He is a 2004 graduate of the University of Illinois with a BS in Agricultural and Environmental Communications and Education, and is an alumnus of the 2014 Illinois Agriculture Leadership Program. Nick is an Eagle Scout, completed the 2011 Chicago Marathon and would like to golf a lot more than he does.

Nick lives in Batavia with his wife Amanda, and 5 yr old twins, Gunnar and Everly.