WW&S 20th Anniversary Series: Two Voices of Wisconsin Whiskey - A Masterclass with Maas & Henry - Madison

Twenty years ago, Waterford Wine & Spirits opened its doors with a simple, ambitious belief: that Wisconsin deserved access to the world’s great wine and spirits, not as distant trophies but as living, shareable experiences. Two decades later, that belief has grown into a community built around curiosity, trust and the joy of discovery.

To mark our 20th anniversary, we’re doing what we love most: welcoming some of the world’s most revered producers and putting them where they belong — at the tasting table with you.

We are pleased to invite you to an exclusive evening of conversation bringing together two leading whiskey experts, Nick Brady Maas, Head of Distilling and Innovation at Cambridge's Dancing Goat Distillery, and Joe Z. Henry, Master Blender of J. Henry & Sons in Dane.

These two pillars of Wisconsin's whiskey scene have been cornerstones of Waterford's spirits program for years, but never before have we had them in the room together to have a conversation about their love of whiskey, their approaches to making it, and what they see on the horizon of whiskey production in Wisconsin and beyond.

This is a unique opportunity to engage with these esteemed producers while we taste through a lineup of exclusive offerings, and a few rare treats. 

They'll pull back the curtain on their processes, take your questions, and, most importantly, share some of their favorite bottles with you.

Nick Maas is a third-generation distiller, growing up in a lineage of industry experts—including his grandfather Duane Maas, who managed 16 distilleries globally, and his father Tom Maas, a veteran of Jim Beam.  Known for his technical expertise as a self-described "chemistry nerd," Maas oversees the distillery's unique "Taste Proofing" process and its extensive 4,500-barrel library, focusing on blending and experimental maturation to honor his family’s multi-generational agricultural and distilling legacy.

Joe Z. Henry recently attained the prestigious title of Master Blender  and is co-proprietor of J. Henry & Sons, where he oversees the artful maturation of the family’s award-winning Wisconsin straight bourbon. Growing up on the family’s historic seed farm in Dane, Wisconsin, Joe transitioned from a background in logistics and operations to lead the distillery’s sensory profile, meticulously managing a library of barrels that age under the extreme temperature fluctuations of the Midwest. He is the architect behind the brand’s signature blending style, utilizing a unique mash bill of heirloom red corn, wheat, and rye grown right on their estate.