our distillery team
Ragged Branch began as an idea among friends on a Charlottesville farm, built on the belief that great bourbon starts with true craftsmanship. With guidance from our friend and legendary Master Distiller, Dave Pickerell, we developed the mash that still defines our whiskey today.
Every drop comes from our own grain—milled, mashed, and distilled with the expertise Dave passed on to us. As demand grew, we expanded production to the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, where we continue to make and bottle our bourbon with the same artisanal care. This beautiful distillery and production facility is located on the very farm that our Master Distiller grew up on-- and we're proud to bring the bourbon home to Augusta County.
From our grains to your glass, our team is proud of Ragged Branch --real Virginia bourbon, made the right way.
Meet Alex
Ragged Branch COFounder
Alex Toomy is a CoFounder and Master Distiller of Ragged Branch Distillery, now located on the Augusta County, Virginia land where he grew up. After the 2009 downturn affected his real estate development business, he launched the distillery on his Charlottesville farm with the guidance of renowned bourbon maker David Pickerell and partners Russell Nance and Chris Sarpy. There, alongside his cattle operation and cutting horses, they produced their first bourbon in 2014. In 2025, Toomy brought the operation full circle by moving Ragged Branch to his childhood farm in Augusta County, where he continues to craft award-winning Virginia straight bourbon whiskey using ingredients grown entirely on Virginia soil.
Meet THE
DISTILLING TEAM
Tom Casey, Chris Coggin, Ben Dingus and Caleb Clark. Our distilling team brings diverse experience in craft brewing, welding, and agricultural management, creating a unique blend of technical expertise and hands-on craftsmanship. From grain to glass, this dedicated group oversees every aspect of production—mashing, fermentation, bottling, and farm operations—upholding Ragged Branch's commitment to Virginia agriculture and traditional distilling methods.
Meet Bootlegger
our Resident Labrador
On any given day at Ragged Branch, visitors can expect to see several of our resident Labradors on the property. In fact, many of our guests have come to know the Labrador patriarch of our Distillery—Bootlegger. He has been with us since the brand’s inception and spends most of his days alongside his owner (Alex) or begging for cheeseburgers straight from the grill.
Bootlegger may call the property home, but we are not a pet-friendly destination. For answers to common questions, explore our FAQs below.
