Director of Distillation & Production, Earl Giles Distillery

Age: 37 First Industry Job: 15 years old working as a busier / dishwasher at a German restaurant for a family friend, BUT I was 18 when I fell in love with the industry working at Trader Vic’ s in Scottsdale, AZ, as lead expo and eventually server. Favorite Drink: Depends on the mood, but mostly tequila and mezcal. For a cocktail, Diablo made with a touch of mezcal in addition to tequila, and of course, Earl Giles Ginger Beer. * Chefs Kiss * Delicious.

With more than nine years of distilling experience and four years at the helm of production at Earl Giles, Jeff Fricke has been instrumental in the development of the distillery’ s award-winning spirits and liqueurs. Under his creative leadership, Earl Giles London Dry Gin earned a Gold Medal with 94 points at the 2025 Bartender Spirits Awards. Similarly, the Dr. Ferneti’ s liqueur secured a Gold Medal at the same competition with 92 points. In addition, Dr. Ferneti’ s also achieved“ Double Gold” status at the 2025 TAG Global Spirits Awards 2025.

Fricke’ s contributions extend beyond product excellence. He fosters collaboration across the distilling, formulation and hospitality arms of Earl Giles, elevates team capability and pushes innovation in flavor and process. His influence among peers and rising professionals marks him as a modern trailblazer in craft beverage.

He is also a behind-the-scenes driver of growth in one of the fastest-emerging beverage sectors— hemp-derived THC drinks— providing technical and creative guidance that

supports Minnesota’ s national leadership in this category. By collaborating with partners who rely on Earl Giles for flavor systems, R & D, and production support, Fricke indirectly fuels the rapid growth of THC beverage brands. His formulations are used by companies entering new markets, helping them launch products that are both innovative and dependable.

In 2017, while working at Lawless Distilling Company in Minneapolis, Fricke won the regional Minneapolis title of the Bombay Sapphire 11th Annual“ Most Imaginative Bartender Competition.”

He served as Head Distiller at Lawless Distilling and was tapped to oversee distilling operations for the project STIL- HEART( a distillery + cocktail room in the North Loop).

At Earl Giles Distillery, he holds the title of Director of Distillation and is part of the leadership team shaping the company’ s development and growth.

Fricke successfully transitioned from a hospitality background( bartending, building venues) into production, demonstrating adaptability and depth of experience across the beverage-service and manufacturing sides of the industry.

He is a rare blend of craftsman, innovator, and steady operational leader— someone who elevates every environment he steps into. His work bridges multiple segments of the beverage industry: craft spirits, botanical liqueurs, hemp-derived THC beverages, flavor development and hospitality. Few professionals contribute meaningfully across all these categories, and even fewer do so with his consistency and humility.

His biggest industry challenge?“ Learning how to take a step back to take several steps forward,” Fricke explains.“ Stepping out of bartending to learn and pursue distilling / beverage manufacturing was difficult and at times I felt like‘ Why the hell am I Doing this?’ I would never take back that decision.”

Looking ahead, he wants“ to continue to be a name recognized in helping evolve the beverage industry by pursuing new and Innovative ways to achieve excellence.”

Join us in JUNE IN MINNEAPOLIS at a special reception celebrating this year’ s 40 Under 40 recipients during EPGs annual educational conferences – the Activate National Accounts Meeting, Beverage Alcohol Retailers Conference and Cheers Beverage Summit.

Retailers, operators, control state officials and wholesalers can register to receive additional information at BevRetailersConference. com.

Suppliers, contact Jeremy Nedelka at jnedelka @ epgacceleration. com to learn about sponsorship opportunities and on-site activations.

Advisory Board Meeting

2026 BEVERAGE INFORMATION GROUP 40 UNDER 40 21