Building a Distillery on Heritage, Grit & Community | Yianni Barakos of Mason Dixon Distillery

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, I sit down on site in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania with Yianni Barakos, Founder of Mason Dixon Distillery - for a raw, unscripted conversation about heritage, resilience, and what it really means to build something that lasts.Yianni shares the deep roots behind Mason Dixon Distillery, tracing his family’s Greek immigrant story, the culture of hospitality that shaped his upbringing, and the work ethic passed down through generations. We talk about learning how to build a still at age 11, growing up in and around his father’s diner, and how those early lessons in community, craftsmanship, and generosity became the foundation of his business today.This conversation goes far beyond spirits. We get into:- Why hospitality is about presence, not just product- The difference between serving drinks and creating experiences- Overcoming physical adversity and building a business with intention- The role of community in sustaining independent businesses- Raising the next generation with values of competence, confidence, and capabilityMason Dixon Distillery isn’t just a distillery - it’s a living example of how culture, family, and purpose can be poured into every glass.This episode was filmed cold - no prep, no script - just a real conversation about building something meaningful.Recorded on location at Mason Dixon Distillery, Gettysburg, PALearn more at FindMasonDixon.comSubscribe for more founder stories from the people shaping the future of Ready To Drink, hospitality, and independent craft.More Stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com