Meet the Experts.

Scott Bush

Scott has a degree from MIT but somehow found his way into the booze business. He started and grew Templeton Rye from nothing into one of the best known and most successful whiskey brands of the 21st century.

Scott was an early leader in the fledgling craft spirit industry including being active in the American Distilling Institute, an original member of the Craft Spirits Board for DISCUS and working with various colleagues to recreate George Washington’s original peach brandy at his distillery at Mt Vernon. He shared a lot of his time, learnings and enthusiasm with early craft distillers, helping them and the industry get off the ground.

Scott loves to entertain guests at the distillery and help them craft custom spirits to celebrate a business or personal milestone.

In his free time, Scott coaches youth basketball and serves on the board of directors for Lincoln Savings Bank and Thelma’s Treats.

Alex Lovinggood

General Manager

Alex has a long history in the beverage and alcohol industry. At age 16, he got his first job washing dishes in a small Italian restaurant in Raytown, Missouri, and eventually worked in almost every restaurant position there is.

Alex spent a decade on the production side of craft brewing and worked his way up to head brewer at BrickStone Brewery in Illinois. In addition to brewing, Alex was a proud and active member of the board of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild. He served as secretary and chaired the Events and FoBAB committees.

Alex eventually moved to the Des Moines Metro to continue his brewing career. At the end of 2021, he decided to dip his toes into the distilling side and joined the team at Foundry Distilling Co.

Alex prefers his whiskey to be high-proof, his beer to be cold, and his burgers to have cheese.

Brian Kuhn

Head Distiller

Brian has spent nearly a decade in the alcohol production industry. While waiting to attend law school after college, Brian started bartending at a local brewery. This bartending gig led to a full-time position on the production floor, and Brian discovered that he preferred making beer to studying legal theory. Thus began his brewing career. Over the next half decade, Brian accumulated multiple national awards including Brew Pub Brewer of the Year.

An Iowa native, Brian found his way back home to begin a new challenge, joining the Foundry team as Head Distiller.

Brian enjoys cooking, gaming, and karaoke. And he never lost his love for arguing.

Andrew Tomes

Brand Manager

He’s here, he’s there, he’s every #%$@& where. Meet Andrew Tomes, Head of Sales for Foundry Distilling Co, who is known to many as “Can-do Andrew”. Andrew has been in the spirits and hospitality business for many years, starting as a bartender and spending over a decade selling Templeton Rye all over the country.

Andrew grew up in West Des Moines, with a short stint living outside of Toronto. Andrew knows a fair amount about almost any subject and probably knows a few people and the best dive bar in your town. Drew’s favorite whiskey is our Arrogant Bastard Malt, but he is often seen enjoying a Coor’s Light.

Richie Allen

Iowa Brand Ambassador

If you have ever had a sample of one of our products poured for you in Iowa, chances are you have met Richie Allen. Richie joined Foundry in 2021 and is our Iowa Brand Ambassador, responsible for events and product sales in our state. Richie is well liked by all guests who come through the distillery as well as bartenders and store managers. Richie grew up in Iowa and attended St Johns Prep in Minnesota followed by Grandview College and Drake University. He worked in mortgage banking for 20+ years and joined us during Covid to help make hand sanitizer and has been with us ever since. Richie is a great skier and coined the term “Whiskey Time” for when the team talks shop after work.