Devil's Due Distillery - Wylie McDade

What happens when the whiskey boom cools—and leadership is the only thing keeping the lights on? In this episode of Bourbon & Ballistics, host Joel Potter sits down with Wylie McDade, founder of Devil’s Due Distillery. After retiring from a 25-year career in the U.S. Navy, he decided to take on the challenge of building a craft distillery from the ground up. This conversation goes beyond bourbon to explore: • Leadership in small business when markets tighten • The realities of entrepreneurship without a safety net • Lessons learned from military service and technical careers • Navigating a cooling whiskey market with discipline and patience • Building a family-driven brand rooted in Appalachian community Devil’s Due isn’t just a distillery—it’s a case study in earned success, long-term thinking, and paying the price to do things right. If you care about entrepreneurship, leadership, veterans in business, or the real story behind craft whiskey, this episode is for you. Pour a glass and join the conversation.