Our Story
HISTORIC ROOTS MEET MODERN ARTISTRY
PURPOSE
Our purpose is to return American whiskey to its roots. When craftsmanship, flavor, and authenticity mattered more than prestige. We take pride in putting world-class whiskey in the hands of anyone who cares about what's in the glass.
Honoring Edmund Dexter: A Legacy of Excellence
In the mid-1800s, Cincinnati was the beating heart of American whiskey, and no name carried more weight than Edmund Dexter. A celebrated whiskey merchant and blender, he built one of the city's leading wholesale liquor houses on a single principle: the quality of what he poured. He didn't trade on image or scarcity. He traded on craft, character, and an uncompromising standard that drew attention far beyond the Ohio River.
Dexter Bourbon Company was founded to honor Edmund Dexter’s legacy of excellence and carry it forward with modern artistry. Every bottle we make reflects the standard Edmund Dexter set: what matters most is what's inside.
FOUNDERS
CEO & Co-Founder
Doug Hall
Doug Hall is an inventor, author, whiskey maker, and co-founder of Dexter Bourbon Company. A trained chemical engineer, he spent a decade at Procter & Gamble, founded Eureka! Ranch, and later co-founded Brain Brew Distillery, where he helped pioneer WoodCraft Finishing.
More than 20 years ago, while working with The Macallan in Scotland, Doug first learned that 70% of a whiskey’s flavor comes from the wood. That insight stayed with him and ultimately inspired Dexter Bourbon Company, created to celebrate the character and legendary depth that wood can bring to American whiskey.
President & Co-Founder
Joe Girgash
Joe Girgash is a seasoned operator, systems-driven leader, and co-founder of Dexter Bourbon Company. He began his career in food and beverage, where he developed a deep appreciation for building systems that deliver exceptional customer experiences. He later joined Doug to help create and build Dexter Bourbon Company into what it is today.
At Dexter, Joe brings a practical, grounded leadership style shaped by years of building, refining, and growing the business from the inside out. Together with Doug, he has helped build a company rooted in craftsmanship and innovation.
President & Co-Founder
Joe Girgash
Joe Girgash is a seasoned operator, systems-driven leader, and co-founder of Dexter Bourbon Company. He began his career in food and beverage, where he developed a deep appreciation for building systems that deliver exceptional customer experiences. He later joined Doug to help create and build Dexter Bourbon Company into what it is today.
At Dexter, Joe brings a practical, grounded leadership style shaped by years of building, refining, and growing the business from the inside out. Together with Doug, he has helped build a company rooted in craftsmanship and innovation.
OUR ROOTS
Rooted in Cincinnati. Crafted at Brain Brew Distillery.
Cincinnati is where our story begins, and Brain Brew Distillery is where it comes to life. Rooted in American whiskey heritage and crafted with a relentless focus on innovation, Dexter celebrates artistry, depth, and character in every pour.Â
