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harbored a passion for brewing. As a lifelong learner, he took brewing courses at UC Davis while working in Silicon Valley.

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The turning point came when he took a six-week sabbatical after four years at Silicon Graphics. During this time, Bryan realized that the traditional notion of retirement wasn’t for him. He needed to stay active, engaged, and out of his comfort zone. He had been brewing beer since the late 1980s but found the market over saturated. A trip along the Bourbon Trail inspired him to shift gears from beer to whiskey. The process of learning to distill whiskey is what got him started on making gin “It's the easiest thing to make, relatively speaking and allows you to learn the process of distilling with a lot less complexity than whiskey. Gin doesn’t have to age!” The thought of crafting something unique—something he loved—led him to early retirement in 2013 and into the world of distilling.

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A New Direction: Crafting a Legacy

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Now, Bryan is fully immersed in his new role as a "nano distiller," focusing on small-scale production of gin and bourbon. Unlike large-scale distillers, his operation is intimate and personal. It took him 17 trials to perfect his gin recipe, resulting in a unique sipping gin that reflects his meticulous nature. (I recently had a chance to sip it, and it is amazingly good and I’m not a gin lover!)

Bryan has chosen an internet-based and word-of-mouth distribution approach, sidestepping the challenges of traditional distribution channels. He also plans to partner with local restaurants to expand his reach. His goal isn’t to make a fortune but simply to break even while enjoying the process.

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Navigating Challenges by Staying Tenacious

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Transitioning from tech to distilling hasn’t been without its challenges. The biggest hurdle was the four-year process it took to become fully licensed. Bryan had to secure federal, state, and local permits, including a zoning exception to convert an old barn on his property into a production facility. The process was so complex that it required getting his barn permitted as a commercial building which required coordinating with multiple permit departments— which was slowed by bureaucracy and COVID..

Bryan’s key advice for anyone considering a similar pivot is to be tenacious. "Don’t assume anything," he says. The permitting process is intricate and can be frustrating, but persistence is key. He emphasizes the importance of staying mentally active, especially given his family history of Alzheimer’s. His distilling work, which he manages entirely on his own, including writing the software for his website, helps keep his mind sharp and engaged.

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Conclusion

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Bryan’s journey from Silicon Valley software engineer to craft distiller is a testament to the power of reinvention. He has successfully pivoted into a completely new field, driven by passion, curiosity, and a desire to stay active in retirement. His story highlights the importance of embracing change, being tenacious in the face of challenges, and finding fulfillment in doing something you love. Whether it’s crafting a perfect gin, whiskey or simply enjoying the journey, Bryan is living proof that retirement can be the start of something extraordinary. “ Whiskey is really what I want to develop, but it takes a long time to get the results!”